This doctor is already middle-aged, and he's only just started practicing medicine.

Chapter 25 Mu Nan's Book

The woman was about the same age as Lu Cheng, wearing wide, curved trousers and a tight-fitting T-shirt, looking relaxed and easygoing.

"Thank you, Dr. Han. You can order whatever you like..." Lu Cheng said politely to Han Jingyi before turning to leave.

Although he didn't know how Mu Nanshu and Han Jingyi met and appeared at the same coffee shop at the same time, nor did he know how they knew Teacher Wang Xinyue, Lu Cheng didn't care.

"Old classmate, you didn't even say hello before coming back?" Lu Cheng calmly walked over.

Mu Nanshu's casual attire could no longer feign ease and composure. After nervously twisting her neck, she said in a low voice, "I knew Han Jingyi was unreliable. She sold me out in just a few minutes."

Her peach-blossom eyes had a light pinkish tint at the outer corner, and her eyelashes were as fine as raven feathers, casting a butterfly-wing-shaped shadow under her eyes when she blinked. A small light brown mole was hidden at the outer corner of her right eye, deliberately covered with matte eyeshadow.

Her chestnut-brown long curly hair reached her waist, with the ends shimmering with amber light. A mother-of-pearl hair clip was placed three fingers behind her left ear. As before, Mu Nanshu unconsciously wrapped a strand of curly hair around her head, straightened it, and then released it.

"Mu Nanshu, I came here for a proper blind date, and you ruined it. How are you going to settle this?"

"Is it really like what Han Jingyi just said, that we should change to someone else?" Lu Cheng sat down opposite Mu Nanshu.

Mu Nanshu raised her head, her lips held at a 5-degree angle, her pupils directly facing Lu Cheng's brow, feigning composure: "Didn't I find you a replacement?"

Lu Cheng naturally looked in Han Jingyi's direction again and said, "This is my former professor's 'research assistant' at my residency training unit. I can't possibly be on that level now."

"You're not the alternate account 'Wang Xinyue,' are you? If not, I'll have to send her a message before setting a time."

Mu Nanshu said calmly, "Then send it..."

"I'll send it later."

"When did you return to China?" Lu Cheng asked.

Counting the time, it has been more than seven years since Mu Nanshu graduated with his bachelor's degree, and six years with his master's and doctoral degrees, which he also graduated last year.

"I just got back not long ago. I took more than half a year to finish my studies..." Mu Nanshu said.

"So where are you working now? Huashan Hospital? Xiangya Hospital? Peking Union Medical College Hospital?" Lu Cheng asked calmly.

From her first degree to her doctorate, Mu Nanshu could work at any hospital in the country as long as she produced enough research output. Even institutions that discriminate based on first degree would not dare to discriminate against Mu Nanshu's Fudan University degree.

Mu Nanshu replied, "Currently, I'm assigned to the Wuhan Union Hospital..."

Lu Cheng was puzzled: "Why did you go to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Wuhan?"

There are two hospitals affiliated with Peking Union Medical College Hospital: Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing and Peking Union Medical College Hospital affiliated with Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan. Lu Cheng had considered sending Mu Nanshu to Beijing or Shanghai, but he never expected her to go to Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Wuhan.

Mu Nanshu's gaze wandered slightly: "It's just about finding a job. I send out resumes everywhere, and I'll go wherever they want me. These days, a doctoral degree isn't as sought after as it used to be."

"You don't think that just because I've been abroad, my resume is automatically gilded, do you?"

“This is a pre-employment leave. I’m going back to my hometown to see my parents and old classmate you… Where are you working now?” Mu Nanshu fixed her gaze on Lu Cheng.

Mu Nanshu's family wasn't well-off at first; they were both working-class, just like Lu Cheng's parents. But in about 10 years, Mu Nanshu's parents' fortunes took off like a rocket, and now their net worth is at least tens of millions, and they may even have tens of millions in cash flow.

Although Uncle Mu still does business and lives in western Hunan, he has already bought a house in Shashi... so he certainly has the financial means to send Mu Nanshu abroad to study...

