Chapter 20.3

Gu Yilin didn’t know which ward Ruan Mingfu was in, so she went straight for the single rooms. To her, Ruan Mingfu’s pretentiousness meant she would never share a room with anyone.

Knowing the correct answer, why bother with unnecessary effort?

After searching through the fifth single room, Gu Yilin finally found Ruan Mingfu.

Before entering the room, she immediately wiped away her tired expression and adopted a proud, intimidating demeanor.

Prepared, Gu Yilin opened the ward door.

“Ruan Mingfu, you really are something. After just a few days, you’ve managed to get yourself hospitalized.”

Xie Yanzhao had just left, and Ruan Mingfu, feeling bored, was leaning against the bed and had to keep her head tilted back. Otherwise, her chin would touch the medication.

As Ruan Mingfu cursed Zhou Peng for the 108th time, Gu Yilin arrived.

She stared at Gu Yilin in surprise. “…What are you doing here?”

Gu Yilin was still feeling smug, but she was taken aback by the sight of Ruan Mingfu’s injury. She hadn’t expected that the “plastic” friend she knew would end up in the hospital like this.

“No way,” Gu Yilin said bluntly as she plopped down on the edge of the bed, laughing mockingly. “I’ve seen injuries to the legs and hands before, but how did you manage to hurt your neck?”

She figured that her so-called friend must have been working too hard and accidentally hurt her neck.

Ruan Mingfu was speechless.

What kind of medication had Gu Yilin taken?

Gu Yilin brought over a bag of items she had prepared.

Inside was a red cloth bag filled to the brim. The string holding the bag was taut. Ruan Mingfu was relieved that the bag’s quality was good; otherwise, she would have worried about it breaking.

“A bunch of worthless little things. I don’t need them, so I’m giving them to you.”

Ruan Mingfu was speechless.

Although she was used to a life of luxury, it didn’t mean she lacked discernment. The items in Gu Yilin’s bag were high-quality and needed a ticket to purchase, and there were at least fifty of them.

Only someone who worked at the supply and marketing cooperative could have gathered such things.

Despite Gu Yilin’s impatient exterior, she was internally gloating.

Since she became aware, she had never won against Ruan Mingfu. They had been rivals since elementary school, with Gu Yilin always being the one at a disadvantage.

Finally, today she managed to get one over Ruan Mingfu, making her feel elated.

Ruan Mingfu looked over and asked, “So, you came here just to give me something?”

“Of course not,” Gu Yilin quickly retorted.

How could she possibly just bring a gift to her rival? She was here to mock, not to give.

Just then, a voice came from behind. “Comrade Ruan, how are you feeling now?”

Gu Yilin turned around in shock. “Auntie!”

The newcomer was also surprised. “What are you doing here?”

The female doctor glanced at her niece and then at Ruan Mingfu, instantly understanding who the person her niece had mentioned yesterday was.

“Comrade Ruan, how’s the injury?” The female doctor cast a sidelong glance at Gu Yilin, who was dressed up with lipstick and a flamboyant appearance. “You should step outside for a moment.”

Gu Yilin stomped her foot but still left the room.

The female doctor’s demeanor was now gentle, much kinder than the day before.

“Comrade Ruan, does the wound still hurt?”

“After applying the medication, it feels much better,” Ruan Mingfu tilted her head back so the doctor could see the injury more clearly.

Fortunately, the medication Xie Yanzhao had used was transparent. If it had been the previous ointment, the wound would have been caked with it, making it hard to assess the injury.

The female doctor examined the medication on Ruan Mingfu’s neck.

She recognized it as a special ointment developed by an imperial physician, known for its excellent effects and supplied exclusively to the military. As soon as she arrived at the hospital this morning, the director had called her and hinted that she should take extra care of Ruan Mingfu.

It wasn’t as if a young girl had much power. From her niece’s reaction, Ruan Mingfu must have been the friend mentioned yesterday who was in trouble.

If not her, then it must be that man.

The female doctor’s emotions were complex, and her gaze toward Ruan Mingfu was tinged with sympathy.

No wonder Ruan Mingfu hadn’t sought her help. It turned out that the other party had power and influence, something ordinary people couldn’t contend with.

The female doctor sighed and gave Ruan Mingfu a few more instructions before leaving.

She shot a fierce glance at Gu Yilin as she passed by. “Come with me!”

They didn’t go far, just to the corridor near the ward.

“So, is she the friend you mentioned?”

“She’s the pretty girl who was beaten into the hospital by her fiancé?” The female doctor’s voice joined Gu Yilin’s.

The female doctor was silent.

“No way,” Gu Yilin touched her head and exclaimed, “She’s engaged?!”

The female doctor confirmed with a nod.

Gu Yilin clutched her head and shrieked, “What do you mean she’s engaged? Why wasn’t I told? Why am I the last to know?!”

The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Gu Yilin was about to storm back into the ward to question Ruan Mingfu but was pulled back by the female doctor.

The female doctor rubbed her ears. “…Calm down. This is something she mentioned herself yesterday. I didn’t make it up.”

“I need to find out the truth.”

…..

The previously quiet ward was abruptly opened by Gu Yilin with such force that the dust on the door frame shook.

