A kindly-looking woman stood before her, dressed plainly but neatly. Seeing that Shen Suyu had woken up, the woman smiled even wider.
“You’re awake, that’s good. The doctor said your health is fine now, just make sure to rest! Luckily, Captain Gu brought you here in time!”
“Captain Gu?” Shen Suyu frowned, suddenly remembering. Before she lost consciousness, hadn’t she been carried on Gu Yanshen’s shoulders…?
“Where… am I?” Thinking about being soaked and carried, Shen Suyu frowned and looked around. She was now in a multi-bed hospital ward. The facilities, though far from modern standards, were already quite rare for a brick hospital in the 1970s. Moreover, the hospital was clean and orderly, clearly not in the village.
“Oh! This is a hospital on land. Captain Gu brought you here last night and already paid your medical fees!” the woman said cheerfully, noticing Shen Suyu’s confusion and explaining quickly.
Shen Suyu then realized that she was covered with a green military jacket, still carrying the faint scent of Gu Yanshen from the night before. Through the woman, she also learned that after she lost consciousness, Captain Gu had brought her to the hospital and entrusted this military wife to take care of her.
“Little girl, you and Captain Gu? It’s the first time I’ve seen him care for a girl this much, even delaying training! Tell me, what do you feel about him?” The woman smiled broadly, her expression encouraging.
“A young girl gets shy, I understand! But Captain Gu is really a good man. I think he definitely has some feelings for you!” The woman smiled knowingly, clearly trying to matchmake.
Shen Suyu felt awkward and quickly changed the subject. “Sister, I’m a bit hungry.”
“Oh! I was talking too much. I’ll go get you some food!” The woman patted her head and went to fetch the meal.
After eating, Shen Suyu saw Gu Yanshen again in the evening. He had changed into clean clothes, a sharp suit making him look upright and proper, showing none of the anxiety from last night.
“Shen Zhiqing, are you feeling alright?” Gu Yanshen stood stiffly by the bed, his tone cold and serious, almost like he was on duty. Yet as his eyes swept over her fair face and saw she looked well, his expression softened slightly.
“Captain Gu, I’m fine. Thank you for what happened last night,” Shen Suyu said, feeling a bit embarrassed by his formal tone. She didn’t consider herself fragile—how could a little water inhalation make her end up like this? She resolved to train more when she returned.
“No need to thank me. It’s my duty as a Party member,” Gu Yanshen said calmly, almost as if in an office. His ears tinged red as he noticed the military jacket still draped over her shoulders.
“Oh, thank you, Captain Gu,” Shen Suyu realized and, keeping her composure, removed the jacket and handed it back. Gu Yanshen’s eyes darkened slightly at her avoidance, his voice unintentionally serious.
“Shen Zhiqing, as a sent-down youth, you risked your life by drowning twice. I must reprimand you. Once you recover, write a safety reflection, and don’t go to the seaside alone anymore!”
Shen Suyu’s head snapped up in surprise. What was going on? He was fine just a moment ago, and now he was angry? Her first accident wasn’t even her fault. And now she had to write a reflection while still recovering? No consideration for her feelings at all.
Although annoyed, she couldn’t talk back to this life-saving, company-captain-level man. Yet recalling the matchmaking hints from the morning, she muttered under her breath, “Has feelings for me…? So fierce! He clearly dislikes me, doesn’t he?”
“Shen Zhiqing? Did you hear what I said?” Gu Yanshen spoke again, making Shen Suyu finally respond.
“Captain Gu, first, I’m grateful you saved me. But I didn’t fall into the water by accident yesterday afternoon—it was Zhong Yao on purpose. I’m the victim here; do I still have to write a reflection?” Shen Suyu lifted her head, her clear, composed eyes staring straight at Gu Yanshen, leaving him momentarily stunned. Her calm confidence was unlike anything he had seen before.
“Don’t worry, I’ve already taken care of Zhong Yao for you,” Gu Yanshen said, his stern expression softening slightly after a brief pause.
“Ta… taken care of?” Shen Suyu blinked, not yet comprehending. Suddenly, chaos erupted outside the ward. Zhong Yao’s mother’s furious voice shouted:
“Shen Suyu! You shameless woman, come out here!”
Shen Suyu thought she misheard, but the next second, Zhong Yao’s mother, looking as fierce as a shrew, appeared at the ward door, followed by the overweight women’s director, trembling.
“You little tramp! My son got arrested because of you, and you’re here enjoying life?!” Zhong Yao’s mother’s face was red with rage, shouting foul words. The scene was so intense that several hospital staff didn’t intervene.
Shen Suyu thought quickly to avoid them, but a tall figure stepped in front of her.
“This is a hospital. If you harm Shen Zhiqing, I won’t hesitate to detain you as well!” Gu Yanshen stood firm, his military uniform immediately intimidating Zhong Yao’s mother.
“You… there’s no law anymore! Everyone look! These two are conspiring to ruin my son!” Zhong Yao’s mother, unable to force herself, plopped onto the floor, pointing at Shen Suyu and crying, “Shen Suyu! My son saved your life, and you repay him with betrayal, causing him to be arrested! It’s injustice!”
Her cries were loud enough to attract attention from other patients, who peeked out to watch. She continued wailing, “Everyone, judge this! My son risked his life to save her! Now she’s cozying up to officials, bullying us common people!”
“Little Su, Zhong Yao was kind to you. Don’t repay kindness with hatred!” The women’s director echoed behind her.
Shen Suyu frowned and looked at Gu Yanshen. “Zhong Yao got arrested? Did you do that?”
After she woke up, the military wife only mentioned that Gu Yanshen saved her, not Zhong Yao. What was going on?
“Yes,” Gu Yanshen said grimly, facing Zhong Yao and his mother. “Zhong Yao admitted at the dock that he carried Shen Suyu home and even molested her on the boat! Zhong Xin was a witness. What excuse does he have left?”
“Shen Zhiqing was unconscious, and Zhong Yao delayed rescue. From the perspective of molestation, hooliganism, and obstructing rescue, I have the right to detain him legally!”