Qin Xian’s brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. He didn’t know why—though it was their first meeting, whenever she cried, his heart tightened with an inexplicable ache, and his tone softened unconsciously.
“What are you crying for?”
Li Yingtang sniffled. “I feel wronged. Anyway, I’m your wife—everyone in the village already knows. If you didn’t agree, you should’ve clarified it earlier.”
He was about the same age as her grandparents. She had once heard them talk about their youth—back then, if an unmarried man and woman were seen together, it was considered immoral behavior, and they could be publicly shamed.
At that point, wouldn’t both reputation and work be affected?
And his silent default attitude whenever others discussed her identity only confirmed her suspicion.
Her calculated scheme had no counter; he was destined to be stuck with her.
“It’s just… I’m too cold. Could you help me buy a padded coat?” When asking for help, she instinctively lowered her proud head.
Qin Xian raised a brow slightly. Full of loopholes and nonsense. The coat was clearly the real point. He said nothing and turned away.
Li Yingtang stayed inside, restless and uneasy. She pulled up her coat collar to shield her neck and went outside.
The endless snow-covered land seemed boundless, village houses hidden among the mountains.
She felt like a drifting mayfly in the vastness, lost and confused.
So cold.
She returned indoors to block the wind and snow. Not long after, Qin Xian came back and handed her a cloth bag.
Inside were patched clothes, shoes, and socks—but at least complete. After changing, she went out and looked around.
“Qin Xian.”
No response.
She called again, softer: “A Xian~”
Qin Xian got goosebumps all over. A Xian? Did something get stuck in her throat? How could she say it like that—so drawn out and tender? She actually made his name sound so melodious and lingering.
He pressed his lips together. “In the clinic next door.”
Li Yingtang pushed the door open and a strong smell of medicine filled her nose. The young man sat properly behind a desk reading. In the middle of the room was a stove, a vacant bed against the wall, and a few low stools—likely for patients to rest.
She closed the door and walked over.
After thanking him, she probed, “A Xian, when are you going to tell your father about me?”
She needed time to prepare.
Qin Xian kept his attention on the book and turned a page. “Tell him yourself.”
Li Yingtang froze. “Huh?”
She would tell him herself?
Perfect.
She calmly responded with an “oh,” then added, “There’s one more thing I need your help with. My introduction letter was also stolen. I need you to help me get another one. My home is… next to your previous workplace. Since we’re together now, just write the village address.”
She had searched everywhere—even found his money—but not his identification card.
Only an introduction letter from his workplace, along with his academic certificate, medical qualification, and transfer documents.
Since they were kept together, they must be important.
At that moment, a woman’s voice came from outside.
“Xiao Qin, Xiao Qin!”
Qin Xian opened the door. “Aunt Liu, what is it…”
“I found another red scarf at home. It’s warm. Where’s your wife?”
He glanced back at the girl inside but said nothing.
After a brief hesitation, Li Yingtang stepped forward with a smile. “Hello, Aunt Liu. Please come in.”
“This outfit looks great on you. Here, this scarf is for you.”
Li Yingtang thanked her and wrapped it around her neck. “It’s very warm. You went through all this trouble in the snow—I’ll pour you some tea.”
“No need, I’m heading back. Your skin is so fair, like egg white. How old are you? When did you and Xiao Qin get married?”
“I’m twenty. We got married when he graduated from university.”
“So you’ve been married two years already. Xiao Qin really kept it quiet—he’s been in the village for two years and never told anyone, never even went back to see you. Aren’t you afraid someone would steal you away?”
“He’s busy with work, and I’m busy too,” Li Yingtang replied vaguely.
Aunt Liu soon left.
As soon as Li Yingtang turned around, her bright smile had not yet faded when Qin Xian’s cold voice rang out.
“You really have thick skin.”
Li Yingtang didn’t mind. In order to survive, what was wrong with having thick skin?
Besides, he never once denied her claiming to be his wife.
His silence was what enabled her shamelessness.
…
“Doctor Qin, help!”
Hu Ping rushed back in panic. “My daughter is dying! Please come quickly! That damn girl somehow fell into a ditch—her face is all bruised. Luckily I found her in time!”
Qin Xian’s expression turned cold. He strode outside as villagers gathered again out of curiosity.
The snow had already stopped.
Two villagers carried a wooden stretcher. Cheng Fangqing lay on it, her face pale and swollen, with nothing underneath her. She was clutching a handkerchief tightly.
Seeing this, Qin Xian said calmly, “It’s fine. She’s just frozen. Look, she’s still breathing white air. Bring her to the clinic.”
After arranging her, Qin Xian brought out silver needles and asked everyone to leave, leaving only Hu Ping.
Crowds pressed against the windows to watch.
Li Yingtang also came to join the crowd.
She watched as Qin Xian briefly sterilized the needles over fire before inserting them into the girl’s head.
Even from a distance, it looked terrifying.
Then he took a handkerchief, covered the girl’s mouth and nose, and instructed Hu Ping to rub her face through it until it turned red—she would wake up once circulation returned.
As expected, when Cheng Fangqing’s face turned red like a monkey’s butt, she opened her eyes.
“She’s awake! She’s awake!” Hu Ping cried in surprise.
Li Yingtang found it unbelievable.
Amazing.
Qin Xian’s lips curved slightly in an unreadable smile. “Miss Cheng, how do you feel?”
Cheng Fangqing looked dazed. The moment she saw Qin Xian’s handsome face, her heartbeat quickened, her breathing grew heavier, and she said coyly, “It… it hurts and feels sore. It’s all your fault for treating me like this…”
“Listen to that! Listen to what my daughter is saying! How dare you deny it!” Hu Ping shouted and lunged at Qin Xian.
Qin Xian dodged and stepped out the door.
Hu Ping chased after him, grabbing his collar.
The wind howled through the crowd’s ears as villagers tried to break them apart or watch the commotion.
The scene descended into chaos.
Suddenly, Cheng Fangqing rushed out, grabbed the nearest man, and began kissing and touching him wildly.
Everyone froze in shock.
The man, also surnamed Cheng and from the same clan, was overjoyed despite trying to resist weakly.
“Fang’er, stop…”
Li Yingtang couldn’t bear to watch. What is going on?
Has she gone mad?
Hu Ping screamed and grabbed Cheng Fangqing’s hair, slapping both sides of her face repeatedly. “You evil girl! You’re possessed!”
Cheng Fangqing was instantly snapped out of it. Realizing what she had done in front of everyone, her eyes rolled back and she fainted straight away.
Qin Xian said expressionlessly, “Clearly fake. She’ll wake up on her own shortly.”
Everyone burst into laughter and chatter.
Hu Ping cried and shouted, “And you call yourself a doctor? You’re humiliating her!”