Chapter 47: Only for the Most Precious Person

The wind in Beicheng was more biting than in Haicheng, scraping across his face with a painful chill. Lu Zhiyan, weary from his journey, dragged his suitcase not back to the dorm, but straight to the Academic Affairs Office in the school’s administration building.

In the office, the teacher pushed up her glasses, scanned the application form he handed over, and her pen tip paused at the column for “Complete four years of credits early + direct undergraduate-to-doctoral pathway,” her brows knitting tightly.

“Applying to graduate in two years as a sophomore is one thing, but you also want to take the direct doctoral pathway?”

The teacher’s tone carried undisguised skepticism. Her pen tip tapped the form.

“Our university’s direct doctoral spots have always been reserved for top-tier graduating seniors. You’ve only just started the first semester of your sophomore year; you’re missing three years of coursework. This is too overreaching.”

Several students handling business nearby glanced over at the sound. Lu Zhiyan, however, didn’t show a hint of unease; his spine was held straight, and his eyes were full of determination:

“Teacher, the training plan doesn’t specify that sophomores cannot apply, provided that credits are completed and assessments are passed. I can do it. And I am willing to accept any form of assessment from the school.”

His tone was shockingly steady, and the light in his eyes was blindingly bright. The teacher was choked by his certainty. After ruminating for a long time, she finally stood up to communicate with the leadership of the department.

When verifying his information, the department specifically pulled up Lu Zhiyan’s admission and academic files. They discovered that he had been admitted with a top-tier score that ranked in the top ten of the entire city, and throughout his entire freshman year, his grades in all subjects had remained steadily at the forefront of his major. His GPA was top-notch, and he had no weaknesses in any assessments.

With such solid academic performance as a foundation, the department leaders deliberated repeatedly before finally relenting, allowing him to follow the emergency approval process of the Academic Affairs Office.

Lu Zhiyan waited quietly in the office for an entire morning before the teacher finally returned, placing a thick stack of materials and over a dozen professional textbooks on the table.

“These are the textbooks and comprehensive materials for all core professional courses from sophomore to junior year. I’ll give you one week. Come back next Monday for the assessment. First, there will be a comprehensive examination of the core professional courses, followed by a medical written test set personally by the doctoral supervisor group, as well as clinical practical operations. If your comprehensive assessment score, written test, and practical operations are all above ninety points, we will follow the special exception case to help you process the workflow.”

The weight of her words was obvious: devour two years of content in seven days, and pass both the written test and practical operations simultaneously.

In the eyes of others, this was a near-impossible task, but only Lu Zhiyan himself knew that he was not an ordinary sophomore student.

In his past life, his academic path had been stellar. By thirty-five, he was already a well-known expert in the oncology department in the country, promoted ahead of schedule at a young age, and sat in the position of deputy director of the oncology department at the municipal central hospital. Those thick textbooks, complex theories, and precise operations were not unfamiliar obstacles to him, but rather skills already carved into his bones and blood.

“Thank you, Teacher.”

Lu Zhiyan solemnly received the materials and assessment rules. As his fingertips touched the weight of the paper, a scalding heat instantly surged in his heart. Thinking that he could strive to give Shen Yu a stable future, his entire body was filled with strength.

For the following week, he nailed himself firmly into the study room and the skills laboratory, pushing his time to the extreme: scarfing down a few bites of food, taking a short nap on the desk, and throwing every minute and every second into books and practical training.

Anatomy, diagnosis, pharmacology, case analysis… the knowledge he knew by heart in his past life was quickly awakened, organized, and consolidated.

In the laboratory, he practiced operations repeatedly on models, his techniques steady, accurate, and swift; under the desk lamp, he finished one stack of mock exams after another, his pen tip scratching continuously on the paper. Outside the window, from the faint morning light to the deep twilight, and then to the stillness of late night, he barely closed his eyes.

The life that had previously been swallowed by regret and despair—this time, he would definitely rewrite it well. Not for himself, and not for fame or fortune, but for the person who had always cherished and protected him at the tip of his heart.

On the day the assessment results were released, the entire Academic Affairs Office exploded.

Except for the written test set by the doctoral supervisor group, where he scored ninety-nine, his comprehensive assessment and practical operation scores were both perfect.

These results even startled the department leaders responsible for the approval, and they specifically met Lu Zhiyan in person.

In the office, the leader held his transcript and practical operation scoring sheet, reading them over and over again. The look in his eyes when he looked at him was full of surprise and appreciation.

“Ninety-nine on the written test, perfect score on practical operations. For so many years, you are the first.”

The leader gently placed the materials on the table, his tone earnest.

“The department has studied and decided to approve your application. You will be cultivated according to the direct doctoral plan. Once you complete the credits and pass the mid-term assessment, you will directly transition to the doctoral program.”

