In the emergency room, Lu An’s blood test results came back.
He had a high fever caused by an acute viral infection and needed immediate hospitalization for IV treatment.
Without a word, Lu Tingchuan went straight to the duty supervisor and, using his connections, quickly arranged a single room for the child.
Throughout the process, he barely spoke to Lin Nian, yet everything was handled perfectly.
Lin Nian, holding the sleepy Ningning, followed the nurse into the ward.
Lu Tingchuan had already placed Lu An safely on the hospital bed, and the nurse quickly started the IV.
The cool medicine flowed slowly through the tube into the child’s body. Lu An frowned tightly, but gradually seemed to relax a little.
Watching this, Lin Nian felt a complicated mix of emotions.
She had to admit, if it weren’t for Lu Tingchuan, she would still be running in that deadly storm earlier tonight, holding her child.
But the thought that this man was the very person responsible for the tragedies in her life instantly replaced any faint gratitude she felt with deep caution and resentment.
Everything he was doing now was just crocodile tears.
Who knew what his intentions were?
Perhaps he was only performing a “helpful” act in front of others, maintaining his image as a “battle hero.”
The ward was small, and Lu Tingchuan’s tall figure made the air feel thin.
“Stay here with him. I’ll take care of the admission procedures,” he said to Lin Nian, then turned and left the room.
Once he left, Lin Nian finally felt she could breathe again.
She placed Ningning on the only chair in the ward and carefully dried her daughter’s hair and face with her own towel.
“Ningning, your brother is sick and needs to get injections here. Tonight, we’ll stay with him in the hospital.”
“Okay.” Ningning nodded obediently and quietly asked, “Mom, brother will get better, right?”
“Of course. Sleep well, and tomorrow morning, he’ll play with you again,” Lin Nian gently reassured her.
After comforting her daughter, Lin Nian checked on Lu An. Seeing him breathing steadily and seemingly asleep, she finally relaxed a little.
She stepped out of the ward to get some hot water.
As she reached the quiet hallway, a sharp, harsh voice came from the opposite side.
“Well, well, who do we have here? Isn’t this the most glamorous night market boss lady? What, not selling at the stall tonight? Come to the hospital to play the victim?”
Lin Nian looked up and saw the face she least wanted to see.
Chief of Staff, Zhao Hong.
Zhao Hong had a sickly-looking man beside her, seemingly a relative.
She must have heard the rumors and was waiting here specifically to confront Lin Nian.
Zhao Hong looked her up and down with contempt and disdain.
“Really impressive, Boss Lin. Just warned by Commander Lu today, and tonight you got your child sick and brought him to the hospital, forcing Commander Lu to help. You think he’s young, kind, and easy to manipulate, huh?”
Her sharp, cutting voice echoed in the empty hallway.
Some passing family members stopped, curious, and looked over.
Lin Nian’s expression immediately darkened.
“Zhao Hong, I warn you, don’t eat recklessly or speak nonsense. My son is really sick, not some imagined plot of yours!”
“Oh, still trying to be defiant?” Zhao Hong crossed her arms, smirking. “If you were really innocent, why would Commander Lu help? Why would he personally bring your child to the hospital and arrange a room for you? Don’t think we’re blind! Let me tell you, Lin Nian, you’re a widow, and you’d better stay in your place! Don’t always think about reaching higher. Our military compound is no place for shameless women like you!”
“Widow,” “shameless”…
These vicious words stabbed Lin Nian like knives.
She trembled with anger, about to strike back.
Suddenly, the ward door behind her opened slightly.
A small head peeked out.
It was Lu Ning.
She had been awakened by the commotion.
Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she caught the last sentence Zhao Hong had said.
Her tiny brows furrowed immediately.
Looking at Zhao Hong, she seemed to summon immense strength from her small body and shouted, clear and trembling:
“You’re lying!”
“My mommy is not a widow! My daddy is a great hero!”
Her voice was small, but in the quiet hallway, it reached everyone’s ears clearly.
Time seemed to freeze at that moment.
Zhao Hong’s mocking expression stiffened.
The onlookers were also stunned.
Lin Nian shivered all over, turned sharply, and looked at her small but upright daughter. Tears welled up in her eyes.
She hadn’t expected her daughter to stand up for her at this moment.
Using the story she had taught her about “Hero Daddy.”
A warm, bittersweet wave of emotion surged through her.
She immediately knew what to do.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Nian walked over, bent down, and picked up Lu Ning.
She held her daughter as if embracing the world’s most precious treasure, as if she were holding her strongest armor.
Turning back, she faced Zhao Hong, whose expression had become extremely unpleasant.
This time, Lin Nian’s eyes no longer showed anger or embarrassment, only cold, superior disdain.
With one hand, she gently patted her daughter’s back, and with the other, stroked her hair tenderly. But the words were for Zhao Hong:
“Did you hear that?”
Her voice was calm but filled with power.
“My man is a hero who gave his life for the country. I, Lin Nian, am the family of a martyr. I raise a hero’s orphan with all my hardship. I am proud and dignified. Wherever I go, I stand tall!”
Her gaze, sharp as a knife, shot straight at Zhao Hong.
“Unlike some people.”
“Men alive, yet wasting life in pleasure, leaving home unattended. I keep an empty rank and house, yet some people call me a widow, unable to have a child, and talk behind my back.”
“You lose your substance and your face. Zhao Hong, tell me, who’s truly shameless?”
Every word from Lin Nian struck Zhao Hong like a loud slap.
Zhao Hong’s face went from blue to white to red, finally resembling raw liver.
She wanted to retort but couldn’t get a word out.
The onlookers’ eyes shifted from watching the show to looking at her with disdain and sympathy.
She felt like a clown stripped bare.
“You… you…”
Pointing at Lin Nian, Zhao Hong finally stomped her foot, grabbed her relative, and fled in humiliation.
Watching Zhao Hong’s embarrassed retreat, Lin Nian finally relaxed.
She bent down and kissed her daughter’s forehead heavily.
“Thank you, Ningning.”
“Mommy, she bullied you,” Lu Ning said quietly, hugging her neck.
“Yes, but we have Ningning to protect mommy.” Lin Nian’s eyes were a little moist.
Holding her daughter, she turned to head back to the ward.
She looked up and saw Lu Tingchuan standing at the end of the hallway, holding the completed admission forms.
She didn’t know how long he had been standing there.
Even less, how much of what she just said he… had heard.