Fang Ke Xin chimed in, “I already delivered them. The families will pick them up later. Also, tomorrow we need to administer vaccines to the children. I’ve double-checked the supplies with the team leader.”
It was then that He Su Ye noticed her hand was wrapped in gauze, with a faint red stain showing through. “What happened to your hand? Did you hurt it?”
Fang Ke Xin hesitated. “I accidentally scratched it on a nail while moving a medical box.”
“You should get a tetanus shot—better safe than sorry,” he said with a sigh, examining the wound carefully. “Girls shouldn’t do such strenuous tasks. I’ll handle the vaccinations tomorrow.”
A colleague overheard and added, “Dr. Fang, you’ve been overworking yourself these days—doing just as much as the men and even taking care of meals. Take a break before you wear yourself out.”
He Su Ye smiled. “So it’s true what Qiu Tian said—that you work like there’s no tomorrow! No wonder you excelled in your coursework. But take care of that injury first.”
Fang Ke Xin nodded lightly, saying she would check on the medicines and dinner, then left quickly, keeping her head down to hide her troubled expression.
A small nail and a minor injury earned me nothing more than his professional concern, Fang Ke Xin thought bitterly. Not the cherished care he gives Shen Xi Fan.
She knew who had called him earlier. Only one person could make him smile so tenderly, with a focus and warmth she had never seen him show anyone else—not even Zhang Yiling.
So even someone as calm and composed as him can fall deeply and helplessly into love, she thought. And I… I’ve foolishly fallen into the trap of loving him.
For a long time, she had told herself that his emotional scars were temporary and that she could be the one to heal him by staying by his side. She had forgiven him for not loving her, thinking he wouldn’t love anyone else either. But now, that illusion was shattered.
The village’s unreliable signal meant that Shen Xi Fan’s reply never reached him. Frustrated, he tossed his phone aside and stepped outside for some fresh air.
The sky was overcast and oppressively humid. The air clung to him like sticky syrup, sweet but slightly rancid. Suddenly, a strong gust of wind slammed the wooden door open, sending dust swirling as heavy raindrops began to fall.
A neighbor shouted, “Doctor, it’s going to rain hard! Better bring in the medicinal herbs drying in the courtyard!”
He Su Ye’s heart sank. This storm would make tomorrow’s work even more challenging.
Then he remembered his promise to Shen Xi Fan—to get her a peace talisman before she left. That would have to wait until he returned.
He Su Ye wished he could secure a lifetime of peace and happiness for her. After seeing so much separation in hospitals and experiencing the pain of losing loved ones, he deeply understood that nothing in this world mattered more than those two simple words: peace and safety.
He didn’t care who she liked or what she chose. All he wanted was for her to be safe and happy.
His feelings for her, though carefully hidden, had been betrayed by that book full of prescriptions.
So, she’s going to study in the U.S.? He thought about how he, too, had the opportunity to go there. If she liked to lead the way, he would simply follow one step behind, giving her the freedom and space she needed. Yet, if she ever needed him, he would always be within reach.
The next day, heavy rain poured relentlessly and showed no signs of stopping. The initial plan was to have the children come to the clinic for vaccinations, but with the worsening weather, the team decided to provide house-to-house services instead.
0 Comments