Chapter 58: You Two Are Quite the Pair

Zhu Yan shouted loudly as soon as she got out of the car and saw the man. Zhu Peng glanced at Xia Yan, who was holding Lin You inside the car, then looked at his own sister…

The hospital in the military district had been converted from the old residence of a former landowner. Though it had been refurbished, it was clear that it had once belonged to a prominent family.

“You two wait outside for a moment,” Zhu Peng stopped them as they tried to follow him into the house.

“Brother, I’m a doctor too. Maybe I can help,” Zhu Yan insisted, her steps unwavering as she stared into the house.

Zhu Peng snapped coldly, “What help can you offer? If you had a solution, you wouldn’t have brought him here. Don’t make things worse!”

Before his sister could protest, Zhu Peng shut the door firmly. The lamps at the entrance flickered on at that moment.

“Honestly, all I wanted was a little help, and he has to pull a face,” Zhu Yan complained aloud.

Xia Yan stood behind her, hands tightly clasped, eyes fixed on the ward door, her heart pounding with foreboding…

The two sat on the bench outside the ward.

“It really is cold tonight,” Zhu Yan said. The rain had stopped, and she looked up at the sky, which was just beginning to lighten, her breath visible in the chilly air.

Only then did Xia Yan notice Zhu Yan was still wearing slippers, muddied from the rain. She took a piece of clothing from beside her and draped it over Zhu Yan’s legs.

Zhu Yan paused, turning to her. “You don’t have to worry so much. Brother Lin is blessed; nothing will happen to him.”

“Zhu Yan, did I make a mistake?” Xia Yan sighed, eyes reddening as she looked at Zhu Yan. “I always act according to my own wishes. If only I had listened to him back then, none of this would have happened.”

Zhu Yan took her hand, comforting her. “But that’s who you truly are. If you were the kind of girl without her own opinions, you’d be back in your hometown by now.”

“Don’t worry. Everything will be fine. My brother is very skilled.”

As she spoke, she looked at Xia Yan, as though reassuring both her and herself. “Xia Yan, can I tell you something from my heart?”

Xia Yan turned to her, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

“Honestly, I think you’re a pretty good person—not as annoying as I thought. If you hadn’t taken Brother Lin, we might have been great friends.”

“We can still be good friends,” Xia Yan said, taking the initiative to hold her hand.

“I don’t want to be your good friend. I’m still going to win Brother Lin back!” Zhu Yan couldn’t help but laugh at her own words.

For a moment, the oppressive atmosphere eased.

Inside the ward.

Sweat had already formed on Zhu Peng’s forehead. Though he had prepared in advance, Lin You’s condition was far worse than he’d expected.

“Chief, the patient’s blood pressure is dropping…” a nurse said urgently.

“Prepare to resuscitate.”

It was almost noon before the door finally opened, and Zhu Peng emerged, looking exhausted.

“Doctor, how is Lin You?” Xia Yan rushed to him the moment he appeared, Zhu Yan close behind.

Zhu Peng removed his mask, his eyes flashing with a strange expression as he looked at Xia Yan. “He was brought in just in time. If you’d been fifteen minutes later, there would have been nothing I could do.”

Relief flooded Xia Yan as she thanked him repeatedly. “Can I go in and see him?”

“You can.”

After thanking him again, Xia Yan entered the ward. Zhu Yan wanted to follow, but Zhu Peng grabbed her arm.

“Why are you holding me back, brother? I want to see Brother Lin,” Zhu Yan struggled, but Zhu Peng’s strength was impossible to break free from.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Look at yourself right now. If Dad saw you, he’d lecture you again. Go back to your dorm and change your clothes.”

Zhu Peng’s tone was stern. “And Lin You’s marriage application is in its final review. If nothing serious happens, he’ll be getting married. If you keep pestering him, it’s embarrassing—not just for you, but for me too.”

Of all people, Zhu Yan feared Zhu Peng the most.

By the time Xia Yan emerged from the ward, Zhu Yan was gone. Xia Yan carried a kettle and fetched some hot water, then found a clean towel in her suitcase. She dipped it in warm water and gently wiped the mud stains from Lin You’s hands and face.

When Zhu Yan returned after changing her clothes, she saw Xia Yan sitting at the bedside, carefully moistening Lin You’s lips with a cotton ball. She walked over quietly and said, “I’ll leave Brother Lin to you. I’ll be heading back up the mountain soon. Don’t worry about the three children—I’ll help take care of them.”

“Thank you, Zhu Yan.”

“No need to thank me. I’m just doing what a doctor should.”

Zhu Yan reminded Xia Yan of several things to watch out for, and only left when Li Guoxiang came to find her. Even as she departed, she couldn’t help but glance worriedly at Lin You in the bed.

Xia Yan saw her out and, upon returning, found that Lin You had already woken up.

“You’re awake! Are you feeling any discomfort? Should I call the doctor?” Xia Yan hurried over, joy lighting her face as she took Lin You’s hand.

Feeling the softness of her touch, color returned to Lin You’s cheeks. His voice was a little hoarse. “I’m alright, just some pain in my abdomen.”

“Pain in your abdomen?” Xia Yan’s expression turned anxious and worried. She quickly lifted Lin You’s shirt and saw a small, raised needle mark on his abs. She gently pressed it. “Is it hurting here?”

Her hand was cool, and Lin You’s muscles involuntarily contracted, making his abs stand out even more.

“It’s… it’s better now,” Lin You replied.

Xia Yan finally realized and blushed, just as Lin You did. “Ahem… are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?”

“No, you shouldn’t eat anything right now. I’ll ask the doctor when you can eat.” Xia Yan got up, visibly flustered.

“Um… Xia Yan, could you find a male doctor for me?” Lin You stammered.

“A male doctor?” Xia Yan glanced at him, puzzled by his request.

“I… I need to use the bathroom,” Lin You said, embarrassed.

“Oh!” Xia Yan hurried out, and at the nurse’s station, she found only a nurse present.

“Nurse, do you have any male nurses here?”

“Male nurses?” The nurse was taken aback.

“Yes, my… my husband needs help going to the bathroom. He needs a man to help him…”

The nurse couldn’t help but laugh. “We don’t have male nurses here, and the doctors are all busy. Besides, your husband needs the bathroom—you can help him yourself…”

“You two really are something,” the nurse said, smiling.

Feeling embarrassed, Xia Yan thanked her and rushed back to the ward.

When she returned to Lin You, her face was bright red with shame. “The doctors are all busy… If you really can’t wait, I’ll help you.”