“You’re getting married?”

Ruan Mingfu glanced at her. “Yes.”

She actually confirmed it!

Gu Yilin’s face was full of grievance. “Why didn’t you tell me such a big thing?”

She had shared everything with Ruan Mingfu…

“I’ve been working and haven’t had the chance to visit you,” Ruan Mingfu replied without looking up.

It sounded like an excuse, but Gu Yilin believed it.

She sat down beside the bed and asked about Ruan Mingfu’s fiancé.

“What does your fiancé look like?”

Ruan Mingfu answered straightforwardly, “Of course he’s handsome.”

Although he looked a bit fierce, his features were still impressive. Otherwise, the picky Ruan Mingfu wouldn’t have fallen for him.

Gu Yilin thought about the handsome, muscular man she had seen at the hospital entrance earlier.

Now, that was a real looker—exactly the kind of man she admired. Those pale, weak-looking guys were no match for that.

Gu Yilin’s eyes flashed with a hint of disdain as she thought about it.

“Is he wealthy? What does he do?”

“Probably,” Ruan Mingfu thought about the watch on the dog man’s wrist. Even in this era, the watch from the Lao family weren’t cheap.

Ruan Mingfu looked at her curiously. “Why are you asking this?”

“Just curious,” Gu Yilin said, “You haven’t told me what he does for a living.”

“He’s a soldier… probably a battalion commander,” Ruan Mingfu wasn’t very familiar with Xie Yanzhao’s exact rank. She only knew he was a soldier, and she guessed he might be a battalion commander based on the fact that he promised to let her follow him.

Gu Yilin felt a surge of jealousy.

She managed to hold back her frustration and didn’t let her envy show. Otherwise, Ruan Mingfu would be insufferably pleased.

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became!

She had thought that Ruan Mingfu was enduring a hard life in the countryside, only to discover she had managed to hook up with a wealthy, powerful, and promising battalion commander.

Damn it!

Why did she have such good luck?

Gu Yilin felt a pang of frustration, realizing she had been one-upped by her so-called friend again.

If Ruan Mingfu knew what Gu Yilin was thinking, she would understand the source of her turmoil.

To put it in terms from fifty years later:

Worried about her friend’s hardship, but also envious that her friend is driving a Range Rover.

Gu Yilin suppressed her bitterness and couldn’t help asking again, “How old is he? How much older is he than you?”

Ruan Mingfu suddenly looked up.

Gu Yilin was startled. “What’s wrong?”

Had she hit a sore spot and now Ruan Mingfu was going to hit her?

Ruan Mingfu’s eyes widened in shock. “I don’t even know how old he is.”

Judging by his appearance, he should be a few years older than her…?

“You don’t know?” Gu Yilin looked at her in disbelief. “You don’t even know his age and you’re getting married to him?”

Gu Yilin stood up and began pacing around the room.

She glanced at Ruan Mingfu and then continued pacing with growing agitation.

Ruan Mingfu felt weak and said, “It’s just age… It should be okay.”

“‘Okay’?” Gu Yilin thought her so-called friend must have gotten her brain muddled by living in the countryside for a year. “You don’t even know his basic information. What if he’s deceiving you into marriage?”

“Actually… I pursued him.”

Although she was reluctant to admit it, that was the truth. If it weren’t for him opposing his father, they wouldn’t have ended up together.

Gu Yilin found the situation quite stimulating.

Ruan Mingfu thought for a moment and then continued, “And he’s a soldier. It’s not so easy to deceive someone into marriage.”

Gu Yilin was taken aback. She had forgotten that detail.

With her friend’s brain, she wouldn’t even realize if someone was deceiving her.

Gu Yilin sighed and regained her smug attitude.

She could only let her worry about it.

After all, she was the smart one.

Just then, there was a knock on the door, and before anyone could respond, the door opened.

Ruan Mingfu frowned as she looked at the two men and one woman in white uniforms who entered, her displeasure evident.

“Who are you?” Gu Yilin said directly, “Don’t you have any manners, barging in like this as if this were your home?”

The only woman among the three-spoke first, “We’re from the police.”

She looked young, in her early twenties, with a sharp bob haircut. When she looked at Ruan Mingfu, there was a fleeting look of astonishment in her eyes.

Gu Yilin, however, wasn’t polite. “The police? What…?”

She looked at Ruan Mingfu, unable to understand what her so-called friend had done to attract the police.

“Yilin, sit down,” Xie Yanzhao had already mentioned that Ruan Mingfu was prepared for this. “The police are here to understand the situation. Please sit down.”

Gu Yilin shook her head, confused by the situation.

But she still moved chairs around in the room.

Once everyone was seated, the female police officer spoke, “We are here regarding the Zhou family case. There’s no need to be nervous, I just need to ask a few questions.”

“Go ahead.”

“Comrade Ruan, when did you and Comrade Xie Yanzhao meet?”

Ruan Mingfu’s expression grew stern, and she looked at the police officer with a steely gaze. “Comrade, this question is unrelated to the case. I refuse to answer.”

**

Translator’s Note: Don’t forget to get your role at 🎭-get-roles-🎭 on Discord 🛎️ to stay updated on new chapters unlocked! 📚✨