Liu Qiang listened to all this and finally realized something was off, so he stopped talking.
But after a short while, he nudged Lu Jingheng’s arm excitedly.
“Commander Lu, Commander Lu, is that Sister-in-law?”
Lu Jingheng followed the direction of his finger.
The young woman wasn’t looking at them. She had fair skin, delicate features, and two braided pigtails. She had probably just squeezed through the crowd, leaving a few strands of hair in disarray. Yet it did nothing to diminish her beauty. Instead, it gave her the air of a beauty from a turbulent era.
And those watery eyes, seemingly filled with springtime tenderness—one glance was enough to steal a man’s soul.
Pure and seductive at the same time.
His pupils contracted sharply.
His gaze dropped to her simple luggage, and he shook his head.
“No.”
A capitalist’s daughter would be particular about everything. Even her hair would smell fragrant. If she traveled by train, she’d be carrying a fancy imported suitcase.
How could she be someone like this?
“Really?” Liu Qiang sounded doubtful.
After all, he had clearly seen that when Commander Lu said “not as good-looking as a pile of dog crap,” the girl’s glare had nearly stabbed him through.
Still…
“Commander Lu, shouldn’t we make a sign to pick her up?”
“No need. She’s not blind.”
For some reason, Liu Qiang felt that the girl’s gaze toward them suddenly became even fiercer.
Before he could say anything else, a woman carrying a child and wearing a blue headscarf rushed over in panic.
Without a word, she dropped to her knees.
“Comrade soldiers, please save my son! Shuhua is only seven years old! If he dies, I won’t want to live either!”
The commotion instantly attracted attention. People gathered around, pointing and whispering.
“Oh dear, is that child dying? His face is turning blue and purple.”
“Exactly. Even his lips are black. Such a pity—he’s still so young.”
Ruan Wen had seen the mother and son when she got off the train.
At that time, the boy had only looked pale and was breathing a little heavily, as though he was being held too tightly.
She had kindly warned the woman, but the woman hadn’t appreciated it and had even slapped her when she wasn’t paying attention.
Yet in such a short time…
Could the boy have already been ill?
These symptoms…
Lu Jingheng also noticed the boy’s abnormal complexion and made an immediate decision.
“Liu Qiang, get the car.”
He personally helped the woman to her feet.
“Auntie, give me the child. Get in the car and I’ll take you to the hospital.”
After taking a few steps, Liu Qiang suddenly remembered something and ran back.
“Commander Lu, aren’t we picking up Sister-in-law anymore?”
Lu Jingheng shot him a cold glance.
“At a time like this? A life is at stake. She’s a grown woman. Is she going to get herself lost?”
She certainly wasn’t.
Ruan Wen stepped forward and grabbed Lu Jingheng’s arm.
Meeting the icy look he gave her—a look as though he were staring at a dead person—made her heart tighten inexplicably.
Taking a deep breath, she said:
“If you don’t want him to die, then immediately put him—”
“Miss, please save my son!”
The woman recognized Ruan Wen and dropped to her knees.
“I was reckless earlier. I thought you were a bad person. I apologize.”
“No need.”
She didn’t save people for gratitude.
But Li Fang misunderstood her response. Thinking Ruan Wen was still angry about the slap, she hurriedly said:
“If you save my son, you can slap me back. As many times as you want.”
As she spoke, she started slapping herself.
“No need.”
Ruan Wen turned calmly to Lu Jingheng.
“Please put the child on the ground and disperse the crowd. He needs fresh air.”
Lu Jingheng had taken emergency response courses in the military.
Although he knew nothing about asthma specifically, everything Ruan Wen said sounded familiar.
Looking at her composed expression, he found himself believing she actually knew what she was doing.
He laid the child down.
“Liu Qiang.”
“Everyone, please keep quiet!”
His voice wasn’t loud.
Yet for some reason, Lu Jingheng felt that Ruan Wen disliked him.
But as far as he knew, he hadn’t offended her.
After helping disperse the crowd, Lu Jingheng watched as Ruan Wen removed the boy’s shirt.
She took out a pouch of silver needles and swiftly inserted them into several acupuncture points.
Soon, multiple needles protruded from the child’s body.
