Lin Hongying had just finished paying and was about to leave when a commotion broke out in the crowd. An elderly man behind her in line suddenly collapsed on the spot.  

People immediately scattered, forming a circle around him, panicking. “Oh no—an old comrade has fainted!”  

Hearing the noise, Lin Hongying’s heart leaped to her throat, and her brows furrowed tightly. The collapsed man was emaciated, his cheekbones protruding sharply, his body little more than skin and bones.  

His face was deathly pale, covered in cold sweat, and he trembled before gradually losing consciousness. Without hesitation, Lin Hongying began performing CPR. After a minute of chest compressions, the old man regained consciousness.  

As she worked, she urgently questioned him, “Comrade, wake up! Don’t fall asleep yet. Are you feeling any discomfort in your chest? Where does it hurt? Tell me! Is it here? Or here?”  

She gently placed her hands on different areas—his head, heart, liver, and kidneys.  

The weakly conscious old man shook his head with difficulty.  

Lin Hongying was shocked as she felt his frail, skeletal frame.  

He was far too thin—so thin it was just skin and bones. Severely malnourished. In another time, if such an old man were seen on the street, concerned passersby would likely drag him to a clinic for a check-up.  

This was a clear clinical manifestation of hypoglycemic shock.  

Her hand slipped into her pocket, her thoughts racing. What a shock patient needed most was glucose water to replenish energy. But pulling out a bottle of glucose solution would raise too many questions—she’d never be able to explain it. Instead, she grabbed a handful of sugar cubes.  

“Comrades, please bring me a cup of warm water, now!” Lin Hongying called out to the crowd. “Hurry!”  

A young man in pine-green military attire immediately handed her a cup of water.  

His tall, commanding posture and dignified bearing made him stand out starkly from the crowd. His sharp brow ridges gave him an imposing air.  

Lin Hongying’s eyelids twitched as if sensing something, and she looked up.  

Unsurprisingly, she saw the familiar, handsome face of Shao Qingfeng.  

Lin Hongying quickly dissolved the sugar cubes in the warm water. After drinking the sweetened water, the old man regained some strength, and his complexion improved slightly.  

She sighed and asked, “Uncle, how many days has it been since you last ate?”  

The old man trembled as he answered, “Two… two days? I’m old, I can’t remember…”  

“Comrade, there’s… no need for the hospital. I just stood too long, my legs went numb…”  

Lin Hongying was stunned. She held his weak pulse, counting the seconds. If she had the proper equipment, she was certain his heart rate would be critically low.  

Grasping his skeletal hand, she insisted, “You need to value your life more—you’re not out of danger yet!”  

She turned to the crowd. “This elderly comrade is still in critical condition. He must be taken to the hospital immediately!”  

Chaos erupted again as people scrambled to help—some brought bicycles, others offered carts. Amid the confusion, someone even found a car. Everyone was rushing to aid the collapsed old man.  

When Lin Hongying mentioned, “His body temperature is too low,” seven or eight coats were immediately offered.  

Without hesitation, Shao Qingfeng lifted the old man into the car, inserted the key, and the engine roared to life.  

Though the winter was bitterly cold, Lin Hongying felt warmth in this small corner of the world—a warmth unique to this era.  

…

Hospital.

Lin Hongying sat silently on a bench in the hallway.  

Even in her childhood, when her family was at its poorest, government assistance had ensured they never starved—though meals were far from lavish. True hunger was the terror in the old man’s voice, the nightmare lurking in memories.  

Back then, her grandmother often said that despite their hardships, life was far better than in the old days. Lin Hongying hadn’t understood then, but now she did.  

The emergency treatment concluded, and a nurse praised Lin Hongying for her first aid, crediting her with saving the old man’s life.  

The hospital covered the medical expenses for now, to be reimbursed once the family was contacted.

Lin Hongying thought to herself that for someone to be starved to this extent, their family circumstances must be incredibly dire.  

Fortunately, in this era, medical costs weren’t exorbitant, and most of it was covered by the state. Lin Hongying fished two yuan from her pocket. “I’ll cover his expenses.”  

At the same time, another hand extended money—it was Shao Qingfeng, who had silently driven them to the hospital.  

His wheat-colored hand was well-defined, slender, and clean, with neatly trimmed nails, healthy and rosy.  

“Use mine.” Lin Hongying’s gaze followed that hand upward.  

Shao Qingfeng had deep, bright peach-blossom eyes that exuded quiet intensity, his brow ridges slightly prominent, his features sharp like a blade concealed in elegance. His posture was as straight as a poplar, his pine-green military uniform impeccably pressed, neat and precise.  

The moment their eyes met, a flicker of admiration flashed in Lin Hongying’s gaze.  

But then she remembered last week’s unpleasant incident, and all interest vanished.  

Han Weidong grinned, revealing a row of white teeth. “Heh, sister-in-law, you’ve finally noticed us!”  

“Let Brother Feng pay. We just got our allowances, so we’ve got some to spare.”  

It was the first time he had spoken to Lin Hongying in such a serious tone, and the first time he had truly looked at her. Her actions earlier had shattered his previous assumptions.  

His eyes were bright and lively, his tone uncharacteristically amiable.  

If not for the original host’s memories, Lin Hongying might have mistaken him for a genuinely kind and generous person.  

In the original host’s memories, Han Weidong was a high-ranking cadre’s son who looked down on everyone. He had once dismissively tossed 200 yuan at the original host to send her packing, his tone no different from that of an arrogant, spoiled rich kid.  

Lin Hongying responded with graceful composure. “I was busy saving someone earlier—no time for small talk. Didn’t expect to run into you here.”  

“I won’t fight you over this.”  

She tucked her money back into her pocket and signaled for the nurse to take Shao Qingfeng’s instead.  

Compared to her wealthy, high-status fiancé, Lin Hongying was currently a penniless peasant. She wasn’t about to pretend to be generous when she couldn’t afford it.  

….

Shao Qingfeng held a regimental-level position at a young age, making him the epitome of a “tall, rich, and handsome” man by this era’s standards. It wasn’t just the original host who refused to let go—even the fresh-faced young actresses in the cultural troupe coveted him.  

Han Weidong felt like the sun had risen from the west.  

His earlier remark had been deliberate, yet Lin Hongying had actually ignored Shao Qingfeng?  

Everyone in the compound knew she had shamelessly latched onto Shao Qingfeng.  

Whenever Shao Qingfeng returned, Lin Hongying would either gaze at him adoringly or revolve entirely around him, as if no one else existed. She wouldn’t even touch the food ration coupons he gave her, saving every last bite for him when he came back.  

She scrubbed the concrete floors until they gleamed, so spotless you could almost see your reflection. It was as if she feared Shao Qingfeng would deny their engagement and send her back to the countryside.  

Han Weidong, however, had always kept his distance from Lin Hongying.  

But after witnessing today’s events, he realized he might have never truly known her at all.  

She was composed, courageous, stepping forward amidst chaos. Not only had she helped rush the old man to the hospital, but she had also offered to pay his medical fees.  

Han Weidong knew that before Lin Hongying came to the compound, she had likely spent every last cent she had. The money she was using now was probably given to her by Shao Qingfeng.  

Just as Han Weidong was lost in thought, Lin Hongying said, “I have things to do this afternoon, so I’ll take my leave first.”  

It was the first time Shao Qingfeng had heard Lin Hongying speak so calmly—her gaze clear and bright, without a trace of bashfulness or evasion. There was no more of the clingy, burning infatuation in her eyes.  

Shao Qingfeng had never seen this side of Lin Hongying before. He realized he still knew far too little about her.  

In a low voice, he said, “Let’s go back together. We have a car. It looks like it might snow—it’s not convenient for you to return alone.”  

Just then, the nurse’s voice called out, “Comrade Lin, the patient wants to see you.”