Chapter 4: Being Reassigned

Suddenly, ever since Father Qin returned to work, he hasn’t been home much. However, on weekends, he is always at home. Lin You sometimes feels a bit redundant when she sees him and Professor Song being affectionate.

Tonight, Professor Song mentioned that she had something to take care of at the hospital and told Lin You to go home first. After dinner, Father Qin set off to pick her up from work.

Lin You was sitting in the living room downstairs, watching a surgical demonstration on TV. Before long, the two of them returned.

Lin You was surprised that they were back so soon and quickly stood up, asking, “Mom, is something wrong at the hospital?”

Professor Song walked over but didn’t answer her question. Instead, she took Lin You’s hand and sat down again, gently asking, “Yoyo, you’ve finished your doctoral defense and are about to graduate. Have you thought about where you want to work?”

Lin You didn’t expect her to ask that. She had always thought she would continue working at the current hospital. Was there some change now? She blurted out, “Aren’t I continuing to be with you, Mom?”

Father Qin had obviously anticipated her response and reminded her, “Yoyo, you are now in the military, and you must obey the military’s deployment. Of course, if you want to continue being with your mother, that’s also possible. We still have some connections, so we can work something out.”

Lin You didn’t understand why he would say that.

Professor Song had previously told her that after graduation, she would stay by her side, and she was already familiar with people in the department. She could encounter many classic cases and learn more professional knowledge. Lin You also thought staying with Professor Song was the best option.

She could only look at Professor Song in confusion.

Professor Song didn’t dare to meet her bewildered eyes, and only spoke softly, “Yoyo, you’ve been reassigned to a grassroots health team.”

Lin You was quite puzzled. She knew about the reassignment policy, but only a portion of graduates were reassigned each year, not all of them. Statistically, it was unlikely for it to happen to her.

Seeing her confused expression, Father Qin comforted her, “Yoyo, as a soldier, obeying orders is our duty. Once the reassignment order comes down, there’s no way to change it.”

Lin You lowered her head in thought, still not understanding. Based on Professor Song’s previous style, she would have quietly handled this without letting Lin You know.

What had happened to them? This was not their usual demeanor, nor was it how they typically communicated. Professor Song understood her feelings, how could she agree to have her reassigned?

The only explanation was that they welcomed and supported this situation.

Looking up at the two, Lin You noticed that Professor Song was lowering her head, her hand gripping Lin You’s tightly and sweaty with nervousness, while Father Qin was staring straight at her but with an obvious avoidance in his eyes.

At that moment, Lin You realized her guess was correct.

She straightened up and asked rationally, “Dad, Mom, why did you agree to my reassignment? Is it because you think I’m redundant?” As she spoke, tears began to well up in her eyes, but she forced herself to hold them back.

“You really don’t have to do this. Just tell me, and I will leave on my own. I shouldn’t keep enjoying your care without being aware of it.” As she finished, tears started to stream down her face.

Professor Song hurriedly lifted her chin and gently wiped her tears, explaining, “No, Yoyo, I only found out this afternoon as well, and I’m also shocked. You are our daughter in law, how could we think you are redundant? Hearing you say that makes Mom very sad.”

However, Lin You’s tears only flowed more as she listened to her explanation.

Seeing this, Father Qin steeled himself and said, “Yoyo, it’s Qin Lang who unilaterally decided to reassign you to their stationed health team.”

Lin You looked up, her face filled with disbelief. It was hard for her to comprehend, Qin Lang rarely contacted her. How could he make such a decision? Was it because of the last time he came home? But they hadn’t really spoken much, and she hadn’t upset him.

So she asked, “Dad, why did he do that?”

Father Qin glanced at Lin You and explained on behalf of Qin Lang, “Yoyo, you’ve been married for six years, that’s not a short time. However, the time you two have really spent together is too little. Qin Lang has a heavy training schedule and rarely comes home, every time he comes, it’s in a hurry. He probably doesn’t want to continue living apart from you.”

