Chapter 45.2

The long night passed quickly, and when Su Xi opened her eyes again, the sky was already bright.

Su Xi had slept deeply the night before. Turning her head to check the time, she realized it was too late for a morning run. She stretched lazily.

Listening to the noises outside, she soon discovered that Xie Zhen had arrived.

Feeling pleased, Su Xi quickly got dressed, casually tidied her long, dark hair, and opened the door to step outside.

Xie Zhen had finished his morning exercises and taken a quick shower before coming to the Su Family’s House with Xi Yannan.

Upon arrival, as the new son-in-law, he naturally wanted to make a good impression.

He busily helped Grandma Chen with cooking and chatted with her, and although he spoke little, he was willing to listen to the elderly lady’s ramblings and did not find it troublesome. This made Chen Xiangyun very pleased with her son-in-law.

When Su Xi opened the door, Xie Zhen was chopping firewood with Xi Yannan. Hearing the noise, the four people in the yard looked over.

Xie Zhen’s dark eyes sparkled as he looked at the girl standing under the eaves, as pure as a sprite.

It was the first time he had seen her with her hair loose.

With her white skin and red lips, her long, thick black hair falling freely behind her was softer and more delicate than when it was braided.

The saying “beauty in the eyes of the beholder” was true; at least in Xie Zhen’s eyes, his little one looked like a fairy at that moment.

But Chen Xiangyun did not see it that way. She scolded with a smile, “You silly girl, how old are you? Why are you still running around with your hair loose? Don’t you care about your appearance? Aren’t you afraid Xiao Xie will think less of you?”

Xie Zhen immediately spoke up, “No, she looks great like this.”

Chen Xiangyun thought to herself that her grandson-in-law had good taste.

Su Xi smiled at Xie Zhen and then ran to the well to wash up with her big brother.

After she finished freshening up, she still wore her long hair loose and ran over to Xie Zhen with a carefree step.

At that moment, only Xie Zhen was left in the yard.

Su Xi’s eyes darted around as she quickly ran to Xie Zhen’s side.

Acting like a thief, she grabbed his large hand and, before her brothers came out of the kitchen, pulled him towards her room.

Xie Zhen: “…”

Once Su Xi had dragged him into her room, she grabbed a comb and hair ties and shoved them into Xie Zhen’s hand.

She then sat on a stool with her back to him, she said coquettishly, “Help me with my hair.”

Xie Zhen’s ears were burning. At his age, he had never been in a girl’s room before.

Especially this room, filled with the scent of his beloved. Although he knew he should gracefully exit at this moment, his feet felt as if they were stuck to the ground, unable to move.

The temptation of helping his beloved with her hair was indeed quite great.

He cleared his slightly hoarse throat, took a deep breath, put the hair ties in his pocket, and began to comb her hair.

After struggling with the comb for a while, Xie Zhen hesitated. “Maybe you should stand up?”

Su Xi: “…”

She was once again reminded of the height difference. She was feeling a bit frustrated!

Though she stood up obediently, Su Xi, the fairy, firmly refuted the situation in her heart.

She really wasn’t short!

No! She was short! 

This distance was much more convenient. Xie Zhen lifted his long fingers and wove them gently through the girl’s silky, thick black hair, his movements extremely tender.

“What kind of braid do you want?” His voice was husky as he asked.

Su Xi responded playfully, “What can you do?”

Xie Zhen’s hand paused for a moment, then he laughed softly, the awkwardness dissipating significantly.

He said warmly, “It was my mistake. I should have asked how you want it done.”

Su Xi raised her hands, gathered her hair, and slowly braided it once. Then she turned to look at him and shook the braid in her hand. “Got it?”

Xie Zhen nodded. “Got it!”

Upon hearing this, Su Xi raised her small hand, pulled the hair on both sides and slowly undid the braid. Turning her back to him, she said, “Then give it a try!”

Xie Zhen…

Braiding hair was not as complicated as Xie Zhen had imagined. Recalling the steps the girl had shown him, he quickly got the hang of it.

Su Xi touched the braid he had done and, not quite satisfied, said, “It’s too loose.”

With a good-natured smile, Xie Zhen undid the braid and started again.

The morning sun shone through the window, casting a warm glow on the two of them, adding a touch of warmth to the scene inside the room.

