Li Xuan knew how to drive, but he refused to drive to work.
He enjoyed having Su Xingchuan take him to work every morning, sharing a lingering kiss at the hospital entrance. As he got out of the car, he would look back to see Su Xingchuan smiling at him from a distance.
With his bag on his back, he walked into the hospital.
The security guard initially didn’t dare greet him, but Li Xuan took the initiative, smiling and nodding. The guard, surprised, quickly responded, “Good morning, Dr. Li.”
Li Xuan replied, “Good morning.”
Watching Li Xuan enter the hospital gates, the guard muttered quietly, “What’s going on today? Dr. Li actually smiled.”
The urology hospital was generally less busy compared to comprehensive hospitals. Li Xuan calmly walked into his office, put on his white coat, and turned on the computer. The call system started up, and mechanical announcements for appointments began. The door to his office was knocked on, and a few men with troubled expressions walked in.
At first, they doubted Li Xuan’s expertise due to his young appearance. However, after some communication, they realized that this aloof young doctor was indeed very professional.
Li Xuan handed them prescriptions and watched them leave. While waiting for the next patient, he glanced at his watch.
It was ten in the morning.
By this time, Su Xingchuan should be arriving soon.
Having waited half a month, last night almost escalated between them. Li Xuan wanted it too, but sticking to his professional ethics as a doctor, he ultimately stopped Su Xingchuan’s advances. Disappointed, Su Xingchuan fell into his arms, biting his neck repeatedly.
Li Xuan tugged his turtleneck higher.
To hide the kiss marks.
—
The number of patients on the bench gradually dwindled.
Checking the time, Su Xingchuan got up to collect his number.
Even though he was the doctor’s partner, he still followed the rules, making an appointment and sitting in the waiting area. He watched other patients enter and leave, deliberately timing his visit to be the last appointment of the day, just as Li Xuan was about to finish work.
Perhaps due to their familiarity and connection, as soon as he walked in without saying a word, Li Xuan sensed his presence. He tilted his head and saw Su Xingchuan.
Su Xingchuan raised an eyebrow at him.
Li Xuan maintained his cool expression, ignoring him.
At home, Dr. Li could be as sweet as a child, but once he started working, he transformed. In his white coat, with neatly styled hair and a composed demeanor, he exuded a distant and professional aura. For the first time, Su Xingchuan clearly felt that Li Xuan was no longer twenty.
He was now Dr. Li at twenty-seven.
Swallowing, Su Xingchuan had a mischievous thought—he wanted Li Xuan to buy a white coat and wear it at home.
“Dr. Li,” he called out seriously, but Li Xuan didn’t respond.
“I’m number twenty-four.” He handed his registration slip to Li Xuan, playing along. “I’m here for a follow-up.”
Li Xuan reached out, but as soon as their hands met, he flipped it and lightly smacked him.
In a stern tone, Dr. Li said, “CT report.”
“…” Su Xingchuan reluctantly handed over the report.
He had come in the day before for a series of tests and, as soon as he received the report that morning, he rushed to Li Xuan for a follow-up. He planned a candlelit dinner for the evening—soft lights, the scent of wine—and hoped to take the next step.
Li Xuan reviewed the report without saying a word.
The smile on Su Xingchuan’s face froze. “What’s… what’s wrong?”
Li Xuan looked serious.
“Don’t scare me, baby!” He leaned in to read the report with Li Xuan. “From what I see, it looks fine.”
After a few seconds, Li Xuan finally said, “It’s fine.”
“…”
Breathing a sigh of relief, Su Xingchuan pinched his cheek. “You scared me, Dr. Li. You’ll have to take full responsibility.”
Li Xuan gazed at him, tilting his head slightly. All of a sudden, any annoyance he felt dissipated as he leaned in for a kiss.
At that moment, a nurse walked in. “Dr. Li, the cafeteria at lunch—”
She froze mid-sentence.
Pulling away, Su Xingchuan smiled at the nurse.
Unfazed, Li Xuan asked, “What about the cafeteria?”
The nurse stammered, “There’s, um, beef stew available—first come, first served.”
“Got it. Thank you.”
Standing up, Su Xingchuan told the nurse, “I’m Dr. Li’s boyfriend.” He turned to Li Xuan, “What’s her name?”
