Chapter 122: Worth Befriending

Zhang Wenhao and Su Ruoran spent the entire afternoon at Yuquan Mountain. As evening approached, Zhang Wenhao built another fire, and the two finished their dinner by the reservoir. The sky had turned dim, and with the strong mountain winds, the temperature was significantly lower than in the city. Fearing that Su Ruoran might catch a cold, Zhang Wenhao quickly packed their things and drove back to the city.

Su Ruoran remained in high spirits, sitting in the passenger seat and continuously flipping through every photo on her camera. Whenever she found an interesting one, she would show it to Zhang Wenhao, especially the shots of him looking disheveled and covered in soot from the fire, which made her giggle uncontrollably.

Zhang Wenhao smiled and asked Su Ruoran to copy the photos for him later. Just then, his phone rang. Glancing at the screen, he was surprised to see it was Li Changyun. He answered and asked curiously, "Brother Li, what brings you to call me?" Li Changyun sounded exceptionally happy as he laughed, "What, only you are allowed to look for us, but we aren't allowed to contact you?"

Zhang Wenhao chuckled, "How could that be? I’m just a bit flattered."

Li Changyun laughed heartily, "My great benefactor, I wonder when you might have the time to do me the honor of letting me treat you to a meal?"

Zhang Wenhao asked in surprise, "Brother Li, what are you saying? When did I become your benefactor?" Li Changyun couldn't help but laugh, "Of course you are my benefactor, and not just mine—you’re Lili’s benefactor, too!" Zhang Wenhao was even more baffled and pressed for an explanation. Only then did Li Changyun reveal: "Thanks to you, Lili and I have been transferred to the First People’s Hospital. The transfer order came directly from the Provincial Health Department, which demanded us personally from the Dean of Ren’ai Hospital. We are set to report for duty this coming Monday! If that doesn't make you our benefactor, what does?"

Zhang Wenhao asked, perplexed, "Why the transfer to the First People’s Hospital? And what does this have to do with me?"

"Of course it has everything to do with you," Li Changyun said with a smile. "I won't hide it from you—the day after we saved that woman at the car accident scene, leaders from the Provincial Health Department came to see us, and they insisted on meeting you."

Zhang Wenhao asked urgently, "Brother Li, what did you tell them?"

Li Changyun laughed, "Of course I didn't reveal your identity. I just told them that the person who helped that day was a college classmate of mine who is currently studying for a medical doctorate in the United States. He was back visiting relatives and happened to come to the hospital to see me before he left, so he joined me on an emergency call. He has already returned to the States."

Zhang Wenhao breathed a sigh of relief and thanked him, "Brother Li, thank you so much. Otherwise, I’m afraid I would have had quite a lot of trouble."

Naturally, Zhang Wenhao did not want too many people to know about his medical proficiency. Helping with the emergency rescue for Chen Feng was a matter of necessity, and he had brushed it off by claiming he was just a "daredevil" who had watched too many movies and happened to do the right thing—a flimsy excuse at best. If more people knew about his medical skills, it would become nearly impossible to explain. That was exactly why, the moment he learned the woman was out of danger, he had chosen to slip away immediately.

Li Changyun continued, "We report to the hospital this Monday. Although we are still regular physicians, the People’s Hospital has granted me the status of an attending physician, and while Lili is still a nurse, she will enjoy the same treatment as a head nurse. This is all thanks to you. Had you not saved that woman, they wouldn't have come to us to repay the favor."

Li Changyun added, "Lili and I would like to treat you to a meal before Monday. I wonder when you’ll be free."

Zhang Wenhao replied, "Brother Li, there’s no need for a meal. You’ve done me a big favor as well; there’s no need to be so formal between us."

"That won't do," Li Changyun blurted out. "You must come. This is a mission Lili gave me. That girl has been talking about you every single day—my ears are almost calloused. I suspect if you don't agree, she won't even go to the People’s Hospital on Monday and will head straight to the First High School to find you instead."

Zhang Wenhao said with a resigned smile, "Alright, in that case, let’s find a time to eat tomorrow evening." He added, "But Brother Li, I have to state this beforehand: I won't go to any fancy places. If the meal costs more than five hundred yuan, I won't acknowledge you as my friend."

Zhang Wenhao had heard from Lili about their situation at Ren’ai Hospital—they were both unhappy and poorly paid. He didn't want them to spend their hard-earned money, but since Li Changyun insisted, a simple, inexpensive meal was acceptable.

Li Changyun sighed on the other end, "Wenhao, you really leave me speechless... Fine, let's set it for tomorrow evening. I’ll handle the arrangements, and I’ll make sure you’re satisfied."

