Chapter 3: Yang Qingyan Faints

“She fainted due to severe malnutrition. How did her body become this weak?” The military doctor invited by He Zhengping spoke with a grave expression, his voice tinged with both shock and confusion. As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance at Mu Nanhe, standing nearby, his gaze carrying a hint of reproach.

Mu Nanhe stood silently by the bedside, his eyes locked onto Yang Qingyan, who looked as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind. His heart felt as though it was being pierced by countless tiny steel needles, each prick leaving a sharp, lingering pain.

Yang Qingyan’s face was deathly pale, her eyes tightly shut, and her lips dry and colorless. She appeared lifeless.

The military doctor retrieved a bottle of nutrient solution from his medical kit, skillfully setting it up on the IV stand and adjusting the drip rate. After carefully checking Yang Qingyan’s vital signs and confirming that she was in no immediate danger, he patted Mu Nanhe’s shoulder lightly before taking his leave.

As the doctor’s footsteps faded into the distance, the room fell into an eerie silence. Mu Nanhe walked out of the room, splashed his face with cold water, and tried to use the chill to suppress the frustration and unease swelling inside him.

When Yang Qingyan finally woke up, her head felt heavy, and her entire body was weak. She sighed inwardly—this body was simply too frail. Just using a tiny bit of her abilities had caused her to faint, far weaker than her body in the apocalypse. She knew that if she wanted to live well in this era, she would have to nurse her body back to health.

With that in mind, she secretly transferred a little of her power into her body. A gentle warmth spread through her, slowly nourishing her weary frame, and the dizziness gradually subsided.

At that moment, the door was gently pushed open. Mu Nanhe stepped inside and, seeing that she had awakened, quickly walked to her bedside and asked in a low voice, “You’re awake. Do you still feel unwell?”

Yang Qingyan glanced at him, her tone somewhat cold as she replied, “I’m fine.”

In her heart, she felt an injustice for the original owner of this body. Even if Mu Nanhe never managed household affairs, the original owner wouldn’t have starved to death.

Sensing the distance in her tone, Mu Nanhe frowned slightly and explained, “I was away on a mission and just got back.”

Before he could say more, the door opened again. Liang Huantao walked in, carrying a bowl of porridge. With a warm smile, she said, “Sister, you’re awake. I made some porridge for you, come and have some.”

Yang Qingyan propped herself up and smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Sister-in-law.”

Liang Huantao quickly placed the bowl on the small table beside the bed and waved her hand. “No need to be so polite. The military doctor said your body is severely weakened, so you shouldn’t eat anything too greasy for now. I made some plain porridge for you to fill your stomach.” She thoughtfully handed her a spoon as she spoke.

Taking the spoon, Yang Qingyan gazed at the steaming porridge, feeling a warmth spread through her heart. She sincerely said, “Sister-in-law, I really appreciate it.”

Liang Huantao sat beside the bed with a smile. “It’s nothing at all. You saved my little Hu. This is the least I can do. Now, eat up and get some rest afterward.”

Mu Nanhe remained silent, watching from the side. Once Liang Huantao left, he finally spoke, his voice tinged with guilt. “I’m sorry. I was away on back-to-back missions and didn’t come home to check on you.” His expression was filled with remorse.

Yang Qingyan didn’t respond. She simply stirred her porridge absentmindedly, thinking that this apology came far too late. The original owner of this body had already suffered at the hands of her in-laws until she died. What use were his words now?

Seeing her silence, Mu Nanhe continued, “Even though I wasn’t able to visit, I made sure to send money home every month through my comrades so the family could take care of you. I don’t know why they never gave it to you.”

Yang Qingyan let out a cold chuckle. “Why else? They didn’t see me as someone important because you didn’t care about me. To them, I was just an outsider they could bully however they pleased.”

Mu Nanhe opened his mouth, wanting to refute her words, but found that he couldn’t. He could only lower his head in silence.

The room fell into a heavy quiet, broken only by the occasional clink of Yang Qingyan’s spoon against the bowl. The oppressive atmosphere made it difficult to breathe.

After a long pause, Mu Nanhe finally lifted his head, his eyes filled with newfound determination. He looked at Yang Qingyan and said seriously, “From now on, you’ll live in the family quarters. I will fulfill my responsibilities.”

Yang Qingyan didn’t respond. She knew she had nowhere else to go for now. In this era, where even travel required an introduction letter, this was her only option. She took a small sip of porridge, her thoughts drifting—wondering how she should get along with Mu Nanhe in the future.

Seeing her lack of response, Mu Nanhe felt a bit dejected but pressed on. “Tomorrow, we’ll go to the town’s supply and marketing cooperative to buy some necessities. The house has nothing right now—even the bedding is borrowed from Sister Liang. Tonight, you’ll have to make do. I’ll stay in the dormitory and come pick you up tomorrow.”

Yang Qingyan softly replied, “Okay.”

She understood that this was the best arrangement for now, but the thought of going out with Mu Nanhe tomorrow still left her feeling conflicted. She wasn’t ready to let go of the resentment she held against him.

Mu Nanhe stood up, looking at Yang Qingyan’s thin frame, hesitating as if he wanted to say something. In the end, he simply said, “Rest well. I’ll be going now.”

Yang Qingyan didn’t reply, only giving a slight nod as she continued sipping her porridge.

Mu Nanhe turned and walked toward the door. Just before stepping out, he glanced back at Yang Qingyan once more before quietly closing the door behind him.

The room fell into silence again. Yang Qingyan set her spoon down, leaned against the bed, and let out a soft sigh.

Perhaps she was exhausted from the train ride, or maybe this body was simply too weak. Drowsiness overtook her, and she soon drifted into a deep, restful sleep.