There were quite a few people coming and going at the hospital entrance. Wu Qingchuan was dressed in a highly recognizable navy uniform, and there was also a military jeep parked nearby—a rare sight in itself.
Naturally, Shen Niao stumbling straight into Wu Qingchuan’s arms drew plenty of attention.
She quickly steadied herself and coughed awkwardly.
“Thank you.”
The soft, fragrant body disappeared from his embrace. Wu Qingchuan lowered his hands to his sides and looked down at Shen Niao, whose face still carried a smile.
“Mhm.”
After that brief response, he simply turned and walked into the hospital.
Watching his tall, broad back, Shen Niao stuck out her tongue.
He’s as hard as a rock. I almost thought I’d run into an iron wall.
The young soldier had already handed the child over to the doctor. As Shen Niao and Wu Qingchuan entered, they heard the doctor speaking.
“The child is fine overall, but she’s complaining of chest pain. My preliminary diagnosis is a fractured rib. She may have struck a reef while in the water.”
Shen Niao looked at the pale little girl lying on the hospital bed, stepped forward, and said,
“I don’t think she hit a reef. The fracture was probably caused by the chest compressions I performed during CPR.”
She then turned to the mother with an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry. CPR requires firm compressions. The situation was urgent, and I couldn’t worry about anything else.”
The woman immediately shook her head.
“I understand. This isn’t your fault. You were saving my child.”
She had witnessed her daughter lying there without a breath. The only reason she was alive now was because of the beautiful young woman before her.
How could she possibly blame her over a broken rib?
After the mother took the child inside for further examination, the doctor naturally walked over to Shen Niao. A flash of admiration crossed his eyes.
He had noticed her earlier.
Not only was she stunningly beautiful, she also had an incredible figure, and even her voice was soft and alluring.
The only thing was that cold-faced military officer standing beside her. He wasn’t sure what their relationship was.
“Hello, Comrade,” the doctor asked politely. “The CPR you mentioned just now—is that a form of emergency treatment?”
Shen Niao nodded.
“Yes. It can be used for cardiac arrest caused by drowning, as well as emergency treatment for heart attacks.”
In her previous life, she had often watched emergency rescue videos online, which had prompted her to learn CPR from a doctor friend. She had even kept an AED and fast-acting heart medication in her car.
Ironically, she’d never needed to use those skills before transmigrating.
“So how exactly is it performed?”
The doctor was clearly fascinated.
Shen Niao didn’t keep anything to herself. The more people who knew this lifesaving technique, the better.
She patiently explained the key steps.
The doctor immediately took out a notebook and wrote everything down.
He even fetched a CPR mannequin and practiced several times on the spot, asking Shen Niao to correct his technique.
When they were finally about to part ways, he politely extended his hand.
“Thank you, Comrade. May I ask your name? I’d like to promote this method throughout the entire hospital. If we encounter similar emergencies in the future, we’ll be able to try saving them.”
With the sea surrounding the area, this rescue technique would undoubtedly save many lives.
Shen Niao nodded slightly.
“My name is Shen Niao.”
Her eyes casually fell on the doctor’s name badge.
Zhang Chengzhi.
Zhang Chengzhi?
Wasn’t this Shen Su’s future lover?
The favorable impression she’d just formed vanished instantly.
This man and Shen Su deserved each other.
Both were married, yet they still carried on an affair.
In fact, he had been the greater instigator—constantly giving Shen Su scarves, face cream, and new clothes, even sneaking around with her in his office.
When everything was exposed, however, he pushed all the blame onto Shen Su, claiming that she had seduced him.
The hand Zhang Chengzhi had extended froze awkwardly in midair.
Shen Niao simply withdrew her own.
Turning toward Wu Qingchuan, she called,
“Let’s go.”
Embarrassed, Zhang Chengzhi slowly pulled his hand back.
Everything was fine just a second ago. Why did she suddenly change her attitude?
