After the people left, Ruan Mian let out a long breath of relief. She lifted her foot and walked toward the center, going inside to continue writing medical records at the consultation desk.

After a while, Lin Jiahui came out from the treatment room and walked over to her side. Her slender eyes blinked twice as she gossiped, “You knew that soldier from before?”

“High school classmates.” Ruan Mian said, “Haven’t seen each other in several years.”

“More than just classmates, right?” Lin Jiahui leaned in closer. “Who says ‘long time no see’ to an old classmate? That phrase is too ambiguous.”

Lin Jiahui was skilled at reading people. Compared to Ruan Mian’s perceptiveness, she had an additional layer of tactfulness. Especially after staying in the hospital for so long, she could tell people from ghosts—she had plenty of schemes up her sleeve.

Ruan Mian put down her pen, pressing her hand on the clipboard, and smiled. “How is this ambiguous?”

“How is it not ambiguous?” Lin Jiahui counted on her fingers. “Normally when people run into former classmates in this kind of place, they’d say ‘what a coincidence, what are you doing here?’ But if it’s an ex, especially the kind where the breakup was messy, when they meet—oh, they might even pretend not to know each other. In more serious cases, they might even start fighting. But if there are still lingering feelings, just one look can create crackling sparks, and then they’d say across the crowd with deep feeling, ‘long time no see.'”

“…” Ruan Mian picked up her pen again. “Too lazy to listen to your nonsense.”

“I’m not spouting nonsense. That other guy who came later, he’s also your classmate, right? The first thing you two said to each other was exactly my first scenario.”

Lin Jiahui and Ruan Mian graduated from the same school. Technically, she was Ruan Mian’s senior, but she had tested in later while Ruan Mian was a direct doctorate student in an eight-year program—the nature was quite different. During her doctorate, she had heard that there was a student in clinical medicine who was the most valued and accomplished disciple in all the teachers’ hearts—beautiful, good personality, and excellent grades.

Later, their advisors attended the same banquet, and the two of them naturally became friends. After graduation, they both entered Peking Union Medical College Hospital one after another. Since neither of their families were local, they rented a two-bedroom apartment together near the hospital, which deepened their relationship. Although they weren’t in the same department normally, the hospital circle was only so big—news traveled fast about everything.

Ruan Mian interned under Meng Fuping. Although she got scolded terribly, everyone in thoracic surgery knew she was Meng Fuping’s personally cultivated successor. Perhaps she would even become the second “Meng Fuping” in the future, or even surpass him—her prospects were boundless.

Lin Jiahui sometimes envied her quite a bit. But well, everyone had their own way of living. What you gain, you lose elsewhere. Ruan Mian had a successful career, but the blank space in her romantic life had always been a focal point of discussion among hospital staff.

Now that there were finally some signs, Lin Jiahui naturally didn’t want her to miss this opportunity. “So, were you two in an early relationship back then, or were you in an early relationship?”

Ruan Mian really didn’t have the heart to continue writing. Her mind was in chaos. She lifted her head to look at Lin Jiahui, then lowered her eyes in thought for a long time before saying quietly, “It wasn’t an early relationship.”

“Then it was mutual liking without getting together?” In Lin Jiahui’s eyes, Ruan Mian had always belonged to the type of person who excelled at everything, so she didn’t think in any other direction at all.

“It wasn’t mutual liking either.” Ruan Mian seemed to think of something. She lifted her eyes to look into the distance and smiled very lightly. “It was me unilaterally liking him.”

“…” Lin Jiahui was stunned for quite a while before finding her voice again. “Someone as outstanding as you also played the secret admirer game?”

Ruan Mian twirled her pen with one hand, her fingertips rubbing against the paper. “Back in high school, my personality was probably more reserved. Besides studying, I didn’t have any outstanding qualities. I didn’t have many friends either. He and I were like people from two different worlds—we shouldn’t have had any intersection.”

Lin Jiahui hadn’t expected that her seemingly calm and indifferent junior would have such an obscure and bittersweet romantic history. She couldn’t help but sigh lightly, but then suddenly thought of something and exclaimed in surprise, “You haven’t looked for a partner all these years—don’t tell me you still remember him?”

“No, I forgot long ago.” Ruan Mian lowered her head. “It’s been so long. Even the deepest feelings will be worn away by time.”

Four years ago, Ruan Mian traveled to a neighboring city with her college roommate. There, she lost a photo she had taken with Chen Yi at graduation.

At the time, she thought she would be very sad, because it was one of the few things she had that were related to Chen Yi.

But later, her roommate accompanied her searching for a long time on the bustling street. When they were about to go to the nearby police station to file a report, Ruan Mian suddenly didn’t want to look for it anymore.

Perhaps it was at that moment that she truly realized—some people, once missed, might be a lifetime affair.

She had thought about reuniting, but never imagined it would be here, in this way.

…

Outside the window, the night faded away. Dawn was approaching. The rising sun floated behind the clouds in the east, its golden light slowly spilling onto the earth.

Ruan Mian had only slept for a little over two hours. She woke up after six o’clock and sent separate messages to Ruan Mingke and Fang Ruqing. Besides that call on the day when communications were just restored after the earthquake—a call that kept cutting in and out—she had been relying on this method to report her safety to her parents.

After a simple wash-up, Ruan Mian walked toward the tent area. Xiaohu had been feeling a bit unwell yesterday, and she had promised Xiaohu last night that she would come accompany her for breakfast this morning.

The two doctors on watch duty had already woken up the children and were leading them to wash up by the water basin. Xiaohu was crouching to one side with her toiletries, brushing her teeth.

