Chapter 3: No Scarring

Fortunately, it was just a minor abrasion. Though it looked serious, it wasn’t severe.

After a quick cleaning and some gauze, the wound was bandaged.

To ease her distress, Huo Beiqing cleared his throat and said, “There won’t be a scar.”

Hearing this, Xia Ruanyuan’s sobbing paused. She hiccupped and asked, “Really?”

While packing up the supplies, Huo Beiqing nodded. “Yes. Remember to change the bandage tomorrow.”

“I’ll also prepare some ointment for you. Apply it for a few days, and it’ll be fine.”

Still sniffling, Xia Ruanyuan clung to his white coat. “Should I come to find Uncle tomorrow for the bandage change?”

Huo Beiqing froze.

By technicality of their distant family ties, Xia Ruanyuan was supposed to call him “Uncle.” When she first arrived at the Huo family home, her father had told her to call Huo Beiqing’s mother “Aunt Grandma,” and for himself, he used “Auntie” to address her.

Though Xia Ruanyuan had never addressed Huo Beiqing as “Uncle,” from the moment she saw him, she was utterly smitten.

How could she let the man she admired so deeply remain just her “Uncle”? She simply couldn’t bring herself to say it—until now.

Huo Beiqing raised an eyebrow, genuinely surprised.

Still, he didn’t question or express doubt.

He had long since realized he couldn’t understand Xia Ruanyuan’s train of thought.

Ever since she’d taken advantage of him after he’d consumed sleeping pills, claiming he’d “slept with her,” Huo Beiqing found himself at a loss.

How could a man under the influence of sleeping pills even do such a thing? Brainwaves, perhaps?

Did he dislike her? Yes.

In his 28 years, he’d never been so thoroughly entangled with anyone.

Before this, Xia Ruanyuan was just an unremarkable presence in his household. But somehow, she ended up dragging him into a marriage.

Huo Beiqing had never planned on settling down with anyone, but being forced into marriage… was unsettling.

At 28, no one had dared to coerce him—until now.

With a light grunt of acknowledgment, he resumed tidying up the supplies.

“Thank you, Uncle,” Xia Ruanyuan chirped. “I’ll head out now.”

“Goodbye, Uncle.” As she reached the door, she even gave him a polite bow.

After the door shut behind her, Huo Beiqing paused, set down the medical kit, opened a drawer, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, lit one, and took a deep drag.

He didn’t smoke, nor did he like smoking.

In fact, he was somewhat intolerant of cigarette smoke.

Too much of it made him feel uncomfortable, though he didn’t know if it was due to some inherent sensitivity or because of a past lung injury. Either way, smoking made him uneasy.

Even so, he kept cigarettes on hand.

When his mind was in turmoil and he couldn’t think straight, he would light a cigarette and let it slowly burn between his fingers. The sharp pain when the glowing ember reached his skin seemed to bring him a fleeting sense of clarity.

Back then, when he was deeply asleep, the Xia family was causing an uproar at the Huo family residence. His father had no choice but to agree to the marriage.

Of course, even if his father agreed, it wouldn’t have forced him into anything if he had firmly refused.

But his father’s words left him silent: “You’re 28 already. Are you planning to wait until you’re 50 to get married?”

“Since things have blown up like this, just take it as fate—be it a blessing or a curse. Get married. Your mother and I aren’t young anymore. We’re waiting to hold our grandchildren.”

After a sigh, Dean Huo added, “If you had married earlier, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“Submit your marriage application. I’ll approve it.”

The mention of being 28 shattered Huo Beiqing’s resolve. It was true—he wasn’t young anymore.

Most of his peers were already married.

So, he and Xia Ruanyuan got their marriage certificate. However, they didn’t hold a wedding ceremony.

Ever since registering their marriage, he hadn’t returned home. He either worked tirelessly at the hospital or stayed in the apartment the hospital had provided for him.

He didn’t know what he was resisting or whom he was trying to prove something to.

But going back, facing Xia Ruanyuan, and stepping into the role of a husband? That, he couldn’t do.

The burning cigarette reached his fingers, and Huo Beiqing extinguished it with a turn of his hand.

After leaving the hospital, Xia Ruanyuan returned to the Huo residence.

She planned to pack her things and move out.

The original Xia Ruanyuan hadn’t had a pleasant time in the Huo family.

Though she shamelessly clung to Huo Beiqing, the Huo parents, bound by propriety, never openly criticized her but didn’t show much warmth either—especially his mother, Lin Wei.

It was a complicated twist of fate.

Years ago, Lin Wei had also been a worker in the Huo household and later became entangled with Huo Beiqing’s father, Huo Shuyuan. They ended up getting married, which remained a lifelong source of bitterness for Lin Wei.

Now, history seemed to repeat itself.

Because of this, Lin Wei had been avoiding family meals lately, staying in her room and having meals brought up by the housekeeper, Aunt Chen.

Both Huo Shuyuan and Huo Beiqing were busy with work.

At home, Xia Ruanyuan’s primary companion was her sister-in-law, Huo Yuanyuan.

Huo Yuanyuan, a pampered young woman who had never faced hardship, was naturally arrogant. She showed no kindness to the woman who had shamelessly clung to her brother.

Every encounter with Xia Ruanyuan ended in cold sarcasm. She would say the harshest things without reservation, while the original Xia Ruanyuan dared not offend her sister-in-law.

But Xia Ruanyuan didn’t want to live under anyone’s thumb.

She was young and full of life. While she admired good-looking men, she didn’t see the need to sacrifice everything for one.

That’s why, at the hospital, she had called Huo Beiqing “Uncle.” Though it was a distant family term, saying it aloud clearly signaled her stance—she intended to leave this marriage.

When Xia Ruanyuan returned to the Huo residence, it wasn’t yet lunchtime. Only Lin Wei and Aunt Chen were home.

Lin Wei, still unwell, remained upstairs, while Aunt Chen was in the kitchen prepping vegetables.

Hearing the door, Aunt Chen quickly came out. Seeing Xia Ruanyuan’s injuries, she asked with concern, “What happened to you?”

Embarrassed, Xia Ruanyuan couldn’t admit the original owner had caused trouble at the hospital and ended up hurt. She stammered, “I… I accidentally bumped into something outside.”

“Is it serious?”

Xia Ruanyuan shook her head. “Just a scrape. The wound’s already treated. It’s nothing.”

“That’s good. I’m prepping lunch. It’ll be ready soon!” Aunt Chen said as she turned back to the kitchen.

Though Aunt Chen didn’t have the best impression of the original Xia Ruanyuan, she maintained professionalism and respected her after the marriage.

However, the original Xia Ruanyuan hadn’t been particularly kind to Aunt Chen.

After marrying Huo Beiqing, she acted like the mistress of the house, often bossing Aunt Chen around for tea or chores, even asking her to wash intimate clothing.

Xia Ruanyuan still had memories of Aunt Chen’s complex expression upon seeing those clothes.

Yet, Aunt Chen had remained silent.

Now, seeing Aunt Chen’s genuine concern for her injuries touched Xia Ruanyuan.

With not much going on, Xia Ruanyuan wandered to the kitchen doorway. “Aunt Chen, what’s for lunch?”

Aunt Chen, rinsing a handful of greens, replied, “Madam Wei hasn’t been feeling well, so I bought some bones to make lotus root soup. I’ll also stir-fry two vegetable dishes. Do you have anything you’d like to eat?”