Super Doctor - Chapter 203

Xu Ze was filled with regret. He couldn’t return to Xing City with Sun Lingfei…

Due to the restrictions her father had previously placed on her, opportunities for Xu Ze and Sun Lingfei to meet had become much fewer. To avoid arousing her father’s displeasure, Sun Lingfei had no choice but to spend most of her time at home, limiting her meetings with Xu Ze. Their only solace was brief conversations over the phone to ease their longing.

Now, with the new semester starting, Xu Ze still couldn’t travel back to Xing City with Sun Lingfei. To prevent her father from noticing their closeness and potentially separating them, they had to stagger their trips. Xu Ze would go first, alone.

With a heavy heart, Xu Ze once again boarded a flight to Xing City by himself. As the plane took off, he looked down at the majestic ancient city where he had spent the last month and let out a soft sigh.

His initial plan was to stay in Yanjing for just two or three days. He never expected to end up staying for a full month. It was truly unexpected… If it weren’t for Old Master Li, he probably wouldn’t have stayed so long.

However, the trip wasn’t a waste. At the very least, it had created an opportunity for him and Sun Lingfei, offering a glimmer of hope for their future. If they worked hard, perhaps there was still a good chance for them down the road.

The plane landed smoothly at Xing City Airport. Xu Ze, pulling his suitcase, walked out of the terminal. The Maserati he had left at the airport long ago had been driven home by Tang Zhi. Now, Tang Zhi was waiting at the entrance, driving an Audi A8.

Xu Ze opened the door and got in. Tang Zhi, who hadn’t seen him for a month, was as hearty as ever. He glanced back at Xu Ze with a grin. “So… how was your month in Yanjing?”

“Not bad,” Xu Ze replied with a smile. This past month had been completely different from his usual life. He had stepped into several new circles, encountered the privileged ‘princelings’ of Yanjing, spent half a month in the military, and even managed to take down a Japanese spy. It had been quite eventful…

Seeing the faint smile on Xu Ze’s face, Tang Zhi laughed heartily. “You might seem incredibly low-key, but you sure know how to stir things up wherever you go.”

“Causing a stir at the Sun family, making quite a few socialites swoon; then helping Old Master Li with a major health issue he’d had for over a decade; even making the Zhang family’s young master wreck his Ferrari and still owe you a huge favor; and on top of that, getting involved with the State Security… you really have a talent for finding trouble.”

Hearing Tang Zhi recount his exploits in Yanjing one by one, Xu Ze could only shake his head with a wry smile. “Most of those things happened because I had no other choice. You think I wanted any of it?”

“If you didn’t want to, who could force you? Haha…” Tang Zhi saw right through him. He steered the car swiftly into the traffic, chuckling. “But the old man is very pleased.”

Tang Zhi dropped Xu Ze off at his apartment building before heading back to Tianyang Mountain. Xu Ze returned home, opened the door, and was greeted by a spotlessly clean apartment, despite being away for a month. His eyes fell on the massive white, nine-foot Steinway grand piano near the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, and a happy smile spread across his face.

Since the last time he played the piano at Sun Lingfei’s house, he hadn’t had another chance to touch one. Xu Ze realized he had developed a passionate love for the feeling of touching the keys and freely expressing his emotions.

Dropping his suitcase, he gently ran his fingers over the white piano. He lifted the lid and slowly pressed the keys one by one, listening to the clear, crisp sounds they produced. His smile widened.

Mayor Zhang had really come through. Getting this piano for him must have taken considerable effort, and Xu Ze was utterly satisfied…

Reluctantly leaving the piano, he walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, opened the glass door to let in some fresh air, then grabbed a change of clothes. After a refreshing shower, he walked out feeling clean and relaxed, and settled back in front of the piano. He took a light breath, then stretched out his slender fingers and lightly coaxed a string of familiar, cheerful notes from the keys: “Ballade pour Adeline.”

Xu Ze played with complete immersion, his slender fingers dancing nimbly across the black and white keys. The cheerful melody filled the living room.

Many neighbors, hearing the delightful and pleasant piano music, knew that the handsome young man who loved music was probably back. They had missed his guitar and violin playing over the past month. They hadn’t realized that this talented young man wasn’t just skilled with guitar and violin, but could also play the piano so beautifully.

While Xu Ze was enjoying himself, he was unaware that his return had attracted the attention of many neighbors. Quite a few people stepped out onto their balconies, listening to the enchanting piano music drifting from upstairs, downstairs, or next door. Many young women, hearts aflutter, peered towards Xu Ze’s balcony, hoping to catch a glimpse of him.

Finishing the piece, Xu Ze let out a long, relaxed sigh. He was extremely pleased with this Steinway. Among the few pianos he had played, this one was undoubtedly the most perfect in every aspect…

The feeling it gave him far surpassed even his experiences playing in the virtual space. Its pure tone and quality allowed his spiritual energy to reach its peak, enabling significant growth whenever he lost himself in the music.

He caressed the smooth keys wistfully, a slight smile on his face. Then, gently moving his slender fingers, he began to play “Greensleeves.”

