Unexpected Encounters

One week after the fateful gala night and that champagne incident, Mei Hua stood in front of her bathroom mirror, adjusting her newly pressed white coat. The military hospital ID card clipped to her pocket caught the morning light – “Dr. Lin Mei Hua, Military Medical Resident.” She'd passed the licensing exam with top marks, just as she'd hoped, though thoughts of a certain insufferable playboy had tried their best to distract her during her studies.

“Focus, Mei Hua,” she muttered to herself, thinking back to that night. Zhang Chen's mysterious interest in her medical exam still puzzled her. She'd tried to dismiss their encounter as just another rich heir's attempt at flirtation, but something about his genuine reaction to the military medical corps had stuck with her.

The morning sun cast long shadows across the military hospital's pristine corridors as Mei Hua hurried toward the staff locker room. One week had passed since her licensing exam, which she'd passed with flying colors. Today marked her first official day as a military medical resident.

“Dr. Lin!” A nurse called out, waving a file. “The new residents' orientation starts in ten minutes.”

“Thank you!” Mei Hua quickened her pace, her practical heels clicking against the polished floor. She'd arrived an hour early, but somehow time had slipped away while she'd been familiarizing herself with the emergency ward layout.

The orientation room was already half-full when she arrived. She chose a seat near the front, arranging her notepad and pens with military precision – a habit her father had instilled in her since childhood.

“Is this seat taken?”

Mei Hua froze. She knew that voice. It had been haunting her dreams for the past week, though she'd never admit it. Slowly, she looked up.

Zhang Chen stood there in a crisp white coat, looking completely different from the playboy at the gala, yet somehow even more handsome. His usually perfectly styled hair was slightly more professional, and his expression held none of its usual mischief – well, maybe a little.

“You?” She managed to say. “What are you—”

“Good morning, new residents!” The chief resident's voice boomed through the room. “Please take your seats quickly.”

Chen smoothly slid into the chair beside her, his cologne – more subtle than at the gala but still noticeable – teasing her senses.

“Surprise,” he whispered, pulling out his own notepad. “Though I have to say, your shocked face is even cuter than your study face.”

Mei Hua stared straight ahead, trying to focus on the chief resident's welcome speech. But her mind was spinning. The playboy heir to ZhangTech was here? As a resident?

A small paper airplane landed on her notepad.

She unfolded it carefully:

“Stop thinking so loud. You're missing the orientation. - Your favorite champagne victim”

She scribbled back: “Why are you here?”

The note returned: “Same as you. To save lives and look good in a white coat. Though you're winning at the latter.”

Mei Hua felt her cheeks warm. She wrote: “Be serious.”

His response came quickly: “I am. Dead serious about both points.”

“Dr. Lin!” The chief resident's voice made her jump. “Since you and Dr. Zhang seem to be such eager communicators, you can be partners for the emergency response simulation this afternoon.”

Chen's delighted grin made her want to throw her pen at him.

After orientation, Mei Hua cornered Chen in the hallway. “Okay, explain. Now.”

He leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. “Would you believe me if I said you inspired me?”

“No.”

“Harsh.” He clutched his chest in mock pain. “But fair. Truth is, I've wanted to be a doctor since I was twelve. Father wanted me to take over the company. We compromised – I agreed to get my business degree first, waste a few years being the perfect heir, then do what I really wanted.”

Mei Hua studied his face for any sign of deception. “The playboy reputation?”

“Excellent cover for studying medical texts instead of acquisition reports.” He stepped closer, lowering his voice. “I'm actually quite boring. I spend most nights reading about surgical procedures.”

“You're not boring,” she said before she could stop herself.

His eyes lit up. “Dr. Lin, was that almost a compliment?”

“It was an observation.”

“A positive observation.”

“Don't push it.”

He laughed, the sound warm and genuine. “Have lunch with me? I promise to tell you the whole story. Including why I chose military medicine specifically.”

Mei Hua knew she should say no. He was distracting, frustrating, and definitely not part of her carefully planned career path. But... “Fine. But we're eating in the cafeteria, not some fancy restaurant.”

“Deal. Though I should warn you – I've heard the pudding is dangerous here.”

“Then why did you pick this hospital?”

His expression softened. “Because it's the best. And because someone once told me that if you want to be the best doctor you can be, you go where you're needed most.”

The words – her father's words – made her breath catch.

“Your father was a great man, Mei Hua,” Chen said quietly. “His lectures on military medicine changed my life. I just didn't know his daughter would change it again.”

Before she could respond, their pagers beeped simultaneously. Emergency trauma coming in.

“Ready, partner?” Chen's playful smile was back, but his eyes were serious and focused.

Looking at him then, white coat on and ready for action, Mei Hua saw past the playboy facade to the dedicated doctor underneath. It was… attractive. Extremely attractive.

“Try to keep up,” she said, already moving toward the emergency ward.

“Always,” he called after her, and she could hear the smile in his voice.

As they rushed to receive their first trauma case together, Mei Hua had a feeling that Zhang Chen was going to complicate her life in the best possible way. And maybe, just maybe, she was looking forward to it.

At the emergency bay doors, he caught her arm. “Just so you know,” he said quickly, “that gala champagne? Best dry cleaning accident ever.”

Despite herself, Mei Hua smiled. The incoming siren wailed, and together they pushed through the doors, ready to face whatever came next – as doctors, as partners, and as something that felt surprisingly like the beginning of a very interesting story.

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