“Do you think it’s strange for two men to be in a relationship?” Su Xi, with her back to her boyfriend, spoke suddenly, her tone calm as if discussing something inconsequential.

Xie Zhen’s hands paused. He glanced at the girl nervously picking at her fingers but chose not to address it or respond immediately, continuing his work.

He quickly secured the hair tie at the end of the braid.

Then, he placed his hands on her shoulders, gently turned her around, and bent down to meet her gaze. “Are you asking about big brother and brother?”

Su Xi was taken aback. “You know?”

Xie Zhen sighed softly and reached up to tuck the stray hairs at her temples behind her ear. “Big brother and they haven’t been deliberately hiding it from me, so it’s not surprising.”

Su Xi stared up at him, confused. “Then, yesterday…”

Xie Zhen smiled with resignation. “I hadn’t thought much about it before, but I suddenly realized it yesterday.”

Su Xi hesitated. “Then…”

Seeing his partner’s unease, Xie Zhen immediately reassured her with a straightforward statement, “It’s big brother’s personal matter.”

Su Xi asked, “You don’t mind?”

Xie Zhen raised an eyebrow. “Why would I mind?”

Su Xi’s nose tingled with emotion. Clinging to the man, she raised her delicate white hands and wrapped them around his waist, pressing her small face against his broad chest. In a soft, plaintive voice, she said, “Many people might find their situation strange.”

Xie Zhen hugged her back, pulling the petite figure tightly into his embrace with a contented sigh. “It is a bit strange!”

Su Xi’s eyes widened in surprise as she glared up at him. “What did you say?”

Xie Zhen laughed, charmed by her rare display of fierceness. He drew her closer and gently stroked her back to soothe her. After thinking for a moment, he replied, “I don’t fully understand Big Brother’s feelings. I won’t lie to you; I do find it a bit strange, but I think love is probably the same everywhere. They love each other, just like we do. As long as they’re happy and don’t harm anyone else, that’s what matters.”

He paused, then continued, “In the future, let’s have two children, both raised with us, but one of them should have the Su surname.”

In Xie Zhen’s view, being in a relationship meant committing to life. Since Big Brother and his partner wouldn’t have their own children, he wanted to continue the family line for his father-in-law. This was a common traditional thought of the time and also Xie Zhen’s sincerity towards the Su family.

Su Xi’s face turned a bit red as her fingers unconsciously fidgeted with his clothes. “W-Why are you suddenly talking about having children?”

Xie Zhen sighed with a light laugh. “I think about these things a lot. A future with you and children is the life I long for!”

Su Xi, playfully twisting in his embrace, changed the subject shyly. “Why did you accept this so easily?”

Xie Zhen lifted her with one arm as if she were a child and then sat down on a stool, placing her on his lap. He wrapped his arm around her slender waist and spoke gently, “I suppose I was mentally prepared for it, and looking at history, such things are not uncommon.”

Su Xi swung her legs and told him about the plans her brother had mentioned the previous day.

After listening, Xie Zhen smiled and nodded. “Big brother’s considerations are very thorough.”

Su Xi looked up, puzzled. “What are you smiling about?”

Xie Zhen laughed again. “I’m just happy.”

“Happy about what?”

“Happy to be acknowledged.”

“Then… can I give you a reward?”

“What’s that… mm!”

Kiss～

Since revealing her brothers’ situation, Su Xi felt she had grown closer to Xie Zhen.

Even with Brother, she no longer wore a stern expression around him.

It wasn’t about being polite, but at least he no longer acted with the same haughty attitude as before.

—o—o—o—

Time flowed like a babbling brook, and another Friday arrived. The calendar had already turned to the end of October.

It was just after work hours when Su Xi bounced alongside Su Dong as they walked out of the hospital. The thought of having a day off tomorrow made her feel delightful.

Hmm… Should she go for a stroll in the forest with Xie Zhen again?

Since the last time they went to transplant the peach trees, she hadn’t visited the forest again. She could also leave the island to go shopping in the city.

However, she was always happy to go on a date with her boyfriend. Su Xi’s eyes curved with a smile, and she felt a lot of anticipation.

But just as they reached the door, she saw an unexpected person.

It was Wang Xiaojun, Xie Zhen’s orderly.

Su Xi’s brow twitched, feeling that something was about to happen.