Ruan Mian walked over to help her wash her face. Afterward, the logistics team came over to deliver breakfast—two pieces of bread and a bottle of milk per person.

The logistics staff asked, “Doctor, have you eaten breakfast? Do you want to take a portion?”

“No need, give them to the children. There’s breakfast at the hospital.” Ruan Mian got a portion for Xiaohu and sat on the open space beside her to watch her eat.

Seven o’clock was when the rescue teams changed shifts. Those who had worked through the night came back from various places one after another, fatigue written all over their faces.

Chen Yi was among them, wearing the short-sleeved shirt issued by the military, his face covered in dust and dirt. The gauze wrapped around his arm had changed from white to black.

The leader called him and Shen Yu over to talk. After saying a few words, the leader patted his shoulder, just about to say “you’ve worked hard,” but ended up patting out a layer of dust. He both laughed and showed disgust. “Go wash up quickly and rest for a while.”

“Yes, sir.” Chen Yi saluted on the spot. After the leader left, he patted the dust off his body and walked to the water basin to wash his face, revealing his originally handsome and fair face.

He had been fairer than ordinary people since high school, belonging to the type who got whiter the more sun exposure he got. Every time he stood with people from the team, he was like a light bulb—glowing white.

In his first two years in the military, people in the team knew his background and watched him climb fast. Behind his back, they called him “pretty boy” quite a bit. The first time Chen Yi heard it, he directly dragged the person from the dormitory to the training ground and beat him up, forcing him to bow his head and apologize through tears.

After his uncle Song Huai learned about this, he came down from the team and also beat Chen Yi until he was half-injured, confining him for a week.

At that time, Song Huai asked him, “Do you think that because you have this status and background, you can act tyrannically here? I’m telling you, it’s impossible. This is the military, not a place where you can do whatever you want. What’s wrong with others saying a few words to you? For a real man, even taking bullets is unavoidable. Others say a few words to you—will you lose a piece of flesh or die?”

Chen Yi had also been beaten badly by Song Huai at the time. His cheekbone was swollen high. He sat at the edge of the bed, both hands resting on his knees, head lowered without saying a word.

“You have this background because your grandfather and those martyrs who came before fought for it with their lives. There’s no problem being proud of that. If others don’t have it and say a few words to you, you can let your strength do the talking. What does using your fists prove? Even if you beat them into submission today, can the ‘pretty boy’ label just disappear?” Song Huai put both hands on his hips. “If you’re a man, use your strength to prove yourself. If there’s another incident like this, I’ll send you back immediately. Did you hear me?”

Chen Yi said sullenly, “I heard you.”

After this incident passed, Chen Yi never took those three words to heart again. He only let his strength do the talking. In several consecutive major competitions, he placed first. During missions, he was always the one charging to the front. Every time, he went out and came back the same way, completing missions perfectly. His promotions and transfers were steady and solid. Later, no one mentioned this matter anymore.

…

At this moment, after Shen Yu finished washing his face, he stuck his head under the faucet to rinse. Chen Yi stood to one side, pretending to casually kick him.

Shen Yu lost his footing and his whole body slid forward. He managed to support himself with his hands just in time to avoid falling. He straightened up abruptly and roared angrily, “Are you fucking sick?”

Chen Yi laughed, shaking his shoulders. The continuous rescue missions these past few days had been suffocating. Combined with matters in the team, this was a rare moment of relaxation and ease.

Shen Yu wiped his face and yelled at him, cursing and laughing as well. The two of them stood side by side leaning against the water basin, staring at the distant sun and chatting idly.

Lin Sui brought breakfast over for them. Chen Yi asked, “How are Xiao Zhou and the others doing?”

“The political commissar went to visit Xiao Zhou this morning. His emotions are relatively stable.” Lin Sui said, “The others were also transferred to the hospital in the neighboring city in the latter half of the night. News just came back—they’ve all woken up. The problems aren’t very serious, but they probably won’t be able to participate in the upcoming rescue missions.”

Shen Yu breathed a sigh of relief. “As long as there are no major problems. As for Xiao Zhou, we’ll see what the higher-ups say after we get back.”

Actually, everyone knew what could be said. In this situation, the worst case would be early discharge from the military. Fearing it would affect everyone’s emotions, Chen Yi patted Lin Sui’s shoulder and consoled him, “It’s fine. Tell everyone to pay more attention to safety in the upcoming rescue missions. When we get back, I’ll treat them to drinks.”

“Yes, sir!” Lin Sui smiled. “Thank you, Team Leader Chen.”

“Go rest.”

Chen Yi and Shen Yu watched Lin Sui walk back. As they withdrew their gazes, they heard someone over there calling “Doctor Ruan.” The two of them looked over at the same time.

After Ruan Mian finished accompanying Xiaohu for breakfast, she was preparing to go back. The teacher in charge wasn’t proficient in sign language and had trouble communicating with the children, so she had no choice but to ask Ruan Mian for help.

Shen Yu watched Ruan Mian communicating with the children using sign language. He tilted his head back to drink some water and said, “Don’t you think Ruan Mian seems to have changed a lot compared to before? I remember in high school she was quite shy. When she went out with us, she didn’t really like to talk much either.”

Chen Yi hummed in acknowledgment, withdrawing his gaze.

He thought of that profile he had seen outside the tent that night. Following closely, there floated up in his mind the image of her desperately throwing herself toward Yu Zhou when the aftershock occurred.

And those words she said afterward.

Compared to Ruan Mian from high school, the Ruan Mian of these reunions indeed seemed like a different person—generous and natural, no longer having that gentle, reserved quality from her youth.

After a while, not knowing what he thought of, he smiled inexplicably.