Zhan Hongling raised an eyebrow, seemingly unsurprised by the answer.

He took his hands out of his pockets: "Then there is no need for me to tell you about Julian’s affairs either. After all, that is his business. If you want to know, Dr. Ke, you should ask him yourself."

With that, he turned and waved his hand: "As for matters at work, I hope for your expert guidance, Dr. Ke."

I hadn't expected him to be so unpredictable.

I instinctively wanted to call him back and demand a clear answer.

But before the words could escape my lips, I held them back.

If my intense concern for Julian reached his ears, there was no guarantee he wouldn't overthink things.

Besides, I had just received so much information and needed time to process it all clearly.

What’s more, what Zhan Hongling said might not even be true.

What if he was just trying to help Julian vent his frustration and had deliberately fabricated a story to deceive me?

I clenched my hands in silence, standing on the rooftop for a long time before finally walking down.

As cardiac surgeons, Cassius and I were assigned to the cardiac surgery department, partnering directly with Julian and Zhan Hongling.

The department happened to have a patient with a unique medical condition.

We were tasked with formulating a perfect, foolproof surgical plan for this patient.

Cassius was a textbook blond-haired, blue-eyed man, the same age as Julian but looking somewhat older.

When the four of us gathered with the senior doctors and the department head to discuss, Zhan Hongling lowered his voice and said to Julian: "Don't worry, this Cassius still isn't as handsome as you."

His little stunt was immediately caught by the department head.

Just like a student caught daydreaming in class, the head called him out directly: "Zhan Hongling, so you have a good solution, do you? Come on, stand up and tell us; don't just talk to Julian alone."

Zhan Hongling stood up, showing not a hint of embarrassment: "Department head, if I had a good solution, why would I need the help of two excellent doctors from Lenoir Hospital?"

The head of cardiac surgery truly had no way to deal with his thick skin: "If you don't have a solution, why were you whispering over there?"

Zhan Hongling’s voice hadn't been quiet at all; Cassius had definitely heard him, his polite smile stiffening instantly.

Being targeted so blatantly, he couldn't just sit by and do nothing.

Zhan Hongling understood this all too well and apologized immediately: "I know I was wrong, department head! I promise I won't whisper to Julian next time!"

Now, there was nothing for Cassius to hold onto.

The department head waved his hand, and as soon as Zhan Hongling sat down, he winked at Julian.

Julian frowned slightly, not understanding why Zhan Hongling was suddenly acting like a child.

The surgical plan wasn't something that could be finalized in one discussion, so the meeting ended quickly.

Julian glanced at me, remembered his promise, quickly looked away, and walked out with Zhan Hongling.

He hadn't expected that as soon as they stepped out, Cassius would call out to him: "Dr. Julian, Dr. Zhan, since I’m new here and Dr. Ke hasn't been back in five years, why don't we all have dinner together tonight?"

Chapter 38

This invitation felt utterly inexplicable.

Even Zhan Hongling was taken aback: "You want to eat with us? Are you even used to Chinese food?"

Cassius paused: "I’m fine with anything. I’m very interested in Chinese cuisine."

Zhan Hongling wanted to use this opportunity to size up Cassius and see if he, as a potential romantic rival, would have a significant impact on the development between Julian and Clara.

He nodded immediately: "Sure, I..."

Before he could finish, Julian cut him off coldly: "I won't be going. I have to go home."

Upon hearing this, Cassius immediately inquired: "Dr. Julian is in such a rush to get home? Is there someone at home who has cooked a meal waiting for you?"

Julian’s expression remained indifferent; he never looked at me: "No, I have to feed the kitten."

Little Bad had birthed another litter with her cat husband last month, and Julian was considering whether to take her to be spayed. Was it really okay for her to keep having litters like this?

Besides, Little Bad never looked after her own kittens; every time she gave birth, she would carry them one by one onto Julian’s bed, right by his pillow.

If he were away from home for a day, those kittens would likely starve.