As the beautiful piano music rose, the white curtains in the bright living room fluttered gently in the breeze. The scene was almost dreamlike.

September arrived quickly. The campus of Xing University bustled with life again. Students, refreshed from their summer vacations, returned to Xing City from various places, ready to begin the new academic year.

Sun Lingfei and Li Xiaorui also returned to Xing City from Yanjing, finally free from her father’s direct supervision, at least for now.

However, Sun Lingfei didn’t dare to be too intimate with Xu Ze or visit his home as freely as before. After all, her father had many eyes and ears in Xing City. If any unfavorable news reached him, she dreaded to think what might happen.

Because of these concerns, the two hesitated to get too close, reverting to their previous pattern of gazing at each other from their respective windows. Often, they would sit on their windowsills or balconies, phones in hand, looking at each other from a distance while chatting. When he had nothing else to do, Xu Ze would happily grab his guitar and play for Sun Lingfei from his balcony.

“Xu Ze… I need to tell you something!” Sun Lingfei said playfully from her side.

Hearing her tone, Xu Ze raised an eyebrow, sensing it might not be good news. Still, he smiled and asked, “What is it?”

“Well… you have to participate in the upcoming Welcome Party,” Sun Lingfei said with a light laugh.

“The Welcome Party?” Xu Ze was taken aback. He was naturally aware of the annual Welcome Party held at the start of the semester. In previous years, Luozi and Gangzi had been obsessed with it. Every year around this time, those guys would dress up and head to the main sports field, hoping to pick up some freshmen girls.

However, apart from attending once during his own freshman year, Xu Ze had never gone again. He was always too busy, and he didn’t particularly enjoy such noisy events. So, hearing Sun Lingfei mention it now piqued his curiosity. “What does the Welcome Party have to do with me? That’s the student union’s affair.”

“It didn’t… but who told you that you’re now ranked first on Xing University’s Popularity Chart? You’re practically the face of our university now. Li Yuxuan specifically asked me to convince you to make an appearance… otherwise, the new students might be very disappointed. Traditionally, the number one on the Popularity Chart is the grand finale of the Welcome Party.” Sun Lingfei covered her mouth, giggling on the other end.

Hearing her delighted laughter, Xu Ze smiled too. “You go if you want to… I’m not interested in getting involved with the student union’s business.”

“Hehe… I don’t care. You’re going this time. Li Yuxuan has called me several times, making me promise that you’ll definitely be there…” Sun Lingfei replied with a string of clear, bell-like laughs. Standing on her balcony, she waved her little fist cutely in Xu Ze’s direction, her pretty mouth puckered in a pout. “If you don’t go, just see how I deal with you…”

Watching her adorable expression, Xu Ze couldn’t help but laugh. He sighed in mock resignation. “Alright, alright… I’ll go. Is that good enough?”

“That’s more like it… Hmph…” Satisfied with his answer, Sun Lingfei dropped her fierce, lioness-like pose and looked happily at the increasingly handsome young man across the way.

The Welcome Party commenced the day after the new students finished registration. It was the largest annual event at Xing University, designed to help freshmen integrate quickly into campus life and maintain the university’s vibrant energy. The party’s influence even extended beyond campus, so the university administration was happy to provide support.

The main sports field was massive, capable of holding nearly ten thousand people. The stage was already set up, and all sorts of spotlights on the building’s roof were switched on without restraint, illuminating the entire area brightly.

After dinner, Xu Ze, along with Fatty, Luozi, and the others, made their way into the main sports field to wait for the party to start.

Once inside, Luozi and Fatty’s eyes immediately lit up, scanning the crowd for unfamiliar, fresh-faced female students to chat up.

Xu Ze, however, wasn’t particularly fond of such crowded, bustling scenes. If he hadn’t promised Sun Lingfei he would perform, he wouldn’t have come at all. So, after entering, he found a relatively dark and quiet corner to settle in, observing the crowd where his fellow upperclassmen were eagerly surrounding groups of new freshman girls, trying to impress them and make them laugh…

Watching the enthusiastic second and third-year students shuttling through the crowd, a smile touched Xu Ze’s lips. For the past two years, he had devoted most of his energy to the clinic, often feeling somewhat detached from campus life. But seeing everyone now, feeling the youthful energy permeating the warm air, he remembered that he was still a part of this university.

Seeing the shy smiles on the freshman girls’ faces as they responded to the upperclassmen’s enthusiasm, and the excited, eager expressions of the male students, Xu Ze chuckled softly to himself and shook his head slightly, his gaze wandering.

As his eyes swept across the crowd, a familiar, pretty figure in white flashed by…

“Huh? Lin…” Looking at the girl who reminded him of a pure little white flower, Xu Ze frowned, thinking hard for a moment before recalling her name. “Lin Yumeng… She really did come to Xing University.”

He remembered a sentence this innocent, flower-like girl had once said to him: “Brother Xu Ze… I’ll come to Xing University in the future too.”

Looking at the lovely figure in white, a faint smile appeared on Xu Ze’s face. Even though he had only spoken with her a few times, this girl had left a deep impression on him.

