After Transmigrating Into The Novel, The White Moonlight And The Female Lead Of The Abusive Romance Got Their Happy Ending - Chapter 18

After filming ended, the other staff members returned with the equipment and footage to begin editing. That was not part of Shi Nanqiao’s job, so Wen Tang took the initiative to invite her to try the food at Huadu University’s cafeteria.

The sun was setting as the two women shared a single parasol. On the lawns lining both sides of the road, the once-lush grass had been beaten down by the heat and seemed unable to lift its head.

They had just passed the athletic field, where some students making up their military training were practicing diligently. Their perfectly synchronized chants thundered through the air.

At the sight of the seemingly endless formations of camouflage uniforms stretching like mountain ranges, the two naturally began discussing their own military training experiences in university.

“Our school’s military training was fairly easy, but my period happened to start that week. I fainted from menstrual cramps right after training began, and my counselor was so frightened that she immediately applied for permission for me to sit out and observe.” Shi Nanqiao rarely spoke about her university days.

The original Wen Tang had made up an excuse to avoid military training, but Wen Tang herself had participated normally in her previous life.

She reminisced about that experience with fondness, though there was also a hint of gritted teeth in her tone.

“Our college had an unofficial tradition. Whenever the freshmen started military training, students from the year above—and even several years above them, including those already doing internships—would come back to watch the show.

“They always brought milk tea or fruit, but while we were exhausted and roasting under the sun, they sat in the shade drinking milk tea and relaxing. It was genuinely infuriating.”

“Hahaha, that’s true. I attracted quite a lot of resentment when I sat in the stands watching too.”

As Shi Nanqiao spoke, she looked toward the shaded areas around the athletic field. Yet everywhere her eyes could reach, she saw no senior students who had come to watch the excitement.

But she clearly remembered that the young woman who had pretended to be sick to escape military training during Wen Tang’s outpatient clinic was a medical student at Huadu University.

Many medical students were still undergoing clinical observation and internships. According to Wen Tang, there should have been people coming over to watch.

Had that so-called tradition disappeared?

Or perhaps…

Another suspicion formed in Shi Nanqiao’s mind.

Wen Tang’s indignation had not seemed fake. Could Shi Nanqiao investigate which medical school in the country had such a tradition?

She was genuinely curious.

Where exactly had her outstanding and gentle Dr. Wen grown up?

Wen Tang’s past was a mystery to her, and Shi Nanqiao, like a curious little kitten, desperately wanted to unravel this tangled ball of yarn.

Wen Tang did not know what was going through the mind of the woman beside her, but she knew that if Shi Nanqiao possessed memories related to the plot, then she had probably begun suspecting Wen Tang’s identity long ago.

Since Shi Nanqiao had chosen not to expose her, Wen Tang was happy to pretend she knew nothing.

Maintaining a false identity was exhausting. She had to pay attention to every detail of everyday life.

She wanted to be her true self in front of at least one person.

More importantly, she did not want to lie to Shi Nanqiao.

Honesty was the first step in friendship. If both sides merely exchanged empty pleasantries and concealed the truth, then any relationship built on deception would be nothing more than a mirage. No matter how magnificent or colorful it appeared, it would still be false.

The two continued walking until they reached a pedestrian path lined on both sides with tall trees. Behind them, the chants and shouts from the athletic field gradually faded into the distance.

It was still summer vacation. Most students were resting in their hometowns or traveling elsewhere. Only a minority remained on campus, and even fewer chose to go outside during a scorching summer afternoon.

The shaded path was quiet. They could hear the rhythmic rustling of the breeze passing through the leaves.

The original Wen Tang had spent eight years at this university. The moment Wen Tang entered the campus, an invisible hand seemed to wipe the dust from all her memories of the school.

Inside the display cases of memory, clean glass windows revealed one scene after another.

The library, the laboratories, the teaching buildings…

Everything began to come alive in her mind, as though the soul from another world standing here now had truly been the one who studied at this university for eight years.

“That’s the library over there. It closes at ten every night.” Wen Tang always seemed to have endless things to say when she was with Shi Nanqiao. “There’s a lake behind the library. In summer, it’s filled with blooming lotuses. A lot of people go to the pavilion there in the evenings to memorize their lessons.”

“I’ve heard about it. Huadu University’s Qianyu Lake is one of Huadu’s important attractions.” Shi Nanqiao’s cheeks had turned slightly red from the heat, and she raised a hand to fan herself.

She had always been sensitive to both cold and heat, and her health had never been particularly strong.

Wen Tang noticed the movement and decisively turned at the next intersection.

“Come on. Let’s eat first. I’m hungry too.”

Afraid Shi Nanqiao might misunderstand and think she did not want to show her around Huadu University, she promised, “Call me whenever you want to come back. I’m willing to be your guide forever.”

“Okay—” Shi Nanqiao drew out the final syllable, then suddenly grabbed the parasol in Wen Tang’s hand and pulled her forward. “Hurry, hurry! I’m hungry too!”

The sudden tug made Wen Tang stumble. She put the parasol into her bag, then took Shi Nanqiao’s hand herself, reversing their positions and leading her forward.

Unfortunately, after only a few steps, Shi Nanqiao stopped, panting heavily, and draped both arms across Wen Tang’s shoulders.

The perfume sprayed behind her ears spread more quickly through the surrounding air under the warmth of her body. The rich, fresh sweetness of ripe peaches invaded every corner of Wen Tang’s senses without resistance.

Wen Tang felt as though she were standing in a peach grove. A gentle breeze lifted the pale pink petals and carried them to the tip of her nose—the romance unique to spring.

