Chapter 17: Complain First

Xie Yan suddenly felt that the once-warm tea had gone cold—it slid down his throat but quenched nothing. All he wanted to say was that he didn’t want to break off the engagement. But the string of words that came from Daidai’s mouth was clearly well-prepared, something she’d rehearsed and thought over many times. Even during those days when she was surrounded by family love, she must’ve thought of him—this unqualified fiancé. Secretly asking to meet him must have been her own idea.

Xue Qingdai didn’t want to marry him.

Compared to her brothers’ constant guarding against him, her candid intention struck straight at his heart, cutting deep without drawing blood. But Daidai had underestimated his resolve. Xie Yan was a man with few desires, and liking someone for the first time made his unwillingness to let go grow deeper with time.

He finished the tea in one gulp, a drop running down his lip as he gently wiped it away with long, slender fingers. He smiled softly, trying not to let his lingering anger show.

“Daidai, you’re being too hasty. If you really want to call off the engagement, we should take it slow,” he said in a calm, deep voice, reasoning with her. “The two families are tied by interests. If we abruptly break it off, it could be bad for your second brother. He just got promoted to company commander—he hasn’t secured his position yet. In a place like this, there are plenty of people waiting to climb up.”

“This engagement isn’t just a simple marriage between you and me. It’s a protection of interests between two families.”

“So let’s wait a little longer…”

Every word from Xie Yan was calm and measured, like using retreat as a way to advance.

Xue Qingdai sat upright, knees together. At some point, Xie Yan’s legs had surrounded her, and the two of them sat face-to-face. She felt like she was sitting too close to a furnace—one careless move, and she’d brush against his knee.

“Well, I still want to break off the engagement, and you better hurry up,” she insisted. “Also, don’t involve my second brother.”

She was acting spoiled, taking advantage of Xie Yan’s gentle demeanor, and had unconsciously started ordering him around—completely forgetting how cold and distant he’d been on the train.

Xie Yan slowly tightened the space between them. He hadn’t agreed to breaking off the engagement at all.

“Your second brother is my good comrade. Of course I’ll support him,” he said. “I’m going to the hospital in a few days—you know I have internal injuries. Will you come with me?”

Lowering his head slightly, Xie Yan laid his cards on the table, even mentioning his infertility—something he’d never confessed to anyone before.

Touched, Xue Qingdai softened. She knew well the pain of patients learning about their diagnosis. Xie Yan did look pitiful at the moment. Besides, those eight babies in her past life weren’t even his.

“I’ll go with you,” she said. “But you can’t let my third brother find out.”

Xie Yan held back his smugness and responded calmly, “Daidai, you really are kind-hearted.”

Silence followed. His body still radiated a strong, invasive presence.

A sudden, urgent knock—bang bang bang!—startled Xue Qingdai. Her hand was held down by Xie Yan.

“It’s okay, Daidai,” he whispered.

“Daidai, I bought two bottles of special ‘28 sauce’ from Dali Grocery. Let’s bring them home for the family to try. Want to see?” It was her third brother, Xue Yongkang.

Xue Qingdai pushed past Xie Yan’s legs to make a path and opened the door. At that moment, she felt a bit defeated—maybe it wasn’t so easy to break off this engagement after all. Maybe it was a good thing her third brother saw them together.

Xue Yongkang handed her a skewer of candied yam beans, then took out a piping-hot roasted sweet potato from his coat. “Eat this for lunch, Daidai. When I’m done with work, I’ll take you out for hotpot.”

Then he was gone again, busy with his small business ventures.

Watching her brother’s bustling figure, Xue Qingdai didn’t want to burden him with her troubles. He was working so hard—she envied his drive.

She didn’t want to sit around waiting for change either. She realized she still longed for the fulfilling life she used to have. Her only talent was medicine, and though she didn’t want to live as harshly as in her past life, she still wanted purpose.

Xie Yan quickly and neatly cleaned up her small dining table. “I’ll come get you in a few days. Don’t open the door for anyone except your brother.”

He ruffled her hair on the way out. Her almond-shaped eyes blinked gently—his touch felt different from her brothers’.

In the days that followed, her third brother came home less often, but the things he brought back increased. Xue Qingdai knew that he’d found another profitable business route. He always had a sharp instinct for electronics.

Xie Yan continued to show up on time.

When Xue Qingdai stepped into the 318 Military Hospital in the capital, she felt an unexpected restlessness. As a doctor, she was aware of her emotions. She pressed on a few acupuncture points to calm herself and took a deep breath.

Xie Yan had already finished his check-up. Reading the report, his face darkened. His condition had worsened compared to last time. Was it due to stress or recurring dreams? Was he truly destined to be childless?

He scanned the crowd, his cold eyes hiding urgency, searching for her.

Meanwhile, Xue Qingdai was walking around the hospital, memorizing its layout. The grand design inspired her—someday, she wanted to open a large clinic like this too.

She’d stop fixating on blood ties. Instead, she’d train disciples, pass down traditional Chinese medicine, and delegate most patients to them. She would use her free time to document her years of clinical experience, ensuring that her knowledge could be passed on.

This kind of future seemed so full of hope—and anything but boring.

She was ready to start immediately.

Hu Lili, dressed in a white lab coat with a red dress underneath, was approaching the department where Xie Yan was stationed. She deliberately unbuttoned a few buttons.

Xue Qingdai noticed a spit stain on the ground, which Hu Lili happened to step on with her heel—slipping immediately. Since she was wearing a dress underneath, her leather shoes lost traction on the yellowish slick, and she fell flat on her back, limbs flailing awkwardly as pain made her shiver.

She froze for three seconds, then tried to get up as if nothing had happened. Her movements were clumsy, but she still tried to maintain her dignity. Looking around, her gaze landed on Xue Qingdai—whose clear skin, delicate features, and youthful energy made beauty look effortless.

Hu Lili frowned impatiently, pointing a finger at her and screeching in a sharp voice, “You, help me up!”

Hidden in Xue Qingdai’s sleeve was a silver needle—she was just about to give this tactless woman a little “lesson.”

At that moment, Xie Yan rushed over through the crowd, urgently pulling Xue Qingdai into a tight embrace, as if he had just found something he’d lost. His strong arms wrapped firmly around her.

Xue Qingdai silently slipped the new needle back into her hidden sleeve. Xie Yan’s timing was just too inconvenient.

“Daidai, you mustn’t wander off like that again. There are lots of patients here, people coming and going—some might carry infectious diseases. Your health is fragile, you need to be more careful.”

“Let go of me first.”

Xue Qingdai wrinkled her nose at the smell of disinfectant on him—it made her uncomfortable. She preferred the natural scent of herbal medicine.

Then her lips curved into a mischievous smile as she gently tugged on Xie Yan’s arm, her voice soft and sweet.

“Xie Yan, someone bullied me!”

Hu Lili was still straightening her clothes, ready to show off her injury for sympathy—only to see Xue Qingdai pointing right at her.

“???”

Someone’s actually even more dramatic than me?!