Among them were Lieque Point, Chize Point, Fenglong Point, and others.
Her long, fair fingers seemed to possess a kind of magic.
The needles trembled gently beneath her touch, like musical notes dancing in rhythm.
It was strangely mesmerizing.
A minute later, much of the blue-purple discoloration faded from the boy’s face.
His brows twitched.
Moments later, he opened his mouth and began coughing.
Li Fang instinctively rushed forward, but Liu Qiang stopped her first.
Five more minutes passed.
Ruan Wen removed the needles.
Li Fang wanted to rush over again, but remembering Ruan Wen’s instructions, she could only watch anxiously.
As soon as the final needle came out, the child opened his eyes.
Weakly, he called out:
“Mom.”
“Doctor, can I hold him now?”
“Yes.”
Afterward, Ruan Wen explained several daily precautions for managing asthma.
The mother and son thanked her repeatedly before leaving.
Once they were gone, Ruan Wen turned toward Lu Jingheng.
Immediately, Lu Jingheng straightened his posture and extended a hand.
“Hello, comrade. My name is Lu Jingheng.”
Ruan Wen made no move to shake his hand.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly and looked up at him with a faint smile.
“Hello, Comrade Lu Jingheng. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Ruan Wen.”
Ruan Wen…
So it was her.
“Great name.”
Liu Qiang, who had just returned from buying popsicles at someone’s request, sincerely praised it.
Though he was rough around the edges and neither understood nor could write elegant names, somehow this one sounded impressive.
Just like their commander’s name.
Lu Jingheng.
A strong, imposing name that sounded prestigious the moment you heard it.
“Comrade, this is Comman—”
Before Liu Qiang could finish, Lu Jingheng kicked him.
Right.
The commander already had a fiancée.
Liu Qiang quickly corrected himself.
“This is a popsicle. Put it on your face. It’ll keep the swelling down.”
Although Ruan Wen was annoyed, she wasn’t the type to mistreat herself.
She accepted it calmly.
“Thank you.”
Liu Qiang scratched his head and flashed a simple grin.
“You’re welcome.”
Ruan Wen frowned.
In Lu Jingheng’s eyes, however, that expression took on a different meaning.
She had some ability, certainly.
But she hadn’t lost any of the spoiled habits of a rich young lady.
“Let’s go.”
Lu Jingheng took the lead.
Liu Qiang blinked, smiled awkwardly at Ruan Wen, and hurried after him.
“Commander Lu, aren’t we waiting for Sister-in-law?”
“Commander Lu, isn’t this a bit inappropriate? What if something happens to her? She’s just a weak woman.”
Weak?
Lu Jingheng thought her temper was quite fierce.
“Besides, what will the political commissar say if he finds out you didn’t pick her up?” Liu Qiang worried aloud.
“Commander Lu, why not wait a little longer? What if Sister-in-law is even prettier than a fairy?”
Before Lu Jingheng could answer, Ruan Wen jogged up behind them and suddenly spoke.
“Hello, Comrade Liu Qiang. I’m Ruan Wen—the fiancée your Commander Lu described as having ‘one nose and two eyes.’”
Staring at the soft, fair hand she extended for a handshake, Lu Jingheng sneered inwardly.
So…
She had heard everything.
No wonder she kept looking at him as if he were an eyesore.
She really held grudges.
Another label was added to Ruan Wen in Lu Jingheng’s mind.
“Brother-in-law’s wife?”
Liu Qiang froze briefly before shaking her hand and grinning.
“My name’s Liu Qiang. I serve under Commander Lu.”
Suddenly, he felt a piercing gaze fixed on the hands they had clasped together.
If he remembered correctly, Commander Lu had practically stared holes into Sister-in-law earlier.
Liu Qiang quickly released her hand and immediately switched into enthusiastic matchmaker mode.
“Sister-in-law, it was all a misunderstanding. Our Commander Lu is actually very happy you came. He’s just spent too much time around soldiers. He’s clumsy with words and doesn’t know how to say nice things.”
“It’s alright.”
Ruan Wen replied calmly:
“As it happens, I don’t like rough men either.”
“I’m here to break off the engagement.”