Chapter 3 Don’t worry, I’m not angry at all

“Lin Suisui, come back!”

Just as Lin Suisui was turning to leave with Doubao, she heard Huo Changzheng call out to her. His voice wasn’t loud—he really did sound dizzy—and it had lost its usual sharpness, but the commanding tone still carried enough weight to stop her in her tracks.

She looked up and saw Huo Changzheng shake off Song Xiao’s hand. In that moment, everyone in the room could feel the thick awkwardness in the air.

Next, Huo Changzheng tried to sit up. The doctor rushed to stop him. “Deputy Commander Huo, you’ve got a concussion. You must stay lying down.”

He really was dizzy, but he ignored the doctor. Bracing himself on his elbow, he insisted, “Lin Suisui, come here.”

Fang Weiguo had good instincts. He immediately grabbed Doubao’s hand and walked him toward the bed, gently nudging Lin Suisui along as well.

“Commander, sister-in-law was so worried when she heard you were injured that she took a three-day, two-night train ride just to come take care of you,” he announced loudly, clearly making sure everyone knew who Lin Suisui was.

He never liked Song Xiao. As a woman, she had no sense of propriety—constantly lingering around his most respected commander just because of her father’s status. Did she not know the commander was already married? Shameless.

As expected, the moment he said that, Song Xiao’s face turned pale.

She looked over at Lin Suisui, who had just walked to the other side of the bed.

Song Xiao had always known that Huo Changzheng had a wife back in the countryside. But in her imagination, Lin Suisui should’ve been a crude peasant woman—certainly not a natural beauty whose looks couldn’t even be hidden by plain homespun clothing.

Sensing her gaze, Lin Suisui looked up slightly, meeting Song Xiao’s undisguised look of disgust. Her neck shrank instinctively.

Don’t blame her for being timid—after all, she was the cannon-fodder wife. She knew her place. She couldn’t afford to provoke the female lead. If she got kicked back to the countryside, she’d be as good as dead.

Right now, Lin Suisui wanted to run, but she couldn’t. Just as she lowered her head, she suddenly felt her wrist warm up. In the next second, she saw Huo Changzheng holding her hand.

The sudden touch stunned her completely—until she heard him say:

“Why did you suddenly come?”

He’d only gotten injured yesterday—there was no way she could’ve known in advance and arrived three days early to care for him. Obviously, what Fang Weiguo said was nonsense.

“Well… I…” Lin Suisui couldn’t possibly say she was here to avoid danger, so after stammering for a bit, she came up with a lame excuse.

“Doubao missed you, so I brought him to see you.”

Saying that, she pulled her hand back and nudged Doubao forward. “Doubao, greet your daddy.”

Doubao looked up at the man sitting in bed. The gaze of the big and little man met in midair.

In Huo Changzheng’s calm eyes was a flicker of anticipation, while in Doubao’s wide, innocent gaze, a trace of cunning flashed by—so subtle it was almost imperceptible.

“Hello, Uncle!” Doubao’s childish voice rang through the entire room.

Not only Huo Changzheng, but everyone else in the room was stunned.

“Doubao, this is your daddy, not your uncle,” Fang Weiguo quickly corrected him, clearly more flustered than anyone.

The crowd burst into laughter, easing the earlier tension.

“Looks like Deputy Commander Huo doesn’t come home enough—the kid doesn’t even recognize him,” a doctor joked. “The family’s finally reunited; let’s give them some space.”

“Yes, yes—Deputy Commander Huo, lie down quickly. Sitting up won’t help your recovery,” another doctor added.

With that, the three doctors left first. Fang Weiguo followed behind. Seeing Song Xiao still glaring bitterly at Lin Suisui, he summoned his courage and offered, “Comrade Song, would you like me to escort you back?”

Song Xiao gritted her teeth, glaring at him. “No need.”

She stormed out, but just before she stepped through the doorway, she turned back for one last look—only to find that Huo Changzheng’s eyes had never left Lin Suisui. The sight made her so furious she nearly choked on her own rage.

Earlier, with so many people around, Lin Suisui had been cautious. Now, with only the three of them left, she couldn’t help feeling nervous again.

“You still haven’t answered me. Why did you suddenly come?” Huo Changzheng asked. He really was dizzy. He had only forced himself to sit up earlier, and now that he was lying back down, he spoke again.

Being called out, Lin Suisui glanced at him before quickly lowering her head. In a small voice, she mumbled, “I already said, Doubao missed you, so I brought him.”

Doubao didn’t even recognize him—how could he miss him?

Huo Changzheng gave a short, amused snort—but didn’t press her further. Instead, he asked, “Are you staying for a while… or not leaving?”

The last three words were clearly said in a slightly different tone—but Lin Suisui didn’t catch it. She was too focused on how to answer.

She only planned to stay for a year but couldn’t tell him the real reason. After thinking hard for a while, she finally said, “If it’s convenient, Doubao and I would like to stay.”

“Alright. I’ll have someone arrange it,” Huo Changzheng replied without hesitation.

Hearing that, Lin Suisui finally let out a breath of relief. She’d secured her survival.

“Then you should get some rest.”

Now that she had the answer she wanted, she relaxed. Knowing he needed rest, she sensibly took Doubao with her toward the chairs in the corner.

Watching her start to walk away again, Huo Changzheng couldn’t help but ask, “Don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”

“Ask what?” Lin Suisui was confused. “I don’t really have anything to ask.”

At her response, a faint flush crept onto Huo Changzheng’s pale face—seemingly from frustration.

He said nothing, just turned away to face the other side of the bed.

Lin Suisui sensed that he seemed a little upset, but she didn’t know why. Did I do something wrong?

Maybe he was mad she had ruined his tender moment with Song Xiao.

Thinking back to Song Xiao’s tearful face and concern, she figured the scene would’ve been quite touching if no one else had interrupted.

Still, since he agreed to let them stay, she had no intention of leaving. Going back to the countryside would be a death sentence, and she valued her life.

Just as she sat down with Doubao in the corner, she heard a voice from the bed.

“There’s nothing between me and Song Xiao. Don’t be upset.”

She froze, and when she looked up, her eyes met his.

She wasn’t quite sure why he was saying this, but answered earnestly, “I know. Don’t worry. I’m not upset at all.”

She thought she was being very gracious, but somehow, his face—which had just been flushed—darkened instantly.

Then he turned over again, this time facing the opposite direction.

“…”