Chapter 19.2

Ruan Mingfu leaned against Xie Yanzhao, tilting her head to make it easier for the doctor to examine her.

The doctor saw the once beautiful and slender neck now marked with a horrifying handprint. Xie Yanzhao’s face darkened, giving him the appearance of a ruthless bandit.

“Two men, please step outside,” the doctor said with a tremor in her voice, “I need to conduct further examination.”

“Huh?” Xu Zhu looked at the doctor in confusion. “It’s just a neck injury. Why the need for additional tests?”

The doctor’s expression hardened. “Out!”

Xie Yanzhao and Xu Zhu had no choice but to leave.

After the door was closed, the doctor’s expression softened considerably, and she addressed Ruan Mingfu with warmth.

“What is your relationship with them?”

Is this still something that needs to be asked in these times?

Ruan Mingfu was puzzled.

“One… is my fiancé,” Ruan Mingfu said for the first time in front of a stranger, her cheeks flushing slightly, “The other is his comrade.”

“The tall and strong one?” the doctor asked. “Is he a soldier?”

Ruan Mingfu nodded.

The doctor’s gaze changed. “Did he cause the injury?”

Ruan Mingfu’s eyes widened in surprise as she looked at the doctor. Then she realized that this was the only hospital in Xuancheng City, and Mother Zhou must have brought Zhou Peng here.

The female doctor must have realized that Xie Yanzhao had been too harsh. Thinking about this, Ruan Mingfu felt compelled to defend him.

“That’s because he deserved it, he’s a good person.”

A man with a bandit’s demeanor can still be called a good person?

The female doctor gave a piece of advice. “Women shouldn’t be too soft. If a man is in the wrong, you shouldn’t tolerate it. We must first protect ourselves before we can discuss anything else.”

Although Ruan Mingfu didn’t fully understand what the doctor was saying, it seemed reasonable.

She nodded obediently.

What kind of saint could tolerate being treated like that?

The female doctor, wanting to help, said, “The neck is one of our most vulnerable areas. We don’t know if the bones are injured. I’ll give you a prescription for an X-ray on the second floor.”

“For safety’s sake, it’s best to stay in the hospital for a night. Eat bland food and stick to soft foods…”

Ruan Mingfu took the prescription and was about to stand up when the female doctor couldn’t help but ask, “Is there something you want to say to me?”

Ruan Mingfu thought for a moment and then realized, “… Thank you, doctor.”

The female doctor: “…”

….

Gu Yilin entered the door carrying something and happened to see the back of Ruan Mingfu and Xie Yanzhao disappearing down the corridor. She tilted her head, feeling a sense of familiarity.

Not thinking much of it, she turned and went into the female doctor’s office.

“Auntie, I’m here!”

The female doctor looked at her with a stern expression but with a smile in her eyes.

“What are you doing here? You’re seventeen or eighteen and still act so immature.”

“What’s the point of growing up?” Gu Yilin said, pulling out a chair and sitting down. “Auntie, are you busy right now?”

The female doctor looked up at her. “What’s going on? Do you need my help?”

“You understand me best,” Gu Yilin smiled sweetly and brought out what she had brought. “Only you can help me with this favor.”

The female doctor appreciated her niece’s charm and smiled even more warmly.

“Take it!” The female doctor gave her a playful look. “Don’t try to sweet-talk me. Just tell me what you need.”

Gu Yilin grinned. “Auntie, I heard the hospital is looking for a temporary worker for dispensing medication?”

“Where did you hear that?”

The female doctor set down her pen and looked up at her.

“Just… overheard it,” Gu Yilin said hurriedly. “Auntie, just tell me if you need one or not?”

“Don’t you want to work at the supply and marketing cooperative anymore?” The female doctor looked at her sternly. “That job is permanent, while the hospital needs a temporary worker.”

Seeing that the female doctor misunderstood, Gu Yilin quickly explained.

“It’s not for me. It’s for a friend of mine.”

“Actually… She grew up with me. After her family had problems, she came here as an educated youth,” Gu Yilin said hesitantly. “I ran into her last time, and she’s doing terribly.”

Thinking about how Ruan Mingfu’s eyes lit up when she saw meat, Gu Yilin felt a pang of sympathy.

Her so-called friend was living such a hard life.

The female doctor frowned, trying to think of who the person might be.

Her niece had been spoiled by her brother and sister-in-law, and though she had a high opinion of herself and was quite willful, she could be quite sweet when she wanted to be. However, her bad temper made it hard for her to keep friends.

Would someone who could tolerate Gu Yilin’s bad temper be using her?

“She’s very pretty, and I’m sure you’ll like her.”

Gu Yilin’s eyes sparkled.

The female doctor’s frown deepened, but she didn’t dismiss the idea outright. Gu Yilin was easily fooled, but the female doctor wasn’t so easily swayed.

“Bring your friend over one day. I’ll meet her first.”

Thinking of Ruan Mingfu, the female doctor continued.

“I just saw a pretty girl,” the female doctor said, taking a sip of water, “but her eyesight wasn’t very good. She fell in love with a man like that. Even after being beaten like this, she was still willing to marry him.”

The female doctor shook her head regretfully.

