Westlight University.
In the principal’s office, Xu Dongcheng is busy with the day-to-day duties of Westlight University.
Ever since meeting the dynamic Principal Ding at the National College Education Innovation Exchange Conference he attended in Mist City, Xu Dongcheng had returned with a resolute will to enact substantial reforms within his university – Westlight University.
Currently, the reform progress throughout Westlight University is steadily unfolding.
Xu Dongcheng appears to be considerably fatigued. Understandably, as the formidable responsibility of reforming his university weighs on him, and at home, his daughter Xu Meijia still lies in the hospital.
There’s still no suitable liver donor available, and her primary doctor had informed Xu Dongcheng that his daughter only had a year or two left at most.
If a suitable liver donor couldn’t be found by then to perform the transplant, her life is beyond rescue, and the mortal world would claim her.
Whenever Xu Dongcheng thinks about this, his heart aches as if cleaved by a blade.
Xu Meijia, after all, is Xu Dongcheng’s only daughter. Despite their inseparable bond, he has to confront the devastating reality of outliving his child.
"Principal Xu, this is the work summary report submitted by the Civil and Hydraulic Engineering Institute," the principal’s assistant steps forward, presenting Xu Dongcheng with a work summary report.
Lately, Xu Dongcheng has been receiving numerous work summary reports from various faculties within Westlight University. These reports typically summarise the preparation and planning details of the newly-initiated reforms.
"Alright, I get it," said Xu Dongcheng, taking a glance at the report.
The instant his glance left the report, Xu Dongcheng’s phone started to ring.
Nowadays he’s particularly sensitive to phone calls. Every time a call comes in, he rushes to answer it anxiously.
Upon checking the caller ID, he noticed it was Vice President Liu from the hospital where his daughter is admitted.
"Hello, Vice President Liu, this is Xu Dongcheng," he rushingly answered, "Vice President Liu, what’s the status?"
"Mr. Xu, brace yourself; the situation isn’t positively progressing," the steady tone of a middle-aged man came through.
Upon hearing Vice President Liu’s words, Xu Dongcheng’s complexion whitened in an instant.
This time, Xu Dongcheng had paid a fortune for a potentially compatible liver for his darling daughter, Xu Meijia. However, the hospital’s diagnosis revealed that although the liver was a decent match, a perfect match seemed unlikely. Even if they proceed with the liver transplant for Xu Meijia, it likely wouldn’t make much of a difference.
Noticing the lingering silence on Xu Dongcheng’s end, Vice President Liu comforted, "Mr. Xu, it’s okay. We still have time, and we have the opportunity to continue searching for a suitable liver."
"Okay, thank you, Vice President Liu. I appreciate your concern for Mei Jia," Xu Dongcheng attempted to rally, extending his thanks to Vice President Liu.
"Mr. Xu, I must admit, if your daughter maintains her positive attitude, it could possibly grant her another six months to a year," Vice President Liu’s comforting voice chimed in.
"Okay, okay," said Xu Dongcheng, who was at a loss for words.
If they can’t proceed with the operation promptly, even a year or two more wouldn’t be of much help. His daughter had only just come of age, scarcely having the chance to fully experience the world, yet was on the brink of leaving. How was Xu Dongcheng supposed to accept that?
After this phone call, Xu Dongcheng sank into agony, utterly preoccupied with his grief. The thought of his work in the university mattered no more.
His assistant, observing his state, understood the situation and refrained from disrupting Principal Xu further.
Barely two minutes had passed when the office phone suddenly rang.
Upon hearing it, Xu Dongcheng paid no attention, well aware that calls directed to the office landline were typically trivial matters.
At this moment, all Xu Dongcheng could think about was his daughter, Xu Meijia’s current condition.
"Hello, this is Principal Xu’s office at Westlight University. May I ask who is calling?" Xiao Peng, always an alert assistant, saw Principal Xu’s disinterest and hastily picked up the call.
"Oh, hello Secretary Wen, yes, yes, got it. I will inform Principal Xu," Xiao Peng muffled the telephone receiver and whispered to Principal Xu, "Principal Xu, the Principal’s Secretary at Mist City Arts and Science University called. He wanted to know if you have time as Principal Ding wishes to have a chat with you."
Upon hearing this, the image of the youthful Principal Ding Yue of Mist City Arts and Science University immediately sprang to mind.
He shared quite a cordial relationship with him. Although Xu Dongcheng was considerably older than Ding Yue, after the National College Education Innovation Exchange Conference, they had ended up becoming good friends.
"Pass me the phone," without a second thought, Xu Dongcheng took the phone from Xiao Peng.
"Hello, it’s Xu Dongcheng speaking."
"Principal Xu, surely you remember me, hahaha," across the line, the sound of Ding Yue’s laughter echoed.
"Of course, Principal Ding. I heard your university’s computer science team won the ACM International College Student Programming Competition. My congratulations on your victory!"
Xu Dongcheng had always made it a point to stay informed and keenly followed the activities of Ding Yue’s Mist City Arts and Science University.
"Thank you for your congratulations, Principal Xu," Ding Yue expressed his gratitude for Xu Dongcheng’s felicitations before asking, "How’s Mei Jia faring these days?"