Chapter 1, The Stranger.

I hurriedly dragged my suitcase and ran towards Senior Sister Ji, who was surrounded by a strong smell of disinfectant. She had become thinner than I remembered, her originally delicate face now appearing gaunt. Her slender figure looked even more frail under the oversized white coat. Her long hair, casually tied up behind her head, had some unnatural curls at the ends, as if just released from a hat.

Can't be, right?

I asked Qin Xue: "Xiao Xue, do you know Ye Zhengchen who lives next door to me?"

After a while, everyone finally regained their senses. Xiao Lu asked, "So he must be staying in Japan, right? I heard that being a doctor in Japan offers lucrative opportunities. Just look at the young doctors at Osaka University Hospital, they all drive luxury cars and are followed by groups of beautiful women."

Upon hearing this question, everyone's gaze turned to Sister Ji. Under the expectant eyes of the crowd, Sister Ji cleared her throat and said, "It is indeed rare for foreign students to stay in Japanese hospitals, especially in a place as good as the Osaka University Hospital. However, Ye Zhengchen is an exception. Professor Tanaka said, 'Ye Zhengchen was born for thoracic surgery. Not only is he good in theory and skilled in technique, but he also has good psychological qualities and, most importantly, good physical strength.' Once, he followed Professor Tanaka to perform four surgeries in a row. After coming out, he was able to perform uninterrupted cardiopulmonary resuscitation for half an hour for a patient and managed to snatch the patient back from the hands of death." Professor Tanaka said, "Ye Zhengchen was born for thoracic surgery. Not only is he good in theory and skilled in technique, but he also has good psychological qualities and, most importantly, good physical strength."

Walking into the room barefoot, I approached the French window and pulled back the white gauze curtain. Outside the window was an open balcony, and beyond the balcony was a forest of cherry blossoms. The trees were lush green, and I imagined that in early spring, they would bloom into a romantic sea of flowers. Turning around, I opened the south-facing window, and beyond the open corridor, I could see a blue shallow lake surrounded by green grass in front of the building. Koi fish swam in the lake, creating layers of ripples. A giant rock sat in the middle of the lake, and a turtle was basking on it. Turning around again, I opened the south-facing window, and beyond the open corridor, I could see a blue shallow lake surrounded by green grass in front of the building. Koi fish swam in the lake, creating layers of ripples. A giant rock sat in the middle of the lake, and a turtle was basking on it.

He hasn't returned to the apartment in the past few days. Do you know where he went?

She let me know once again that Ye Zhengchen is a fickle scumbag.

I think Ye Zhengchen treats her well. She was sick some time ago--

However... Senior Sister Ji put down the dumplings and continued speaking, "He said he would return to the country after graduation."

Qin Xue? I was a little surprised, but upon careful reflection of the expression on Qin Xue's face when she looked at Ye Zhengchen's name, it does seem like there might be a story behind it.

Little Bing, he is our associate professor, Mr. Chaida. Sister Ji introduced us in English, "Professor Chaida, she is the junior sister I just mentioned to you, Bo Bing."

If you want to obtain a master's degree, you must participate.

Ji Shijie shook her head: "I don't know mhetushucom.com, maybe there are better opportunities waiting for him in China."

Before coming to Japan, our Japanese teacher told us about some Japanese culture. In Japan, only professors, doctors, and lawyers are honored as "先生" (Mr./Ms.), they not only have high income but also high status. Whether it's a police officer, a high-ranking official, or a wealthy businessman, they all bow to them to show respect. This clearly shows how prestigious it is to be a doctor in Japan.

Oh, alright. She helped me put the luggage in a corner of the side door and said, "Let's put your luggage here for now. Come back and get it after meeting with the professor."

A group of girls were stunned, their dumplings in their hands were all deformed, including myself.

After waiting for a long time without Qin Xue's response, I turned around to look at her. I saw her looking at the door next to me in a daze, biting her lower lip lightly, and her beautiful eyes were filled with waves of drowning people. Out of curiosity, I glanced at the door next door. The owner's nameplate was posted on the door, with three strong and soaring characters: Ye Zhengchen.

