Chapter 14 – If There’s Absolutely Nothing, That Just Doesn’t Make Sense

“This thinner set of clothes—you two should wear it at night when you go to bed.” Xi Youyou said. She had a very organized way of shopping, and besides, these thinner clothes were taken out from her dimensional space.

Her space had everything.

It was all piled up in a warehouse, and she had rummaged through it to find what she needed.

In her past life, a friend of hers had opened a small supermarket. Later on, the friend wanted to transfer the business but couldn’t find a buyer for a long time. In desperate need of money, the friend finally handed it over to her.

That supermarket had a little bit of everything. Thinking it over, Xi Youyou had gone in every now and then to move a bit of the inventory into her space, until she had emptied the whole store. After that, she had renovated the place and rented it out to someone else.

At the time, she hadn’t expected to end up transmigrating into a novel or anything. She just figured that since she had the space, she might as well stockpile supplies.

As it turned out, there were even children’s clothes. She had rummaged through and found a few sets.

Xi Youyou took the two children inside to try on the clothes. The elderly couple watched her back as she left, then turned to each other and exchanged a smile.

Their daughter-in-law really had changed.

And that was a good thing.

Xi Youyou had prepared two sets of pure cotton loungewear for each of the children, as well as everyday clothes and little cloth shoes.

For Xiao Bao, she picked out a cotton dress—comfortable, breezy, and very pretty.

Xiao Bao, wearing her new dress, spun around in the courtyard like a joyful little butterfly. Da Bao looked down at the small shirt he had on. Though he didn’t say a word, the corners of his mouth were lifted high the entire time.

After Xi Youyou finished helping them try on clothes, she let them go outside while she stayed in the room to read.

She started with some basic books about the current era.

Sure enough, it was just as she had imagined.

It could be considered an alternate version of the 1980s—certain fundamental aspects were still in place, but many things had been altered.

The restrictions were looser.

That was good!

After reading, Xi Youyou felt at ease. The fewer the restrictions, the more differences there were between this world and the actual 1980s. In fact, the 1980s in this book seemed even better.

That meant she wouldn’t have to worry about exposing any inconsistencies in the future.

Xi Youyou continued reading diligently until it was about time, then she went to the kitchen to make dinner.

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Meanwhile, Jiang Cimo had confirmed when he would be returning home and had sent a letter back ahead of time. He was planning to buy some things for the children and his parents before going home.

For the kids, it would mostly be toys and clothes.

His parents weren’t in the best of health. Thinking of Bai Yuying, who was a military doctor, he figured she would know what was appropriate to buy. So Jiang Cimo went to the Health Department.

Previously, people had asked Bai Yuying whether she had developed any feelings during the missions she had carried out.

Bai Yuying had already explained.

But then, Jiang Cimo suddenly showed up at the department.

Immediately, the light of gossip burst forth from everyone’s eyes.

“Comrade, are you looking for Military Doctor Bai?”

A young nurse at the reception desk blinked at him. Jiang Cimo couldn’t quite read her expression, but he nodded. “Yes. Please help me call Military Doctor Bai. I have something to discuss with her.”

Things at the Health Department weren’t particularly busy; most of the time, it was fairly relaxed, and everyone liked to hear a bit of gossip.

Seeing Jiang Cimo come looking for someone, the young nurse quickly went off to fetch Bai Yuying.

“Military Doctor Bai, Deputy Battalion Commander Jiang is here to see you.”

Noticing the gossipy glint in the nurse’s eyes, Bai Yuying pressed her fingers to her temples. “What are you getting so excited about? The two of us are just friends. I see him like an older brother. He must have something he needs to ask me about.”

“Yes, yes—older brother!”

The young nurse teased her with a smirk. Bai Yuying withdrew her gaze, choosing not to argue with her for the time being. She wanted to find out why Jiang Cimo had come.

They met near the reception, then the two of them walked over to the stairwell to talk.

“I came here this time to ask you—if I want to buy some health supplements for my parents, what would be suitable?” Jiang Cimo asked. In his heart, there was a strange, unexplainable feeling.

He always found Bai Yuying to be easy to approach.

As the two of them grew more familiar, he would often come to her whenever he needed advice.

“If it’s for elders, I’d recommend getting supplements that are good for the body.” Bai Yuying said seriously, not thinking in any other direction. She simply focused on answering his question.

They chatted about which supplements were best for elders, discussing the options back and forth. Meanwhile, some colleagues nearby watched them and immediately began whispering among themselves.

“They still say there’s nothing going on between them!”

“Exactly! The Deputy Battalion Commander came all the way here just to see her—and asked for her personally.”

“She claims she only sees him as a big brother. Who’s going to believe that?”

“So what if the Deputy Battalion Commander is married? Maybe his wife doesn’t get along with him at all. Otherwise, why wouldn’t she follow him to the posting?”

“Maybe the two of them will end up together someday!”

“I really don’t think their relationship is as simple as she says.”

“Same here.”

…

The colleagues continued whispering and gossiping amongst themselves.

Some people were simply gossiping for fun, but others felt that Bai Yuying’s behavior was inappropriate.

In their eyes, as military doctors, they ought to keep a clear boundary with married soldiers.

So how could she still be so close with him?

Whenever others asked, they would just brush it off with a simple “we’re like siblings” as a shield.

To them, people who acted like that seemed fake.

The two of them talked for just over ten minutes. Jiang Cimo jotted down the health supplements he planned to buy for his parents in a small notebook.

Before heading home, he would stop by the pharmacy to purchase them.

“I just told you about supplements that can be taken long-term—they’re good for the body.” Bai Yuying said, then teased him: “Has it been a long time since you went home? Missing your wife, your kids, and Uncle and Auntie?”

Hearing this teasing remark, Jiang Cimo didn’t answer right away.

He merely gave a faint nod.

He did miss his parents and children. Ever since joining the army, he hadn’t spent much time with them.

But missing Xi Youyou, that woman?

That was impossible.

This time, he hoped she would be just as quiet as last time—no drama.

Maybe, just maybe, they could get along a little better.

“Then make sure you spend those days at home properly. Take good care of them while you’re there.” Bai Yuying said, waving her hand. “I’ll head back first. Come find me again if you need anything.”

“Got it. Thanks.”

Jiang Cimo left and went back to continue supervising the training of his men. Since he would be departing soon, he needed to make sure training plans were in place during his absence.

That was his responsibility.

When there were no missions, they trained—so they would be ready for missions when the time came.

Soldiers had to be ready at all times. Ready to head into battle whenever duty called.

Meanwhile, Bai Yuying returned to the nurse’s station.

She overheard several military doctors gossiping again.

“What do you think they were whispering about just now? And they say there’s nothing going on between them—who would believe that?”

“Exactly!”

“Well, I don’t believe it.”

“Me neither.”

“They’re so close—if there really was nothing between them, it just wouldn’t make any sense at all.”