Although Grandmother’s illness was serious, there was no immediate danger to her life. With someone always by her side, it would have been perfectly reasonable for Qu Hua to return home on his wedding night and then go back to the hospital the next evening to keep watch. Yet he didn’t come home at all on his wedding night. Qu Hua’s mother explained to Mu Jing that since Grandmother had raised him, they shared a deep bond, and he was worried about potential complications in her condition.
Mu Jing showed great understanding—she didn’t complain at all about spending her wedding night alone. Instead, she actively inquired about Grandmother’s condition. From her mother-in-law, she learned that Grandmother had been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. Currently, surgery was the only viable treatment option, and Qu Hua had been trying to convince Grandmother to undergo the procedure.
What her mother-in-law didn’t tell Mu Jing was that without surgery, there was no chance of recovery. Grandmother, however, viewed surgery as a barbaric Western practice—as a civilized Easterner, she only trusted Traditional Chinese Medicine. The elderly woman would rather endure the pain than try surgery. In her mind, once they cut her open, she wouldn’t survive, and she refused to close her eyes in death before seeing her grandson married.
Though her mother-in-law hadn’t said as much, Mu Jing had already guessed most of it. Since Qu Hua was so filial that he spent even his wedding night at the hospital, he would surely continue to stay there in the days ahead. As a considerate wife, Mu Jing had no choice but to support him. She returned to their room and took some clean clothes from Qu Hua’s wardrobe, folding them meticulously. She was skilled at folding clothes, able to compress them to their smallest volume without creating a single wrinkle.
The neatly folded clothes, enough to last Qu Hua a week without returning home, were packed into a bag. She took the bag and some wedding candy to school, wearing a smile rarely seen on her face. Everyone assumed she was happy about her marriage. Though Mu Jing wasn’t particularly sociable, every colleague in her department received wedding candy, and they all knew she had become Qu Hua’s wife.
As soon as her morning classes ended, Mu Jing cycled to the pastry shop, bought the most expensive pastries, and took them to the hospital along with clean clothes. Since the wedding had been held in the hospital cafeteria, many staff from the Neurosurgery Department had attended, and they recognized Mu Jing as Qu Hua’s wife when she arrived. Qu Hua had been famous throughout the Central Hospital as its most eligible bachelor, and given his family background, he received marriage proposals almost daily.
The department had no shortage of female colleagues who admired him, but Qu Hua’s response to any advances was as cold as his surgical scalpel. A beautiful female doctor from the Cardiac Surgery Department had once knitted a long scarf, hoping to warm Qu Hua’s cold heart. When she presented it, he said he wasn’t used to wearing scarves. He said this while sitting in his office eating a steamed bun, not even looking up. He had just finished major surgery, his clothes and hair still wet with sweat, eating leftover food brought by colleagues.
When the female doctor suggested he would get used to wearing it, Qu Hua, still not looking up, pulled out a money note from his drawer as payment for the scarf and continued eating his cold steamed bun and cabbage.
Qu Hua always kept money and food ration coupons in his office drawer and never locked it. When someone was short on money or ration coupons, he would let them help themselves from his drawer and return it when they could. Despite being proud and antisocial, his generosity made him well-liked in the department.
The female doctor’s face changed color instantly, asking Qu Hua what he meant. He pulled out another note, explaining that he didn’t have yarn coupons and could only give her money to exchange for them herself. She snatched back her handmade scarf, shot him a resentful look, and left without turning back. Qu Hua wasn’t upset about not getting the scarf—it wasn’t nearly as beautiful as the person who had knitted it.
For years, colleagues had speculated about who would win this prestigious bachelor’s heart, never expecting it would be an outsider. However, upon seeing Mu Jing, even Qu Hua’s former admirers had to admit that in terms of appearance and temperament, the couple was perfectly matched.
When Mu Jing arrived, Qu Hua had just finished surgery and was heading to the cafeteria for lunch, finishing half an hour earlier than expected. Those who had worked with Qu Hua long enough knew that his mood couldn’t be judged from his face but from his surgical sutures—today, Dr. Qu seemed happier than usual.
This was Mu Jing’s first time seeing Qu Hua at work. From a distance, he nodded at her. Upon seeing Mu Jing, his first words were, “Have you eaten?” Without waiting for an answer, he added, “Let’s eat together in the cafeteria.”
The cafeteria had reserved meals for the surgical team, and today’s food was good, including beef with celery. Those who had performed surgery with Qu Hua tactfully moved to another table, leaving the couple alone.
Qu Hua specifically ordered steamed buns for Mu Jing, remembering that northerners preferred wheat-based foods. Qu Hua was left-handed, and their hands occasionally brushed while reaching for dishes. Mu Jing found it strange that they had married without even holding hands.
Mu Jing showed little interest in the food before her, eating just half a bun with some celery before taking out what she had brought. “I bought these pastries for Grandmother. I have class later, so I won’t visit the ward now—could you give them to her for me?” She then took out another bag. “I brought some clean clothes from your wardrobe. I thought you might not have time to go home to get them, being busy during the day and keeping watch at night.”
Qu Hua, who had been eating with his head down, stopped his chopsticks upon hearing Mu Jing’s words. “Are you hoping I’ll stay at the hospital for the whole week?”
“Your mother said you were very filial and close to Grandmother, so I thought…”
The implication hung in the air—if Qu Hua didn’t stay at the hospital, he would appear unfilial…
“How thoughtful of you to consider all this for me.”
“Well, enjoy your meal. I should go.”
Qu Hua grabbed Mu Jing’s hand. “Wait a moment. Let me check if everything I need is in the bag. If anything’s missing, I’ll have to trouble you to bring it again—if that’s not too much bother?”
“It’s no trouble.”
Mu Jing followed Qu Hua back to the restroom after leaving the cafeteria. They were alone there as Qu Hua checked the clothes.
Qu Hua opened the bag, surprised by how well the clothes were folded—almost too perfect to unfold. After a brief inspection, he told Mu Jing, “You forgot the most important thing.”
“What?”
“Underwear.”
Qu Hua wasn’t trying to embarrass Mu Jing. After a major surgery, the innermost layer of clothes was the first to be soaked with sweat. While outer clothes could be worn multiple times, underwear needed to be changed at least daily. Since Mu Jing didn’t want him to go home to get clothes, she would have to bring them.