“Didn’t you already know? Longxian People’s Hospital, a junior attending physician in the emergency department… Well, I just transferred to the emergency department this month. I used to be an orthopedic surgeon.” Lu Cheng didn’t pursue whether Mu Nanshu was Teacher Wang Xinyue, assuming that the other party knew everything.

Although Mu Nanshu and Lu Cheng were classmates from fifth grade in elementary school, middle school, and high school, that was in the past. Mu Nanshu looked a little surprised: "You really haven't taken the postgraduate entrance exam a second time since then?"

As long as Mu Nanshu doesn't pretend to be confused, she won't ask why Lu Cheng went to Fudan University. Both of them had consistently good grades from elementary school to high school.

Although they weren't in the absolute top tier of the school, they were still among the top five, and many people even thought of them as a "top student couple" or a "golden couple."

There's no doubt they have mutual feelings for each other, and both families know about it. They only advised against early relationships, but didn't try to prevent anything.

"The situation during the residency training was actually not bad. The situation of residents and professional master's students in Zhongnan Hospital was not much different. The only difference was that they had teachers to guide them."

"Actually, the master's and doctoral supervisors at Zhongnan Hospital only spend a small amount of time teaching; they mostly focus on practicing the basics. It's only after you start working that the gap widens dramatically..."

Lu Cheng sighed softly: "Back then, I was too naive and acted rashly. Looking back now, I should have gone to war again."

Lu Cheng wasn't exactly lacking in talent; the fact that he managed to go from being a test-taker in a small town to earning a bachelor's degree at a university in Wuhan shows he had some academic ability.

Lu Cheng, a typical exam-taker from a small town, lacked broad knowledge and only knew how to study. However, those who entered Han City University could be considered to have some talent, and Lu Cheng, with his 'average knowledge,' was unable to stand out there.

Lu Cheng had no club experience or family financial support, so he couldn't get good grades, which meant he had no chance of being recommended for postgraduate studies or pursuing a direct PhD.

For children from ordinary families, isn't studying the only thing they can compete on?

Lu Cheng did this well. When he took the postgraduate entrance exam for Fudan University, he got the highest score in the written test. But when he went for the interview, he found out that others were assessed on their 'overall performance', while others had their own research achievements and even had research plans for their postgraduate studies.

Being good at studying is useless, high written test scores are useless, and even having some practical skills isn't that much of a use...

Lu Cheng, who didn't understand the rules of medical practice, was thus squeezed out and left 'bruised and battered'!
Only by continuously reading and improving one's academic qualifications can one change more of one's "fate," at least in the medical field.

Seeing that Mu Nanshu continued to twirl her hair in silence, Lu Cheng knew she was deep in thought, a habit she had never broken: "Let's not talk about me anymore. What do you want to eat later?"

"Plastic-style Western food? Or hot pot? Or a local specialty from Longxian County?"

"There's firewood chicken, hot pot chicken, teppanyaki, mutton... I came back and stayed for four or five years, and there are several good places to eat..." Lu Cheng asked.

A true hero doesn't dwell on the past, and besides, Lu Cheng wasn't exactly a 'hero' back then; he was just a young man who could read a little.

At this age, bringing up the days of studying back then is just forcing a wistful sentiment.

Now, Lu Cheng is just an ordinary emergency room doctor in a county hospital. He is no longer the high school student who was considered a "top student" after the college entrance examination, nor is he a college student from a prestigious university.

"You can choose one... I'm fine with either." Mu Nanshu's voice was calm, with a gentle smile.

"Then let's have teppanyaki, I remember you like it spicy."

"Dr. Han, would you like to come along later?" Lu Cheng asked.

Han Jingyi is from Feng County, so she will definitely be able to get used to the taste of Long County.

"Dr. Han is going back later; she has something to do back in her hometown."

"Do you have a car? We can give her a ride later," Mu Nanshu suggested.

"There are still some," Lu Cheng replied with a smile, his mood quite calm.

(End of this chapter)