The Stars In Your Eyes - Chapter 223

He Zheng met Jian Kang Lu again at Bai Yutang grandfather’s funeral. Jian Kang Lu only came at night, when Lu Hua and Bai Yuren were already going home.

Why He Zheng still stay there with Bai Yutang even though he was not a family member? Of course because Bai Yuren ordered him to accompany Bai Yutang until Jian Kang Lu came.

It was already late, Jian Kang Lu brought four boxes containing white jasmine rice, sesame oil chicken, baked eggplant with chilli oil, and fried tofu in sesame soy sauce. Bai Yutang’s cousin looks at the boxes like a rare treasure bestowed by the emperor. He devoured it cleanly in a few minutes.

After finishing this satisfying late dinner, they couldn’t help but feel sleepy. Jian Kang Lu suddenly asked He Zheng. “Do you know why we feel sleepy and lethargic after overeating?”

He Zheng thought, is this a serious question or a tricky one?

“Because we need to digest the food?” He said.

Bai Yutang’s cousin who is now studying economics sitting with his bloated tummy joined to answer, “But why did people say we  need to walk around to digest the food? If we get sleepy after eating to digest the food, why do they say we need to exercise a little bit?”

Jian Kang Lu chuckled, “There’s a simple answer and the complicated one. The simple one is blood flow to the small intestine dramatically increases after a person eats. It was needed to digest the food and absorb the nutrient, then deliver it to the whole body. And as blood is pumped into the gut to fuel digestion, a corresponding drop in blood flow to the brain could trigger feelings of sleepiness. As the blood vessels around the guts dilated, the blood vessels in our limbs and brain constricted. Brain causes sleepiness, while the limbs are lethargic.”

He Zheng felt ashamed when he couldn’t answer this simple physiology question from Jian Kang Lu. “The complicated one?” He asked. He Zheng had to admit the way Jian Kang Lu talks and explains things is really fascinating and easy to understand.

“The complicated one including the hormone release, the body will release many hormones to break down the nutrients from the food then convert it into energy. Amylase, glucagon, cholecystokinin. The mechanisms trigger several hormones such as serotonin and melatonin in the brain, it causes sleepiness to arouse.” Jian Kang Lu said.

Bai Yutang smiled to see his dumbfounded cousin, and was very happy to see He Zheng’s face. It shows him that it was not because he was stupid thus he couldn’t understand Jian Kang Lu’s explanation. It was just the things explained that are too far from their general knowledge.

He Zheng said, “Ah, that’s why our ancestors told us to walk around to digest the food.”

Jian Kang Lu smiled, “Yes. To prevent the vasoconstriction in our extremity, and also to signalling muscles work better on processing the glucose and regulate insulin level. You know that muscles are included in ominous octet in type 2 diabetes pathophysiology, right?”

“Jian Ge, even without overeating you’ll put me to sleep with this kind of conversation.” Bai Yutang’s cousin yawned.

Jian Kang Lu laughed, then said, “What do you want us to talk about?”

“Anything except those hard to understand topics.” Said Bai Yutang’s cousin.

He Zheng rejected, “But this is not boring. I found Jian Ge’s explanation easy to understand.”

Bai Yutang laughed, “That’s because both of you are doctors! Spare us the commoners.”

Jian Kang Lu felt like he was a kindergarten teacher, taking care of his students. “Okay, then let’s talk about books, shall we?”

“What book, gege?” Bai Yutang asked.

“Noo! It must be a hard to digest book. Why don’t you talk about your university days, Jian ge. A funny one.” Bai Yutang’s cousin tries to sit straight and get rid of his sleepiness.

Jian Kang Lu looked at He Zheng before he said, “Then, let me tell you about the story of my friend. It’s not a funny one, but all of you youngsters could learn from his lesson.”

Jian Kang Lu tells the story of how Luo Yan built his restaurant business. Luo Yan not only has many restaurants and cafes now, but he originally came from expanding his parent’s business as food supplier to restaurants.

It’s a story where the protagonist failed a few times, almost making his parent’s business bankrupt. He asked for his friends’ help, borrowing money, asking for loans from banks, and struggling to win his wife’s heart.

“A man needs to know when he needs to bow his head, searching for help when the road is blocked. A man needs to compromise without selling his integrity. A man needs to step out of his comfort zone, facing difficulties with confidence.” Jian Kang Lu said.

“If your mind is always filled with negativity, afraid of failure, then you’ll never achieve anything. That’s what you teach me, gege.” Bai Yutang said.

Jian Kang Lu smiled. Both of them look at each other with understanding.

He Zheng at first listened to the stories with envy. It was always easy to envy other people.

Ah, they could be successful because their parents are already rich. If I have parents like that, I could also be rich.

That’s what people used to think. They envy those who run, while they keep standing without trying to move their own feet.

At the end of the story, He Zheng felt ashamed. Jian Kang Lu explained how Luo Yan stressed out because he can’t pay his employees salaries. He Zheng forgot, the bigger the business, the bigger their risk. Moreover, as a boss, they are responsible for many lives and families who depend on them for living.

“Yes.” Jian Kang Lu said in a pampering and proud tone to Bai Yutang. “If you never step out of the house, you can’t see how bright the sun is, how blue the sky is, and how beautiful the rainbow is after the rain.”

Jian Kang Lu looked at He Zheng, “And, regret always comes late. How if the beautiful things which could be yours, are snatched away from you because you never try to give your all?”

Bai Yutang chuckled, he understood what his lover meant. “Okay then, let’s go home. It’s already late. Tomorrow is cremation day.”