"Great," Zhang Wenhao replied readily. "Just send me the address later."

After hanging up, Su Ruoran asked curiously, "Is someone treating you to dinner?"

Zhang Wenhao nodded, "A friend. We've arranged for tomorrow night."

Su Ruoran smiled, "It sounds to me like you did them a significant favor?"

Zhang Wenhao gave a faint smile and said, "It’s not really a favor, just that I indirectly played a small part." Su Ruoran nodded but didn't press for details. Zhang Wenhao didn't want to bring it up either; after all, a high school student sneaking out with a doctor to perform an emergency rescue and saving a patient who had almost no chance of survival was a bit too shocking. It was best left unsaid.

On Sunday afternoon, while Zhang Wenhao was training at the Luogang Fitness Club, Li Changyun called to finalize the location: a local rustic restaurant. After clarifying the address, Zhang Wenhao changed clothes after six o'clock and headed over to meet Li Changyun and Chen Lili.

The restaurant was located in a quiet alley in the city. Li Changyun was waiting at the entrance. Seeing Zhang Wenhao, he hurried over, gave him a bear hug, and said, "Let's go inside. Lili has been waiting for you for a long time."

Zhang Wenhao followed him into the restaurant. It was small but clean and tidy. Li Changyun had reserved a small private room. As they pushed the door open, Chen Lili stood up from her chair, looking at Zhang Wenhao with a smile. "Great benefactor, you’ve finally arrived!"

Zhang Wenhao felt a bit awkward. "Lili, could you please stop calling me that? It sounds strange."

Lili laughed, "You have no idea how much you’ve helped Brother Li and me! The People’s Hospital is less than a fifteen-minute walk from my home. From now on, I can walk to work and no longer have to spend over an hour on the bus!"

Zhang Wenhao smiled slightly and asked, "Will you have to work night shifts?"

Chen Lili replied, "I don't know yet. Night shifts for nurses are inevitable, but as long as it's a normal rotation, I have no complaints. Besides, the First People’s Hospital is giving me the salary of a head nurse—my pay has quadrupled overnight! I really don't know how to thank you. Not just me, my whole family is overjoyed. Even my mother said I hit the jackpot and met a noble person. She wanted to thank you in person, but I used Brother Li’s excuse that you had already gone abroad to put her off."

Li Changyun added with a laugh, "I was the lowest-ranking doctor at Ren’ai Hospital. Whenever someone tried to set me up on a date, once the girl found out I wasn't valued at the hospital, it would go nowhere. But this time, as soon as the transfer order from the Health Department came down, all those senior doctors and head nurses started clamoring to find me a partner, even offering their own daughters." He shook his head and sighed, "People! Their ability to sway with the wind is truly remarkable."

Zhang Wenhao was genuinely happy for them. He had witnessed the unfair treatment they had endured—months of consecutive night shifts that would have made anyone else quit in frustration. They had endured it out of necessity, and now they had finally seen the clouds part to reveal the sun. This was a wonderful thing for them and their families.

Curious, Zhang Wenhao asked, "Brother Li, after we slipped away that day, how did they find you?"

"Don't even get me started," Li Changyun chuckled. "The whole thing was incredibly dramatic." He recounted the process: "That emergency transfer was technically a violation of protocol. Since the People’s Hospital is a top-tier, Ministry of Health-affiliated institution, its leadership has very strong connections. Sending a dying patient to them was seen by my hospital’s leadership as creating trouble. They were terrified of the fallout, so when I got back, I was severely reprimanded."

Li Changyun smiled and continued, "I felt that no matter how much they yelled, at least a human life was saved. In the face of a life, I had no complaints about being scolded or even fired. But soon, leaders from the Provincial Health Department and the People’s Hospital arrived. In the Dean’s office, our leaders were pale with fright; they didn't even ask why, they just started apologizing and then scolded me again right in front of them. Then, the head of the Provincial Health Department spoke up, saying, 'We aren't here to assign blame, but to thank Dr. Li...'"

Zhang Wenhao blurted out, "How did they find you so quickly?"

"Did they even need to look?" Li Changyun laughed. "You left the scene immediately, but I couldn't run away. The patient’s daughter couldn't find us, so she asked the People’s Hospital for help. The ambulance that took the patient that night had our hospital's name on it, so they just went to our emergency department. Once they asked who was on duty that night, my colleagues assumed I was in trouble and brought them straight to the Dean’s office."

Zhang Wenhao nodded and asked with a grin, "And then?"

"And then?" Li Changyun laughed. "My Dean was stunned. The head of the Health Department was shaking my hand, saying things like, 'Dr. Li, you’ve performed a great service for the Jiangcheng medical system,' which left me completely confused. Then they asked, 'Weren't there two doctors? Where is the other one?' I had to make up a lie on the spot. Then they wanted to see Lili, so I called her in as well."