He paused, looking at the student before him whose eyes were calm yet sharp, adding a few more expectations:

“Your foundation, your comprehension, your attitude—I have seen them all. Study well. Don’t waste this talent; there will be a place for you in the medical field in the future.”

Lu Zhiyan gripped the file with the approved application, his fingertips trembling slightly. His first instinct was to call Shen Yu, but afraid of disturbing his class, he could only press all the joy deep in his heart, planning to tell him in person once Shen Yu returned. Just thinking of the surprised and moved expression that person would have after knowing, a smile that couldn’t be hidden rippled in the depths of his eyes.

When he returned to the dorm, the other three roommates were shouting and yelling at their game screens. Seeing him push the door open and enter, one of them cast a glance over:

“Brother Yan? Where have you been these days? We haven’t seen you in many classes, went to hang out at bars again?”

The Lu Zhiyan of the past treated the dorm as nothing more than a place to rest, lingering in bars and nightclubs all day long, never lacking company, yet somehow not letting his grades suffer at all. He was a playboy who was both famous and envied throughout the school.

Lu Zhiyan smiled, put his books on the table, and didn’t offer an explanation.

In the days that followed, Lu Zhiyan completely became the “ghost” of the dorm. He went to the library to save seats before dawn and only returned late at night. The stack of professional books on his desk was taller than a person, and his class schedule was packed to the brim, two or three times that of others. His roommates teased him for changing his nature, turning from a playboy into a bookworm, but he only gave a ruffian-like smile and didn’t deny it.

No one knew that for every additional course he completed, he was one step closer to his goal. In his past life, for his sake, Shen Yu had saved up countless money by skimping on food and clothing, preferring to turn himself into ashes and grind into the mud just to protect him for a smooth life.

In this life, he would make up for all the debts. He would strive to give Shen Yu a warm and solid embrace, a home where he didn’t have to watch other people’s expressions, a harbor that could block the wind and shelter from the rain.

After winter set in, the nights in Beicheng were very cold. After the library closed, Lu Zhiyan would always wrap that hand-knitted scarf sent by Shen Yu around his neck and find a quiet corner to make a long-distance call to him. In that era, there was no video software, so he could only listen to that person’s gentle, soft voice through the handset to alleviate the suffering of lovesickness.

“Hello? A’Yan?”

Shen Yu’s voice carried a hint of surprised trembling. Every time he received his call, he was like a startled little deer—cautious, yet hiding unhideable joy. The Lu Zhiyan of the past often wouldn’t be in contact for ten days or half a month, his lovers numerous; how could he place his heart only on him?

“Mhm, it’s me.”

Lu Zhiyan leaned against the ice-cold wall, listening to the gentle breathing on the other side, his heart softening into an absolute mess, “Have you eaten? Don’t always think about working part-time, it’s too tiring.”

“Mhm, I’ve eaten.”

Shen Yu’s voice was warm, like a spring breeze brushing across a lake, “The part-time work isn’t much, it’s not tiring, don’t worry.”

“What did you eat?”

“Steamed pork ribs with steamed buns.”

“Just one dish?”

“No… there’s also, stir-fried lettuce.”

“No, that’s too little. You’re so tall, is that enough? In the future, at least three meat dishes and one vegetable, plus a soup. Eat at least two buns, no, three. Is the living allowance enough? If it’s not, I’ll transfer some to you.”

Shen Yu laughed softly, “It’s enough. What about you?”

Hearing that person laugh, a surge of warm softness instantly welled up in Lu Zhiyan’s heart, “Hey, is it your first day knowing me? Could I treat myself poorly? It’s cold, did you add more clothes?”

“Added them.”

“Don’t bear not to wear the new coat I bought, that one is windproof and warm.”

“Mhm.”

Shen Yu never retorted, patiently listening to him nag every time. The gentleness in his tone could melt a person. Lu Zhiyan gripped the handset, his eye sockets turning sour. Clearly it was he who owed too much, yet Shen Yu was always this sensible, making one’s heart ache.

A semester passed in a flash, and the final exams arrived as scheduled. Lu Zhiyan was taking too many courses, and his exam schedule was packed for a full week, testing from morning to night every day, his nerves pulled tight like a string. By the last subject, that thick professional book—he had only rushed through it once this semester, and the knowledge points were frighteningly complex.

The night before the exam, Lu Zhiyan found a corner in the library, intending to devour it through the night. Before starting, he dialed Shen Yu’s number once again.

“A’Yu, are you busy?”

“No, I’m reviewing for final exams.”

Shen Yu’s voice carried a scholarly fatigue, yet remained gentle.

Hearing that he was also reviewing, a surge of warmth welled up in Lu Zhiyan’s heart, as if he had found a companion walking alongside him. The longing accumulated over an entire semester suddenly broke through his defense line. Facing the handset, his voice was soft, carrying a trace of imperceptible choking:

“A’Yu, I miss you.”

