Hearts in Harmony

The late-night noodle shop tucked away in Shanghai's old quarter wasn't used to seeing customers in formal wear, but the elderly owner merely smiled knowingly as Chen and Mei Hua settled into a corner table, still in their ball attire.

“I can't believe we just ditched the Military Ball for noodles,” Mei Hua laughed, watching Chen struggle to keep his uniform sleeves from dipping into the steaming bowl.

“Best decision ever,” he declared, but was interrupted by the simultaneous chiming of their phones.

Yi Ning's message popped up in their group chat: “SPOTTED: Two fancy birds fleeing the nest! Kai owes me 50 yuan – I knew they wouldn't last through the speeches! 😈”

This was followed immediately by Kai's response: “Traitors! I covered for you with the Chief of Surgery, saying you were checking on an emergency case. You owe me bubble tea for a week!”

“Your best friend is a terrible influence on mine,” Mei Hua commented, showing Chen the messages.

“Please, Yi Ning corrupted Kai the moment they met. Remember the 'accidental' fire alarm during grand rounds last week?”

“That was them?!”

“Why do you think they both mysteriously had umbrellas ready when the sprinklers went off?”

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of more food – the owner insisted on bringing out her “special recipes” for such a lovely couple. As they ate, Mei Hua found herself relaxing more than she had in months.

“You know,” Chen said, stealing a dumpling from her plate, “I never told you about the first time I saw you in the hospital library.”

“I thought the lecture was your first time seeing me?”

“Not quite. Three years ago, I was doing research for my family's medical technology division. You were surrounded by towers of books, dead asleep on your neurology textbook. Yi Ning was trying to build a fort around you with more books to keep people from noticing.”

Mei Hua groaned. “I remember that day. I'd been studying for thirty-six hours straight.”

“Yi Ning saw me watching you and threatened to 'accidentally' drop a medical dictionary on my head if I woke you up.”

“That sounds like her. Did you know she and Kai have a betting pool about us?”

“Of course. Kai's terrible at keeping secrets. Especially after Yi Ning does that thing with her eyes that makes him spill everything.”

Their phones chimed again. This time it was a photo from Yi Ning – Mei Hua and Chen dancing at the ball, looking at each other like they were the only people in the room. The caption read: “For the wedding slideshow! 💕”

“Your best friend is disturbingly confident about our future,” Chen observed.

“Says the man who waited two years to ask me out.”

“Strategic planning takes time!”

Their playful banter was interrupted by an urgent call. Multiple trauma cases incoming – a major accident on the highway. Within minutes, they were rushing back to the hospital, formal wear and all.

They found Yi Ning and Kai already in the ER, efficiently directing incoming patients. Yi Ning had somehow managed to put her hair up with surgical tape, while Kai was using a stethoscope as a makeshift belt for his scrubs.

“Nice of the lovebirds to join us,” Kai called out. “Though I have to say, that qipao is a bold choice for trauma surgery, Dr. Lin.”

“Less talking, more working,” Yi Ning ordered, tossing scrubs at both Mei Hua and Chen. “Change fast – we've got three critical cases incoming.”

The next few hours were a blur of coordinated chaos. The four of them worked seamlessly together, their friendship and professional trust evident in every movement. Chen and Mei Hua took the lead on a complex trauma case, while Kai handled a difficult thoracic injury. Yi Ning managed the less critical cases while keeping everyone's spirits up with her random medical puns.

It was nearly dawn when they finally finished. All patients stable, all surgeries successful. They found themselves in their usual spot – the hidden corner of the hospital roof garden, exhausted but satisfied.

“Some date night,” Kai teased, sprawled across a bench. “From fancy ball to noodles to emergency surgery. You two really know how to party.”

“Better than your idea of a perfect date,” Yi Ning shot back. “Remember the 'romantic' autopsy viewing?”

“Hey, that was educational!”

“You're both ridiculous,” Mei Hua said, leaning against Chen's shoulder. Despite the chaos of the night, she felt oddly content.

“But you love us,” Yi Ning sang, pulling out snacks from her seemingly bottomless pockets. “Here, emergency chocolate. Doctor's orders.”

“Speaking of love,” Kai sat up, suddenly serious. “When are you two making this official? The betting pool is getting intense.”

“Since when is our relationship hospital gambling material?” Chen asked.

“Since you spent two years pining after her like a lovesick puppy,” Kai replied. “The nurses in Cardiology have a whole chart tracking your 'accidental' meetings in the hospital.”

“I knew those coffee machine breakdowns weren't coincidental!” Yi Ning exclaimed. “Chen, you sneaky romantic!”

The sky was turning pink with dawn when they finally headed home. Yi Ning and Kai went ahead, already planning their next scheme, leaving Chen and Mei Hua alone for a moment.

“Sorry about the interrupted date,” Chen said softly.

“Don't be. This – all of this – is who we are. The formal events, the late-night emergencies, the crazy best friends... I wouldn't want it any other way.”

Chen pulled her close, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Have dinner with me tonight? A proper date this time. No emergencies, no balls, no betting pools.”

“I'd like that.” She smiled up at him. “Though I'm pretty sure Yi Ning and Kai will find a way to spy on us.”

“Oh, definitely. They probably already have disguises planned.”

As if on cue, their phones chimed with a message from Yi Ning: “Just remember, if you two get married, Kai and I expect to be co-best-man and co-maid-of-honor. We've already prepared our speech! 🎉”

Followed by Kai: “And we have photos. So many photos. 📸”

Looking at their friends' messages, then at each other, they burst out laughing. This was their life – a perfect blend of medicine, friendship, and growing love, all wrapped up in the controlled chaos of hospital life.

“We should probably fear what those two are planning,” Mei Hua mused.

“Probably,” Chen agreed. “But right now, I just want to kiss you.”

So he did, as the sun rose over Shanghai, marking the beginning of another day in their wonderfully complicated lives.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***