After the Luolin earthquake, aftershocks occurred from time to time. The medical center where Ruan Mian and the others were staying was the first to be set up, not far from the earthquake zone. After being affected by an aftershock that day, Chen Yi reported this matter to the higher-ups. After discussion among the team leaders, they deployed a batch of fire and rescue teams to urgently set up another center near the second medical center in the next couple of days.

The fire department was experienced in infrastructure construction. It only took them a day and a half to set up one modeled after the previous medical center.

On the day they prepared to move over, Meng Fuping and several directors held a meeting and decided to transfer some patients to hospitals outside the disaster area. The remaining patients and medical supplies would all complete relocation in the remaining half day.

The old and new medical centers were quite far apart. A round trip on foot would take half an hour. The military district sent vehicles to transport large items and patients.

The rest of the miscellaneous items were all loaded onto pushcarts and pushed by manpower. Ruan Mian and Lin Jiahui were responsible for checking the medications. When they were almost done, they followed the last trip to the new medical center.

It was already evening. The cart was pulled by Fang Cheng, a male doctor from the medical team. Ruan Mian and Lin Jiahui walked on both sides of the pushcart, supporting the medicine boxes and helping to push. All around them were the pebbles crushed by the wheels on the ground, making dull sounds.

Halfway through the journey, none of the three paid attention. The wheel went over a pit, and half the wheel got stuck inside and couldn’t get out. Fang Cheng exerted great effort, but in the end could only sigh and say, “Alas, no use. I’ve run around too much today, used up all my strength.”

Lin Jiahui was also covered in sweat from exhaustion. She stood to the side panting with her hands on her hips. “Well then, let’s not struggle uselessly. I’ll go back to call for help. You two wait here for me.”

“Alright.”

Ruan Mian and Fang Cheng stood to the side of the road. The night was like water, and sounds from the distance came in waves. After a few minutes, Ruan Mian saw Lin Jiahui’s figure coming this way, followed by two people.

Two very familiar people.

Lin Jiahui ran over smiling. “What a coincidence! Just halfway there I ran into these two high school classmates of yours, so I asked them to help. You don’t mind, right?”

“What’s there to mind about?” Ruan Mian withdrew her gaze, turned her head to look behind, and nodded and smiled at the approaching people.

Chen Yi and Shen Yu—one pulling, one pushing—pulled the pushcart out without much effort. For the remaining half of the journey, the two of them also delivered it along the way.

On the way, there were five people. There were many people, but not much conversation. Mostly it was Fang Cheng asking them about the rescue situation.

Ruan Mian and Lin Jiahui lagged a few steps behind.

When they arrived at the new medical center, Chen Yi and Shen Yu also helped carry the boxes inside. Lin Jiahui stuffed two bottles of water into Ruan Mian’s hands and told her to take them over to the men.

Ruan Mian gripped the two bottles of water as if holding pieces of iron. She stood at the doorway for a while, and only when everyone was about to leave did she catch up. “Thank you for your trouble today.”

“At times like this, there’s no need to be polite.” Shen Yu accepted the water. “By the way, our teammate Xiao Zhou, Zhou Ziheng—his mood might not be too good these days. We’d appreciate it if you could pay more attention.”

“Okay, I’ll mention it to the people in the medical team later.” Ruan Mian withdrew her hand, habitually putting both hands in her pockets. She glanced at Chen Yi and said, “You two go ahead with your work then. I’ll go back and clean up too.”

“Alright.” Shen Yu capped the bottle and walked back with his arm around Chen Yi’s shoulder.

Ruan Mian walked to the entrance of the medical center. In the end, she looked back again. The figures of the two men quickly disappeared into the vast night.

She sighed inexplicably and walked inside rubbing her shoulder.

After Lin Jiahui finished checking the medication list, she tucked the clipboard under her arm and walked over here, saying mysteriously, “I’ve already inquired for you.”

Ruan Mian lowered her head to straighten her white coat. “Inquired about what?”

“About that high school classmate of yours.” Lin Jiahui smiled. “Doesn’t he have a teammate staying here? I chatted with him last night. This Team Leader Chen is still single!”

“What does whether he’s single or not have to do with me?” Ruan Mian picked up the nearby ward rounds sheet and signed her name under today’s date. “I’ll go get busy first.”

“Hey—” Lin Jiahui was quick with both eyes and hands, pulling her back. In the tone of someone who had been there, she said, “Don’t! The man’s unmarried and the woman’s unwed. Now you’ve finally reunited—how suitable! Besides, didn’t you like him before? Now that you have this opportunity, won’t you seize it properly?”