Shi Nanqiao, who was clinging to her like an octopus, seemed like one enormous peach.

That sweet peach fragrance made Wen Tang…

Want to take a bite.

A secret heat spread from behind her ears down to her neck, and Wen Tang’s earlobes began to burn.

“Tangtang, do you think this awful weather is really hot too?” Shi Nanqiao naturally noticed the rising temperature of Wen Tang’s face. “Look at you. Your face has turned red from the heat.”

Wen Tang began stumbling over her words.

“Yes. The weather… It’s too hot. It’s all because of the weather…”

Ah!

What was she thinking?

No, no. She could not keep thinking like this.

What peach? What taking a bite?

It had to be because she was too hungry!

She would buy a few peaches to take home later!

“Dr. Wen?” Someone suddenly called to her.

“I wasn’t! It’s only because the weather is too hot,” Wen Tang hurriedly blurted out.

“Huh?” Luo Ran looked confused.

She had only wondered why Wen Tang had come to the university at this hour. She had not even asked her anything.

Shi Nanqiao smiled and greeted her.

“Hello, Student Xiao Luo.”

“Hello, Dr. Wen. Hello, Sister Shi.” Luo Ran had her arm linked with the young woman beside her. She asked cheerfully, “Did you come to the university to film?”

“We had a new idea at the last minute. Thanks to your Dr. Wen, I had the chance to see one of the medical school’s classrooms. What about you?”

Luo Ran pointed toward the delicate young woman beside her, who wore a floral dress.

“My high school classmate came to Huadu University for graduate school, so I’m showing her around the campus first.”

Then she introduced them to the woman beside her.

“Siwen, this is Dr. Wen Tang from cardiac surgery, and this is a host from Huadu Television Station.”

“Hello.” Chen Siwen’s voice was soft and gentle, like a dandelion that could be blown away by a slightly stronger gust of wind.

Seeing that Shi Nanqiao’s face was flushed red, Wen Tang worried that she might suffer heatstroke and took the initiative to end the conversation.

“We’ll be going now. We won’t disturb you. Welcome to Huadu University.”

With that, she led Shi Nanqiao toward the cafeteria.

Chen Siwen watched the two women disappear into the distance, then gently poked Luo Ran.

“Ranran, was the woman in the white suit the Dr. Wen Tang you’re always telling me about?”

“Yes!” The moment her most admired idol was mentioned, Luo Ran’s eyes began to sparkle. “She’s incredibly impressive! It isn’t as though cardiac surgery has never had female doctors, but she’s the only one with so much influence in the department. Everyone thinks that as long as she maintains her current momentum and doesn’t make any major mistakes, she might become the next department director of cardiac surgery one day.”

“And she isn’t only outstanding in research. During her master’s and doctorate, she published papers like crazy, and she’s also incredible at surgery!

“Yesterday, there was a patient with a bacterial infection of the aortic valve who suddenly developed acute left-sided heart failure during an examination and went into cardiac arrest. Dr. Wen made an immediate decision to send the patient for emergency surgery. She removed the infected tissue and completed an aortic valve replacement.

“It was extremely dangerous. After the patient was anesthetized, their heart suddenly stopped again… If it had been me, I probably would have panicked completely. But forget Dr. Wen’s hands trembling—her voice didn’t even change.”

“I see. Dr. Wen truly does sound very impressive.” Chen Siwen’s voice remained soft and gentle. She looked at Luo Ran with complete trust. “But I believe Ranran will become just as outstanding a doctor someday. No, our Ranran will become even more impressive than Dr. Wen! After all, the student surpasses the teacher.”

“Siwen, stop teasing me.” Luo Ran had been fortunate enough to observe that operation.

Talking about it afterward made the whole thing sound as effortless as the triumphant scenes in a wish-fulfillment novel. In reality, at the time, many people present, including Luo Ran, had already begun considering how they would explain things to the family if the patient unexpectedly died during surgery.

Looking at it that way, Dr. Wen truly possessed a “strong heart,” remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before her.

Chen Siwen silently lowered her head, though no one knew what she was thinking.

Luo Ran continued walking with Chen Siwen, speaking animatedly.

“Siwen, I’m honestly so happy you came here for graduate school. We were desk mates for all three years of high school. We originally promised to attend university together, but you insisted on staying at a university near your hometown.

“But everything’s fine now. You’re studying for your graduate degree in Huadu University’s history department, and I’m completing residency training at Huadu University Affiliated Hospital. We can be together again!”

“That’s right. We can be together again, Ranran. But this time, I’m your junior, so it’s your turn to protect me.”

“Don’t worry!” Luo Ran patted her chest. “Anyone who dares bully you will have to answer to me first!”

The smile on Chen Siwen’s face became noticeably brighter, and she agreed softly.

“All right. Then it’s settled. Ranran, we’ll be friends for the rest of our lives!”

Beneath the setting sun, the two young women walked together, talking and laughing. The scene looked exceptionally beautiful.

Only Chen Siwen herself knew why, despite Huadu’s temperature approaching forty degrees Celsius, she wore a dress that covered her elbows and reached all the way down to her calves.

Passing the postgraduate entrance examination and entering Huadu University had not merely tested her intelligence and perseverance.

To see Luo Ran again, she had resorted to every means available and nearly abandoned everything from the first twenty years of her life.

No.

It was not only so she could see Luo Ran again.

It was also so she could finally take complete control of her own fate.

Huadu University’s history department would be the starting point of her new life!

From an angle no one noticed, the young woman who seemed so gentle that she had no temper at all finally revealed faint traces of ambition.