“Xia Zhi, why wasn’t it you?!”  

Zhang Xiao clutched a sharp stone in her hand, glaring at Xia Zhi with murderous intent, determined to smash her head in.  

Seeing Zhang Xiao charging at her, Xia Zhi simply lifted her foot and kicked her flying.  

“Why should it be me? What does this have to do with me? Oh, so you’re saying I was the one who called those monkeys here?”  

Zhang Yi and Xu Rufeng tensed up when they saw Zhang Xiao lunging forward, but they sighed in relief when they realized Xia Zhi was unharmed.  

Xu Rufeng stepped forward and looked at Zhang Xiao. “Auntie, you should be thanking Xia Zhi. If it weren’t for her, your husband would’ve died long ago.”  

“Thank her? Pah! It’s all because of this jinx! If she hadn’t gone up the mountain, those monkeys wouldn’t have attacked!” Zhang Xiao’s face darkened, stubbornly blaming Xia Zhi for the incident.  

Xu Rufeng frowned at the unreasonable woman, then turned to his comrades. “Let’s get him to the military hospital first. If we delay any longer, he won’t make it.”  

He deliberately emphasized the words won’t make it.  

Zhang Xiao and Liu Yanfang shuddered upon hearing this, finally snapping back to reality. They immediately urged the men, “Hurry, get him to the hospital!”  

“Xia Zhi, just you wait!” Zhang Xiao shot her a vicious glare before following them into the military compound.  

Xia Zhi shrugged. Wait all you want. At worst, I’ll just beat you up a few more times. No big deal.

“Don’t worry, sister-in-law. This wasn’t your fault. Everything will be fine,” Zhang Yi reassured her before heading into the compound with the others.  

Xu Rufeng watched Xia Zhi’s retreating figure, then followed them inside, feeling a bit frustrated.  

Hao Liping clenched her fists tightly as she saw Xia Zhi return unscathed. She’s really got some luck.  

“Brother Yunshen, why is it that only Dad got hurt, while Xia Zhi—a weak woman—is completely fine? Maybe she used Dad as a human shield!”  

Gu Yunshen’s expression darkened. “Let’s go check on Dad first.”  

If this really had anything to do with Xia Zhi, he wouldn’t let her off easily.  

…

In the dormitory, Lu Beiting kept glancing at the door. It’s been so long—why haven’t Zhang Yi and the others returned yet? 

When he finally saw Xia Zhi’s figure, he let out a quiet sigh of relief before schooling his expression back to indifference.  

“Battalion Commander, we’re back. Don’t worry, sister-in-law is fine.”  

After escorting Xia Zhi to the door, Zhang Yi quickly retreated.  

Xia Zhi set her things down and began tidying up nearby.  

Lu Beiting’s gaze unconsciously drifted toward her, scanning her for injuries. Aside from her slightly dirty clothes, she didn’t seem hurt.  

Once she finished organizing, Xia Zhi turned to him. “I’m going to the infirmary.”  

“You’re injured?” Lu Beiting blurted out, not even noticing the tension in his own voice.  

Xia Zhi nodded. “Yeah, but just a minor wound.”  

There were so many monkeys—it’s not like I’m invincible.

Lu Beiting opened his mouth but suddenly didn’t know what to say. Is she stupid? If she’s hurt, why didn’t she go straight to the infirmary? Why come back here first? And she even had the time to mess around with herbs!

His face cold, he reached for the wheelchair beside him. “I’ll go with you. After all… you got hurt because of me.”  

Xia Zhi watched as he effortlessly supported his upper body and shifted onto the wheelchair with his arms, inwardly impressed. His arm strength is really something.

She stepped forward and pushed his wheelchair toward the door.  

“Are you hungry right now? I’ll borrow a pot from the cafeteria later to make you something to eat.”  

Lu Beiting kept a cold face and said nothing, though inwardly, he was a little annoyed.  

“What do you want to eat?” Xia Zhi lowered her head and asked again.  

Lu Beiting replied coldly, “Missing one meal won’t kill me. Worry about yourself first.”  

Xia Zhi abruptly stopped walking. Is this man insane? He actually yelled at me! 

She was only concerned that he might be starving after all the chaos, and yet he had the nerve to snap at her. She was  fuming.  

“Fine, fine! I can’t be bothered with you. So much for kindness wasted on the ungrateful!” The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She abruptly let go of his wheelchair and stormed off toward the military hospital alone, leaving Lu Beiting stranded where he was.  

Lu Beiting stared blankly at Xia Zhi’s furious retreating figure before belatedly realizing that his tone just now might have been too harsh.  

Struggling, he turned the wheels of his wheelchair and chased after her.  

The surrounding soldiers watched in shock as their usually composed battalion commander frantically maneuvered his wheelchair, desperately trying to catch up to the furious woman ahead. Some moved to help, but others quickly pulled them back.  

“The battalion commander is trying to appease his wife—what are you going to do?”  

As Xia Zhi’s figure grew farther away, Lu Beiting grew increasingly anxious, his hands moving the wheels faster.  

Then—thud!

The wheelchair hit a rock and toppled over, sending Lu Beiting crashing sideways onto the ground.  

“Battalion Commander!”  

The onlookers immediately rushed forward. Hearing the commotion behind her, Xia Zhi paused and turned around—only to see Lu Beiting sprawled on the ground.  

She immediately turned back, guilt creeping into her frustration. Ugh, why am I picking a fight with an injured man?  

Lu Beiting was helped back into his wheelchair by the others, looking utterly disheveled and pitiful.  

Seeing him like this, Xia Zhi sighed helplessly. She was about to apologize when he spoke first.  

“I’m sorry. That wasn’t what I meant. I just thought you should take care of yourself first. My tone was too harsh.” His scraped face carried a trace of remorse.  

The surrounding soldiers exchanged stunned glances before saluting Xia Zhi. “Well, sister-in-law, we’ll leave you two to it.” Then they jogged away in perfect unison.  

Looking at his sorry state, Xia Zhi couldn’t bring herself to stay mad. She wiped the dust off his face with her sleeve. “Alright, alright. I’m magnanimous—I won’t hold a grudge against you.”  

“Mm. There are some things I don’t understand. If I do something wrong, just tell me directly.”  

Xia Zhi blinked at his earnest expression before suddenly laughing. He must’ve forgotten their marriage is just a transaction. But she couldn’t bring herself to say something so blunt.  

Lu Beiting looked up and immediately saw through her thoughts. “I know what you’re thinking. But since you agreed to marry me, I won’t let you suffer.”  

Xia Zhi’s face warmed, and she quickly pushed him toward the military hospital. This man—saying such sentimental things with such a straight face!

Lu Beiting stared at the road ahead, then down at his legs. I’m a cripple. Xia Zhi marrying me is already a sacrifice for her.

The rest of the walk passed in silent understanding.  

Under Lu Beiting’s guidance, Xia Zhi arrived at Dr. Shen’s office.  

Just as she was about to enter, someone roughly shoved her aside. Zhang Xiao shot her a glare before turning to Shen Hangzhi. “Dr. Shen, please check on my husband! He still hasn’t woken up!”  

Gu Yunshen, who had caught up, looked at Xia Zhi with undisguised disgust.