The soft sensation under Xia Zhi’s hand successfully distracted her from noticing where Lu Beiting had placed his own hand.

Lu Beiting’s face flushed red, and he quickly withdrew his hand, feeling dizzy. His mind inexplicably wandered to…

Ahem. “How long are you planning to keep touching me?” Lu Beiting’s voice was hoarse as he turned his head away in embarrassment.

Xia Zhi straightened up and observed the man’s expression-there was only shyness from being touched, not a trace of desire.

She swallowed hard. He’s already like this when nothing’s even happened yet…

If he gets cured…

Who’s going to be the lucky one?

Lu Beiting grew uncomfortable under her blatant stare and pulled the blanket over himself. “If you’re done, you can leave.”

Xia Zhi coughed lightly. “Ahem, as the doctor in charge of your condition, it’s my responsibility to assist you. Cough. Why don’t you take off your clothes so I can examine you again?”

Boom!

Something seemed to explode in Lu Beiting’s mind. He looked up at Xia Zhi, who, despite her obvious embarrassment, spoke with such conviction that he began to doubt himself.

Was I the one being indecent just now?

Xia Zhi clenched and unclenched her hands nervously before mustering the courage to reach out. Just as her fingers brushed the blanket, Lu Beiting’s large, scorching hand grabbed hers.

“Xia Zhi, that’s enough!” His face was stern, his dark eyes unfathomable as he stared at her.

When he noticed a gleam of triumph flash in her eyes, his gaze sharpened.

Xia Zhi was still feeling smug when suddenly, his grip loosened. Lu Beiting leaned back and spread his arms open, his deep voice almost teasing.

“Fine. Then I’ll trouble Dr. Xia to examine me carefully.”

“Huh?” Now it was Xia Zhi’s turn to panic. She had only been talking big-she hadn’t actually planned to go through with it!

Lu Beiting’s dark eyes lowered slightly. “Since Dr. Xia is so dedicated, it’d be wrong of me not to cooperate.”

As he spoke, his hand began moving downward, and Xia Zhi’s gaze unconsciously followed.

It wasn’t until his fingers reached the waistband of his pants that she snapped out of it.

“I-I just remembered something urgent! I’ll go now!”

Grabbing her acupuncture kit, Xia Zhi bolted out of the room.

Lu Beiting watched her disappear and finally let out a long breath. If she had stayed any longer, he wouldn’t have been able to keep up the act.

“S-Sorry, let me close the door for you!” Xia Zhi, who had just reached her own room, suddenly remembered something and rushed back, hastily shutting Lu Beiting’s door behind her.

By the time he looked up, the door was already closed. The thought of Xia Zhi-all all bravado on the outside but a coward at heart-made him chuckle softly.

Xia Zhi leaned against the door, taking deep breaths and patting her cheeks. Was that man crazy? One second, he’s all tough and tender, and the next, he’s offering himself up so boldly!

That night, Xia Zhi tossed and turned in bed, her thoughts spiraling into increasingly inappropriate fantasies.

Lu Beiting, next door, wasn’t faring much better. It wasn’t until dawn, when he heard movement from her room, that he realized how much time had passed.

But after a flurry of activity, everything went quiet again. Soon after, there was was a knock at his door. When he looked up, it was Zhang Yi delivering his meal.

“Battalion Commander, Sister-in-law is helping Auntie Chen in the cafeteria, so she asked me to bring you your food and medicine.”

Zhang Yi coughed a few times-the medicine’s pungent smell was overwhelming.

“Mm.”

After finishing his meal, Lu Beiting stared at the pitch-black herbal concoction before downing it in one gulp. The bitterness nearly shattered his composure.

Zhang Yi then extended his hand, revealing a familiar piece of candy in his palm.

“Did Xia Zhi tell you to give this to me?” Lu Beiting took it, unwrapped it, and popped it into his mouth. Instantly, his heart felt sweeter.

“No, Sister-in-law gave it to me. I’m just passing it to you since you seemed uncomfortable.”

The brief moment of joy vanished as Lu Beiting’s face darkened. “Buying so much candy-doesn’t she worry about getting cavities?”

He yanked the blanket over himself. “Get out. I need to rest.”

Zhang Yi scratched his head in confusion but still went out, even closing the door behind him as he left.  

In the cafeteria, Chen Yan watched Xia Zhi bustling around to help her and couldn’t stop smiling. “You’re such a sweetheart, but you should take a break now.”  

Xia Zhi wiped the sweat from her forehead. “It’s nothing, just a small thing.”  

When mealtime arrived, a group of soldiers who had just finished training came running over.  

The moment they rushed in and saw Xia Zhi, they all froze in unison, exchanging glances.  

“Sister-in-law?”  

“Haha, I’m just here to help,” Xia Zhi laughed, then waved them over. “Why are you standing there? Aren’t you hungry?”  

After snapping out of their daze, the soldiers immediately straightened their backs, marched to their tables with disciplined steps, and refrained from their usual banter and roughhousing. A solemn atmosphere filled the cafeteria.  

Chen Yan, who had just stepped out, was stunned by the scene. “Huh? Why are they so well-behaved today?”  

The group exchanged glances, but no one spoke. The higher-ups had already issued orders: they weren’t to embarrass the troops. Sister-in-law was the battalion commander’s fiancée, and if they messed this up, they’d face disciplinary action.  

But when several large pots of food were brought out, the men couldn’t hold back.  

“Smells amazing!”  

“Yeah, why does the food smell so good today?”  

The rough-and-tumble bunch barely lasted a few seconds before curiosity got the better of them, and they couldn’t resist getting up to take a look. The dishes were about the same as usual, just with a bit more meat, but the aroma was irresistible.  

“Alright, dig in. Xia Zhi prepared all the food today—it’s delicious,” Chen Yan said as she quickly served them.  

“Thank you, Sister-in-law!”  

“Thank you, Sister-in-law!”  

…  

Xia Zhi’s neck was sore from nodding so much, but seeing them like this made her happy. A full stomach meant more strength to defend the country.  

In the afternoon, she planned to go up the mountain to see if she could find any wild game. If she was lucky, she could treat them to something extra.  

After helping Chen Yan clean up, the two sat on stools, basking in the sun.  

“These kids… they’re so young, most just seventeen or eighteen. Every day, it’s either training or patrols. And when those troublemakers across the border start something, it’s chaos.  

Don’t let their age fool you—they’re all top-notch…”  

Xia Zhi rested her chin in her hands, listening intently. So they were all so young, yet they carried themselves with such steadiness and maturity.  

Chen Yan’s voice trembled with emotion, and she wiped away a tear.  

Xia Zhi’s eyes also reddened, moved by her words.  

“Auntie, what about your family?”  

At the question, Chen Yan’s expression dimmed, and tears welled in her eyes.  

Xia Zhi’s first thought was that they had been lost in battle. Flustered, she hurriedly apologized.  

“Auntie, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—I—”  

Chen Yan dabbed at her tears, then shook her head with a bitter smile.  

Her voice was mournful yet resigned, her gaze hollow. “Me? I’m thirty now. Never married. No one ever wanted me.”