“Zou Ying,” Li Xuan replied.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Zou.”
The nurse smiled awkwardly, not used to the situation. “Nice to meet you. You two look great together.”
Raising his eyebrows, clearly pleased with the compliment, Su Xingchuan watched as the nurse closed the door.
He walked over, locked it, and hugged Li Xuan, who was about to remove his white coat. “How’s that stew? Is it good? Can I join as your partner?”
“You can.”
Stopping Li Xuan’s hands, he reached up to unbutton his coat himself.
It was just the buttons; there was still a shirt underneath. But he slowed his movements deliberately.
The atmosphere became suggestive.
Li Xuan turned his head, whispering, “I’m hungry.”
“So am I,” said Su Xingchuan.
“…”
Clearly, they weren’t talking about the same kind of hunger.
When he undid the last button, he leaned in and captured Li Xuan’s lips. Li Xuan had to tilt his head up, his hands gripping his shoulders to steady himself.
As he brushed his lips against Li Xuan’s, he murmured, “I didn’t get it before, but now I understand what they mean by ‘uniform temptation.’”
For some reason, Li Xuan suddenly felt nervous.
“Su Xingchuan.”
“Hmm?”
“Just… don’t be too intense.”
Laughing softly, he said, “I’ll try to restrain myself. I won’t let Dr. Li become a patient.”
Li Xuan bit his shoulder.
He eventually led Li Xuan to the cafeteria. Two attractive men walking together attracted a lot of stares. “Aren’t you afraid of the gossip?” he asked.
Li Xuan shook his head. “I’m not afraid.”
Walking confidently beside him, Li Xuan wasn’t fazed by the curious glances from others.
Su Xingchuan felt a surge of affection.
Li Xuan used his card to buy two steaming bowls of beef stew, and they sat across from each other. In front of colleagues, Li Xuan didn’t act clingy, sitting properly. But as they ate, he stealthily used his chopsticks to take Su Xingchuan’s favorite pieces.
Watching Li Xuan eat always made Su Xingchuan feel happy.
Suddenly, he said, “Let’s go abroad and get married after New Year’s, okay?”
Li Xuan was stunned for a moment.
“Just like you said, with rings, at a church.”
Li Xuan looked down at his steaming bowl, staying silent. Leaning closer, Su Xingchuan teased, “What’s wrong? Is there a little cat tearing up over here?”
Li Xuan glared. “No.”
Smiling, he said, “Alright, then it’s settled. I’ll handle the planning.”
Li Xuan shook his head.
Just as he was about to ask, Li Xuan said, “We’ll plan it together.”
A smile slowly spread across his face.
“Alright.”
However, life had its own plans. Li Xuan finished work early, but an urgent task kept Su Xingchuan working late at the office. He messaged Li Xuan to go home first.
Li Xuan agreed but didn’t follow his instructions. Instead, he rode a bike to his office building.
It was his first time visiting his workplace.
Unlike Su Xingchuan, he wasn’t as comfortable, so he waited outside.
Stepping off the elevator, the first thing Su Xingchuan saw was Li Xuan sitting on the steps, mumbling quietly.
Approaching from behind, he listened.
“Iceland, Sicily, Bali… church…”
It was clear he was thinking about the wedding.
Wrapping him in his arms, he greeted him just as Xie Liang walked out. “Well, well,” he said, squinting playfully.
Li Xuan turned away, refusing to look at him.
Laughing, Xie Liang said, “Dr. Li, Xingchuan was so restless today, like he was sitting on pins and needles.”
Li Xuan’s ears turned red.
Waving Xie Liang off, Xingchuan dismissed him.
When the chatter faded, he asked, “Xuanxuan, where do you want to have the wedding?”
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“We’ll figure it out together when we get home.”
But when they returned, any talk of the church was forgotten. Before they even closed the door, he pushed Li Xuan against the wall, one hand protecting his head, the other pulling off his coat.
He seemed urgent.
It was the first time Li Xuan felt nervous before anything happened, his body tense. Noticing his hesitation, Xingchuan paused and touched his nose gently. “Did I scare you?”
Feigning calm, Li X
uan said, “No.”
“Then shall we continue?”
Li Xuan’s breath hitched as he was carried to the bathroom. Over time, he had forgotten what the twenty-year-old impulsive Xingchuan was like, and how he had been left unable to get out of bed, living off porridge for days.