Qin Xue's liking for Ye Zhengchen is certain," Xiao Lu said, pursing her lips. "But as for his feelings towards her... who knows?"

I am currently only a graduate student, which is considered an informal status at a university in Japan. I do not have a degree and cannot earn credits. My original plan was to first attend a language school to improve my Japanese, and then take the entrance exam for the master's program in the spring of next year. After passing the exam, I would officially enter the research lab to begin my studies. This sequence is obviously different from what Professor Shibata had designed.

Someone laughed and asked: "With that peach blossom look on your face, do you like him?"

I answered in English: "I have only studied a little Japanese and cannot reach the level of daily conversation."

Little Snow, do you... know him?

I suddenly realized and deeply understood: when it comes to finding out information, it is more efficient to ask a man.

Professor Shibata smiled and said a few words in Japanese. Based on the basic Japanese knowledge I acquired from university elective courses, I guessed that he was greeting me and asking if I could speak Japanese.

On the first night spent in Japan, it happened to be the 16th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar. The moon was exceptionally round, and the stars were exceptionally bright. I made a brief phone call to my parents to let them know I was safe, and then began to pack my luggage. The blanket in the suitcase was red and hot, which reminded me of my mother stuffing the blanket into the suitcase with all her might, while repeatedly reminding me countless times: "Japan is rainy and humid, remember to lay the blanket to avoid catching a cold... Remember to eat on time, sleep on time, don't stay up late, staying up late can easily cause hormonal imbalance... When it gets dark, don't go out alone, pay attention to safety... Be careful when making friends, a girl alone in a foreign country is vulnerable." At that time, I only felt that my mother was too verbose, burdening my eardrums with a heavy load. Now, alone, gazing at the full moon in the sky, I understand the loneliness of being a stranger in a foreign land. My mother's incessant nagging has turned into warm words and phrases, lingering around me.

Just when I was distressed about my destitute life without any belongings, Sister Ji had passed the security check of the retinal recognition system, opened the side door, and hurriedly walked in. Weighing the situation, I decisively abandoned my luggage and followed her into the legendary Osaka University Medical Research Department.

Uh? What's going on? Are Japanese professors always so "considerate" of their students?

He immediately switched to fluent and standard English, with a gentle tone and a friendly attitude: "It's okay. Being able to speak English is enough. We can communicate in English in the future."

Shortly after, with the help of Feng, I applied for the international student apartment in Fengzhong campus. It was an old building that had undergone multiple renovations, with floors and walls that still bore the marks of history, but it did not affect the comfort and cleanliness of the apartment. On the day of the move, many people came to help me, and even Qin Xue, who was always busy, volunteered to help, which surprised me.

Loneliness is like a powerful attraction, causing strangers to gather involuntarily, bringing forth friendship, bringing forth family affection, and occasionally even bringing forth love.

Mrs. Feng, who loves to talk and laugh, came over to get dumplings. When she heard us discussing Ye Zhengchen, she also joined us: "Is Ye Zhengchen dating Qin Xue?"

From the name, he should be Chinese; from the handwriting, he should be a man.

Little Lu's words aroused my curiosity about the new neighbor. Every time I face his closed door, I can't help but wonder what kind of person he is. What is he busy with? He often doesn't come back to the dormitory, where does he go?

Feng Ge, Ye Zhengchen haven't returned to the apartment these days. Do you know where he went? I asked casually, not expecting an answer. Unexpectedly, Feng Ge answered me straightforwardly: "He went to Tokyo to attend a project seminar. He should be back in the next two days."

Amidst my eager anticipation, my former senior schoolmate Ji Xiaoting hurried out from the side door of the building and waved to me, calling out, "Xiaobing, over here."

After listening to Senior Sister Ji's explanation, my anxious heart finally settled down, and I temporarily stayed at the JICA hotel she arranged for me.

