Lin Fengxia didn’t dare delay and quickly finished watering.
When she turned back, half of Qin Jianguo’s body was already soaked.
She ran under the eaves, full of guilt. “Sorry, let me wash your clothes for you.”
The coat was completely drenched and heavy in her hands.
Qin Jianguo smiled indifferently. “It’s nothing.”
“It’s fine—”
Before he finished speaking, Lin Fengxia snatched the coat.
“Commander Qin, please don’t be polite with me.”
“It’s just a coat, it’s nothing.”
Looking at his soaked half-body, she asked, “Commander Qin, would you like to come to my place for a bowl of ginger soup?”
Qin Jianguo felt awkward. “Th-that wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”
“Wouldn’t it trouble you too much?”
Lin Fengxia shook her head. “Not at all, it’s only ginger tea.”
The rain grew heavier, fortunately her residence was not far.
When they reached the door, Qin Jianguo didn’t go in immediately.
He stamped his feet first and patted the water off his body.
Lin Fengxia said, “It’s okay, it’s not dirty.”
He hesitated at the door and still didn’t enter.
“Forget it. With no outsiders around, if I enter your room people might misunderstand.”
“Men and women should keep proper distance — I’ll just wait outside.”
A warm feeling passed through Lin Fengxia’s heart; when she looked at him again, her eyes were full of admiration.
She took water and ginger from the space and quickly cooked ginger soup.
She brought the steaming soup out of the house.
Because the bowl was full, she walked carefully.
When stepping over the threshold, she accidentally stepped on a stone and slipped.
Just as the scalding soup was about to spill, Qin Jianguo almost instinctively reached out to block it.
Some of the soup splashed onto the back of his hand.
A patch of red instantly appeared on his skin.
Lin Fengxia cried out and quickly put the soup on the windowsill.
She took out a handkerchief and wiped his hand. “Sorry, sorry!”
Qin Jianguo took the handkerchief from her. “It’s fine, it’s fine.”
“I’ll just rinse it with water later.”
Annoyed at her clumsiness, Lin Fengxia kept apologizing until he felt embarrassed.
He picked up the ginger soup from the sill. “I’ll drink it now.”
She worried it was hot and tried to stop him, but he lifted it and took a big gulp.
In a few swallows, he finished it.
Qin Jianguo solemnly returned the porcelain bowl to her.
“Thank you, Comrade Lin.”
Holding the bowl, she said, “Um, Commander Qin, you don’t have to call me Comrade Lin anymore. You can call me Fengxia, or Xiao Lin.”
He thought for a moment. “Then I’ll call you Xiao Lin.”
“You can call me Brother Qin from now on.”
She couldn’t bring herself to say “brother,” so she still decided to call him Commander Qin.
For a moment, both fell silent.
Her throat suddenly felt itchy; she cleared it.
Then she started coughing.
Once she started she couldn’t stop, coughing until her body trembled.
Qin Jianguo’s worry was obvious. “Are you alright?”
She wanted to say she was fine but couldn’t speak, only waved her hands repeatedly.
He frowned. “No, I should take you to the clinic!”
Before she could respond, her body suddenly lifted into the air.
Her eyes widened as she instinctively grabbed his arm.
He moved like the wind toward the clinic.
To keep her from getting wet, he covered her with his coat.
She tried to explain but kept coughing and couldn’t say a word.
After he brought her to the clinic, she was finally set down.
Qin Jianguo shouted, “Doctor, please check her quickly!”
His anxious appearance made the clinic doctor think it was serious and rush over.
Seeing the coughing Lin Fengxia and worried Qin Jianguo, the doctor paused.
“Her?”
Qin Jianguo nodded. “Yes, she’s been coughing and can’t speak.”
The doctor was a woman. After examining Lin Fengxia carefully, she led her inside.
After a detailed check she concluded, “She inhaled cold wind, that’s why she’s coughing.”
“She has mild cold symptoms — just drink some ginger soup at home.”
Only then did Lin Fengxia recover enough to apologize hoarsely.
“No need to be polite.”
“Do you need me to prescribe medicine?”
She nodded. “Please prescribe some cold medicine.”
While the doctor wrote the prescription, Qin Jianguo stood beside her.
He asked with concern, “Should we do a more thorough examination?”
“You look rather thin — are you malnourished?”
His meticulous concern overwhelmed her.
After finishing, the doctor joked with a smile, “Looks like your boyfriend is very responsible.”
His caring words stopped abruptly.
Lin Fengxia coughed awkwardly. “N-not boyfriend.”
“He’s the commander, he’s just helping me.”
The doctor understood, though her look at Qin Jianguo was meaningful.
“I thought you two were dating.”
Lin Fengxia waved her hands repeatedly. “No, no.”
Standing aside, Qin Jianguo’s eyes dimmed slightly and he agreed, “The doctor misunderstood.”
After leaving the clinic, Lin Fengxia said softly, “I’ll pay you back later.”
He quickly said, “No need.”
“You got sick taking care of the experimental field — consider it work pay.”
“Don’t feel embarrassed.”
She sighed lightly. “I owe you even more now.”
He corrected her, “You’ve never owed me anything. Don’t say that.”
When he said it, his expression was focused and serious.
Her heart warmed.
Since her rebirth, the luckiest thing was meeting Qin Jianguo.
With his help she could stand firm at the base.
Walking side by side, he suddenly asked softly, “Comrade Lin…”
He hesitated.
She blinked. “Commander Qin, just call me Xiao Lin.”
“Mm… Xiao Lin.”
A blush appeared on his cheeks.
He coughed lightly. “Um, I want to ask… do you…”
“Do you dislike me?”
Her pupils shrank. “Why would you think I dislike you?”
“I’ve never disliked you.”
On the contrary, she admired him very much.
The corners of his lips lifted slightly; she could see secret joy on his face.
“That’s good. I thought you hated me.”
He added seriously, “If I’ve done anything wrong, tell me.”
“I’ll try to change.”
Her eyebrows rose slightly. “Commander Qin cares about my opinion that much?”
She looked at him steadily.
Qin Jianguo was speechless and avoided her gaze.