It had been a long time, but Lin Yumeng didn’t seem to have changed much. She still had long black hair, a delicate and pretty face, and wore a pure white dress that reached her knees. Her slender legs were complemented by a pair of equally white canvas shoes, giving her a fresh, pure, and playful charm.

“Still just as innocent and cute…” Xu Ze murmured to himself with a soft smile, watching Lin Yumeng not far away. “Looks like the campus beauty ranking is going to see some changes this year…”

Lin Yumeng was already surrounded by four or five eager second and third-year male students, vying for her attention.

Yet, Lin Yumeng maintained a faint, polite smile, keeping a friendly but slightly distant demeanor as she navigated their enthusiasm. Her clear, watery eyes casually scanned the surroundings, as if searching for something.

Sitting in the shadows by the edge of the field, Xu Ze quietly observed the beautiful girl and the other students brimming with youthful vitality, a gentle smile playing on his lips.

The Welcome Party soon began. After the student union president, Li Yuxuan, delivered a brief welcome speech, the lively performances kicked off.

As expected, the hosts for the event were once again Tao Yiyi and a male junior from the Journalism Department.

Tao Yiyi, whom Xu Ze hadn’t seen for over a month, was as stunning as ever. Dressed in an elegant purple evening gown, she looked exceptionally beautiful and poised.

As one of the top-ranked universities in the country, Xing University always attracted a rich pool of talented students. Many enrolled students possessed extraordinary skills and diverse talents.

Consequently, the Welcome Party at Xing University was always spectacular. Over the years, it had garnered significant attention, with Xing City Television even coming to film and broadcast excerpts from the event on two previous occasions.

This year was no exception. Rumor had it that a well-known alumna, who had graduated from Xing University not long ago and had since made a name for herself in the entertainment industry, was returning to liven up the party.

Therefore, this year’s Welcome Party was especially bustling. Two small platforms had been erected opposite the main stage, each holding a camera from Xing City Television for the live broadcast.

Xu Ze remained seated in the shade under a large tree by the field. Listening to the energetic music and watching the modern dance performance by the Arts Department on the diagonal stage, he felt quite relaxed. Meanwhile, Fatty, Luozi, and the others had long since disappeared, probably off somewhere trying to charm female students.

While everyone else pushed forward to get a better view, this wasn’t a problem for Xu Ze. The zoom function of his glasses worked perfectly; even from a hundred meters away, the stage appeared as if it were right in front of him.

The dance performance by the Arts Department was, unsurprisingly, excellent, drawing waves of enthusiastic applause from the audience. This was followed by hip-hop dances and guitar performances… each act met with robust applause.

The freshmen in the audience were truly getting a taste of the vibrant atmosphere at Xing University. They were thrilled by the spectacular performances, thinking to themselves that their long-awaited university life was indeed shaping up to be exciting.

Time always flies in a lively atmosphere. Just then, Xu Ze’s phone rang. Seeing Sun Lingfei’s name on the screen, he smiled wryly. It seemed it was time for him to make an appearance.

“Hey… where are you? You’re on in a few acts…” Sun Lingfei’s voice came through, slightly blame amid the noisy background. “You better not stand me up!”

“I’m here… I’ve been waiting right here all along,” Xu Ze replied with a laugh. Then, curious, he asked, “What exactly am I supposed to do up there? You don’t expect me to just walk around on stage like a monkey in a zoo, do you?”

Hearing this, Sun Lingfei couldn’t hold back a giggle. “Hmph, if you want to walk around a bit, that’s fine too…”

“Alright, alright, just tell me what I need to do. Should I hold up a sign that says ‘Xu Ze, Number One on the Xing University Popularity Chart’?” Xu Ze teased lightly.

“I’ve already got it arranged. You just need to play one piece on the violin and one on the piano… Since you’re holding the top spot on our popularity chart, you can’t afford to embarrass yourself… Xing City Television is broadcasting this live today…” Sun Lingfei reminded him with a low laugh.

Hearing this, Xu Ze was stunned. “Wait, doesn Xing City Television usually just record selected segments?”

“This time is different. Senior Sister Wu is back at the university, so Xing City Television is broadcasting our entire event live today,” Sun Lingfei explained, amused by his lack of awareness.

“Wu Yueru is really back?” Xu Ze raised an eyebrow.

“Yep, she’s back. She’s scheduled after you, as the final act,” Sun Lingfei said cheerfully. “Now hurry up and get over here. You need to get ready. The Taekwondo demonstration is right before you.”

Realizing the formal scale of this year’s Welcome Party, Xu Ze knew he couldn’t take it lightly. Making a fool of himself on stage in front of a live broadcast would be a massive humiliation. “Oh… okay then… I’m on my way,” he replied.

Xu Ze stood up, but seeing the dense sea of people before him, he felt a wave of helplessness. Staying on the outskirts had been comfortable, but pushing through this crowd to get to the front seemed like a daunting task.

He really didn’t want to squeeze through the thick of it. If he tried, his T-shirt would likely be a wrinkled mess by the time he got through, and going on stage like that would be just as embarrassing.

Standing there, he looked left and right, finally spotting a slightly less crowded path along the side. He decided to take a long detour around the edge to make his way towards the front stage.