"By the afternoon, the transfer order came down, telling us to report to the People’s Hospital on Monday."

Zhang Wenhao couldn't help but laugh, "That is quite dramatic. Your Dean must have been furious."

"Indeed," Li Changyun nodded. "When he handed me the transfer order, he looked like his wife had been stolen. He said I was climbing up the ladder by stepping on the hospital's head. I’d had enough of the abuse at Ren’ai Hospital, so I didn't bother arguing. I just took the order and walked out." He then remembered something: "Oh, and that young lady wanted me to pass a message to you."

Zhang Wenhao paused, "Which young lady?"

"The patient's daughter," Li Changyun said. "She treated us to dinner that night and asked about you. I used the same excuse, but she didn't seem to believe it, so she asked me to relay a message."

"What was it?"

Li Changyun laughed, "She said she wanted to thank you in person, but since you don't wish to be disturbed, she won't force it. She respects your wishes, but she believes that you two will inevitably meet again in the future."

Zhang Wenhao gave a faint smile, "Meet again? I’ve even forgotten what she looks like."

Chen Lili interjected, "That girl was gorgeous! She was injured that night, covered in blood and her hair was a mess, so you couldn't see her features clearly, but later, when I saw her, she was truly beautiful. Even I felt a bit inferior looking at her."

Zhang Wenhao teased, "Really? Is it that exaggerated? Lili, you’re quite stunning yourself."

Chen Lili’s face flushed slightly, and she lowered her eyes, whispering, "She really was beautiful—far beyond me."

Zhang Wenhao smiled, "I really don't want to invite any trouble for myself. This is fine as it is. Brother Li, thank you for covering for me."

Li Changyun waved his hand, "I should be the one thanking you. To think you’re thanking me!" He filled three glasses of beer and said, "Wenhao, thank you. A good job is a matter of a lifetime. Lili and I entering the best hospital in Nanjiang Province... I won't say our future is limitless, but it is a thousand times better than our previous situation."

Zhang Wenhao smiled faintly, "Brother Li, you two haven't even reported for duty yet, why are you so sure?"

Li Changyun didn't hold back, "To be honest, I suspect the woman you saved has a very high status. Saving her was a major merit for the head of the Provincial Health Department. He even called me privately to say he would look after us. Given his attitude, I’m sure we won't be treated like we were at Ren’ai Hospital."

Zhang Wenhao nodded. Thinking about it, Li Changyun’s deduction was likely correct. The woman had been in a Bentley worth millions, so her background must be substantial. The fact that the People’s Hospital had mobilized their best experts after a single phone call from the girl confirmed that she or her family could easily arrange a better future for them.

Zhang Wenhao raised his glass, "Brother Li, Lili, congratulations on your transfer to the People’s Hospital. I wish you both a boundless future."

Li Changyun and Chen Lili raised their glasses to clink with his. Li Changyun said, "Brother, no more words. It’s all in the drink."

Zhang Wenhao nodded and, before drinking, joked, "I guess I won't have the chance to join you on emergency runs anymore."

Li Changyun immediately said, "Wenhao, just say the word, and I’ll apply to transfer to the emergency department, and I’ll fight for every night shift!"

Zhang Wenhao laughed heartily, "Just kidding, Brother Li, don't take it seriously. Come, let's drink."

After several glasses, Li Changyun, who had a low tolerance, began to feel slightly tipsy. Chen Lili had also had about two beers but remained clear-headed. She looked at Zhang Wenhao and said, "Wenhao, now that Brother Li and I are working in the city, we aren't far from your school. When we have time, we should meet up often."

"Exactly!" Li Changyun chimed in. "We must meet often, eat together, and drink." He raised another glass and said to Zhang Wenhao, "Wenhao, tomorrow we report to the People’s Hospital. Once we get our first month’s salary, you must let us treat you to a real meal. Today’s meal is too plain, and I feel embarrassed. Next time, you aren't allowed to make any demands—leave everything to me!"

Knowing Li Changyun was tipsy, Zhang Wenhao nodded along, "Alright, next time I won't make any demands."

Li Changyun nodded with satisfaction, "I’m poor, I don't have much to show for myself, and my medical skills are far behind yours. But I truly want to be your friend. I just fear you might look down on me, as I’m not exactly a high-flyer..."

Zhang Wenhao knew that Li Changyun had long been frustrated by his circumstances and the exclusion he faced. Yet, he knew his character was good. Zhang Wenhao didn't judge friends by their status or background, only by their character. A friend like Li Changyun was worth keeping.