“I was wrong, I was wrong! Please, let me go.” Yuan Li’s eyes were red and swollen, tears streaking down her cheeks. Her lips trembled as she desperately begged the fierce woman in front of her.

Tian Shuyun was taken aback, her mind buzzing.

“Slapping someone in public!”

“These two women are too much, bullying a girl.”

“Report this to the leaders!”

The canteen was hot and stuffy, the wind carrying the oppressive heat of the afternoon sun. The ceiling fan creaked, blowing a hot breeze onto people’s faces. Many were already in a bad mood, and seeing someone publicly slapped only added to their frustration.

Compared to the small and delicate Yuan Li, Qin Yao and Tian Shuyun were both tall. Qin Yao’s face was strikingly beautiful, and when compared to the slim and innocent-looking Yuan Li, she seemed particularly domineering.

Qin Yao glanced at Yuan Li with deep meaning and said coldly, “You will pay the price for what you’ve done.”

Some people took advantage of others, thinking the world revolved around them. They were unfortunate enough to pick a fight with the wrong person.

Qin Yao turned and left the canteen. She sat on a bench at the hospital, took out a pen, and wrote an article titled—“Self-Criticism.”

At 2 p.m., when all the employees began their shifts, Qin Yao stood in the most visible spot, gathering a crowd. She announced she would read a “self-criticism.”

It was big news for a beautiful nurse to be reading a self-criticism, and some people even hobbled out with crutches to witness the event, making the scene very lively.

“Be careful, the cast has just been put on.”

“Why are you here if you’ve dislocated your arm?”

“I’ll get treated after watching.”

A doctor from the orthopedic department was there, and he quickly reset the dislocated arm with a series of painful pops.

Qin Yao stood in the center of the crowd. Once enough people had gathered, she grabbed a loudspeaker and began reading her self-criticism: “Good afternoon, comrades. I’m the new nurse, Qin Yao. Today, with a heavy heart, I will make my self-criticism.”

“The content of my self-criticism is—I bullied a thief.”

“…On [date], nurse Li Fangfang lost fifty yuan in her dormitory. According to her, she suspected nurse Tian Shuyun was the thief—”

Qin Yao told the story of that day in detail. Her words weren’t particularly elegant, but they were compelling, almost like telling a story.

The people who had come to watch her self-criticism were now engrossed in the story of the case.

When Qin Yao revealed that the fifty yuan was found in the newspaper compartment of the nightstand, it was like a thunderclap out of a clear sky. The dramatic sound of the trumpet in opera filled the air, and the crowd’s exclamations heightened the climax.

Someone in the crowd started clapping, and soon applause echoed at the hospital entrance.

“The matter is over, and no one wanted to bring it up again. But Yuan Li looks at me with tears in her eyes every day, as if I bullied her unfairly. Yes, I did bully her. I discovered the truth about her stealing, and I hurt her feelings. Here, I apologize to her.”

“But next time, I will still make the same choice. In this world, we can’t wrong a good person, but we also can’t let a bad person go free. People who do wrong should be punished. I’m glad that Li Fangfang got her precious fifty yuan back.”

The applause erupted again.

No one spoke. Stealing fifty yuan was no small matter—it could be a month’s or even several months’ salary for an ordinary person. A bicycle costs just over a hundred yuan, and stealing a bicycle is a serious crime. Fifty yuan is also a large sum and could lead to imprisonment.

Yuan Li’s face turned pale as she cried, covering her face. People around her tried to comfort her in whispers.

At this moment, although she regretted it, she didn’t take it seriously.

In the past, she had made many mistakes. As long as she cried pitifully, others would forgive her. This time, it would be the same. That day, even Li Fangfang had forgiven her, and it was Li Fangfang who didn’t pursue the matter first.

However, with the handcuffs now on her wrists, no matter how much she cried, it was useless.

Even if Li Fangfang forgave her, the incident occurred at the military hospital, and the hospital had to hold her accountable for her criminal actions.

Yuan Li was dismissed, and the police took statements from everyone who was present that day. There was a wealth of witnesses and physical evidence, making the facts of the crime indisputable.

Even if Li Fangfang showed understanding, Yuan Li would still be sentenced to prison and undergo labor reform.

“You thief, how dare you feel wronged? People like you must receive ideological education.”

Afterwards, the hospital awarded Qin Yao the “Acting Bravely Award,” along with a five-yuan bonus.

“Yaoyao.”

When Qin Yao went downstairs with the envelope containing her bonus, a young man called out to her. The warm breeze brushed her face as the man, wearing a brand-new white lab coat with a hint of deep blue at the collar, approached.

He wore glasses and had a neat, refined appearance, exuding an aura of elegance. When he called out to Qin Yao, his voice was filled with an indescribable intimacy.