I try hard to recall the resume I submitted to Osaka University. Besides having slightly better university grades, higher TOEFL and GRE scores, and slightly exaggerated evaluations from the teachers who wrote recommendation letters for me, there is nothing particularly special. Why is the associate professor treating me so "specially"? Just thinking about certain types of Japanese movies, I secretly wiped away a cold sweat.

She turned her face away, lowered her eyelids, and finally shook her head slowly. Seeing a hint of sadness in her expression, I stopped asking. I then asked the lovely classmate Xiao Lu upstairs if she knew when Ye Zhengchen would be back. Her eyes lit up and she said, "Him? He seems quite busy and often doesn't come back to the apartment. As for where he went, I'm not too sure."

Oh, it seems that I misunderstood.

At that moment, I fell in love with this placeーーmy first home. Without my mother's nagging, without my father's constraints, it's my own world, filled with the secrets of my youth.

Qin Xue is a typical Jiangnan beauty, dressed in a refined and elegant manner, gentle and quiet, with a soft Wu dialect and a delicate appearance. It is said that she dances exceptionally well. At the Osaka University welcome party, she won the hearts of countless male students with a graceful Chinese-style ribbon dance. When I first met her, I also had a good impression of Qin Xue. I often invited her to have lunch together, hoping to become friends with her. However, Qin Xue was always busy, and I didn't want to bother her too much, so I often went to work at Feng Ge and Feng Sao's "Incandescent Lamp".

In my new home, I invited some new friends to have an authentic Sichuan cuisine meal. Some Chinese international students who I had not met before were also attracted by the delicious smell of the food and came over to join us. I even went next door to invite my new neighbor to join us, but despite knocking on the door for a long time, there was no answer. It wasn't until everyone was full and had returned to their own rooms that the neighbor's place remained empty.

For several consecutive days, I would choose different times each day to knock on the door of the neighboring room. Sometimes in the early morning, sometimes late at night, but the response I always received was a tightly locked door.

During the dumpling feast, Feng interrupted his wife's revelation and said, "Don't talk nonsense. There is nothing going on between Ye Zhengchen and Qin Xue."

With many people and diverse opinions, it is best for gathering information. While Qin Xue has not arrived yet, I took the opportunity to ask everyone, "Do you know Ye Zhengchen? I need to speak with him about something."

Walking through the quiet corridor, we entered a laboratory filled with the smell of disinfectant. Inside, a middle-aged man with gray hair but without a trace of aging on his face was writing and drawing in front of a microscope. When he saw Senior Sister Ji bringing me in, he immediately stood up and greeted me in Japanese, saying, "Hello."

My room is located on the third floor, at the innermost corner of the open-air corridor. It is a bright and tidy one-bedroom apartment with an area of twenty square meters. Although the furniture, including the table, chairs, and double bed, is somewhat outdated, it is spotless. The room is equipped with a television, refrigerator, fully automatic washing machine, microwave oven, and other electrical appliances. It is filled with the bustling atmosphere of human life.

... ...

This apartment is really nice.I couldn't contain my excitement and said to Qin Xue next to me.

On the way from the laboratory to the hotel, I asked Sister Ji and learned that in Japan, graduates from prestigious medical schools are considered scarce resources. Even before graduation, they are "snatched up" by major hospitals, causing renowned professors in the medical department to struggle to recruit them. As a result, the acceptance rate for master's degree candidates at Osaka University had to be raised to 100%, yet there is still a shortage of students every year. In this situation, even if I didn't want to pursue a master's degree, the school and professors would not agree.

Young girls always love gossiping when they are together, and they won't miss out on any gossip-worthy male gods they find. Everyone started discussing the romantic affairs of my new neighbor, exchanging words with each other. Later, Xiao Lu, who had been silent, couldn't help but change the topic. She asked Sister Ji: "Xiao Ting, I heard that Professor Ye Zhengchen wants to keep him at Osaka University Hospital. Is it true? Doesn't Osaka University Hospital never hire international students?"

Well, I have to give a presentation next week and I need some experimental data," she looked at my suitcase, pondered for a moment, "Coincidentally, the associate professor is also in the laboratory. I'll take you to meet him first, and then send you to the temporary apartment to rest. By the way, have you had dinner?"

The loneliness in a foreign country is profound, yet fleeting. Because there are too many lonely students here, loneliness acts as a powerful attraction, causing strangers to gather involuntarily, fostering friendships, nurturing family bonds, and occasionally even sparking love. Driven by this powerful attraction, I quickly got to know many Chinese students, including the warm and friendly Feng from the Department of Materials Science, the kind and sincere Professor Ma from the Department of Physics, and Qin Xue, a visiting scholar from the Department of Economics. Driven by this powerful attraction, I quickly got to know many Chinese students, including the warm and friendly Feng from the Department of Materials Science, the kind and sincere Professor Ma from the Department of Physics, and Qin Xue, a visiting scholar from the Department of Economics.

Uh... put it here? This is all I have. What if someone takes it away? How am I going to survive?

I took another look at the nameplate on the door next door and quietly remembered the three words: Ye Zhengchen.

Since I have to take the exam, I will start doing research in the laboratory now. Won't it delay my master's exam?

Professor Shibata noticed my concern and told me in a very relaxed and cheerful tone, "Just focus on your research, you don't need to worry about the entrance exam at all. Regardless of your performance, I will admit you."

Finally, I had a chance to get a comprehensive understanding of this new neighbor. It was the first weekend after I moved into the new apartment. Feng Ge and Feng Sao on the fifth floor invited the neighbors around to their place to have dumplings, in order to welcome the new students joining their big community. Everyone gathered together to make dumplings, chatting and having a lively time.

Senior sister said: "Ye Zhengchen has always been an assistant to Professor Tianzhong, earning definitely no less than those young doctors."

The girl blushed and replied, "No way. Men like him are meant to be admired from afar, not to be liked. Everyone knows he changes women as often as he changes clothes..."

The ancient buildings have been blurred by the night, yet the rigorous atmosphere remains undiminished. The towering ginkgo trees, although swept by the night wind, have not shown a desolate color. As I stumbled through the unfamiliar foreign land for most of the day, the excitement in my heart has not diminished. Looking up at the beams of light emanating from the buildings, my heart is filled with anticipation.

A breeze mixed with a faint scent of grass blows in from the window.

That autumn, after finishing my five-year university life, on a clear afternoon, I dragged my heavy suitcase and carried a large backpack alone, holding the new map given by the flight attendant, I walked out of Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan. After two buses and two maglev trains, I arrived at the bustling Osaka University Medical School, holding a map drawn in different languages and handwriting.

After Professor Chaida asked me some questions, he told me to come to the laboratory tomorrow to familiarize myself with the environment. He said that I can officially start studying in the research room next week. He also emphasized that Sister Ji should help me with the relevant procedures as soon as possible, and not to delay any time.

He couldn't wait to put me in the laboratory as if he was afraid that I would escape.

Professor Shibata," I asked tentatively, "Do I have to take the master's entrance exam again next year?"

"Senior sister, it's already so late, are you still conducting experiments?" In my understanding, only the laboratory would use such a high concentration of disinfectant.

Why?

I heard that she needs to rush her report, and I don't want to cause her any more trouble, so I told a white lie: "I just ate."

Upon hearing this name, Qin Xue's smile froze slightly: "Hmm, I know."

Is Ye Zhengchen the handsome guy with a doctor's degree from the medical school? A girl described him with admiration, saying how he was so handsome that it made people's souls tremble. She wished she could use all the classic vocabulary to describe him, but obviously she couldn't answer my question. However, she at least let me know that Ye Zhengchen is from the medical school.

My inquiry brought back Qin Xue's lost soul and spirit. She smiled awkwardly and said, "Let's go inside."