Chapter 138: Chapter 136: Lu Xiao’s Cousin Arrives

Su Tang’s tone was polite and distant. She was perfectly calm in the face of Chen Zhengnian.

It seemed that in her eyes, Chen Zhengnian was no different from the countless other patients she had treated.

“Doctor Su, Chen Lü doesn’t give his things to just anyone. Please, accept it.”

“At least here in the Northwest, you won’t have any more trouble.”

The guard at the door said with a smile, but Su Tang still refused.

It was just as she’d said: saving him was her duty.

She would have given her all for any other patient, especially since Chen Zhengnian had been injured in service to his country.

Besides, protecting her was Lu Xiao’s job. She didn’t need another man for that.

Su Tang turned to leave, but the guard reached out and blocked her way.

From behind her, Chen Zhengnian watched her retreating figure and waved his hand, signaling for the guard to let her go.

Su Tang left without hesitation.

She didn’t like the look in Chen Zhengnian’s eyes. It was intense and demanding, as if he expected everyone to obey him.

Su Tang had just stepped out of the VIP ward when she heard his guard’s voice from behind her. “Doctor Su, please wait a moment.”

She didn’t break her stride, shutting out the probing gaze from behind her.

The guard, Xiao Li, hurried to catch up. “Doctor Su, Chen Lü said that if you won’t accept the military insignia, he implores you to take this instead.”

He held out an envelope. It was surprisingly thick.

“This is…”

“Step aside.”

Su Tang’s voice grew cold. She hadn’t expected Chen Zhengnian to resort to something like this.

’Accepting money from a patient… Is he trying to ruin me?’

Xiao Li froze, scratching his head as he watched her walk away.

’I failed the task Chen Lü gave me. I’m probably going to get an earful when I get back.’

Back in the VIP ward, Chen Zhengnian stuffed the military insignia back under his pillow.

He stared at the light fixture on the ceiling, a low chuckle escaping his throat.

’This woman… she’s interesting. But she’s married.’

For the next few days, Su Tang rarely visited Chen Zhengnian’s room. Even when she had to, she would do what was necessary and leave immediately.

One day, Su Tang had just finished taking his blood pressure when the door to his private room was suddenly thrown open.

A woman in a cheongsam, carrying a food container, burst in. Her eyes immediately reddened when she saw Chen Zhengnian. “Zhengnian! How could you let yourself get into this state?”

Chen Zhengnian frowned. “Who told you to come?”

“If I hadn’t come, were you planning on dying here?”

The woman slammed the food container onto the table, her gaze turning sharp as it landed on Su Tang.

“You’re the one who operated on Zhengnian? A pregnant doctor? Are you toying with his life?”

Su Tang removed her stethoscope and met the woman’s gaze. “His recovery is progressing well, and his post-operative infection markers are all normal.”

“Besides, my pregnancy didn’t stop me from pulling him back from death’s door.”

“Normal?”

The woman sneered and reached for his medical chart.

“Do you have any idea what my cousin’s position is? I’m going to find out just what level of doctor would dare to perform this kind of surgery…”

“Chen Man!”

Chen Zhengnian’s voice was cold and heavy as he stared daggers at the woman.

“Get out.”

Chen Man’s hand froze in mid-air. She bit her lip, looking wronged. “I was just worried about you…”

“Get out.”

Chen Zhengnian repeated, and the chill in his gaze made Chen Man shudder.

She shot Su Tang a vicious glare, then stomped her foot and ran out.

Silence returned to the room. Su Tang closed the chart. “Visiting hours should be strictly followed. Have the guard enforce them next time.”

“She’s a distant cousin of mine.”

Chen Zhengnian suddenly explained. “She’s been spoiled since she was a child.”

Su Tang didn’t reply. She turned to leave, but he called out to her. “Doctor Su, I’m transferring to the military sanatorium next week. Will you…”

“Mr. Chen’s follow-up treatment will be handled by designated personnel.”

Su Tang cut him off. She paused for a moment as she opened the door. “Take your medicine on time. And don’t get worked up like you did today.”

The moment the door shut, Chen Zhengnian watched her figure disappear down the hall. He slowly unclenched his fist.

A week later, news of Chen Zhengnian’s transfer spread throughout the hospital.

Su Tang was in the middle of a prenatal checkup when she overheard the nurses gossiping about how impressive the escort motorcade was. She simply hummed in acknowledgment.

With Chen Zhengnian gone, she felt a sense of relief.

After all, there was something about the man that always made her feel an intangible pressure.

The sun was setting as she left work. Walking out of the main hospital entrance, she saw Lu Xiao leaning against his jeep.

He was in his daily uniform, the star insignia on his shoulder glinting in the twilight.

“Not busy today?”

Su Tang smiled as she walked over, and he wrapped a steady arm around her waist.

“No matter how busy I am, I still have to pick up my little doctor from work.”

Lu Xiao bent down and kissed the top of her head. “I heard Chen Zhengnian left?”

“Mhm.”

Su Tang slid into the passenger seat. “Why are you suddenly asking about him?”

She had mentioned Chen Zhengnian to Lu Xiao before, but his rank was apparently so high that even Lu Xiao hadn’t heard of him.

So Su Tang had dropped the subject.

Lu Xiao started the jeep, and the hospital receded in the rearview mirror.

Lu Xiao took her hand and pressed it to his lips. “Don’t do anything so risky again. I was worried.”

Feeling the warmth of his lips on her palm, Su Tang gazed at his profile and hummed softly.

Some encounters are fated to be fleeting, like a sandstorm sweeping across the Gobi, leaving only stones behind once it has passed.

But Su Tang didn’t know then that some seeds, once planted in the heart, will eventually break through the soil at the most unexpected moment, no matter how many mountains and rivers lie between.

“I’m taking you to the county town today.”

Lu Xiao announced suddenly while they were on the road.

“Oh? What for?”

Su Tang was confused, but Lu Xiao just smiled without explaining.

“You’ll see when we get there. We’re picking someone up.”

Since Lu Xiao wasn’t talking, Su Tang didn’t press him. Still, she was curious. ’Who was this person he mentioned? A relative of his?’

The drive to the county town was quick.

At the train station, Lu Xiao met a young woman who trotted over as soon as she saw him.

“Cousin! Sister-in-law!”

The young woman, who wore her hair in braids, said with a cheerful laugh.

“Sister-in-law, you’re so beautiful! My aunt told me you were pretty, and I was so curious. You’re even more beautiful than she said in her letter!”

Wang Xinxin chattered happily, putting down her luggage to take Su Tang’s hand.

Lu Xiao shook his head with a helpless smile, picking up the luggage as he explained to Su Tang.

“This is my maternal aunt’s daughter, Wang Xinxin. She qualified for an agricultural aid post in the Northwest, so she came out here specifically.”

“She studied at Hu University. I heard your parents teach there, right?”

Now Su Tang understood why Lu Xiao had called it a surprise.

Wang Xinxin was an alumna of the same university, so they would have plenty to talk about. This way, she wouldn’t be so lonely here by herself.

“Yes! That’s right! My aunt told me you studied at Hu University too, and that you even went to the UK!”

Wang Xinxin’s face was filled with admiration and envy. The young woman was lively and talkative, having already said a great deal in the short time since they’d left the station.

“I’ll put the luggage in the car. You two wait here for me. We’ll go to the co-op to buy a few things afterward.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep