Chapter 9 Dr. Su’s New Colleague

Chapter 9: Dr. Su's New Colleague

Su Qionglin’s apartment was simply laid out, a one-bedroom, one-living-room space. Its color palette, much like the man himself, conveyed an air of detached coolness.

The largest piece of furniture in the living room was a bookshelf, crammed with professional books and journals. Beside it, a spacious desk held a computer monitor, neatly stacked medical record folders, and several open textbooks.

The air was devoid of any superfluous domesticity, carrying only the subtly bitter, rich aroma of the freshly opened can of black coffee he had just brought home.

He sat at his desk, the cool, white glow of the screen illuminating his impassive face.

His fingers glided over the mouse wheel, scrolling through lines of text on the page—the latest advancements in microscopic anastomosis for pheromone ducts. His mind was fully absorbed in the intricate, hair-thin anatomical structures, seeking viable solutions to further optimize surgical precision and minimize postoperative complications. Perhaps because this was an entirely new field for him, he approached it with exceptional caution.

His train of thought was interrupted when the phone on the corner of his desk suddenly lit up and buzzed. Su Qionglin frowned.

He was rarely disturbed during focused work. At this hour, an urgent clinic matter would typically warrant a phone call.

With a hint of impatience, he glanced at the screen. A new text message had arrived on his work number, from an unfamiliar sender. He tapped to open it, and the content appeared:

"Dr. Su, after rinsing my mouthguard with cold water, should I wipe it dry or let it air dry naturally?"

Below the message was an image: a transparent sports mouthguard, lying wet beside a sink, with a few water droplets nearby.

It was Elio Lutz, the S-class Alpha patient.

Su Qionglin’s gaze lingered on the text and image for two seconds.

Such a basic care question was clearly outlined in the "Mouthguard Use and Maintenance Instructions" provided on the day of the impression—it was the very first point.

Had this superstar patient not read it at all, or was he deliberately being difficult?

He initially considered ignoring it, his fingertip hovering over the delete button.

But professionalism ultimately prevailed.

What if the patient genuinely hadn't read or misunderstood the instructions, leading to improper maintenance, bacterial growth, and ultimately compromising their dental health and treatment outcome? That could, in turn, lead to questions about his treatment…

He had no intention of taking the blame.

Su Qionglin typed a reply expressionlessly: "Use a soft cloth to absorb surface moisture and prevent bacterial growth."

Sent.

Good—the standard answer.

That should resolve the matter.

Almost the instant the message showed as delivered, a reply popped up—so fast it made him wonder if the sender had been waiting with their phone in hand.

"Got it! I wore the mouthguard during training today—my bite felt more stable. Thanks for specially adjusting the formula (●''●)"

A smiley face followed.

Su Qionglin stared at the incongruous smiley, his movements pausing.

Specially adjusted the formula?

He recalled: adjusting material ratios to suit an athlete’s specific bite and force requirements was standard procedure for custom mouthguards, applied to all patients with similar needs, not tailored for any one individual.

As for "bite more stable"…

Was it a placebo effect? The primary function of a mouthguard was impact protection; its contribution to bite stability was minimal, unless his previous bite had an undetected issue?

Professional skepticism led him to ponder for a couple of seconds, but rationality ultimately won out.

This was most likely a subjective perception bias on the patient’s part.

He calmly corrected: "The material ratio adjustment is standard procedure, not a special modification. The sensation of stability likely comes from the additional support provided by the mouthguard, which is normal."

But Elio seemed entirely unfazed by his coolness. Another message quickly followed: "But the effect is great! By the way, for my follow-up on Friday, do I need to prepare anything?"

"Just maintain good oral hygiene," Su Qionglin replied patiently, hoping these few words would definitively end what he considered an unnecessary conversation.

He stared at the screen. Ten seconds passed with no new message.

Good. The conversation was over.

Su Qionglin set down his phone and refocused on the literature.

But whether the brief interruption had disrupted his rhythm or not, he found it took several times longer than usual to regain focus on the complex terminology and data analysis.

He forced himself to read a few lines, then finally picked up his phone again and saved the unfamiliar number as "Elio Lutz (Patient)."

*Hmm*, he thought. *Clear categorization for easy management.*

He picked up the black coffee beside him, took a large sip, and dispelled that slight, unwarranted distraction.

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The next morning, the clinic’s familiar scent of disinfectant was as reassuring as ever.

Su Qionglin had arrived half an hour early and was preparing instruments for his first patient when assistant Xiao Zhou quietly entered, whispering, "Dr. Su, the new Dr. Gu would like to introduce himself. Is now a good time?"

Su Qionglin turned off the faucet, dried his hands with a sterile towel, and nodded.

Xiao Zhou stepped aside, and a tall young man in a crisply ironed white coat walked in. His proportions were excellent, and the white coat fit him perfectly, enhancing his gentle demeanor rather than making him appear bulky. His dark brown hair was neatly trimmed, his features refined, and a pair of rimless glasses rested on his nose, behind which his eyes held a warm smile.

He was several years older than Su Qionglin and had previously served as an attending physician at a reputable private dental hospital in the east of the city, bringing considerable experience. His addition had delighted the clinic director, as although their clinic was gaining recognition in niche circles, it still lacked broader scale and renown.

"Dr. Su, hello. I’m Gu Yunshen, officially starting today," he said, his voice clear and his tone unhurried. "I’ve long heard about your exceptional skill in microscopic root canal techniques. I happen to have a rather complex case involving root canal variation in a marked tooth. I was wondering if I might have the opportunity to consult with you?"

As he spoke, he handed over a tablet displaying the patient’s dental imaging.

