Chapter 52: I Can Cure You

“When I was fleeing from enemy pursuit, I accidentally hit my head. The doctor said there’s internal bleeding in my brain that’s pressing on the optic nerve, which caused the blindness,” Lu Xiuyuan explained truthfully.

“Can’t you have surgery?” Su Miaomiao frowned.

Lu Xiuyuan shook his head.
“The doctor said the location of the bleeding is very tricky, and the chance of a successful surgery is less than one percent.”

Su Miaomiao’s eyes flickered with complex emotions.

When he didn’t hear her respond, Lu Xiuyuan thought she was feeling sorry for him and smiled as he continued:

“At the time, I had already prepared to die. I never expected to run into you. Not only did you help us complete the mission the organization assigned, but I also got to survive and reunite with my family. That’s more than enough for me.”

Su Miaomiao hesitated, then couldn’t help but ask:

“Did the doctor mention if there’s any danger if you don’t get surgery?”

Originally, she didn’t want to get involved in more trouble.
But when she saw that peaceful, resigned smile on his face, she couldn’t hold back the question.

“If I don’t have surgery, the bleeding in my brain might press against my blood vessels at any time. Medication can only hold it off for one or two months.”
Lu Xiuyuan was surprised Su Miaomiao considered this angle.

“Then why did you travel all the way out here? Given your condition, you should be in bed resting,” Su Miaomiao frowned even deeper.

If he suffered another hit to the head, his life could really be over.

“Because I wanted to thank you in person.”
Of course, Lu Xiuyuan knew he shouldn’t be traveling in his condition. But a life-saving debt had to be repaid.

As he spoke, he handed over a metal box from his coat.

“Is this for me?” Su Miaomiao asked.

“Yes. It’s to repay you for saving my life.” Lu Xiuyuan nodded.

Su Miaomiao opened the box and was shocked to see it was packed with large-denomination banknotes — thick bundles of “Da Tuanjie” bills.

A rough glance showed it had to be several hundred yuan at least.

“These are all my allowances and bonuses from the past few years. It’s not much, but I hope you won’t mind. After I die, there’ll likely be a death compensation payout. It won’t be small. I’ve already submitted the request to the organization. When the time comes, I’ve asked them to give the money to you. I…”

Lu Xiuyuan’s voice was calm — like he was talking about someone else’s death, not his own.

“Wait.”
Su Miaomiao interrupted him.

“What is it?” Lu Xiuyuan turned his head slightly toward her.

“Why are you giving this money to me? And your compensation money — shouldn’t that go to your family?”

“My family doesn’t need it,” Lu Xiuyuan said plainly.

Su Miaomiao instantly understood. So this guy comes from a wealthy background.
Even this much money didn’t matter to his family.

“Comrade Su, thank you for saving me, and for completing the mission… on behalf of me and my fallen comrades.”
Lu Xiuyuan then raised his hand and gave her a salute.

At that moment, sunlight fell across Lu Xiuyuan’s figure, casting a faint golden glow around his outline.

His posture was tall and proud. Even with sightless eyes, his face radiated unshakable strength.

Su Miaomiao suddenly understood why he’d risk his life to come thank her in person.

Perhaps he wasn’t only thanking her — he was also expressing the gratitude of all the comrades who never made it back.

Su Miaomiao’s chest tightened faintly with emotion. She quietly closed the lid of the metal box and firmly placed it back into Lu Xiuyuan’s arms.

“You… don’t want it?” Lu Xiuyuan asked, surprised by the cold touch of the box suddenly pressed back into his hands.

“I don’t need this.” Su Miaomiao spoke calmly.

For the first time, a trace of panic appeared on Lu Xiuyuan’s usually composed face.

“I know trying to repay a life-saving debt with money might seem like an insult to you… but in my current condition, I can’t offer you any other form of help. This is everything I have,” he explained anxiously.

Su Miaomiao gave him a look as if he were an idiot.

“Who told you I thought giving me money was insulting?”

“Huh?” Lu Xiuyuan froze for a moment, then came back to his senses.
“If that’s not it, then why are you returning the money?”

“I remember you said earlier… you’re a general, right?” Su Miaomiao asked.

“Yes.” Lu Xiuyuan nodded.

He was the youngest general in the entire corps.

But he had fought tooth and nail to earn it.

“A general’s life has to be worth at least ten thousand yuan, don’t you think? And you’re trying to fob me off with just a few hundred?” Su Miaomiao scoffed.

“I… I don’t have that much money.”
Lu Xiuyuan looked a little embarrassed.

Maybe his family had more, but after his death, his parents still had to live. He couldn’t ask them to hand over their retirement savings just to repay a life debt.

Seeing that handsome face of his show such a helpless expression, Su Miaomiao chuckled.

“Are you… making fun of me?”
Lu Xiuyuan had sharp hearing—especially now that he was blind.

“I’m not teasing you. I’m just someone who loves to get paid back.
I saved your life, so you owe me ten thousand yuan. Once you’ve paid me back, we’ll be even,” Su Miaomiao said with a playful tone.

“But… I don’t have much time left.”
If he could stay alive, he’d definitely find a way to earn that money for her.

“I say you do—so you do.”
Su Miaomiao stared straight into his eyes and enunciated each word clearly.

Lu Xiuyuan was momentarily stunned.

Then suddenly, he remembered how she had casually handed over three slices of high-quality ginseng before—each worth nearly two hundred yuan.

Could it be… she had other miracle medicines?

The part of his heart that had already resigned to fate suddenly stirred with hope.

“Let’s get out of the car.” Su Miaomiao opened the door and stepped out.

Outside, Sun Tiancai, who had been waiting anxiously, immediately came forward.

But when he saw her hands empty, his brows furrowed.

Did Lu Xiuyuan change his mind? Or… was he rejected?

He was about to ask when the car door opened again. Lu Xiuyuan slowly stepped out, carefully feeling his way down.

“Why are you getting out?”
Sun Tiancai rushed forward in alarm, gently helping him.

This man wasn’t just a national hero—he was also the eldest grandson of a top official in the capital. If anything happened under his watch, he’d never be able to justify it.

“I told him to come out,” Su Miaomiao spoke up in time.

“You?” Sun Tiancai turned to her, hesitation in his voice.
“Comrade Su, I don’t think you understand just how serious Comrade Lu’s condition is. He—”

“I can cure him,” Su Miaomiao cut him off directly, unwilling to waste time.

“What… did you say?”
Sun Tiancai was momentarily stunned, wondering if he was hallucinating.
He stared at her in disbelief.

“I said—I can cure him.”
Su Miaomiao repeated herself, her tone even firmer than before.