“You also said that was before.” Ruan Mian clasped her hands together begging for mercy. “Senior, I’m begging you, don’t randomly play matchmaker for me. I finally got away from my mom, and now you’re pulling this. Can you let me have some peace?”

“You’re just being stubborn. In the future, you’ll have times when you regret it.” Lin Jiahui released her hand. “I’m on duty tonight. After you finish ward rounds, go back.”

Ruan Mian waved the medical record book in her hand, indicating she understood.

…

After making rounds with other colleagues, Ruan Mian went to greet Lin Jiahui and left the medical center. Before going back to rest, she went to see Xiaohu.

This batch of disabled children had lived in Luolin’s welfare institution since they could remember. The oldest one had stayed for nine years. Now the welfare institution was gone and the teachers had also passed away. The government side had temporarily not yet contacted a suitable welfare institution that could take in so many children at once. They could only temporarily settle them here first, and transfer them out later.

Ruan Mian went over to take Xiaohu’s temperature and coax her to sleep. Among them, a little boy called Xiaoyuan signed that he needed to go to the bathroom. She went over to help him put on his clothes and led him out holding his hand.

When they reached the bathroom entrance, Ruan Mian crouched down to communicate with him in sign language, telling him to go in by himself while she waited outside.

Xiaoyuan was probably frightened in the unfamiliar environment. He clung to her leg, not daring to go in by himself.

Ruan Mian helplessly stood up. Just as she was wondering whether to take him to find a random place to solve the problem first, a voice suddenly came from behind her.

“What’s wrong?”

Ruan Mian’s heart skipped a beat. She turned her head and saw Chen Yi standing nearby. Her tone was gentle though. “Could I trouble you to take him inside to use the bathroom? He’s a bit scared and doesn’t dare go in alone.”

“Alright.” Chen Yi walked forward a few steps, lowered his head and spoke to the child. “Come on, I’ll take you in.”

Xiaoyuan didn’t move though. He blinked his big eyes looking at him, his face full of helplessness.

“He can’t hear and can’t speak either.” Ruan Mian rubbed Xiaoyuan’s head, crouched down to explain to him in sign language. Only then did he put his hand in Chen Yi’s.

Chen Yi took his hand and walked forward a few steps. He suddenly turned back and asked, “What did you just say to him?”

Ruan Mian was stunned for a moment before explaining, “Uncle is a soldier. I asked if it’s okay to let him take you in.”

Hearing this, Chen Yi didn’t say anything more and carried Xiaoyuan inside.

Ruan Mian stood in place for a while. She encountered several soldiers coming to use the bathroom. The instant their eyes met, she inexplicably felt somewhat awkward, and could only walk a few steps to the side.

She stood beside the grass. Below had originally been a lake. Because of the earthquake, the ground block underneath had changed, and the lake water had also dried up, revealing the mud at the bottom and the garbage sunken beneath, emitting an unpleasant smell in the air.

After a few minutes, Ruan Mian saw Chen Yi leading Xiaoyuan out from inside and walking back. Xiaoyuan broke free from his hand and ran toward her.

Ruan Mian was bumped by him and took a small step back. After steadying herself, she gestured to him twice. Xiaoyuan looked at Chen Yi again and moved his hands.

This time, before Chen Yi could ask, Ruan Mian spoke first. “He’s saying thank you to you.”

Chen Yi glanced at Xiaoyuan, then raised his head to look at her, catching her off guard with a question. “How do you say ‘you’re welcome’ in sign language?”

“Huh?” She was stunned.

Chen Yi laughed and repeated it once more.

Ruan Mian had no choice but to demonstrate it for him once. The three characters were simple to gesture, and he learned quickly. Seeing it once was enough. He held onto his pant legs and crouched in front of Xiaoyuan, copying the gestures stroke by stroke, a trace of smile hanging at the corners of his lips.

At that moment, the moonlit night was like water. The pitch-black night sky was filled with brilliant stars. The clear, cold moonlight cast a hazy glow over the earth.

Ruan Mian, borrowing this light, saw clearly the man’s crisp and clean contours. She suddenly recalled that youth in her memory—different from his current composure, always carrying a vigorous and unrestrained youthful air. Since their reunion, it seemed only in that moment just now had she seen a trace of shadow from the past in his features.

In the space of a distraction, Chen Yi had already stood up from the ground. His gaze naturally fell on the person before him. “Let’s go.”

Ruan Mian came back to her senses and took Xiaoyuan to wash his hands.

On the way back after washing hands, Chen Yi asked, “How do you know sign language?”

“I joined the sign language club at university. In between, we held several activities at orphanages and welfare institutions.” Ruan Mian said, “The club president organized for us to learn for a period of time.”

