Countless possibilities flashed through his mind, and he listed countless reasons to prove that the woman in the photo was not Clara Ke.

But deep down, he still harbored a sliver of hope.

What if... what if Clara Ke was truly still alive?

Julian suddenly thought of something and looked up at Zhan Hongling: "What is her name?"

Zhan Hongling seemed to have known he would ask, but he helplessly spread his hands: "I don't know her Chinese name; I only know her English name is Sienna."

"I asked for you; Sienna joined that hospital three years ago and is an excellent cardiac surgeon."

The words "cardiac surgeon" caused Julian’s heart to skip a beat.

Even though he knew it was likely just a coincidence, why did it have to be such a coincidence?

However, three years ago...

Clara Ke had been gone for five years.

Perhaps she just looked like her; there are many people in this world who resemble one another.

Julian told himself this in his heart.

But even after finishing his meal and returning to the office, his mind remained elsewhere.

Five years ago, a photo frame had appeared on his desk.

He looked at the faint expression of Clara Ke in the photo and couldn't help but reach out to touch it.

So many absurd things had happened in this world; could it be that she really might not be dead?

Could it be... that Clara Ke had truly come back?

Chapter 31

Caught in this ceaseless whirlwind of distracting thoughts, Julian found his mind drifting frequently while making rounds that afternoon.

Fortunately, Zhan Hongling was by his side, stepping in to keep the conversation flowing every time.

The others noticed Julian was distracted but said nothing.

Only Zhan Hongling felt a twinge of regret.

After finishing the rounds, Zhan Hongling draped an arm over Julian’s shoulder as they walked out: "Dr. Julian, I’ve never seen you like this. I really shouldn't have tipped you off beforehand; I should have just let you freeze in your tracks when you saw her this afternoon."

Julian lowered his eyes, knowing he had made a mistake he shouldn't have.

No matter what else was happening, the patients should always come first.

But Clara Ke was, in every sense, different from everyone else to him.

Julian’s hand, tucked into the pocket of his lab coat, clenched slightly: "When are they arriving?"

Zhan Hongling shook his head, his tone flippant: "Don't know, should be soon."

No sooner had he spoken than the department head walked out of his office: "You two, perfect. Go notify the other doctors to gather in the fifth-floor office. No need to call the interns yet."

Zhan Hongling immediately replied: "You got it, sir!"

The head had called for two people, but in truth, Julian wouldn't typically do this kind of errand.

Zhan Hongling patted him: "Alright, you head up there; I’ll go do the calling."

"And don't be too emotionally exposed when you see the girl later. Don't say I didn't warn you—she just looks like her. People can't come back from the dead."

Julian said nothing and turned into the elevator.

He didn't mention that this world was nothing like what Zhan Hongling understood.

Back when that system existed, it could make him fall in love with a complete stranger, so bringing someone back from the dead didn't seem entirely impossible.

It was just that five years ago, he had felt as though the system had vanished.

So, whether this Sienna was truly Clara Ke, he couldn't be certain.

Everything would only be revealed when he saw her.

Julian stared at the floor numbers on the elevator display, feeling his heart pounding faster and faster.

He arrived at the fifth-floor conference room.

The door was ajar. People had already gathered inside, and the muffled sound of voices drifted out.

Julian raised his hand, his heart trembling. He took two deep breaths to steady his nerves before knocking twice.

Knocking was just a courtesy; he didn't wait for a response before walking in.

Inside the conference room, several Caucasian doctors were standing off to one side chatting, while doctors from other departments at Qiming Hospital were gathered around someone.

That back...

It couldn't be wrong.

The hand Julian held at his side suddenly tightened; the veins on the back of his hand and arm bulged instantly.

He had known Clara Ke for over twenty years; he was too familiar with her.

It had to be her...

Julian subconsciously took a step forward, the name "Clara" pressed against the tip of his tongue, ready to burst out.

At that moment, someone noticed him.

"Oh, Dr. Julian is here."

"Dr. Julian, come quickly and see who this is."

Julian froze, watching as the person surrounded in the center slowly turned around.

The eyes, the eyebrows, the nose, the lips... every single feature was exactly as he remembered Clara Ke.

"Clara..."

He called out instinctively, and in the next second, he walked toward her: "Clara, it’s you, isn't it?"

The woman looked at him and offered a faint smile, but said nothing.

Even the smile was exactly the same as it had been before.

Julian’s mind went blank, leaving him with only one thought: to pull her into his arms.

Yet, he struggled to maintain a shred of composure, waiting for the final answer.

Then, he heard the woman speak softly: "Julian, long time no see."

Chapter 32

Julian’s thoughts came to a complete standstill at that moment.

It was as if he had been frozen by a giant block of ice, unable to think or move.

It really was Clara Ke...

Clara Ke was really alive...

But... but if she was still alive, why hadn't she told him over these past five years?

Julian’s face was a mask of emptiness; despite hearing her answer with his own ears, he couldn't quite bring himself to believe it.

He reached out his hand unconsciously: "Clara, is it really you?"

I stepped back, dodging his touch.

Julian paused.

He didn't understand why she did that.

But he had no mind to explore her behavior at the moment; he only wanted to get to the bottom of all this.

"Clara, how did you survive? You clearly didn't open your parachute back then. And your illness—your illness is cured too?"

This was the first time Julian had ever been this incoherent.

At that moment, there was only Clara Ke in his eyes, and he remained oblivious to the others behind her who were all watching with rapt attention.

I looked at Julian and couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

I had known it would be like this.

Ever since I received the exchange list drafted by the hospital, I knew my reunion with Julian was inevitable.

I also knew the situation would inevitably turn out this way.

I never intended to hide my identity; after all, such things can be verified with a simple search.

Even if I had denied it completely, Julian likely would have insisted on getting to the bottom of it.

But once admitted, this was the situation that would arise.

I took a deep breath: "Julian, now is not the time to talk about this."

Julian instinctively wanted to retort—if not now, then when?

He had thought she was dead!

Five years! Did she have any idea how he had spent these past five years?

She had been alive this whole time; why hadn't she told him? Why had she vanished for five years?

Julian had so many, many things he wanted to ask.

But in the next second, the hospital president walked in, followed by doctors from other departments.

The president took the head seat: "Everyone, find a seat. Let me introduce the doctors from Lenoir Hospital."

Julian, however, didn't hear a word. He stood there, stunned, staring at me without blinking.

Zhan Hongling, who arrived last, saw this scene and hurriedly stepped forward to pull him aside: "Dr. Julian, what did I tell you? It’s just a resemblance. If you stare at people like that, aren't you afraid they'll think you're a creep?"

"Come, come, sit down..."

He dragged Julian into a seat.

Yet, Julian suddenly spoke, interrupting him: "It’s not a resemblance. She is Clara Ke."

"She admitted it herself just now; she called me by my name."

Julian didn't notice the tremor in his own voice.

But Zhan Hongling did.

The expression on his face turned to one of disbelief: "What did you say? She is Clara Ke? But wasn't she..." dead?

The remaining words were swallowed when he saw the warning look from the president.

This was truly terrifying.

A brain tumor patient who had been declared terminal by the head of neurology hadn't died, lived for five more years, and became a doctor in the United States?

Impossible. How could this be?

How was this any different from a novel?

Zhan Hongling lowered his voice this time, leaning in close to Julian to whisper: "You haven't gotten sick and started hallucinating, have you?"