Time Travel: My Comfortable Life After Going to the Countryside

Zhou Zhiming wore a new white lab coat today, the collar was neatly pressed, and his hair was still perfectly styled.

He stood on the podium, his gaze sweeping across the classroom, pausing for a second when it landed on Zhao Xiaoman.

Liu Xiangyang saw it.

His face remained expressionless; he simply twirled the pen in his hand slightly.

Zhou Zhiming opened his lecture notes and began his lecture, which focused on the differential diagnosis of common diseases of the digestive system.

He spoke for a while, then suddenly stopped.

"Zhao Xiaoman."

Zhao Xiaoman raised her head.

Zhou Zhiming looked at her with a slight smile on his lips, a smile that was different from his usual one, as if he was waiting to see some good show.

"Please repeat what I just said about the differences in the pain patterns between gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers."

The classroom fell silent for a moment.

Zhao Xiaoman was stunned.

She hadn't been able to concentrate much all day; her mind was a mess, and she couldn't remember anything Zhou Zhiming had said.

She opened her mouth, but couldn't say a word.

Zhou Zhiming looked at her, his smile deepening.

"What, you don't remember?"

Zhao Xiaoman's face turned bright red, and her hand gripping the notebook trembled.

Zhou Zhiming sighed and shook his head.

"Zhao Xiaoman, you've been here for training for half a month now, haven't you? You can't even remember such basic things. How will you treat patients in the future?"

He paused, his voice neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for the whole class to hear:

"The trainees in our training program were all selected from various communes. The organization has high hopes for them. Does your attitude live up to the organization's trust?"

"When our fellow farmers fall ill and come to you, it's because they trust the organization and the people. Is this how you repay that trust?"

The classroom was so quiet that only the sound of the wind outside the window could be heard.

Zhao Xiaoman stood there, her face flushed red, and her knuckles were white as she gripped the notebook.

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but her mind went blank.

Zhou Zhiming looked at her, his smile slowly widening: "What's wrong, can't say?"

He sighed, a sigh tinged with obvious disappointment, sounding like concern, but his eyes clearly betrayed his smugness.

"Zhao Xiaoman, I know that you educated youth had a tough time in the countryside, but since the organization has given you the opportunity for training, you should cherish it."

"But look at you, you're always daydreaming in class, and you never seem to put in the effort after class. If you keep going like this, what will you learn after the training? How will you go back and treat our farmers?"

"How can you live up to the organization's trust in you?"

People below began to whisper among themselves.

Tears welled up in Zhao Xiaoman's eyes, but she bit her lip hard to keep them from falling.

"Dr. Zhou, I think Zhao Xiaoman probably didn't sleep well last night, so she was distracted. It won't happen again next time."

Seeing that his words were becoming increasingly outrageous, Liu Xiangyang quickly stood up and said to Zhou Zhiming.

Zhou Zhiming stared at him for a while before sighing, shaking his head, and saying, "Forget it, Zhao Xiaoman, sit down. Think about it carefully. Who are you being fair to?"

Zhao Xiaoman stood still.

She stared at Zhou Zhiming, her eyes red-rimmed, but burning with a fierce intensity.

She gripped her notebook tightly, about to speak, when a hand reached out from under the table and pressed down on her hand.

"Listen to me, leave it to me. Let him be smug for a few more days," Liu Xiangyang said in a low voice.

Zhao Xiaoman was stunned for a moment, and the words that were about to rush to her throat were blocked back.

She slowly sat down.

When Zhou Zhiming saw her sit down, his lips twitched, but he looked away and continued lecturing.

The sound of rustling notes being turned over came from below, as if nothing had just happened.

The bell rang, and Zhou Zhiming left with his lecture notes.

People were leaving the classroom in twos and threes. Some people glanced at Zhao Xiaoman as they passed by. She had her head down, clutching her notebook, her knuckles still white.

Liu Xiangyang didn't move and sat in his seat waiting for her.

He spoke only after most of the people had left:

"Let's go eat."

Zhao Xiaoman shook her head: "I don't want to eat."

Liu Xiangyang looked at her.

"It's okay if you don't eat, just come for a walk with me."

Zhao Xiaoman paused for a moment, then looked up.

Liu Xiangyang had already stood up and was walking out.

She bit her lip, stood up, and followed him.

The two walked slowly along the path behind the hospital.

It was completely dark, and the streetlights were only a few far apart, casting a dim yellow light that didn't illuminate very far.

Zhao Xiaoman walked beside him, head down, without saying a word.

After walking for a while, Liu Xiangyang suddenly stopped.

Zhao Xiaoman wasn't paying attention and almost bumped into him.

She looked up and saw Liu Xiangyang looking at her.

"Still feeling unwell?"

Zhao Xiaoman pursed her lips and remained silent.

Liu Xiangyang reached out and tucked her stray hairs behind her ear.

"If you feel unwell, just say so."

Zhao Xiaoman's eyes reddened, but she didn't cry.

"I just can't swallow this."

Liu Xiangyang looked at her.

"What right does he have? Who does he think he is? He said those disgusting things to me that night, and then today in front of so many people... What right does he have!"

Her voice began to tremble, and by the end she was almost shouting.

Liu Xiangyang didn't say anything, but simply pulled her into his arms.

Zhao Xiaoman was stunned.

She lay on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, steady and strong.

The pent-up grievance suddenly found an outlet. She grabbed Liu Xiangyang's clothes, her shoulders trembling violently, and her tears were all over his clothes.

Liu Xiangyang held her in his arms, gently patting her back with one hand.

"Cry."

Zhao Xiaoman cried for a long time before she slowly stopped.

She stepped out of Liu Xiangyang's arms, her eyes and nose red, looking a bit disheveled.

"Your clothes are all dirty," she whispered.

Liu Xiangyang looked down at the puddle on his chest and smiled.

"It's okay, I can just wash up when I get back."

Looking at him, Zhao Xiaoman suddenly felt that most of the pent-up frustration in her heart had dissipated.

Liu Xiangyang reached out and wiped away the tears on her face.

"Zhao Xiaoman, listen to me."

Zhao Xiaoman looked at him.

Liu Xiangyang's eyes gleamed in the darkness, his voice was soft, but every word was clear:

"Leave this to me."

Zhao Xiaoman was stunned for a moment.

"What...what are you going to do?"

Liu Xiangyang smiled, but the smile was different from his usual one.

"Never mind that."

Zhao Xiaoman panicked: "No, you can't be alone..."

"I can handle it on my own," Liu Xiangyang interrupted her. "Someone like Zhou Zhiming doesn't need two people."

Zhao Xiaoman looked at him, her eyes reddening again.

"But……"

"No buts." Liu Xiangyang reached out and ruffled her hair. "Just pretend you don't know anything. Go to class and eat as usual. Let him run wild for a few more days."

Zhao Xiaoman bit her lip.

"Then promise me you won't do anything reckless."

Liu Xiangyang smiled.

"When have I ever done anything reckless?"

Zhao Xiaoman thought about it and realized that there really wasn't one.

She looked at him, and a strange feeling welled up inside her—a sense of security mixed with a touch of fear.

The reassuring thing is that someone is there to protect her.

What I'm worried about is whether this person will get into trouble.

Liu Xiangyang seemed to read her mind and reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Zhao Xiaoman looked at him, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the lips.

After the kiss, she turned away, lowered her head, and blushed.

Liu Xiangyang was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"You're trying to ambush me?"

Zhao Xiaoman glared at him, tilting her head back: "Can't I just ambush you?"

Liu Xiangyang reached out and pulled her into his arms: "Okay, then I'll launch a sneak attack too."

He lowered his head and kissed her.