“That’s pretty good.”

Ruan Mian hummed in acknowledgment, looking at the shadow on the ground. She was still as quiet as before, but no longer had that initial tension and constraint.

Chen Yi walked them to the tent area along the way, and didn’t say much else. “Rest early.”

“Okay.” Ruan Mian led Xiaoyuan into the tent. Through a curtain, she heard the footsteps leaving outside and lowered her eyes with a light sigh.

…

Early the next morning, Ruan Mian switched shifts with the colleague on night duty, then went to the treatment hall. Today was the day for Yu Zhou to change his dressing. The nurse had already helped him over.

The wound on his leg still couldn’t have the stitches removed. Only the cut on his forehead needed regular dressing changes. Ruan Mian walked over, first bending down to lift his pant leg to take a look. “These few days, you still need to minimize movement as much as possible.”

“Understood.”

“No uncomfortable areas, right?” Ruan Mian walked over and put on the mask and gloves the nurse had prepared. “If you need anything, tell the center staff immediately.”

Yu Zhou laughed foolishly. “No.”

Ruan Mian hummed in acknowledgment, turned on the lamp beside them, and removed the gauze on his forehead. “Not bad, recovery is going okay. Just two more dressing changes and you’ll be fine.”

“Oh, okay, thank you, Doctor Ruan.”

“No problem.” Ruan Mian lowered her head to organize the things in her hands.

Yu Zhou asked again, “Doctor Ruan, I heard from Doctor Lin that you and our team leader are high school classmates?”

“Mm.”

“Then what kind of person was our team leader before?”

“The prodigy type, I guess.” Ruan Mian’s tone was ordinary. “Very good grades. Teachers and classmates all quite liked him.”

Yu Zhou continued gossiping. “Then did he have a girlfriend?”

“Not sure.” Ruan Mian’s hands didn’t stop moving. Not wanting him to continue asking, she made something up casually. “Actually, we weren’t that familiar.”

Right after she finished this sentence, a laugh suddenly dropped from overhead. “Not that familiar? How come I feel you two are quite familiar.”

Ruan Mian and Yu Zhou simultaneously raised their heads to look over. Shen Yu, who had just spoken, stood at the door with his arms crossed. Beside him was Chen Yi with no particular expression.

Yu Zhou immediately had the kind of panic of discussing a leader’s gossip behind their back only to be caught red-handed by the leader. He scratched his face somewhat awkwardly, not daring to speak again.

Ruan Mian was grateful for the mask on her face. She withdrew her gaze, no longer continuing this topic, and quickened her hand movements. “Alright, have the nurse send you back.”

After saying this sentence, she stood up and walked to the side to start cleaning up.

Shen Yu patted Yu Zhou’s shoulder, joking, “If you want to know about your Team Leader Chen’s past so much, why don’t you come ask me? Aren’t Team Leader Chen and I also classmates?”

Yu Zhou was almost about to cry. “Team Leader Shen…”

Chen Yi glanced at that figure, withdrew his gaze, and helped the man up. “Let’s go. First, let’s send you back to the ward.”

Yu Zhou was a bit afraid of Chen Yi. His heart was in his throat the whole way. Only when they reached the ward and Chen Yi left did he feel he could breathe a sigh of relief.

Coming out of the ward, Shen Yu caught up with Chen Yi. “I remember back in high school you treated Ruan Mian pretty well, at least about the same as you treated that person from Liang Yiran’s family. How come she’s now telling others she’s not that familiar with you?”

“How would I know?” Chen Yi’s tone was casual as if he didn’t care. When they returned to the treatment hall, Ruan Mian was already gone. Shen Yu helped him call another doctor over to change his dressing.

His wound wasn’t serious, but the recovery really couldn’t be considered very good. It was faintly showing some inflammation.

After the doctor tied the knot, they said, “When you have time to rest, come get two bottles of IV fluids. The wound is a bit inflamed. I’m afraid if it’s delayed any longer, it will cause infection.”

“The rest time isn’t certain yet.” Chen Yi put on his jacket. “We’ll talk about it later. When I’m resting, I’ll come to the center again. Thank you for your trouble.”

The doctor smiled. “No problem. In any case, pay more attention.”

“Okay.”

Chen Yi and Shen Yu walked out side by side. Before reaching the door, they heard the emergency assembly sound from the base camp. The two of them felt their hearts tighten and broke into a run.

Running to the hall, they were met with several injured people being carried in. Ruan Mian, with hurried footsteps, pushed a mobile hospital bed and brushed past them.

Author’s note: Next episode preview: Sweet / Probably the sweetest Mei You Ren Xiang Ni – Chapter updated so far =3=