Sure enough, Wang Xiaojun approached immediately upon seeing Su Xi, smiling shyly. “Doctor Su Xi, the team leader asked me to tell you that he received an urgent mission and has already set out.”

As he spoke, he took out two letters from his pocket, handing one to Su Xi.

He then handed the other to Su Dong. “Doctor Su Dong, this is a letter that Squad Leader Xi asked me to pass on to you.”

Su Xi held the envelope, her grip so tight that her fingertips turned slightly white. “What kind of mission is it? Can you tell me?”

Wang Xiaojun looked a bit troubled.

Su Xi understood and smiled as she said, “I was just asking. If you can’t say, it’s fine. Thank you, Xiao Wang.”

After bidding farewell to Wang Xiaojun, Su Xi did not rush to open the envelope but put it in her pocket, planning to read it later at home.

Compared to Su Xi’s inner restlessness, Su Dong was much more composed. He patted his sister’s small head to comfort her.

Su Xi took a deep breath, calming her frantic heart, and shook her head at Su Dong. “I’m fine. I have to get used to it.”

She had always known that her partner was a soldier and had mentally prepared herself for such situations.

Su Dong’s eyes curved with a smile. “No wonder you’re my sister.”

Su Xi straightened her back with pride and said, “Of course!”

When Su Xi got home, she took out the letter and found that it contained only a few simple sentences.

It expressed apologies for not being able to say goodbye in person due to the urgent mission and reminded her to take care of herself.

Su Xi stared at the hasty handwriting on the paper, clearly written in a rush.

Gradually, her eyes reddened. She muttered, “Idiot, telling me to take care of myself at home. Shouldn’t you be the one paying attention?”

After reading the letter several times, Su Xi carefully folded it and put it back into the envelope. Then she took out a tin box from her wardrobe and carefully placed the letter inside, treating it with great care.

The moment the wardrobe door closed, Su Xi had already adjusted her mood and decided to help Grandma Chen finish cooking. However, the gate to the courtyard was suddenly knocked loudly.

As Su Xi stepped out of her room, she saw Su Dong returning with a serious expression.

Su Xi had been entirely focused on the letter and had not noticed the commotion outside.

Seeing Su Dong’s stern face, her heart sank.

Before she could ask, Su Dong urged, “Xixi, there’s an urgent mission. An earthquake struck the neighboring county, and they urgently needed doctors. Quickly pack some things; the boat departs in half an hour.”

Su Xi’s expression turned serious. Without saying a word, she turned and went back to her room to pack some clothes. She also grabbed two bottles of concentrated peach liquor from the table and put them in her military bag.

In just two minutes, the siblings were in the kitchen, hastily bidding farewell to Grandma Chen.

They took the flatbreads Grandma Chen had already cooked, gave a few last instructions to Chen Xiangyun, and then ran towards the dock together.

Su Xi asked, “Do we need to go to the hospital to get anything?”

Su Dong shook his head. “The hospital director will take care of it.”

The two ran as fast as they could and managed to reach the military dock within the half-hour timeframe.

They saw a boat already docked at the pier, with a Liberation CA10 truck on board. More than a dozen medical staff were already seated in the truck’s canopy.

The siblings did not ask any more questions. They quickly boarded the boat and efficiently climbed into the truck.

In her past and present lives, Su Xi had never seen a truck being transported across a river by boat before. She recalled that it was probably called a ferry.

Although it was a bit unusual, she had no mood to be curious about it at that moment.

An earthquake… it was always frightening. She wondered how many people were injured this time and hoped… hoped it wasn’t too serious.

Director He was leading the team personally. She frequently checked her watch, her usually kind expression now tense. After the last nurse arrived, Director He signaled the military personnel operating the boat that they were ready. The group, with anxious hearts, set off for their destination.

By the time Su Xi and the others arrived in Baxin County after a bumpy boat and truck ride, three hours had passed.

As soon as someone jumped off the truck, someone else shouted, “Doctors are here! Hurry, doctors, help us!”

There were cries, wails, and screams, and many were running around helping with the rescue.

The scenes had a huge impact on Su Xi. Confronting the devastation caused by a natural disaster for the first time left her feeling suffocated. The entire county was in ruins, with collapsed buildings and cracked roads everywhere.

She and the others were led by the eagerly waiting disaster victims to the makeshift hospital that had been set up.