Lin You lowered her head, remaining silent. She knew deep down that he was right, but how were they supposed to live? Other than being familiar with intimacy, they were like strangers in every other aspect.

Seeing her troubled expression, Professor Song comforted her, “Yoyo, it’s not that Mom wants to stop this, it’s just that there’s nothing we can do. I’ve always said that Qin Lang has feelings for you.”

Lin You still kept her head down, her expression unreadable.

Professor Song continued to persuade her, “Yoyo, I think you should go and spend some quality time with Qin Lang. You two are too estranged. A marriage requires both partners to work together, give yourself and Qin Lang a chance to bond, okay?”

Lin You raised her head, her eyes full of tears, grasping Professor Song’s hand carefully, and asked, “Did Dad and Mom know about Qin Lang’s decision before hand?”

The two exchanged glances, and Father Qin replied, “We only just found out.”

Lin You nodded, feeling very wronged. Why did he never consult her before making decisions? He always stood in the highest position, unyielding, never giving others the chance to say no. Tears flowed down her face again.

Professor Song flusteredly wiped away her tears again, trying to calm her down, but didn’t know what to say.

Father Qin usually dotes on Lin You, but now he didn’t understand why she was crying. In his view, this was a great opportunity. He raised his voice and ordered, “Yoyo, wipe your tears. Stop crying.”

Lin You was obviously startled by him, trembling and hastily wiping her tears, stopping her sobs.

Professor Song hadn’t expected him to speak to Lin You in such a tone and shot him a glare.

Father Qin ignored Professor Song’s reproachful gaze and said earnestly, “Yoyo, since you came to the Qin family at a young age and have always been with Qin Lang’s mother, it’s natural for you two to have a good relationship and feel reluctant to part. However, you are still Qin Lang’s wife, he is the one you will spend your life with. You two don’t know each other well enough, but now that the opportunity has come, why not seize it?”

At this moment, Lin You’s emotions began to stabilize as she nodded towards Father Qin.

“Yoyo, it’s not that Dad blames you, you’ve been brought up too delicately,” he added, glaring directly at Professor Song.

Professor Song understood that he was right and lowered her head in shame.

“Yoyo, this is also an opportunity for you to grow. Qin Lang will take good care of you. Moreover, as the children of soldiers, you shouldn’t fear difficulties and challenges. I believe your father and grandfather wouldn’t want you to give up this opportunity,” Father Qin spoke again.

At this point, Lin You had gathered her emotions, no longer crying, her gaze firming up. She looked at Father Qin and assured him, “Dad is right. I was just a bit taken aback by this news. I should be strong like Dad, not like Mom.”

Father Qin nodded in satisfaction.

Then Lin You asked, “If after some time, I make any decision, Dad and Mom won’t stop me, right?”

Father Qin nodded, indicating his agreement.

Professor Song said a few more comforting words and told Lin You that she wouldn’t have to go to the hospital tomorrow and should start running various procedures to prepare for work.

As Lin You went upstairs, Professor Song turned to Father Qin with concern and asked, “What did Yoyo mean by that last sentence? They’re not going to end up divorced, are they?”

Father Qin smiled helplessly, sometimes not understanding his wife’s thought process. In fact, Lin You was somewhat like her, unable to see the essence of things. Meanwhile, Qin Lang resembled him more, the two of them shared a fate. Faced with these two women, they could only feel helpless, as both loved them deeply.

So he walked over to embrace Professor Song and said bluntly, “From Qin Lang’s current reaction, he loves Yoyo very much, he just doesn’t know how to express it. Don’t worry, I assure you they will be together. Let them decide their own matters.”

Professor Song nodded, agreeing with Father Qin’s viewpoint. Yoyo indeed had feelings for Qin Lang, she just didn’t realize it herself. If not, how could she allow Qin Lang to leave so many marks on her body?

Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but smile.

Father Qin turned to look at her, but she said nothing and walked toward the kitchen.

Professor Song thought to herself how she could possibly tell him that she overheard their son in bed, or else he would give her a lecture about it.