Still…
Even when she frowned, the beauty had an icy elegance that made her even more captivating.
What a pity he hadn’t gotten to touch those delicate little hands.
Originally, he had planned to ask whether she worked as a doctor or nurse.
Even if she wasn’t, it didn’t matter.
Anyone who knew CPR like this would be more than qualified to become a nurse.
Then he could arrange to have her transferred to work under him…
Lost in his fantasies, Zhang Chengzhi wore a lecherous grin.
It didn’t last long.
Because the military officer who had stood silently beside Shen Niao the entire time suddenly turned around.
His sharp gaze was like that of an eagle.
The icy hostility radiating from him made a chill shoot straight up Zhang Chengzhi’s spine.
His smile froze stiffly on his face, twisting into an awkward, grotesque expression.
Outside the hospital, Shen Niao happened to glance back and noticed Wu Qingchuan withdrawing his gaze.
The fierce hostility lingering in his eyes hadn’t completely faded.
“What were you looking at?”
She tried peering back inside.
But somehow Wu Qingchuan stepped directly into her line of sight, blocking it completely.
“There was nothing.”
He answered with his usual economy of words.
Shen Niao shrugged.
She wasn’t particularly interested anyway.
She had only asked casually.
Wu Qingchuan silently glanced at Shen Niao, who was walking with noticeably lighter steps.
He wasn’t entirely sure what had come over him.
Watching her chatting and smiling so pleasantly with that doctor had bothered him far more than it should have.
He had been standing right there and knew they had only been discussing emergency medical procedures.
It was a perfectly proper conversation.
Yet Shen Niao hadn’t seemed to notice at all that the doctor’s eyes were practically glued to her while she smiled so charmingly at him.
Although he couldn’t understand why Shen Niao had suddenly turned cold toward the doctor, seeing that change somehow eased the hostility inside him.
When they reached the jeep, Shen Niao suddenly stopped.
“Well…”
She smiled sweetly, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents as she looked at Wu Qingchuan.
“How about asking that young soldier to drive the jeep back first?”
“Aren’t we getting married soon?”
“Shouldn’t we go buy some wedding necessities?”
They couldn’t possibly get married without preparing anything.
That would be far too shabby.
Wu Qingchuan nodded.
“There’s a supply and marketing cooperative in town.”
“Perfect. If you’re free this morning, why don’t we go there together and buy everything in advance? It’ll save us from rushing around later.”
Since it was their wedding, and there were no elders around to help organize things…
Of course, Shen Niao could handle everything herself.
She simply didn’t want to.
Why should she do all the work when two people were getting married?
Since Wu Qingchuan was here, she might as well make good use of the free labor.
“Oh, right.”
She asked naturally,
“About when will our marriage application be approved?”
The political purge was drawing closer and closer.
She needed that marriage certificate as soon as possible to feel secure.
“Two to four weeks.”
A regiment commander’s marriage application required more time than usual.
Given his position, the paperwork had to be sent up the chain of command for approval, including a background investigation into Shen Niao and her family.
That estimate was conservative.
Even Wu Qingchuan couldn’t say exactly when the approval would come.
“So slow? Is there any way to speed it up?”
The words escaped Shen Niao before she thought about them.
That long?
Exactly when did the political campaign begin again?
She frowned as she tried to remember, anxiety creeping onto her beautiful face.
Watching her expression carefully, Wu Qingchuan paused.
Then, in a low voice, he asked,
“You really want to marry me that soon?”
“Of course.”
Shen Niao answered without the slightest hesitation.
“It’s like facing the executioner’s blade—whether you stretch your neck out or shrink back, the blade falls all the same.”
To her, the marriage certificate was her lifeline.
The sooner they got married, the sooner she could stop worrying.
Completely absorbed in her own thoughts, she never noticed Wu Qingchuan’s eyes deepen, dark and turbulent like the black waves of the sea beneath a typhoon.