Chapter 38: Some Bitterness Doesn’t Need to Be Suffered

Despite gritting his teeth and enduring the pain, beads of sweat still dotted Xia Tianyou’s forehead and cheeks, his hands gripping the edge of the operating table so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Yang Qingyan continued her precise movements while frequently checking Xia Tianyou’s condition, gently asking, “Xia Tianyou, do you feel any changes in your hand? Is it numb or painful?”

Through clenched teeth, Xia Tianyou managed to squeeze out a few words, “It hurts… I can endure it…”

As the surgery progressed, the difficulty increased. There was a particularly severe nerve injury that required even more meticulous work. Tiny beads of sweat began to appear on Yang Qingyan’s forehead as she pursed her lips, her gaze becoming more resolute. The surgical instruments remained steady in her hands as she executed the complex procedures.

Time ticked away, and the high-stakes surgery lasted a full seven hours. Finally, she successfully repaired the nerves.

The operating room door slowly opened, and Xia Tianyou’s family rushed in, their eyes filled with anxiety and anticipation.

Yang Qingyan removed her mask, fatigue evident on her face, but she couldn’t hide the sense of accomplishment as she said, “Don’t worry, the surgery was successful. Now we just need to follow the rehabilitation plan.”

Commander Xia’s eyes glistened with tears as he grasped Yang Qingyan’s hand tightly, repeatedly expressing his gratitude. “Comrade Yang, thank you so much! You’ve given Tianyou new hope and brought hope to our family!”

Xia Tianyou’s mother had already broken down in tears, continually expressing her thanks.

Yang Qingyan nodded gently, offering reassurances while scanning the room for Mu Nanhe. When she spotted him sitting in his wheelchair not far away, beaming with pride, warmth filled her heart. She knew that through all the hardships, he was silently supporting her from behind.

Yang Qingyan continued to advise Xia Tianyou patiently, “When you get back to your room, the nurse will put you on an IV. For the next few days, you need to rest. Don’t move your hand around too much, especially since we just reattached the nerves. It might hurt a bit, so if you can’t bear it, just call for me immediately.”

Xia Tianyou’s face was pale, but he held onto his spirit, nodding firmly. “I understand, Doctor Yang. Rest assured, I will cooperate fully.”

Commander Xia looked at his son’s weak yet determined demeanor, his eyes misty. He gently patted Xia Tianyou on the shoulder, his voice choked with emotion. “Tianyou, you’ve been through a lot. Listen to Doctor Yang; we will definitely recover fully.”

Xia Tianyou managed a small comforting smile for his father. “Dad, I’m fine. Don’t worry. Once I’m better, I can return to the unit.”

As the nurse wheeled Xia Tianyou out of the operating room, Yang Qingyan exhaled softly in relief.

Turning back, she saw the gentle gaze of Mu Nanhe in his wheelchair. Her heart warmed, and she quickened her pace to his side, kneeling down to hold his hand, whispering, “The surgery went well. Now we just need to monitor his recovery. Let’s hope everything goes smoothly.”

Mu Nanhe grasped her hand tighter, giving her strength. “Wife, you must be exhausted. Let’s go back to the room and rest.”

Once back in their room, she collapsed onto the bed, falling into a deep, sweet sleep. When she finally awoke, she opened her eyes to Mu Nanhe’s affectionate gaze, as if he were staring into a vast universe.

Yang Qingyan, still drowsy, smiled and playfully complained, “What’s so fascinating about watching me sleep?” Mu Nanhe, however, only smiled deeper, his gaze unwavering, tenderly responding, “I can’t get enough of my wife.”

Feeling a rush of sweetness, Yang Qingyan sat up, stretched her arms lazily, and recalled the post-operative state of Xia Tianyou. She said to Mu Nanhe, “I need to check on Xia Tianyou.”

Mu Nanhe nodded gently, his eyes filled with understanding and support. “Go ahead. I’ll wait for you.”

Yang Qingyan tidied up her clothes and briskly made her way to Xia Tianyou’s room. As soon as she entered, she saw him biting his teeth tightly, his brows furrowed, large beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. It was evident that he was enduring immense pain.

She rushed over and chided him lightly, “Didn’t I tell you to call for me if it hurt too much?”

Xia Tianyou grunted through clenched teeth, “I’m fine, I can hold on.”

Seeing his stubborn expression, Yang Qingyan felt exasperated. She quickly retrieved a silver needle from her medical kit, found the appropriate acupoints, and expertly inserted the needle into his hand. At the same time, she slowly used her abilities, sending a gentle glow from her palm into Xia Tianyou’s body.

Speaking softly, she reassured him, “You don’t need to endure this pain. There’s no need to suffer unnecessarily. How about moving to Nanhe’s room? That way, I can monitor both of you and it will be easier for me to take care of you.”

Thanks to Yang Qingyan’s care, Xia Tianyou felt some relief from the pain. He sighed deeply, his facial expression relaxing considerably. He spoke more clearly now, hesitating before asking, “Doctor Yang, is it convenient to move to Major Mu’s room? I’m not in that much pain anymore.”

Yang Qingyan regarded him with a gentle smile and replied, “It’s perfectly convenient. In a couple of days, I’ll need to perform surgery on his legs as well. You two can keep each other company and motivate each other during rehabilitation.”

Xia Tianyou instinctively glanced in Mu Nanhe’s direction, a sense of camaraderie reflecting in his eyes, as if there were an inexplicable attraction to Mu Nanhe. After some thought, he nodded in agreement, “Alright, Doctor Yang. I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Yang Qingyan nodded slightly and guided Xia Tianyou to Mu Nanhe’s room, explaining, “I’m bringing him here for easier monitoring. You two can rehabilitate together.”

Mu Nanhe responded, “That’s fine, my wife.”

Day by day, they continued their repetitive routines. Yang Qingyan visited Xia Tianyou every few hours, skillfully and gently administering acupuncture. Each needle insertion was accompanied by her focused energy, sending her powerful abilities slowly into him through the tips of the needles, helping alleviate the deep-rooted pain.

Time slipped away quietly, and soon it was the fourth day. Thanks to the continuous treatment and the nourishment of her abilities, Xia Tianyou finally felt significant changes. The overwhelming pain that had once surged through him like a tide was now receding. Though he still felt weak, the unbearable agony had vanished entirely.

Seeing Xia Tianyou’s condition improve, Yang Qingyan felt a wave of relief wash over her. However, she understood that this was only the beginning, and much more effort would be needed for his complete recovery. Thus, she instructed someone to bring in some small, round balls, smooth and appropriately sized.

“Tianyou, starting today, you need to hold these balls daily and practice squeezing and relaxing them to build strength and flexibility in your hand,” Yang Qingyan said with a smile, demonstrating the correct grip method.

Xia Tianyou looked at the balls in his hands, nodding in understanding. Though this seemingly simple action was still somewhat strenuous for him, determination shone in his eyes, reflecting his resolve to recover as quickly as possible.

With that, she began preparing for Mu Nanhe’s surgery, carefully studying his leg X-rays.