Chapter 65: Her Heart Ached for Him
Su Zhaozhao never imagined that Xie Huaizheng, who seemed so carefree and unrestrained, had actually been through all that.
How old was he back then? In his late teens or early twenties, he’d had to watch his comrades die right before his eyes...
He’d experienced all of this so long ago. No wonder Xie Huaizheng was so guarded around people, why he seemed so cold.
The truth was, he hadn’t always been like this.
After dinner, Su Zhaozhao returned to the guesthouse, but her mind was still in turmoil.
She realized that even though everyone around him knew he had been through some terrible things, none of them seemed to think Xie Huaizheng carried any psychological scars.
’Is it because he always appears so calm?’
’That must be why no one else could ever tell.’
She was no different. If his emotions hadn’t been so unstable these past few times, she would never have discovered it either.
He seemed so strong, as if he were invincible.
’And he called me a fraud. He’s the biggest fraud of all. He’s been playing a part for so long, he’s probably convinced himself.’
But Su Zhaozhao found her heart aching for Xie Huaizheng.
’I can’t imagine how he’s managed all these years.’
The image of Xie Huaizheng’s departing figure surfaced in her mind. Back then, when she had asked him about it, he’d said he couldn’t put it into words.
’That must mean the trauma runs bone-deep—so deep he can’t even describe his own affliction.’
’He’s truly had a difficult time all these years.’
The next day, Su Zhaozhao got up, washed up, and went to the military base’s cafeteria for a meal.
Because of Xie Huaizheng’s reminder the day before, she made a point of getting up at eleven.
She changed into a white short-sleeved T-shirt, pairing it with light-blue wide-leg jeans.
She pulled all of her hair up into a bun.
She looked just like a college student!
As she came downstairs, Yu Huijun greeted her. "Miss Su, you look so pretty today."
Su Zhaozhao smiled at her. "Thank you."
Yu Huijun noticed that Su Zhaozhao had a surprising number of clothes. She had clearly arrived with just a small bundle, but over the last few days, Yu Huijun had already seen her in several different outfits.
Every single one was beautiful.
’Unlike me.’
Yu Huijun looked down at her own coarse cloth attire. The fabric was a dark blue, chosen because it didn’t show dirt. She had been wearing it for years. It was washed until it was faded, and where it tore, she would stitch it up and continue to wear it...
They were clearly around the same age, yet Su Zhaozhao was so vibrant and beautiful, while she was just grimy and plain.
Just as Su Zhaozhao was leaving, a man carrying luggage walked in. He said to Yu Huijun, "Comrade, I’d like a room."
"And you are, Comrade? I need to register your information," Yu Huijun said, glancing at the man before her.
The man before her had the distinct air of an intellectual, with regular features and a refined, scholarly bearing.
He was wearing a light-blue Dacron shirt and looked quite genteel.
"My name is Cheng Mo," he said.
Su Zhaozhao ate at the base cafeteria, then went to the hospital to continue her work.
As usual, she went to see Jiang Shulan first.
However, when she arrived at his room today, Jiang Shulan wasn’t alone. Shen Qiangjun and Zhou Yanghong were there, along with several doctors and an older couple.
"Oh, my child, why is your fate so cruel?" the woman wailed, leaning against Jiang Shulan. "Our family finally had someone successful, and now... how did it come to this? Shu Lang, what are you going to do now? WAHHHH..."
The woman collapsed against Jiang Shulan, crying her heart out.
The man standing beside her appeared composed, but tears were silently streaming down his face.
’They must be Jiang Shulan’s parents,’ she thought.
Seeing them in such a state, Su Zhaozhao’s heart grew heavy.
She was reminded of her own parents. ’Now that I’ve suddenly been transported into this book, I wonder if Mom and Dad are okay back in my own world.’
’Are they worried sick now that they’ve realized I’m gone?’
’But there’s no way for me to know.’
When Shen Qiangjun saw Su Zhaozhao, he immediately called her over. "Little Su, these are Xiao Jiang’s parents. Let me introduce you. They’re very distraught right now. Why don’t you have a chat with them?"
They had already explained the situation to Jiang Shulan’s parents.
They had already figured out his future treatment, the compensation plan, and even arrangements for Jiang Shulan’s future.
But even if they could guarantee that Jiang Shulan would be provided for for the rest of his life, the fact remained that he had lost his leg. That was something no amount of money could ever make up for.
Su Zhaozhao said to the couple, "Hello, sir, ma’am. I can understand how you’re feeling. How about we step outside to talk?"
Jiang Shulan’s parents seemed approachable. From their simple, honest dress, they appeared to be salt-of-the-earth farmers.
Having lived honest lives, they were surely unable to accept such a sudden tragedy.
Wiping their tears, the elderly couple followed Su Zhaozhao out of the room.
After consoling them, Su Zhaozhao went back into the room to chat with Jiang Shulan.
She had brought him an apple, as usual. Even though she wasn’t in the best of moods, she forced a cheerful expression and said, "Have you heard the saying, ’An apple a day keeps the doctor away’? It means that if you just eat an apple every day, you’ll get better in no time."
Jiang Shulan looked at Su Zhaozhao’s radiant smile. Despite his own heavy heart, he managed a smile back. "Doctor Su, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you again. My parents must be heartbroken. They’re getting older and aren’t in the best of health. I’m worried what’s happened to me will take a huge toll on them."
’What a good kid,’ Su Zhaozhao thought. ’He’s the one who’s suffering, yet he’s still worried about everyone else.’
"Don’t you worry about that," she said. "You just focus on getting better. How about I take you outside for some sunshine tomorrow?"
Jiang Shulan’s eyes lit up at her suggestion. "Can I really?"
"Of course."
She felt it wasn’t good for Jiang Shulan to be cooped up in his room all the time. Now that his wounds were healing, he could go out and get some sun.
After leaving Jiang Shulan’s room, Su Zhaozhao continued on to her other patients.
Lin Shumo accompanied her as usual. In truth, after the past two days, he had seen her abilities and knew she no longer needed him to tag along.
And yet, for reasons he couldn’t quite grasp, he wanted to stay by her side—at least until she finished the remaining course of treatments.
He didn’t know why he felt this way, of course.
’Is it because I want to learn more from her?’
However, when they arrived at another patient’s room today...
they suddenly heard a clamor from inside. "Wang Dahua, have you lost your mind? You lazy hag, you’ve been in the hospital for days! You think this place is free? You’re just pretending to be sick so you don’t have to come home and do any work!"
The sharp, cruel voice made Su Zhaozhao’s heart clench.
When she entered, she saw one of her patients, Wang Dahua, cowering on the bed as an old woman berated her.
Wang Dahua retorted, "The doctor said I have a psychological illness and need a few more days of treatment before I can go home."
"Psychological illness? I think your head’s been filled with all that capitalist nonsense! You’re just making a fuss over nothing, trying to get out of work!"