Against the cold tiles, even as steam enveloped them, the heat inside his body kept rising. Li Xuan still felt a bit cold, but he didn’t say anything, tilting his head back as he welcomed Su Xingchuan’s intensity.
He thought: I’m just too in love with him.
Time lost meaning, and he couldn’t remember how long they stayed in the shower. The water poured down like a storm, bringing relief, but also an overwhelming rush of sensations. Kisses became catalysts, and waves of affection crashed over them, leaving behind white foam.
Neither could tell who was the wave and who was being swept away.
Only in the latter half did Xingchuan’s usual gentleness return. Whispering sweet words into Li Xuan’s ear.
Li Xuan buried his face into the pillow but was pulled back out. He pleaded, “I’m tired.”
“Then sleep.”
Li Xuan sighed helplessly.
As he stared at the night sky, he thought it must be past midnight. Turning, he cradled Xingchuan’s face, his eyes misty. “Husband, have mercy.”
Surprised, Xingchuan laughed. “Alright.”
Half-asleep, Li Xuan heard him whisper, “Dr. Li, how’s my recovery going?”
Dr. Li was too exhausted to respond.
Xingchuan pressed, “Do I need a third check-up?”
Li Xuan whimpered, and Xingchuan chuckled.
“So annoying,” Li Xuan muttered.
He drifted off almost immediately.
Stroking his cheek, Xingchuan kissed his forehead and whispered, “Good night, baby.”
The next day, Li Xuan slept until noon.
Xu Zhengdong dropped by, curious to check on the couple. After waiting a while in the living room, Li Xuan finally woke up. Rather than greet his uncle, he called out, “Su Xingchuan, I want water!”
Immediately, Xingchuan brought him water.
Xu Zhengdong noticed a bag from the urology hospital on the table. Assuming it was Li Xuan’s, he peeked at it, realizing it belonged to Xingchuan. Among the unfamiliar medical terms, he saw “vas deferens” and was startled.
When Xingchuan finally coaxed Li Xuan into the living room, he walked over, holding the report. “What’s this?”
“It says right there—Su Xingchuan.”
Having just gotten up, Li Xuan lay back down on the sofa.
Lowering his voice, Xu Zhengdong whispered, “Xingchuan… is it, uh, that?”
Recalling the way he had been “tortured” the previous night, Li Xuan decided to lie. “Yes.”
When Xingchuan brought breakfast into the living room, he noticed the odd look from Xu Zhengdong. After a moment of hesitation, he shook his head, sighing regretfully.
Puzzled, Xingchuan asked Li Xuan, “If you don’t explain things to your uncle, I really will start taking those supplements.”
Startled, Li Xuan immediately sat up and explained the truth: that there was absolutely nothing wrong with Xingchuan.
—
After New Year’s, the two of them decided on Bali for their wedding.
The chapel was on an island, offering a view of the vast, azure ocean. The sun was bright, white seabirds streaking across the sky—everything was perfectly beautiful.
Standing before the mirror, Li Xuan’s mother, Xu Nianzhi, helped adjust his collar.
He looked at her, and she smiled back.
Ten minutes before the ceremony, sitting alone in the dressing room, Li Xuan felt a wave of nerves. As if sensing it, Xingchuan knocked and entered.
Hugging him from behind, he kissed his cheek.
“Don’t be nervous, baby.”
As they shared this moment, Xie Liang knocked outside. “Xingchuan, are you in there? The pastor’s here. Do you want to review the vows?”
Xingchuan replied, “Alright.” But just as he was about to leave, Li Xuan held his hand, pulling him closer.
Leaning down, Xingchuan asked, “What is it?”
Li Xuan whispered in his ear, “I don’t think I’ve ever said this to you.”
“What?”
“I love you.”
A soft smile spread across Xingchuan’s face.
Tentatively, Li Xuan continued, “The first time I met you in that alley, you stood in front of me, shielding me. It was so dark, I couldn’t see your face, but I already liked you.”
“Back then, I knew—I wanted you by my side forever.”
Xingchuan kissed him gently.
Su Xingchuan, stay with me forever. Let’s go slow, last long, love deeply, and meet again in the next life.
[The End]
Ahhhhh so happy for them?