He carried a faint scent of Alpha pheromones—a subtle, woody note, incredibly well-contained, with almost no detectable aggression or pressure.

Su Qionglin took the tablet and quickly scanned the images.

It was indeed a complex case: calcified root canals, very close to the duct, making conventional procedures high-risk.

He nodded. "Please send the materials to my work email. I can review them carefully this afternoon."

Gu Yunshen took back the tablet, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "Excellent, thank you, Dr. Su. I’ll organize and send them to you." He paused, as if making a casual suggestion: "Also, Dr. Su, are you free for lunch? There’s a new Japanese restaurant nearby with fresh ingredients. It would be my treat to thank you for your advice, and I’d also like to pick your brain about the clinic."

Su Qionglin declined almost without thinking. "I prefer to dine alone."

His lunchtime was typically fixed, reserved for quickly replenishing energy and briefly clearing his mind to prepare for the afternoon’s work. Social meals were not part of his schedule. Moreover, he didn’t believe such "consultations" were necessary between colleagues.

Gu Yunshen showed no trace of embarrassment at the rejection, merely nodding understandingly, his smile still warm. "I understand. Perhaps another time. I won’t disturb you further."

He handled the situation with excellent discretion; after speaking, he politely gestured and turned to leave the treatment room without lingering unnecessarily.

Su Qionglin was quite satisfied.

This new colleague was professional, polite, and knew how to maintain an appropriate distance—exactly the type Su Qionglin appreciated.

*What a great colleague.*

Compared to that blond Alpha who was merely a patient but constantly tried to cross the doctor-patient boundary, asking endless questions, this new colleague was far easier to deal with.

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Night fell once more.

Su Qionglin had just finished showering and was drying his hair as he stepped out of the bathroom when his phone on the nightstand lit up again. It was still the number saved as "Elio Lutz (Patient)."

"Dr. Su, I just finished training and my tooth feels a bit swollen and sore. Is that normal?"

Su Qionglin paused in drying his hair.

Swollen and sore? The temporary protective cover was well-fitted, showing no signs of the crack expanding. In theory, there shouldn't be any swelling or soreness.

Was it a delayed reaction to the micro-crack irritating the dental pulp? Or referred pain from muscle fatigue due to clenching too hard during training? Or perhaps an aggravated gum inflammation from eating something irritating yesterday?

Various possibilities flashed through his mind.

Frowning, he initially thought of calling immediately to ask for clarification, but a glance at the time told him it was already quite late.

Moreover, calling about such an uncertain situation seemed a bit like overreacting.

He put down the towel, picked up his phone, and decided to provide initial guidance first.

"During the adaptation period for the temporary cover, there might be some sterile inflammatory reactions. Avoid hot foods and observe for 24 hours. If the pain persists or worsens, contact me right away."

Sent.

He hoped his judgment was correct and that the other person would follow the medical advice.

This time, the reply didn’t come immediately.

Su Qionglin waited for a moment, and after confirming there were no new messages, he prepared to continue drying his hair and then read a book.

Just as he picked up the towel, his phone buzzed again.

"Okay! You’re not resting yet?"

Su Qionglin looked at this question, feeling a sense of bewilderment.

This question had clearly crossed the line of doctor-patient communication.

Su Qionglin ignored it outright, put his phone on silent, and placed it face down on the table.

A few seconds later, the phone vibrated faintly again through the tabletop.

He picked it up and saw it was still from that blond Alpha.

"See you on Friday." Followed by a small tennis emoji.

Su Qionglin stared at the bouncing green ball emoji and finally gave in, pressing the lock button.

The screen went dark, and the room fell completely silent.

He walked to the window and looked out at the city lights.

His fingers curled unconsciously, as if he could still feel the brief warmth and pressure from the blond Alpha’s palm through his shirt outside the convenience store last night.

*This is annoying,* he thought.

*This patient asks a lot of questions.*

Su Qionglin closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

He must be really tired.

He needed rest.

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The next morning, the clinic was fairly quiet.

Xiao Zhou seized the opportunity while delivering newly printed medical records to Su Qionglin, barely containing her excitement, and said quickly in a whisper, "Dr. Su! Did you see the sports news yesterday? Mr. Lutz mentioned in a post-game interview that he especially thanked his dentist! Although he didn’t say the name directly, he must mean our clinic, right?"

Su Qionglin’s hand paused as he took the medical records, and he looked up.

Xiao Zhou nodded excitedly, her eyes sparkling. "Really! There’s a clip online already! He said he’s been adjusting well lately and especially thanked a very skilled dentist who helped him solve a small problem, helping him focus better on the game!"

Su Qionglin remained silent, just lowered his head and opened the new medical record.

Xiao Zhou was still excitedly whispering, "Mr. Lutz is so kind, giving our clinic free publicity…"

"Get back to work," Su Qionglin cut her off calmly.

Xiao Zhou stuck her tongue out playfully and quickly hurried out with the tray.

The treatment room returned to silence. Su Qionglin looked at the words on the medical records but couldn’t concentrate at first.

He recalled last night’s text message about "tooth swelling and pain," combined with what Xiao Zhou had said about the interview today…

A slight suspicion arose in his mind. Could that blond Alpha have been doing it on purpose?

Using this seemingly casual approach to remind Su Qionglin of his existence?

The thought came and went, and was quickly suppressed.

It was probably just a coincidence.

A global superstar wouldn’t have that much free time to play these kinds of mind games.

He dismissed these strange thoughts and refocused his attention on the medical records in front of him.

Once Elio’s dental problem was completely fixed, there would naturally be an end to these unnecessary interactions.

He felt certain of this.