The woman was about the same age as Lu Cheng, dressed in loose knife-cut pants and a tight-fitting T-shirt, looking relaxed and easygoing.
"Thanks, Dr. Han. Feel free to order anything..." Lu Cheng politely said to Han Jingyi and then turned away.
Although Lu Cheng didn't know how Mu Nanshu and Han Jingyi knew each other or how they ended up in this café at the same time, nor how they were acquainted with 'Wang Xinyue' the teacher, Lu Cheng didn't care to find out.
"Old classmate, you're back without even saying hi?" Lu Cheng calmly walked over.
Mu Nanshu's casual attire no longer exuded ease and composure; after awkwardly twisting her neck, she quietly said, "I knew Han Jingyi wouldn't keep a secret; it took less than a few minutes for her to sell me out."
The corners of her peach blossom eyes were tinted with a light pink hue, her eyelashes dense like crow feathers, casting a butterfly-shaped shadow beneath her eyes as she blinked. A subtle brown mole lay hidden at the corner of her right eye, deliberately covered with matte eyeshadow.
Her chestnut long curly hair fell to her waist, its tips glinting with amber luster. A pearl mother-of-pearl hair clip was pinned three fingers behind her left ear. Mu Nanshu, as before, unconsciously twirled a lock of curly hair, straightening and releasing it.
"Mu Nanshu, I'm here for a proper matchmaking meeting, and you're here to mess it up, how are we going to sort this out?"
"Just like Han Jingyi said earlier, switch to another one?" Lu Cheng sat across from Mu Nanshu.
Mu Nanshu looked up, maintaining a 5-degree angle at the corners of her mouth, her pupils directed at the space between Lu Cheng's brows, pretending to be composed: "Didn't I find you a replacement?"
Lu Cheng naturally glanced in Han Jingyi's direction again, saying, "She was my 'research assistant' at the previous university training unit, someone I can't easily reach now."
"You're not the 'Wang Xinyue' sidekick, are you? If not, I still need to send her a message to set another time."
Mu Nanshu spoke calmly: "Then send it..."
"I'll send it later."
"When did you return to the country?" Lu Cheng asked.
Counting the time, it's been over seven years since Mu Nanshu graduated from undergraduate studies, six years of master's and PhD, and she graduated last year too.
"I returned not too long ago, extended my studies for over half a year..." Mu Nanshu replied.
"Then where are you working now, Huashan? Xiangya? Union?" Lu Cheng asked calmly again.
With Mu Nanshu's educational background from bachelor's to PhD, she could go to any hospital in the country as long as she had enough research output. Even institutions that discriminate based on initial education wouldn't dare to look down on Mu Nanshu from Fudan University.
Mu Nanshu replied: "Currently employed at Han City's Union..."
Lu Cheng was slightly puzzled: "Why did you go to Han City's Union?"
There are two Unions, Kyoto Union and Han City Huazhong University Union Hospital. Lu Cheng had thought about Mu Nanshu going to Kyoto or Shanghai but never imagined she'd be at Han City's Union.
Mu Nanshu's gaze wandered a bit: "It's just about finding a job, submitting resumes everywhere, going wherever I'm wanted, the doctorate degree isn't as highly regarded as it used to be."
"Wouldn't you think my overseas experience naturally adds a golden edge to my resume?"
"This was supposed to be my pre-employment vacation, coming home to see my parents, and old classmates like you... Where are you working now?" Mu Nanshu focused her gaze on Lu Cheng.
Mu Nanshu initially didn't come from a well-off family, similar to Lu Cheng's parents, they were both workers. However, around 2010, Mu Nanshu's parents seemed to have skyrocketed, with a net worth of at least tens of millions, possibly even having cash flow in the millions.
Uncle Mu, although still doing business in Xiangxi and settled, had already bought a house in Sha City... naturally had the finances to send Mu Nanshu abroad for studies...
"Didn't you already know? Long County People's Hospital, a junior attending physician in the emergency department... Hmm, I just transferred to the emergency department this month. Previously, I was an orthopedic doctor." Lu Cheng didn't pursue the matter of whether Mu Nanshu was 'Wang Xinyue' the teacher, assuming she knew all this.
Though Mu Nanshu and Lu Cheng were classmates from the fifth grade of elementary, through middle and high school, that was in the past.
Mu Nanshu showed a slightly surprised expression: "You really haven't taken a second try at the postgraduate entrance exam since then?"
Lu Cheng's reason for going to Fudan, Mu Nanshu wouldn't question if she weren't playing dumb; their performance had always been good from elementary through high school.
While they weren't the absolute top tier in school, they were in the top five, and many believed they were a 'scholar couple', 'golden boy and jade girl'.
Mutual affection was unquestionable, and both families were aware of it. They were just advised against early romance but weren't prevented from anything.
"During training, it wasn't too bad. The treatment between trainees and research-oriented master's students at Zhongnan Hospital wasn't much different; it's just the difference in having mentors."
"Actually, at Zhongnan Hospital, the master's tutors and PhD advisors spend minimal time teaching; most of it is practicing basic skills, and the gap only widens infinitely after starting work..."
Lu Cheng sighed lightly: "Back then, it's true I was too naive and impulsive. Looking back now, I should have taken a second chance."
Lu Cheng wasn't exactly lacking talent; he managed to rise from a small-town exam taker to Han City University's undergraduate level, that's a bit of a knack for studying.
Lu Cheng, a small-town exam taker, didn't know much except studying. But all those who attended Han City University had some talent; Lu Cheng 'with average insight' couldn't stand out there.
Lu Cheng lacked club experience and family support, so he couldn't earn good 'extra-academic' credits and thus had no 'grad school guarantee' or 'direct PhD opportunity'.
Children from ordinary homes, they have nothing to compete with except studying?
Having prepared well, Lu Cheng's written exam score for Fudan's graduate exam was the top, but he realized during the interview, they assessed 'overall performance'. Others brought their own research achievements, even having graduate-level project planning.
Being good at studying wasn't enough, high exam scores weren't enough, having some practical skills wasn't too useful either…
An uninformed Lu Cheng who didn't understand the nuances of medical practice got 'battered and bruised' like this!
Only by continuously studying and advancing academically can one change more 'destiny', especially in the medical field.
Lu Cheng noticed Mu Nanshu continued twirling her hair without speaking, then realized she was seriously contemplating; this habit hadn't changed either: "Enough about me, what should we eat later?"
"Plastic-style Western food? Hot pot? Or Long County's local specialties?"
"There's firewood chicken, hot pot chicken, teppanyaki, lamb... I've been back for four or five years, quite a few delicious places have good flavors..." Lu Cheng asked.
A good man doesn't talk about past glories, not that Lu Cheng was ever a 'good man', just a young man who could read a bit.
At this age, discussing past studies feels like forcibly expressing anxiety.
Now is now, Lu Cheng is just an average emergency department physician at a county hospital, no longer the post-exam high school graduate deemed 'a top student', nor a prestigious university student.
"You choose one... I'm fine with anything." Mu Nanshu's voice was calm, a smile on her face.
"Let's do teppanyaki then, I remember you prefer spicy food."
"How about this Han doctor join us later?" Lu Cheng asked.
Han Jingyi, being from Feng County, would likely be accustomed to Long County's flavors too.
"Dr. Han has to leave later, she's going home for something."
"Do you have a car? Let's give her a ride later." Mu Nanshu suggested.
"I do have one." Lu Cheng agreed with a smile, feeling quite calm.