This doctor was Zhou Fangyu, the “male god” whom Qin Yao had a crush on in the past. He had a fiancée, Zeng Manli, with whom he had a tumultuous relationship filled with breakups and reconciliations. He had recently been transferred to the island’s military hospital.

His timing was unfortunate, as Qin Yao was out on the sea at the time, and Zhou Fangyu didn’t get to meet her. He only knew that Qin Yao was also on the island, now working as a nurse.

Zhou Fangyu had argued with his fiancée, Zeng Manli, and felt that moving south was a good opportunity, but Zeng Manli was unwilling and threw a tantrum. Zhou Fangyu couldn’t stand it anymore and came to the island alone, postponing their wedding plans.

Zeng Manli stopped speaking to him, and they verbally broke off their engagement.

Zhou Fangyu knew that Qin Yao, who had admired him from afar, was now on the island. His feelings were mixed with both anticipation and confusion. Although Qin Yao had gained weight, she was still incredibly beautiful, with a soft, full figure that made her look like a stunning cotton candy.

He arrived on the island, but instead of meeting Qin Yao first, he got involved with another unmarried female doctor, Xue Yu. Xue Yu was delicate-looking, but with a higher education and salary, just two years older than him.

At first, Zhou Fangyu only sought advice from Xue Yu, and they got along well, eventually becoming flirtatious. The hospital staff even teased them.

Zhou Fangyu considered that, even without Zeng Manli, being with Xue Yu would be a good match. He was satisfied with her background and saw her as someone who could bring him no shame when introduced to his family.

Then, Qin Yao arrived at the hospital.

Zhou Fangyu continued his flirtation with Xue Yu, purposely avoiding Qin Yao, but when he happened to see the now slimmer Qin Yao, his eyes widened in shock.

Qin Yao had lost weight and was even more beautiful than before—she was a stunning beauty.

She wore a white nurse’s uniform, her skin pale and translucent, and Zhou Fangyu could clearly see the blue veins beneath her skin. She looked stunning.

Zhou Fangyu’s heart stirred. He deliberately walked past Qin Yao, waiting for her to come to him.

But Qin Yao ignored him as though she didn’t recognize him.

By now, the whole hospital knew that Qin Yao was dating Commander Gu. Zhou Fangyu had heard of Commander Gu’s reputation and knew he was an excellent man. However, Commander Gu was a full twelve years older than Qin Yao!

Zhou Fangyu felt a pang of jealousy. Qin Yao had climbed up the ranks to be with an older man in order to “find a good match.”

Commander Gu is a bit older now, but he’s handsome.

Zhou Fangyu disagreed with this statement. He understood well that a man’s attractiveness never relied on his appearance but on his status. A man who was only slightly better-looking than ordinary men, but held titles like Battalion Commander or Political Commissar, could be called handsome.

—And he, Zhou Fangyu, was the true “handsome one.”

When Qin Yao heard her name called, she turned around to see Zhou Fangyu. Her eyes narrowed as she gave him a cold, stern glance.

After realizing her expression, Qin Yao noticed that it was quite similar to Commander Gu’s usual demeanor.

Could this be the saying, “You become like the people you associate with”?

Zhou Fangyu was stunned. Was this really the same silly, chubby girl he remembered? Now, she had turned into a stunning and cool beauty.

Qin Yao crossed her arms and slightly lifted her chin. “Do you need something, or did you just call me for fun?”

“Yaoyao… do we really have to speak like this?” Zhou Fangyu appeared hurt, his expression full of emotion. “Yaoyao, our relationship is different from anyone else’s.”

Qin Yao felt disgusted by his words. This “mama’s boy” with a superiority complex was making her sick.

“Yaoyao…”

“Yaoyao.”

Another low, magnetic voice interrupted Zhou Fangyu, and Qin Yao turned to see a man in a white military uniform standing not far away. He was staring at the two of them with a cold, imposing expression.

Commander Gu walked over and stood in front of Zhou Fangyu, crossing his arms and looking down at him from above.

Qin Yao smiled as she saw him. Even with his cold, aloof posture, she found it more and more adorable.

—It was a poison.

Ever since Qin Yao lied to him and said she liked Commander Gu, Gu Cheng had adopted this high-and-mighty demeanor around her. She thought she would grow to dislike him, but… in the end, it was her who had become completely smitten.

Just thinking about how that cold face had once called her “sister” in a funny voice made her smile.

She didn’t understand this thing called “contrast cuteness.”

When Zhou Fangyu saw Commander Gu, he immediately figured out his identity. Shocked by Commander Gu’s appearance and aura, he snapped back to reality after a brief moment of hesitation.

He took out two handkerchiefs from his pocket. “Yaoyao, these are the handkerchiefs you gave me before. Now… I’m returning them to you.”

After saying this, Zhou Fangyu’s eyes were filled with three parts reluctance and seven parts loneliness.