Coming home

"It is lunchtime, are you guys not eating, " Li Chen asks as he stood up from his seat and grabbed his meal card from his wallet, then he pulled off his white coat and hanged it on the hanger.

"I don't think there is a day you have ever skipped lunch Li Chen, " An Ke grabs her phone and stands up after putting the patient's chart she was examining on the table inside her drawer and put off her white coat.

"I wonder how he keeps himself in shape when he eats so much," Yu Yan added in support of An Ke statement, the two of them have always enjoyed teasing Li Chen with his habit of eating constantly.

"There are some days when I skip lunch, if I don't eat on time I won't feel energetic and I won't be able to think about anything so please let me eat in peace, " he defended himself before they name him a glutton not that they haven't anyways.

"When ?" both An Ke and Yu Yan chorused

"I can't be bothered by you two," he dismissed the question and scurried out of the office while they followed after him, jesting.

They entered the canteen then walked to the counter to make their orders, they waited at the end of the counter for their lunch and after picking up their food, they sat at a table to eat together.

"I am getting four days leave from tomorrow, " An Ke said to break the silence ten minutes after they started eating.

"That's great since Jia yu, Ji Chen and Meng Yao are coming back from the training why don't we all take the day off when they come back, then we can throw a party at Jia Yu's villa just like old times," Li Chen suggested, they could see the excitement the idea brings on his face

"That is great it's been years since we saw each other last" Yu Yan said as she finished her food and pushed the tray aside to focus her attention on the conversation they were having.

"We all graduated from the same university, even if we haven't seen each for a long time I am glad we are still very close," An Ke remarked sentimentally

"So, when are they coming back," Yu Yan asked.

"Next tomorrow which is on Friday " Li Chen answered

"That's great, I don't think I have a night shift on that day," Yu Yan told.

"We should better hope there is no emergency situation that will require our presence on that day or else, our dream of partying would be crushed," An Ke added.

"Let's just hope that doesn't happen, we should inform Jia Yu about the party since we have to use her villa," Li Chen said, after discussing it for a while, they stood up and left the canteen.

On their way back to the office Yu Yan asked a nurse to follow her to her office, as soon as they entered, Yu Yan sat down on her seat and brought out a chart from her drawer.

"Please help me pass this to surgeon Ding Ying in the hepatology department," Yu Yan asked in a very polite manner unlike other surgeons as she always does, then she handed the chart to the nurse.

"Alright," the nurse replied then she left the office.

"I really hope she finds a donor as quickly as she can," An Ke remarked with a concerned look on her face.

"I hope so too, all I can do is help her check with the donation committee constantly in case there is a chance of getting a liver donor but I don't think that option is feasible for now, there are many patients in this hospital who are in need of a liver donor," Yu Yan said.

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After she got off work in the evening, she returns home on a bus due to her car breakdown, she entered the elevator bringing her to her apartment and as soon as she entered the house she sniffed her nose when she smelt the delicious aroma of her mom's food.

She entered the kitchen but she couldn't see her mom there then she went into the dining room where she saw her mum setting the table, she stood at the entrance for a while she watched her mom, she was too busy setting the table to realize that she had already entered the house.

She was about to return to the kitchen but screamed in shock when she saw Huo Ying standing at the entrance since she wasn't expecting to see her there.

"Mom, it's me," Yu Yan quickly assured.

"Why didn't you make a sound or tell me that you had returned, do you know how scared I was just now?" her mother complained, she walked up to her and hugged her tightly.

"You didn't say you were coming home tonight and you haven't been home for three to four days now without picking my calls," her mom asked with a frown on her face, then Yu Yan released her.

"Mom, I am sorry I was too preoccupied to see your calls, I had many surgeries to assist with and perform this week plus many patients to check on," Yu Yan replied with an apologetic expression on her face.

"Alright, go get changed," her mom said

She entered her room and dropped her bag on her bed, she took a shower and came out in her pyjamas.

"Where is dad?" she asks as she comes out of her room,

"Your dad is sleeping, he came back thirty minutes before you did looking very tired " her mom answered with worry written on her face.

"So, is there any food for me since I didn't call before coming home?" she asked hoping her mother cooked enough food for the three of them.

"You are lucky I cooked more than enough food or else you would have to go to bed with only instant noodles since you won't want to cook" she replied

"Thank God you cooked more than you needed to," Yu Yan said, then she took her seat.

"Let me wake your dad up," her mum said as she removes her apron and walks to her room.

The dining table is oval-shaped with five chairs, which was enough for the five of them, she is the only girl among three children. Both of her brothers were married, her eldest brother already had a set of twins, a boy and a girl while her second brother who had been married for only one year had no kids.

Her mother returned with her dad who was surprised to see her.

"You didn't say you were coming home," her father remarked as he took his seat at the head of the table.

"Well I was preoccupied so I forgot to tell you in advance, seems you both do not want me at home," she teased wondering why they had asked the same question,

"Of course I do, you haven't been home for three days sweetie and I really missed you," her father responded

"You don't know how many times your father called you yesterday to ask how you were doing, but I am sure you didn't even check your phone so you wouldn't know," her mother added in support of her husband.

"You are right mum, I actually didn't check my phone" Yu Yan replied

Her mother removed the bones in the fish and puts it in her rice bowl, she looks at her mother and smiled, her father also followed suit and uses his chopstick to add Chinese cabbage to her rice.

"You need to eat more since you hardly come home," her dad said

"Don't worry dad, I rest in the hospital when I don't have anyone to attend to," Yu Yan assured with a broad smile on her face.

"By the way, when is Chen Kai coming back from abroad," her mother asks, the casual atmosphere immediately turned tense as it always does when the name is mentioned, she scooped a full spoon of rice to pretend she wasn't flustered for a sec.

"I think he should be back in two months" she replied as she stuffs her mouth with rice.

"So, you are not sure," her mother, suddenly dropped her chopstick on the cutlery holder.

"Mum don't worry about it he will be back soon," Yu Yan said to reassure her mother before she spins the entire conversation around.

"I am not worried about him, I am worried about you if you two don't communicate you might find it hard to be as close as you used to," her mother responded

"Mum we just talked last week, I am sure he will call when he has the chance, it is not easy to contact others when you go for training abroad," she defended him like she always does and that is what always angers her mother, the fact that she places so much trust in him.

"Your mum is just worried about your relationship," her dad said in an attempt to ease the tension.

"I know but I am sure everything is fine when he has the time he will call or text me,"  she really doesn't want to argue about this matter especially after the busy day she just had today.

Dinner ended quicker than expected so her mother stood up to clear the dishes but Yu Yan quickly stood up after her.

"Don't worry mum I will do the dishes," she says as she tried to collect the plates from her mum.

"Don't bother, you are going to work tomorrow so you should sleep now," her mum said smiling which wasn't expected at all especially after the conversation over dinner.

"Thanks, mum," she said as she and her dad retreated to their rooms, she went into the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face then she retired to her bed.

Reminded by her mother's concern, she checked her phone for any messages or missed calls from Chen Kai but she was disappointed to see that there was none, she messaged him to call or text her when he is free then she dropped her phone on the lampstand, she switched off the light to sleep.