Chapter 723 - 359: Victory in the Sparring Match! (2)

Xie Xiao thought Qu Daowen was insinuating that he was going to harm Lu Cheng and get him a craniotomy!

In fact, Qu Daowen was just talking about 'prostitution' as usual.

Xie Xiao sighed softly, "So I should speak less and learn more about the customs here."

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do."

...

The atmosphere of the gathering wasn't that good.

It was even somewhat awkward.

There were too many people gathered, too diverse, involving different professions and regions, with each person's customs differing.

Even with Lu Cheng as the intermediary, it was difficult for people from the same project group but different professions and hospitals to come together.

It's something that can't be helped.

After the dinner ended, Lu Cheng first arranged for Dai Linfang to send Xie Xiao home, then took a cab himself to return to his dormitory with Professor Qu Daowen.

In the back seat of the taxi, Qu Daowen's expression was serious: "Director Lu, there's an issue with our hospital department, so I need to head back first."

"However, Xiao Dong wants to stay longer to learn more."

"He's a bit shy, so he asked me to speak on his behalf. I wonder what Director Lu thinks of this?"

Qu Daowen is also a professor, perhaps not as famous as Xie Xiao, but still a formidable presence at the Provincial People's Hospital.

Qu Daowen engaged in conversation to lighten the mood, but Xie Xiao couldn't pick up the cues, only countered aggressively, which seemed a bit high-handed.

"Professor Qu, if Professor Dong is willing to stay and help, it's something we're very glad about."

Lu Cheng's response was official: "I just hope it won't affect Professor Dong's regular arrangements."

"Teacher Qu, you know we have many people in our department now... I'm just worried I might not be able to take care of things for Teacher Dong."

"Perhaps the hospitality won't be adequate."

"Of course, if Professor Dong wants to stay, everything can remain unchanged."

Qu Daowen understood Lu Cheng's intention.

If Dong Liumeng wants to stay, his role can only be that of a supporting expert from the Provincial People's Hospital, unable to enter the core circle of the project group.

Lu Cheng doesn't want to mix different circles together.

Nor does Lu Cheng wish to get involved in mediating.

"Okay, I'll convey this to Xiao Dong."

"Director Lu, you don't need to worry, being straightforward is also a sign of respect." Though inwardly understanding, Qu Daowen's tone was somewhat chilly.

In a way, both he and Dong Liumeng have put in effort nonetheless.

Lu Cheng, in contrast, wasn't leaving any room for sentiment.

Lu Cheng gently shook his head, avoiding being too shrewd, and left a door open: "Teacher Qu, when it comes to scientific research, I'm actually half an outsider."

"It's like walking a tightrope, being cautious, truly impossible to lead anyone!"

"I'm not the only one who decides."

Qu Daowen laughed: "Director Lu, I'm just telling you about this, not trying to make things difficult."

"Xiao Dong has his ideas, and of course, Director Lu, you can have yours..."

The taxi driver was a middle-aged man, skilled at driving, ensuring a smooth journey.

He uneventfully dropped off Professor Qu Daowen at the entrance of his dormitory complex, and Lu Cheng got back onto the taxi.

Sitting again in the back seat, Lu Cheng rolled the window down.

The night swallowed the streetlights and glow, while also completely consuming the silhouette of Professor Qu Daowen.

...

At home, Mu Nanshu was hard at work, burning the midnight oil.

After returning home, Lu Cheng also sat at his desk and began writing handwritten "wedding invitations!"

Mu Nanshu glanced at Lu Cheng, noticed he wasn't flushed from drinking, and instructed directly, "You start writing from the back!"

"I've already penned the names on the first six pages."

"Mainly my friends, in my tone."

Lu Cheng looked up, "In this day and age, are envelopes still used? Will it be timely?"

"I asked, and the mail is fast too, generally reaching anywhere nationwide in a week!" Mu Nanshu nodded.

Rustle rustle, the two sat across each other, penning words.

Actually, there weren't too many names to write, Mu Nanshu just returned too late, and since she had to fill in envelope details, she hadn't written much!

"Having acquired address info in advance, even if they don't come, we can send return gifts later."

"It's a heartfelt gesture." Mu Nanshu valued this sense of ceremony.

Lu Cheng pondered for a moment, then asked with amusement: "Why not try a traditional sedan chair?"

"Let's skip that, there's no time for preparation now. Such Chinese weddings aren't just about sedan chairs..."

"We don't have a team here that could handle it."

"Learning haphazardly is worse than not learning at all."

As she wrote, Mu Nanshu casually said, "By the way, Sister Xie messaged me saying Professor Xie has arrived at her place."

"Slept already!"

Lu Cheng raised his head, a bit puzzled, "Professor Xie went to Xie Yuan'an's place?"

"Then where did Xie Yuan'an go?"

Mu Nanshu mentioned they had gone to sleep.

"Guess?" Mu Nanshu amusingly raised her eyebrows.

"Sister Xie is older than me, you know."

Was guessing necessary for Lu Cheng?

Lu Cheng concluded that Xie Yuan'an and her father were a couple of unpredictable jokers...

"Tonight, Professor Qu Daowen, supporting in our department, mentioned something that touched me." Lu Cheng changed the subject.

Mu Nanshu: "Hmm, tell me."

"This envelope doesn't need mailing; I'll bring it when I go to Sha City to pick up clothes."

Lu Cheng recounted the situation with Professors Qu Daowen and Dong Liumeng.

Mu Nanshu quickly grasped Lu Cheng's implication: "Do you feel a boomerang has hit you right between the brows?"

"Though all are associate professors, not all associate professors are the same!"

"But he's an associate professor too..."

"So why do you, Lu Cheng, look down on him? Why do you have different thoughts just based on the other's status?"

"Why, even, do you, Lu Cheng, reject a deputy professor eager to join a project group?"

"Now, think back to the past——"

"The ones who rejected you were all professors, all top-ranked in projects and professions nationally."

"Back then, you were just a small undergrad student..."

"Rejecting you was no big deal, yet you were upset?"

Mu Nanshu's analytical skill was strong: "And why this situation feels similar is mainly because you don't value Professor Dong's research abilities."

"Is that right?"

Professor Dong Liumeng's professional skills aren't inferior to other associate professors, perhaps better in some aspects!

But Lu Cheng still didn't agree outright...

Lu Cheng squinted slightly, calmly asking, "You talk about eating the heart, but what about eating the intestines?"

This non-driving double entendre typically wouldn't fall flat with Mu Nanshu.

"Why do you care?"

"Actually, you needn't think this way."

"Because one thing is very clear."

"You were admitted to a professional master's program, showing excellence in the theory exam and practice during the interview."

"That's not an academic research master's." Mu Nanshu reassured.

Lu Cheng shook his head, "Actually, that reason doesn't hold much weight."

"In essence, we're all ordinary people, wearing tinted glasses to view others, no one can escape it..."

"You've worn them, and so have I."

Mu Nanshu thought for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Mu Nanshu insisted, "Let's not dwell on it, just focus on writing... I don't want to admit we've made mistakes..."

Lu Cheng wasn't a pretentious person.

However, before having written many letters, the phone on his right side rang.

Lu Cheng picked it up and chose to answer: "Yes, thank you, Teacher Zhong, for letting me know."

"I'm pleased we won against our friendly nation's counterparts."

"But there's no need for them to come to Xiangzhou; I'm in the emergency department, currently swamped with tasks, truly no time to host them."

"Alright, thank you Professor Zhong for understanding."