Plague (19): I miss you so much

When Wen Yi hugged Tan Xiao, his outstretched arms also embraced Dr. Wen, while the other hand holding the thermos was kept slightly further away to avoid the heavy stainless steel container bumping into Wen Yi.

However, Wen Yi hugged too tightly, causing Tan Xiao to lightly bump his lover’s back with the thermos a few times, “Ahem, Dr. Wen, loosen up a bit, I can’t breathe…”

Only then did Wen Yi quickly release his grip, his gaze fixed and greedy as he looked at Tan Xiao.

Tan Xiao, coming back to his senses from the joy of their reunion, immediately felt the many eyes focused on him.

He slightly turned his face, and from the corner of his eye, he could see everyone looking at him and Wen Yi.

These authoritative figures who could only be seen on the news were all casting curious or teasing glances at the young couple.

Tan Xiao, being young and shy, realized that they were in a public place and his handsome face under the transparent plastic mask instantly turned red. He tugged at his lover’s clothes: “Wen Yi, let’s eat dinner first. If we don’t, the food will get cold.”

Wen Yi took the heavy light blue lunchbox from Tan Xiao’s hands: “I’ll take you to my dorm.”

Tan Xiao looked at the professors and doctors eating in the work area and quietly asked Wen Yi, “Aren’t you all supposed to work after dinner? Everyone is eating here.”

Wen Yi looked at the project team leader, his tone gentle and polite, “Professor Wang, you said I could skip overtime today, right?”

Professor Wang, who was eating while watching the scene, was suddenly called out and was momentarily stunned. He nodded, “Oh, right, I said that.”

Wen Yi turned to face Tan Xiao, his voice suddenly soft and gentle, “Professor Wang said I don’t have to work overtime today, and I can spend the rest of the time with you.”

The atmosphere in the hospital was oppressive and tense, but this romantic little episode was like a breath of fresh air, dispelling the gloomy atmosphere.

When the two young people left the research building hand in hand, the onlookers couldn’t help but whisper to each other, “That’s Wen Yi’s boyfriend, right? I just saw his ID photo, that kid is really handsome, only eighteen. Wen Yi really is an old cow eating young grass!”

The volunteers’ work badges all had two-inch ID photos, and just by looking at the pictures, you could tell that Tan Xiao was the kind of child who would be considered exceptionally beautiful by anyone, regardless of age or gender.

With sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, red lips and white teeth, his smile was as bright as a sunflower. In reality, Tan Xiao’s eyes, full of spirit, were even more lively than in the photos, no wonder Wen Yi liked him so much.

The single young doctor mimicked Wen Yi’s voice, saying, “I’m not working overtime today~~~ Dr. Wen and his boyfriend are so lovey-dovey!”

The person who said this was shot a glare by the doctor next to him: “What do you know? With the risks at Huaxi Hospital being so high, his boyfriend still comes in to volunteer. That’s some courage for a young person. Sigh, I miss my wife too…”

The hospital didn’t have internet restrictions, so even if they were busy, they could still find time to make a video call for a few minutes. However, it was still not the same as meeting in person through a cold, hard phone screen.

Professor Zhao, who had previously said he would share his meal with Wen Yi, tapped the lunchbox with his chopsticks: “Alright, alright, let’s eat quickly. We need to work harder and continue our research so we can see our families as soon as possible. Only by achieving results can we truly ensure their health and safety!”

“Professor Zhao is right, let’s strive to develop the vaccine as soon as possible and wrap up this project!”

These researchers without family members accompanying them quickly gobbled down their meals so they could continue working. They were almost the ones who worked the longest hours in the hospital, after all, frontline medical staff and soldiers on duty could take shifts.

But the work of researchers couldn’t be replaced. To achieve results as soon as possible, these dozens of people worked an average of sixteen hours a day.

Although Tan Xiao was new to the job, he had learned a lot from the predecessors who had previously served these researchers.

When he was pulled out by Wen Yi, he couldn’t help but ask, “Do you really not have to work overtime today? Will it have any negative impact on your job?”

He really wanted to see Wen Yi and spend time alone with him, but he didn’t want to delay Wen Yi’s serious matters.

“Everyone’s situation is different, and their physical condition is also different. Overtime is entirely voluntary,” Wen Yi explained. “Professor Wang is the overall person in charge, and if he agrees, it’s fine. Besides, today is your first time coming to see me, so no one will gossip. Moreover, I’m just finishing my normal work hours today, just not working extra hours.”

