ROT CH 25

Chapter 25: Birthday

November is the midterm exam month at A University. Tests for various subjects are scheduled throughout the month, from its beginning to the end. Beyond academic subjects, there’s also the “station-running” exam. This involves a large classroom set up with 30 to 40 stations, each with a specific question. Students have only 30 seconds to a minute to read the question and write their answers before a bell signals them to move to the next station.

The content of these station-running tests is diverse and challenging, showcasing the creativity of professors. For example, in anatomy, students identify human organ structures; in microbiology, they observe eggs under a microscope. In the anatomy station, specimens are displayed with markers like fine needles, red threads, or arrowed stickers to indicate specific nerves, blood vessels, or bone features. Students must answer in both Chinese and English, ideally including the Latin terms, making it a grueling test that leaves them mentally and physically exhausted.

After weeks of exams, only the much-dreaded anatomy station exam remained, leaving students anxious and restless.

Today is November 20th—Bai Chengyu’s 20th birthday. Last year, Bai Chengyu still considered Han Junzhou as nothing more than a relief toy. However, in the year that followed, their relationship had significantly evolved. Especially in recent months, their bond deepened rapidly. Han Junzhou’s status in Bai Chengyu’s life had transformed—from being a mere massager to a martial arts instructor, and now… into something indescribable.

Bai Chengyu wasn’t entirely sure of his feelings for Han Junzhou. Perhaps it was growing fondness. Spending time together and observing Han Junzhou’s extraordinary martial arts skills and intellectual prowess had led to a reevaluation. Han Junzhou excelled in both physical and academic disciplines, becoming a teacher to Bai Chengyu in both boxing and medicine. Admiration for strength was natural in youth, and Han Junzhou was gaining more importance in Bai Chengyu’s heart with each passing day.

It was his birthday, yet today was Thursday—no class with Han Junzhou. Still, Bai Chengyu felt an urge to see him. Ever since Han Junzhou had called him “little baby fish,” he hadn’t been able to look him in the eye during class without stifling laughter. It was so childish that even during Tuesday’s secondary gender midterm, he could barely keep a straight face.

Now, however, he really wanted to see him. Without notifying him in advance, Bai Chengyu decided to head to the hospital where Han Junzhou worked.

Meanwhile, Wang Ziheng was obsessively reciting his textbooks during the break, clutching a charm tied to his neck with a red string, claiming it was a “smart charm.” Ever since bombing two exams the previous week, he had dragged Liao Sheng to visit the Temple of Wenchang, the deity of academics, to pray for success and secure this new good luck charm for studying.

Bai Chengyu silently watched Wang Ziheng acting neurotic. Packing up his schoolbag, he stood up, deciding to skip the last class of the afternoon. Wang Ziheng was startled and reminded him, “Hey! Tomorrow morning is the anatomy station-running exam. Professor Huang will be highlighting the key points in the next class. Where are you going?”

Young Master Bai arrogantly left a parting shot: “Everything is important, so memorize everything. If you do that, I guarantee you’ll score full marks.” He slung his backpack over his shoulder and ran off without looking back. Wang Ziheng was still shouting desperately from behind, “Get back here! If not, at least help me out!” Bai Chengyu waved him off, pretending not to hear.

“Sure, you’re amazing, memorizing everything!” Wang Ziheng muttered under his breath, still clutching his “smart charm” while reviewing his notes.

Sitting in the car, Bai Chengyu’s heart raced. He tossed thoughts of tomorrow’s exam aside, focusing only on one thing—would Han Junzhou be happy to see him? His excitement caused a faint blush to rise on his face, though he didn’t notice the strange thoughts forming in his mind. He wanted to please this Alpha.

The car quickly arrived at Yunbang Hospital. Bai Chengyu swaggered into the clinic area with his driver, Black Shadow, in tow. He located Han Junzhou’s consultation room. It wasn’t even 5 p.m. yet, and there were still several people in the waiting area. Bai Chengyu didn’t care about any of that; he grabbed the door handle, ready to push it open.

Hearing the sound of the door, the nurse inside rushed out to block Bai Chengyu and closed the door behind her.

“Director Han is currently seeing patients. Other patients must wait for their number to be called before entering,” she said sternly.

Bai Chengyu thought, I’m not just some other patient. I’m… I’m… He frowned. Surely, he couldn’t actually claim to be Han Junzhou’s “little fish.” He hesitated, then awkwardly said, “I’m Han Junzhou’s… friend. I need to see him right now.”

The nurse frowned. Everyone in the hospital—whether medical staff or patients—addressed Han Junzhou respectfully as “Director Han.” This brash young man, calling him by his full name, didn’t seem like the kind of person the mature and composed Director Han would know. Waving her hand dismissively, she said, “Unrelated persons should leave immediately. Don’t disturb Director Han’s work.”

The term “unrelated persons” left Bai Chengyu stunned. He had never considered that, in the eyes of others, he was merely an “unrelated person” to Han Junzhou.

(To be continued…)

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