She barely had time to take in the remnants of the earthquake’s destruction before she was thrust into the hectic, life-or-death work.

As an intern, Su Xi was primarily dealing with external injuries. From the moment she got off the truck, she worked non-stop through the night. During that time, she heard that more rescue medical staff had been sent from the city.

Even with this support, Su Xi worked tirelessly until dawn.

Despite considering herself to have good stamina, the entire night of hard work had left her face pale and exhausted.

After tightening the bandage on the last patient’s leg, Su Xi collapsed onto a nearby bench, feeling as though her soul was about to leave her body.

She shakily accepted the water handed to her by a young nurse and took a few sips before asking, “Are there no more patients?”

The young nurse was also exhausted, though she was in slightly better condition than Su Xi, as she had managed to sit down and rest for a few minutes at a time. She weakly replied, “For now, it’s stable. However, the troops are still conducting search and rescue operations, so there might still be some patients arriving, but it won’t be as hectic as before.”

Su Xi felt a sense of relief. “That’s good.”

Her worry returned quickly. “There are not many bandages and anti-inflammatory medicines left, and we don’t know when the next batch of supplies will arrive.”

The nurse was also anxious, as all supplies, especially medical ones, were in short supply. Thinking of this, she rubbed her aching back and said, “I’ll go out to ask and look for some food. After working all night, I’m really quite worn out. Doctor Su Xi, you should rest for a while.”

Su Xi watched the nurse leave but did not rest. She grimaced as she moved her swollen leg and took a bottle of peach liquor from her military backpack. She opened it and took a large gulp.

As the liquor warmed her, Su Xi felt rejuvenated, as if her entire being was infused with vitality. Her previously pale face took on a healthier flush.

She stretched her stiff muscles comfortably.

After placing the unopened bottle into the pocket of her lab coat, she prepared to bring it to her brother later.

When the young nurse came back with several black steamed buns, Su Xi had already re-examined several of the patients she had treated the previous night.

“Doctor Su Xi, why aren’t you resting? Your body won’t handle this,” the young nurse said, surprised to see Su Xi working again after just a brief break.

Feeling a mix of admiration and touch, the nurse realized that despite Su Xi’s delicate appearance, she was genuinely dedicated and selfless, something worth learning from. The nurse clenched her fist with excitement.

Su Xi… What’s going on?

“Have the medical supplies arrived? And… how is it outside?” Su Xi asked as she took a bite of the steamed bun.

At the mention of this topic, the nurse shook her head, her expression grim. “Director He said the supplies are on their way, but not just medical supplies. Everything is in short supply—food, water, clothing, and more.”

Seeing the nurse’s distressed expression, Su Xi stopped eating, her own face growing dim. In a hushed voice, she asked, “Have many people died outside?”

The nurse’s eyes reddened, and she nodded. Despite her professional experience with death, she still found it hard to accept the brutal reality outside.

Su Xi pressed her lips together, her long eyelashes casting shadows over her eyes. After a moment, she wiped her eyes and resumed eating the bun with large bites. “Eat quickly. You need to be strong to help treat more people.”

—o—o—o—

In the next half-day, more and more people were rescued from the ruins by soldiers, and Su Xi entered another round of hectic work.

It had been 24 hours since the earthquake, and both the rescue soldiers on the scene and the medical staff like Su Xi in the rear were utterly exhausted, yet they continued to persevere.

Their minds were focused on one thing.

Save lives! Save lives! Save lives!

When Su Xi finally collapsed onto a bench again, the clock had already struck 2 PM.

After 20 hours of intense work, Su Xi felt both hungry and exhausted, nearly on the verge of collapsing into sleep.

Just as she was about to sneak another sip of peach liquor to keep herself awake, several unfamiliar figures in white lab coats walked in.

After a brief exchange, Su Xi learned that these were medical personnel sent from the neighboring city to provide support.

With their arrival, Su Xi and her team could finally take a short break.

After the handover, Su Xi and the young nurse, supporting each other, made their way to the makeshift bedding and fell asleep immediately, too weary to even bother with washing up.

In her sleep, Su Xi seemed to sense Xie Zhen’s presence.

The man’s scent, for some unknown reason, was no longer as fresh as before and carried a strong odor of sweat. Yet, she didn’t mind. Instead, being enveloped by the familiar scent made her frown relax, and her lips curled into a slight smile.