He opened the dormitory door with Wen Yi’s name on it.

Tan Xiao curiously looked around the environment: “This place is much better than where the volunteers stay.”

The volunteers lived in dormitories converted from single patient rooms, and some volunteers even had to share rooms with others.

Wen Yi had a private room, and the dormitory had a television, plus an additional brand-new mini washing machine and refrigerator.

Not only that, but the bed was also a 1.5-meter double bed. Judging by the bedding and the luster of the wood, it should all be new furniture.

The quilt on the bed was not the hard, old cotton quilt that Tan Xiao had when he first woke up in the hospital, but a warm goose down quilt.

Wen Yi said, “It might be thanks to a few old professors. They are older and their sleep quality is poor, which affects their health.”

After all, the researchers gathered here were mostly chief physicians at the start, and those who were not in the hospital were professors from medical universities, with a bunch of honorary titles.

Usually, if the hospital received someone, they were arranged to stay in a five-star hotel. These makeshift small roomswere already considered quite basic.

Tan Xiao thought about it and said, “Indeed, I saw that Professor Wang’s hair is all white, he looks like he’s in his sixties or seventies.”

Wen Yi said, “He’s seventy-eight this year.”

Tan Xiao was very surprised, “He looks really young, and his physique is well-maintained.”

“If you had seen him a few days ago, he looked ten years younger than he does now.”

High-intensity work can make people look older. In just under half a month, apart from Wen Yi, the other staff members generally looked like they had aged ten years.

With such hard work, the hospital at least needed to find a way to ensure they ate well and slept well. Otherwise, with the high-intensity work, the vaccine project won’t make much progress, and the people would all collapse first.

Tan Xiao pulled out a chair, lined up the food containers on the table, and the four layers were all packed full of dishes, many of which were labor-intensive hard dishes.

The rice at the very bottom was tightly packed, and on top, there was a thick layer of vegetables, including pickled cabbage with fatty intestines and perilla duck. The other three layers contained salt and pepper prawns, black bean spare ribs, and stir-fried oil wheat. There was a special layer filled with chicken soup stewed with fresh coconut. As soon as you lift the lid, the rich aroma of the food fills the air.

Tan Xiao set the dishes on the table: “Although the taste might not compare to the luxurious feast that General Nie had the chef prepare, it should be decent. I’ve been busy all afternoon today.”

Wen Yi helped by unpacking the disposable utensils and handed a set to Tan Xiao: “Don’t belittle yourself. Your cooking is a hundred times better than any fancy set meal!”

“No need to flatter me. I’m starving, let’s eat quickly.”

Tan Xiao had been busy all afternoon and was really hungry by now, so there was no time for more talk. He focused on eating.

Anyway, Wen Yi wasn’t working overtime today, so they had plenty of hours to share intimate conversations.

Seeing Tan Xiao eat so well, Wen Yi unconsciously followed suit and ended up eating a lot too.

The food he brought was eaten clean by the two of them, to the point where Tan Xiao leaned back in his chair, unable to hold it in. He touched his slightly bulging belly and said, “Ah, I can’t take it anymore, I can’t eat any more.”

Clearly, Dr. Wen also ate a lot, but Wen Yi’s stomach didn’t seem to bulge at all.

He couldn’t help but touch it, still with flat abs: “Dr. Wen, is your stomach a black hole? All that food just disappeared.”

Wen Yi held his hand: “Then shall we do some post-meal exercise to digest?”

Tan Xiao glared at him, and he said in a reproachful tone, “My luggage is downstairs. No, I really can’t move right now. I need to take a break. You can’t do intense exercise shortly after a meal.”

Although it was easy to think about that when he was full, he also had to consider health issues.

Wen Yi leaned closer, “Then let’s take a break.”

He reached out, hugged Tan Xiao, rested his chin on the latter’s shoulder, and murmured, “Baby, I miss you so much.”

Wen Yi really wanted Tan Xiao. Although at night, he often sneaked back home to sleep with Tan Xiao, at that time, Tan Xiao was completely unaware.

The quietly lying Tan Xiao was to Wen Yi a sleeping angel, as cold and bright as the moonlight. In his waking state, Tan Xiao was a blazing light, more capable of dispelling the gloom and darkness that had taken root in Wen Yi’s heart than the scorching summer sun.

Tan Xiao also gently embraced him, leaving a kiss with the aroma of food on Wen Yi’s face: “Doctor Wen, I miss you very, very, very much too.”

So, knowing full well that this place was dangerous, he still rushed over without hesitation.