Having said that, Julian nodded to the group and stepped away to leave.

However, just as he moved, I called out to him: "Wait, it’s Little Bad, right? Can I go see her?"

Zhan Hongling and Cassius were both stunned.

Cassius had no idea there was such a bond between Clara and Julian.

Zhan Hongling knew Julian kept a cat at home but didn't know it had any connection to Clara.

No wonder Julian, with his extreme mysophobia, was willing to keep a cat.

Every time he visited Julian’s house and smelled that lingering scent of cat waste, he felt like he was under olfactory attack.

Zhan Hongling had wondered how Julian tolerated it.

Now he understood: it was because of Clara.

His good friend was truly quiet and deep in his love.

From the moment Julian heard that sentence, his mind went completely blank.

He didn't know what to make of it.

Didn't Clara want to have anything to do with him anymore? Why... why did she want to go to his house to see Little Bad of her own volition?

It must be because of Little Bad, he reasoned. After all, Little Bad was the cat she used to raise; it was normal for her to want to see her.

Countless thoughts flashed through Julian’s mind, and when he finally spoke, his throat felt dry: "Sure."

Zhan Hongling couldn't miss such a great opportunity to watch the drama unfold and immediately spoke up: "Then I..."

"You cannot." Julian interrupted him before he could finish. "Little Bad doesn't like you. If you go, she will be unhappy."

Zhan Hongling’s eyebrows nearly flew off his forehead: "What is wrong with me? I..."

Before he could finish, Julian spoke again.

But this time, it was to me: "I drove. Wait for me at the hospital entrance."

And he didn't look at Zhan Hongling again.

Zhan Hongling’s eyes widened as he watched Julian turn and enter the elevator for the underground garage.

Turning around, I also headed toward the main entrance of the hospital.

Cassius, lacking any social awareness, immediately followed: "Dr. Ke..."

Since becoming friends with Julian, the thing Zhan Hongling did most often was practice the mantra: "Julian may abuse me a thousand times, yet I treat him like my first love."

Even if Julian forgot his friend for a woman and acted heartlessly, Zhan Hongling was still willing to go through fire for him.

So, the moment Cassius spoke, Zhan Hongling immediately stepped forward and, just as he did when draping his arm around Julian, grabbed Cassius firmly.

"Dr. Cassius, you said you like Chinese food, right? Oh, I know a restaurant that is incredibly delicious. Neither of us has anyone to accompany us tonight, so why don't we go together? But it's understood: I have no money, so you have to treat!"

Cassius’s grasp of Chinese was limited; by the time he understood the long string of words Zhan Hongling had spoken, he had already been dragged to the front of a restaurant.

On the sign, there were large, bold characters—

Northeast Dumpling House.

Chapter 39

Sharing a space once again, Julian felt inexplicably nervous.

He kept his eyes on the road ahead, but his palms, gripped around the steering wheel, were sweating.

I had been looking out the car window ever since I got in.

Neither of us spoke, and the atmosphere in the car felt somewhat awkward.

Until the car stopped at a red light, I spoke in a calm voice: "Is Little Bad doing well these years?"

Julian’s throat bobbed involuntarily: "Very well... I found a male cat for her, and she had many kittens. I found reliable people to adopt them out."

"I see." I nodded, and the conversation ceased.

The red light had not yet changed.

Julian’s fingers curled slightly: "Since you didn't die, then why... why didn't you take Little Bad with you?"

I paused but did not answer.

Soon, the light turned green. Julian didn't press the matter and stepped on the accelerator again.

Ten minutes later, the car pulled up beneath Julian’s apartment building.

"We’re here," he said softly, reaching to unbuckle his seatbelt.

Just then, I suddenly turned to look at him and said: "When I went back, you had already taken Little Bad away."

Julian’s movements froze.

He held his head-bowed posture for a full dozen seconds before slowly looking up, disbelief in his eyes: "That day, you saw me?"