“You haven’t even gotten married yet, and you’re already hitting someone?” Gu Yilin looked down on people who tolerated such things. “How can someone pretty be like that? My friend is truly beautiful.”

Jealous of Ruan Mingfu’s smooth, almost shell-like face, Gu Yilin was determined.

Her face, treated with snowflake cream every day, didn’t compare to Ruan Mingfu’s, which had been exposed to the wind and sun.

How annoying!

Once she got Ruan Mingfu under her thumb, she was determined to find out her skincare secrets.

….

Unaware of the schemes being hatched behind her back, Ruan Mingfu was already in the hospital room. Xie Yanzhao had arranged for a private room, so it wasn’t noisy.

She truly loved how attentive this man was.

Xu Zhu: … Clearly, it was his arrangement.

Xie Yanzhao opened the medicine prescribed by the female doctor.

One was for internal use, and the other was for external application. He handed over the medicine and also prepared some warm water.

Ruan Mingfu was well taken care of by Xie Yanzhao.

Even her previous housekeeper hadn’t been this meticulous.

The medicine wasn’t in capsule form and lacked a sugar coating. Ruan Mingfu took the medicine and, before even bringing it close, could smell its bitterness.

Her delicate face scrunched up, showing a look of deep suffering.

“Afraid to take the medicine?” Xie Yanzhao watched her delay, his eyes full of amusement.

She hesitated with her red lips, still lacking the courage to swallow the medicine.

“… Can I not take the medicine?”

Ruan Mingfu’s pitiful look didn’t sway the hard-hearted Xie Yanzhao. “You don’t want your throat to get better?”

Ruan Mingfu: “…”

Very well, she was successfully convinced.

Her once clear and melodious voice was now replaced by a low, hoarse sound, akin to a broken gong.

She hated Zhou Peng even more now.

Filled with resentment, Ruan Mingfu quickly swallowed the medicine and followed it with a large gulp of water. Although the bitterness was somewhat diluted, she still grimaced at the taste.

Yuck!

Xie Yanzhao, sitting on a nearby chair with his long legs crossed, watched Ruan Mingfu with an intense gaze.

Ruan Mingfu met his eyes. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

He didn’t speak.

After a long silence, Xie Yanzhao finally said, “You’ll stay in the hospital for now. Don’t worry about anything, I’ll handle it.”

She could no longer go to the commune.

With Zhou Peng beaten so badly, the Zhou family would definitely not let it go. Though there were many people at the commune, it was still the Zhou family’s territory. The villagers had also made it clear that if the Zhou family decided to take action, they wouldn’t help Ruan Mingfu.

Xie Yanzhao had already made plans.

Even if the female doctor hadn’t insisted on Ruan Mingfu staying in the hospital, Xie Yanzhao would have arranged it.

Ruan Mingfu looked up.

Her clear eyes reflected Xie Yanzhao’s figure, and she responded softly.

“Thank you so much today,” Ruan Mingfu was not ungrateful, “If it hadn’t been for…”

If Xie Yanzhao hadn’t arrived in time, she would have been in trouble.

“You should rest now,” Xie Yanzhao stood up. Ruan Mingfu looked at him but accidentally pulled on her neck wound. “I’m going back to the village to get some clothes for you.”

Ruan Mingfu was still wearing her work clothes, which had become quite soiled.

“No, I’ll wait for you.”

Ruan Mingfu’s stubbornness was acting up again.

She wanted to take a bath!

Xie Yanzhao, not sure what to make of her request, had his ears turn slightly red. However, due to his dark skin, it wasn’t very noticeable.

Clearing his throat, Xie Yanzhao said, “I’ll be back soon.”

Ruan Mingfu looked at him in confusion, noticing that his retreating figure seemed to have a hint of haste.

How strange.

….

Xie Yanzhao did return quickly, just as he had said.

Upon entering, he coincidentally ran into the female doctor. She gave Xie Yanzhao a complex look and seemed to want to say something to Ruan Mingfu but was at a loss for words. Eventually, she just left.

Xu Zhu carried the items he had bought and asked, “What’s wrong with her?”

Xie Yanzhao wouldn’t know.

He handed the clothes to Ruan Mingfu. “I wasn’t sure what clothes you’d want to wear, so I had a young woman named Zhu pick out a few outfits for you.”

Ruan Mingfu glanced at the clothes. The dress on top was the one she had worn when she met Xie Yanzhao at the reservoir.

“I understand,” she nodded, then looked at Xie Yanzhao with determination. “I want to take a bath.”

The hospital had facilities for patients to bathe, they just needed to pay for it.

Xie Yanzhao took her there and stood guard by the door like a sentinel.

The bathing room on the single-occupancy ward floor was relatively clean due to the low number of people. Ruan Mingfu looked satisfied.

Feeling bored, Xu Zhu decided to join them and teased Xie Yanzhao, “When did you and Ruan Mingfu get together?”

“Yesterday.”

At this mention, Xu Zhu got upset. “Why did you beat me up then?”

He still felt the pain throughout his body.

Xie Yanzhao had been so ruthless during practice, leaving Xu Zhu on the ground like a dead dog, unable to move.

Yet Xie Yanzhao acted like nothing had happened.

Isn’t that infuriating?

**

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