Together Forever

Chapter 15.2

A Warm Temperature

After knowing when approximately her final examinations would be taking place, Gu Pingsheng soon booked her plane tickets for her. Before she left, she insisted on accompanying him to his follow-up medical examination.

When they arrived, it was lunchtime. Doctor Liao, whom he had a very close relationship with, had just finished performing a surgery, and after showering, with his hair still half-wet, he came and greeted Gu Pingsheng. "I finally get to see your wife."

Tong Yan smiled shyly, still not very accustomed to this particular form of address for her. Taking all the medical reports from the previous few days, he handed them to Gu Pingsheng. In Doctor Liao's office, the two of them began communicating rapidly and very technically. She did not understand what she was hearing and only felt that the entire time, Doctor Liao's manner was very serious and cautious. In the end, when she began gripping Gu Pingsheng's fingers nervously, he finally chuckled and warned the doctor, "My wife is scared easily. If you keep being so solemn, she's going to start reading too much into it."

"Don't be scared." Smiling, Doctor Liao poured a glass of water and handed it to Tong Yan. "Through these years, he's long since found ways of coping with everything. Plus, the surgery this time was so successful that there should be no major issues for at least the next ten years. Really, he's considered to be doing quite well. I have several SARS patients here who, during these sorts of July days, strain to simply try to breathe and have major problems with their lungs. You say, how awful that would be if every summer for the rest of your life, it was going to be like that ..."

Tong Yan took the glass from him, feeling that this doctor really did not know how to console people.

Gu Pingsheng also gave a chuckle of annoyance. "You keep these. If there's any issues, just email me directly."

"You go. I still have another surgery to perform this afternoon and don't have time to read through these carefully. And anyhow, your issues are not ones that I, as an orthopedic surgeon, can solve ..." Gu Pingsheng frowned and looked at him. Immediately, he stopped what he was saying and explained to Tong Yan, "Please don't mind too much. It's like that when you're a doctor. You always talk about the worst possible problems first."

"I understand. Thank you."

Although Tong Yan had expressed her understanding, on their way home, she still felt a persistent sense of disquiet. When it was night and nearing time to go to bed, she finally could restrain herself no longer. Sprawling herself on his chest, she stared into his eyes with a serious look and instructed him, "If there's anything wrong with your health or if your body does not feel right, you must not hide it from me."

Gu Pingsheng's hand was on her waist, and patting her gently, he replied with laughter in his voice, "You've been thinking for an entire day and it was just to say this one sentence?"

"I'm serious." Tong Yan continued to stress, "If there is anything bad, you have to let me know."

"Alright," he answered.

Tong Yan lowered her head, knowing that he would not completely abide by this. It would be just like when he was in the United States, where Pingfan's secret video recording of him had shown that he was already lying in the hospital, but the next day he had still sent her a video of him out sightseeing and having fun, using this to try to obscure her perception and mislead her ... So, it would seem that he was "only desiring to partake in life's sweetness together and unwilling to share the bitterness.[1]"

The following day, he took her to the airport.

When she was on the plane, she briefly clenched her now-empty hand and began to comfort herself. It was actually only going to be ten days. Take her exams, clean out and pack up her dormitory room, and get the fourth-year internship form and her letter of recommendation. Then, ten days later, she would return here again.