The other end was silent for a moment, then came Shen Yu’s soft sigh, carrying a bit of heartache, and a bit of sweetness:

“I miss you too.”

“Wait for you to come back.”

Lu Zhiyan closed his eyes, pressing down the surging emotions.

“Okay, see you when I get back.”

After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhiyan took a deep breath and opened the heavy textbook. Under the light, his gaze was exceptionally focused, his pen tip sliding past dense text, recording every single word into his heart. That night, relying on a ruthless drive, he devoured the whole book from beginning to end twice. When he closed the book, the sky outside the window was already glowing with a fish-belly white.

Walking into the exam hall, Lu Zhiyan’s eyes were full of red blood streaks, yet his gaze was exceptionally clear. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Throughout the two-hour exam, he didn’t stop his pen for a single moment, only slowly letting out a sigh of relief when the bell rang, putting his pen down.

He propped himself against the wall and shuffled to the cafeteria, devouring two big bowls of noodles. Only then did his taut body slightly ease up. Returning to the dorm, the roommates were chatting while packing their luggage, preparing to go home for the Chinese New Year.

Lu Zhiyan was too tired to even talk to them, not even taking off his clothes before crashing onto the bed and falling into a deep sleep. In his dreams, everything was Shen Yu’s gentle smile, and that soft sentence, “See you when I get back.”

Sleeping until seven or eight in the evening, the dorm was already empty. Lu Zhiyan sat up, rubbing his throbbing temples. The soreness all over his body hadn’t dissipated yet, but he was much more spirited.

He took out his phone and dialed that number he knew by heart. The phone hadn’t rung more than twice before it was answered. Shen Yu’s warm and soft voice came through the handset like a feather gently brushing against the tip of his heart:

“A’Yan, are you done with your exams?”

“Mhm, finished them this morning. I was a bit tired, slept for a bit, just woke up.”

Lu Zhiyan leaned against the window, listening to the voice in the handset, the corners of his mouth curving up unconsciously, “When are you coming back?”

“I’m almost at the ticket gate, I’ll be there tomorrow morning.”

Shen Yu’s voice hid unhideable joy, “I brought you dried fish from Haicheng, and also brought some local specialties for your parents.”

Lu Zhiyan’s heart warmed violently, his nose slightly sour. In his past life, he never cared about these trivial little things. Now, every bit of Shen Yu’s concern made him feel incomparably precious.

“Okay, I’ll go to the train station to pick you up tomorrow morning.”

His voice was so gentle it could drip water, “What do you want to eat? I’ll go buy it in advance.”

“No need, I want to see you sooner.”

Shen Yu let out a light laugh, his voice magnetic and pleasant, “You just need to come pick me up.”

After hanging up the phone, Lu Zhiyan looked at the silver moonlight shining in through the window, the depths of his eyes full of gentle smiles.

He hurriedly got out of bed and started packing his luggage. There weren’t any valuables, just a few changes of clothes. Then suddenly remembering something, he hurriedly changed his shoes and went out, walking to a large supermarket near the school to buy the Longjing tea that Uncle Shen loved to drink and the silk scarf that Auntie Liu liked. By the time he returned to the dorm, it was already very late.

He lay down in his clothes, his fingertips gently caressing the ring hanging on his chest by a carefully selected platinum necklace, and sank into his dreams in perfect peace.

Early the next morning, as the sky was just beginning to lighten, Lu Zhiyan got up from bed. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] He changed into a sweater, finished washing up, picked up the light gray scarf Shen Yu had personally knitted for him, and carefully wrapped it around his neck. His fingertips caressed the fine, soft stitches, his heart burning warm. He then quickly grabbed his coat, shouldered his backpack, and headed straight for the train station.

The early morning in deep winter still carried a biting chill. Sunlight passed through the bare branches, casting fragmented, cold spots of light on the ground. The scent of breakfast shops by the roadside floated in the air, revealing a bit of vivid warmth amidst the coldness.

The train station was already crowded with people coming and going. [Read on RanaTranslations🌸] Lu Zhiyan found a conspicuous position and stood still, his gaze tightly locked onto the station exit, his heart beating uncontrollably fast in his chest.

He raised his hand to check his watch. There was less than half an hour until the train arrived, yet he felt as if every second was incomparably long.

The wind at the station exit was wrapped in biting cold, scraping his face until it ached. His exhaled breath instantly condensed into a ball of white mist. Lu Zhiyan, however, didn’t feel cold at all, his eyes burning with scalding, urgent expectation. He imagined what Shen Yu would look like walking out of the station exit, imagined the temperature of hugging him again, his fingertips trembling slightly.

Time passed second by second, and the train arrival announcement finally rang out on the broadcast. Lu Zhiyan abruptly stood straight, his gaze locked dead onto the station exit. The sound of his heartbeat in his chest was so loud it almost drowned out the surrounding clamor.

The person he was waiting for was finally about to return.