Bai Yutang was sad about his grandfather’s death. But he knows his grandfather is old. Rather than suffer from illness, it is better for him to pass with ease. The tears already shed, now is only acceptance filling their heart.

He Zheng went home, he was still thinking about what Jian Kang Lu said in the end. He Zheng definitely doesn’t want to see Bai Yuren someday standing beside a stranger and introducing the stranger as her husband to him.

Three weeks later, He Zheng picked up Bai Yuren from the clinic and went to the East Lake. Previously He Zheng nervously asked Bai Yuren to spend Christmas eve with him here, and she agreed.

East lake water is like a mirror, while the scenery looks like a picture. In winter, it is very pleasant to go out and enjoy the snow, the beauty of the plum blossoms and the flying migrant birds.

“Ah, I got a fussy patient today. He lectured me back when I explained to him that his stomach ache is due to his medicine over consumption. If he believes in google more than his doctor, then why does he come to meet me?” Bai Yuren rambled while tightening her coat. The wind suddenly blows, it sends shivers to their bones.

He Zheng half-listened. Honestly, he was just too nervous. They look at the scenery and attraction from people around. Even in winter, there are lots of street attractions here.

They walk and talk, until they are hungry and walk to the restaurant. He Zheng already booked the restaurant. He painstakingly worked hard in the last three week, saving for today’s dinner.

After ordering the restaurant’s famous baked duck and some vegetables, He Zheng was very nervous, he thought he surely can’t taste the duck at all.

“Why are you so silent today? Something bad happened?” Bai Yuren suddenly said.

He Zheng shook his head. “No, everything is okay.”

“I’m going to see Prof Yun again after New Year. Do you want to come with me? Have you thought about my offer? We could go to residency together in Z hospital. And have you thought about which specialty you want to take?” Bai Yuren sipped her hot jasmine tea.

He Zheng stiff. “I haven’t really thought about that..”

“What about the specialty? I’m going for internists, like Jian Ge. Honestly, a recommendation letter would be easy with Jian Ge’s connection. By the way, you also helped Prof Wen’s research last time, right? Why don’t you ask for a recommendation letter from him if you are interested in cardiology.”

He Zheng was actually interested in becoming orthopaedic. He asks for information regarding orthopaedic’s residency, and it was a long expensive journey.

The food came and they ate the delicious tender duck slowly. No rush, no hurry. When the dinner finished, He Zheng reached into his backpack and took out the square dark blue box.

“This is my Christmas gift for you, Yuren..” He Zheng’s voice is a little bit low and there’s a shrill in it. Clearly he was nervous.

Bai Yuren looked at the dark blue box. She already gave her christmas gift earlier, a dark brown shawl. She thought this man didn’t prepare a Christmas gift when he only said thank you after receiving the shawl.

“Thank you!” She delightedly opened the box. Which girl who didn’t like to get surprised gifts. Inside the box, there’s another velvet dark blue box. She was stunned to see the shape. When Bai Yuren’s white fingers opened the box, indeed, it was what she guessed.

A round silver ring laid inside, with a butterfly in pink and yellow gem laid in the middle of the ring. Knowing He Zheng, this is definitely not a diamond ring.

“Thank you! This is so pretty!” She said and took the ring, wearing it in her ring fingers. Don’t know where He Zheng got her size, but the ring fit perfectly.

He Zheng was so nervous, but he was encouraged when he saw that Bai Yuren didn’t look offended or reject his gift.

“Bai Yuren, this ring is cheap. I could only afford to buy a silver ring with fake gems for you now. But.. But, if you could give me a chance, I’ll try working hard to give you a real diamond ring someday.”

Bai Yuren was stunned to hear this mosquito’s shrilling voice in an up and down tone saying these lines to her.

“I.. Uhm.. I like you so much. Could you give me a chance to be your boyfriend?” He Zheng was so flustered he almost choked.

Bai Yuren looked at the dark skinned man with narrow eyes in front of her. Even though the eyes are small, the light inside the black orbs is bright. The youth in front of her have an honest look with a wide smooth forehead. Even though his hair cut is standard shortcut hair, it framed He Zheng’s oval’s face nicely.

She knows the man in front of her is like her to the extent he almost never says no to all her requests.

Does she love him? She doesn’t know.

But.. She is willing to try to give her heart to this smart silly boy.

“I thought you’d never asked me.” She smiled to see the man in front of her have a glistening forehead. How could this man be sweating in winter if not because of nervousness?

He Zheng almost jumped from his seat. He clenched his fist so hard until his knuckle went white.

Why does her response seem to be a positive one? He said excitedly. “I.. I’m not rich, I don’t have parents, and I’m not sure I could afford residency. That’s why I never ask you. But.. I really like you, Bai Yuren. So.. Could you give me your answer?”

Bai Yuren flashed the ring on her finger in front of He Zheng. “As long as you treat me well, I’ll try to treat you better. I won’t give a second chance to a cheater, and definitely won’t let you bully me. I don’t have a father, and my brother is gay. If you don’t mind me this way, then I’ll say yes.”

He Zheng stood up immediately, he almost wanted to run and jump, screaming, shouting to the world what he feels right now. For his whole life, this might be the happiest moment for him.

Bai Yuren laughed, “What are you doing? Sit down, people looking at us.”

He Zheng sat down again. He was so nervous he didn’t know where to put his hand. He wants to hold those tiny white hands in front of him. He also wants to jump over there and hug the bright girl who curves her red rosy lips stunningly.

It is winter. But in He Zheng’s world, flowers bloomed, birds were singing, and rainbows hung on the blue sky. Love bloomed in his universe, all because of a girl named Bai Yuren.