Chapter 158: Chapter 156: Unless Su Tang Dies

Lu Xiao chuckled, took her by the wrist, and walked toward the temporarily built reservoir. “Let me just wash my face, and I’ll be right with you.”

The reservoir had been built by the soldiers, stacked with stones. The clear water reflected the blue sky and white clouds, a beautiful sight.

Su Tang stood on the bank, watching him cup water in his hands to wash his face. Droplets trickled down his jawline and into his collar, soaking a dark patch into the fabric.

“Hasn’t my cousin gotten even more built than before?”

Wang Xinxin had appeared at her side at some point, a cloth bag in her hand.

“Look at the muscles on his arms. The other day, he carried three wooden beams without even breaking a sweat.”

Su Tang shot her a playful, scolding look, but her eyes couldn’t help but drift to Lu Xiao’s taut back and shoulders.

’He really has been exhausted these past few days. His face has even gotten a little thinner.’

“For you.”

Wang Xinxin suddenly stuffed the cloth bag into her hands. Inside were a few round, wild walnuts.

“I picked them on the back mountain. It took me forever to crack them, and these are the only whole ones I got. They’re for the baby.”

Su Tang was just about to say thank you when she saw Lu Xiao walking over, flicking water droplets from his hands. He casually took the cloth bag and tucked it into his pocket.

“Xinxin, you’re becoming quite capable. You get an extra egg tonight.”

“Really?”

Wang Xinxin’s eyes lit up, and she ran toward the kitchen. “Then I’ll go tell Uncle Zhang to cook two extra today!”

Lu Xiao smiled at her retreating back, then took Su Tang’s hand and led her away from the construction site. “I’m taking you somewhere.”

They walked past a house where walls were being built and came to a plot of freshly tilled earth behind it. Several women were squatting in the field, sowing vegetable seeds.

Seeing them approach, they all smiled and greeted them. One woman even raised the seeds in her hand and shouted, “Mr. Lu, Doctor Su, these are cucumber seeds from my parents’ home. I guarantee they’ll grow big and plentiful in the fall!”

“Thank you, Aunt Li.”

Su Tang smiled in response, but then she tripped on something. Lu Xiao’s reflexes were sharp, and he quickly caught her.

“Be careful.”

He kept a supportive arm around her as he walked her to the edge of the field, pointing to a patch of newly planted saplings in the distance.

“Those are apple saplings from the commune. They should sprout next spring.”

Su Tang looked in the direction he was pointing. Dozens of saplings stood in neat rows in the setting sun, their branches still wrapped with moist cotton cloth.

“By the time the baby is born, they’ll be able to eat apples from here.”

Lu Xiao wrapped her in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head. “Not just apples, but also the jujubes you love to eat. I’ve already marked the spot in that grove. When the fruit is ripe, I’ll pick the sweetest ones for you.”

The evening breeze blew past, carrying the earthy scent of the soil. From a distance came the whistle signaling the end of the workday, mixed with the laughter of children chasing each other and playing.

Su Tang stroked her belly, feeling the faint stir of her baby beneath her palm.

She suddenly felt that the past, once washed away by the flood, was slowly taking shape again amidst all this new, green life.

The houses were built quickly. Many hands make light work, after all, and the disaster had captured the hearts of people all across the country.

People donated spontaneously—money, supplies, whatever they thought could be useful.

Supplies were plentiful, so there was nothing to fear.

One month later, everyone moved into their new houses.

Mr. Lu, Mrs. Lu, and Wang Xinxin had cleaned the house ahead of time. When Su Tang arrived and saw it, she couldn’t help but praise their work.

“Su Tang, Su Tang! The staff from your hospital are having a meeting at the temporary hospital. They sent me to come get you.”

“I heard a merchant from Xiangjiang donated a lot of medicine.”

Su Tang paused. ’A merchant from Xiangjiang?’

Wang Xinxin was still chattering beside her. “I heard they’re all good imported medicines. Two big boxes full of penicillin and streptomycin. Uncle Zhang said that batch of medicine alone would be enough for the temporary hospital for half a year.”

Lu Xiao happened to come out of the house. Seeing her pale face, he instinctively put his arm around her waist. “What’s wrong? Are you not feeling well?”

“I’m fine.”

Su Tang shook her head, forcibly suppressing the surging premonition in her heart.

“Xinxin said the hospital wants me for a meeting about the donated medicine.”

Lu Xiao’s brow furrowed slightly. “I’ll go with you.”

The temporary hospital was set up in the former commune courtyard, which was currently packed with people.

As soon as Su Tang walked in, she heard the hospital director’s excited voice, “…This Miss Su is a true godsend for our disaster area! Not only did she donate medicine, but she also offered to fund the reconstruction of our health clinic. Such generosity is a rare thing to see!”

The crowd automatically parted to form a path. Su Tang looked up and saw a woman in a moon-white dress standing next to the director.

Her exquisitely styled curls fell to her shoulders, and her face wore a perfectly gentle smile. It was none other than Su Xinyao, a person she thought she would never see again in her life.

The moment their eyes met, the smile in Su Xinyao’s eyes faded slightly before immediately curving into a deeper arc as she extended a hand toward her.

“Doctor Su, I’ve heard so much about you. I’m Su Xinyao. I came back this time hoping to contribute what little I can.”

Su Tang didn’t move, just watched her quietly.

“You must be tired from your long journey, Miss Su.”

Lu Xiao took a step forward, subtly shielding Su Tang with his body.

“I’m Lu Xiao. Thank you for your donation.”

Both parties acted as if they were strangers. After all, not many people here knew about the past conflict between Su Xinyao and Su Tang.

Su Xinyao’s gaze swept over Lu Xiao, her smile deepening. “Mr. Lu is so young and promising. No wonder you can protect Doctor Su so completely.”

Her gaze went past Lu Xiao and landed on Su Tang’s slightly swollen belly, a complex and unreadable light flashing in her eyes.

The director was still ushering enthusiastically, “Miss Su, please, come inside and have a seat. I’ll have Doctor Su tell you about our hospital’s situation so we can better plan the future funding projects.”

Su Xinyao obediently walked inside. As she passed Su Tang, she spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“Long time no see. I heard you’re pregnant, so I brought some special supplements for you. They’re all the best from Xiangjiang.”

’Su Tang knew Su Xinyao all too well. The woman never made a losing deal.’

“That won’t be necessary.”

“The medical supplies here are allocated by the state. There’s no need for Miss Su to trouble herself.”

Su Xinyao seemed not to have heard the coldness in her tone, her smile as bright as ever as she turned away.

“Still so distant.”

The others present might not have caught the barb in her words, but to Su Tang, it was crystal clear.

She watched as Su Xinyao was ushered into the office, surrounded by the crowd.

’Su Xinyao’s return definitely isn’t as simple as just donating medicine.’

Lu Xiao squeezed her cold hand and said in a low voice, “Don’t worry. I’m here.”

“Her coming back this time… it’s definitely not just about donating some medicine.”

’Why come back now, of all times? Her intentions can’t be pure.’

“I’ll ask Geng to look into it. He has a wide network.”

’Su Xinyao had been gone for so long, Su Tang had almost started to think she’d never see her again.’

As Su Xinyao walked away, a vicious glint flashed in her eyes.

’Su Tang has to leave this place. Only then can my life get back on track.’

’But she’s a living person. How can she just disappear from this world?’

’Unless…’

’She dies.’

’A complete and total death, never to be seen again. Only then can this world belong to me, Su Xinyao.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep