"Hey, Zhang Zhaoyuan, we’re going to grab some wonton soup. Want us to bring you back a portion?" The boys in the dorm always looked out for their little bro! Zhang Zhaoyuan had good rapport with everyone in the dorm—friendly and easygoing.
Coming from a well-off local family, Zhang Zhaoyuan often went home on weekends. He’d bring back homemade dishes prepared by his mom, as well as various marinated snacks to share, which showed his generosity and consideration. He got along with everyone, earned their affection, and was practically the dorm’s golden boy.
It wasn’t just the girls who admired him—the guys liked him too.
"Alright, let’s go grab dinner. Tonight, it’s on me! Nobody goes home sober!" Zhang Zhaoyuan jumped up off the bed, throwing his arm around the dorm’s gossip king.
The other seven guys stared at each other, dumbfounded.
Uh-oh. Heartbreak alert!
Minutes ago, they’d been teasing him about having a crush on the legendary Bai Xiao—yes, Bai Xiao, the one doctors and students alike fantasized about. She wasn’t just beautiful; her professional skills were nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The Medical College had no shortage of stunning girls, but it was rare to find one who truly had outstanding abilities.
After all, this was a demanding field where most students had to start from scratch, clueless and overwhelmed.
Only during the final year, when internships at hospitals began, did people really showcase what they had learned.
But Bai Xiao was different. Right from the start, she amazed everyone with her exceptional acupuncture technique.
No one dared question her skills. On that day, before an incredulous audience, she cured Zhang Zhaoyuan’s cold. This proud young man—usually so full of himself—had to bow in admiration. Wasn’t that enough proof?
Not to mention the sheer number of people who witnessed Xiaobai’s miraculous transformation—from limping to completely healthy. Just from that alone, everyone knew Bai Xiao had boundless potential ahead.
The perfect wife candidate.
It seemed Zhang Zhaoyuan, in his pursuit of Bai Xiao, had suffered a crushing defeat.
Well, whatever!
Drinking will fix it. Once he’s drunk and lets it all out, the gloom will pass. This heartbreak? It’ll be nothing but yesterday’s news.
"Come on—drink ’til we drop!"
The eight guys marched out in a merry crowd to the row of food stalls outside the university town, which were famously known as the street food haven.
They headed specifically for one stall, rumored to have the best grilled lamb skewers in town.
The place was buzzing with activity and packed with diners.
Every evening when darkness fell, this area was almost always fully occupied.
As soon as they entered the shop, someone nudged Zhang Zhaoyuan. "Zhang Zhaoyuan, why don’t we try another place? That Sichuan restaurant down the street is supposed to be really good. And I heard there’s a grilled fish spot ahead—we could check that out too."
He tugged on Zhang Zhaoyuan’s arm, trying to lead him away.
But Zhang Zhaoyuan brushed him off, eyes zeroing in on the spot the guy had deliberately blocked from view.
There sat Bai Xiao, smiling radiantly while dining with a man. The man wasn’t a student—he looked young but carried a sleek brick-like mobile phone on the table beside him. He also had a black briefcase. His outfit screamed "businessman"—button-up shirt, tie, black dress pants, polished leather shoes—a well-groomed appearance paired with an air of maturity.
Suddenly, a pang of betrayal washed over Zhang Zhaoyuan, piercing him deeply. Bai Xiao...?
The Bai Xiao he revered like an angel—was she really just another woman willing to sell herself for money?
If Bai Xiao tried to tell him this man was her husband, he would refuse to believe it.
Moments ago, she’d confided in him that her husband was a military officer.
But everything about this man—his attire, his demeanor—clearly marked him as a businessman, not someone from the armed forces.
His devotion, his laughable infatuation—perhaps to her, it had been nothing but foolishness.