Xu Chenxin’s expression remained unchanged, his probing gaze sweeping sharply across her face as if judging whether she had just lied.
But regardless, since he had encountered this situation, he had to fulfill his duty diligently—better safe than sorry.
“These symptoms resemble a concussion. I suspect there may be brain injury. To avoid further damage, it’s not advisable to move her immediately. I’ll conduct an examination first, then decide.”
So that was it. She had thought the doctor saw through her lie.
Chu Youhuan breathed a slight sigh of relief.
“Wh-what concussion?”
Hearing that it might be a brain injury, Chu Songqiang’s face instantly paled, and the others present gasped in shock.
In these times, medical conditions were limited. Any injury to the brain was a serious matter—it could easily lead to permanent impairment. There was a young man in the neighboring village who accidentally fell from a mountain a few years ago, hit his head, and when he woke up, he no longer recognized his own parents. He needed help with everything, from eating to bathing.
A perfectly healthy person, just like that, became incapacitated.
Seeing everyone on high alert, Xu Chenxin briefly explained what a concussion was, reassuring them that it was likely not that severe. At the same time, he opened the medical kit he carried with him, preparing to conduct a basic examination on Chu Youhuan.
During this time, Chu Songqiang left two trusted people to guard the scene while he personally led others back to the village to prepare a stretcher. He also took Zhou Lifang back with him to prevent her from causing more trouble.
Most importantly, if they needed to go to the county hospital later, he would have to go to the Gongshe to borrow a tractor. Otherwise, they would have to rely on a donkey cart—a nearly two-hour journey that would be exhausting, especially with Huanhuan injured.
Once they left, only four people remained on the scene.
“Does it hurt here?”
The man was tall and imposing. While checking for other external injuries, he had to lean down slightly to examine carefully. This inevitably brought the two of them much closer.
Chu Youhuan instinctively shook her head, then nodded.
Xu Chenxin didn’t say anything, merely glancing at her before continuing. His slender, well-defined fingers meticulously examined the back of her head, his fingertips occasionally brushing against her scalp, sending waves of tingling sensations that made her instinctively shift away.
“Don’t move.”
As he spoke, it was unclear whether it was the warm breeze or his breath that brushed against her neck, leaving faint traces on her skin and inexplicably adding a hint of intimacy.
Although Chu Youhuan was well aware that he was a doctor, she was the patient, and this was just a routine examination, the touch of a strange man still made every nerve in her body tense. Her eyelashes fluttered repeatedly, unable to stop her breathing from quietly quickening. Her gaze unconsciously drifted to his face.
Perhaps because he had entered a professional state, his expression was unprecedentedly focused. His eyes narrowed slightly, his long, thick lashes casting shadows beneath his eyelids. His thin lips parted and closed, looking exceptionally kissable. And the prominent Adam’s apple and veins on his slender neck beneath his uniform—sexy and captivating…
Realizing what she was thinking, Chu Youhuan was first stunned, then harshly berated herself. Yet she also felt it was normal—after all, who said only men could be lustful? As an adult woman, having desires in that regard wasn’t shameful.
It was just that in this situation, it really wasn’t appropriate, especially since the other party appeared so detached and indifferent, which only made her thoughts seem all the more improper.
Moreover, during past physical exams, there had been no shortage of male doctors, and she had always remained perfectly calm, never losing her composure like today. Could it really be because he perfectly matched her aesthetic from head to toe? Or had transmigrating into a book somehow unblocked her lustful Ren Du Er Mai?
Chu Youhuan clenched her palms, praying inwardly for this torturous examination to end quickly. But just as she thought it was finally over when he withdrew his hand, before she could even sigh in relief, she saw him take a stethoscope out of the medical kit.
Seeing the long tube and realizing what was about to happen, her pupils dilated slightly.
Even though she had mentally prepared herself somewhat, when his hand, along with the cold stethoscope, actually made contact, she couldn’t help but shiver.
Thump-thump, thump-thump.
Chu Youhuan grew flustered, her fingertips curling unconsciously. She couldn’t resist speaking up, “Doctor Xu, how is it? Is it done?”
She was afraid that if this continued, her heartbeat would betray her completely.
“Rapid heartbeat, accelerated breathing.”
These words struck her, and Chu Youhuan froze stiffly. Fortunately, the man before her didn’t seem to notice her unusual reaction and continued, “Although there are no serious external injuries, we cannot rule out the possibility of a mild concussion. It’s best to keep observing. If no further symptoms appear, you just need to rest well these next few days. As for the wound on your face, avoid getting it wet before it scabs over, and be mindful of your diet.”
Seeing that he hadn’t noticed anything, Chu Youhuan relaxed slightly, but then she suddenly looked up, shocked. “A wound? There’s a wound on my face?”
Why hadn’t she felt any pain? And earlier, to make her act more convincing, she had even smeared mud on her face!
“It was probably scratched by a stone…”
Before Xu Chenxin could finish, she tightly grabbed his clothes. He frowned and instinctively looked down. Her hand was fair and slender, with a small mole on the side of her wrist—strikingly noticeable.
“Will it leave a scar?”
Seeing her look as if the sky had fallen, Xu Chenxin furrowed his brows slightly. Remembering that most girls cared about their appearance, he comforted her, “The wound isn’t big; it probably won’t.”
After speaking, seeing she still wasn’t fully reassured, her face scrunched up, he inexplicably added, “If you’re worried about scarring, I have some ointment here you can use.”
“Thank you!”
“…”
She really wasn’t holding back.
Xu Chenxin rubbed his fingertips twice, subtly freeing his clothes from her grasp. He then handed her the ointment from the medical kit and began packing up his things to leave. Just then, Chu Songqiang, who had gone and returned, arrived with a stretcher.
“Doctor Xu, how is she?”
Xu Chenxin repeated what he had just told Chu Youhuan.
Hearing this, Chu Songqiang didn’t hesitate and immediately decided, “Let’s go to the hospital.”
Their village had no doctor; usually, they went to the clinic in the Gongshe for medical treatment. However, the doctors there had limited skills—they could handle minor illnesses and pains, but for serious diseases, they still had to be sent to the county hospital.
Huanhuan’s condition could be minor or severe, but if something really happened, it would be too late for regrets.
Going to the county hospital was expensive, but no matter how important money was, it couldn’t compare to his daughter’s well-being!
Besides, his wife was currently attending a banquet at her brother’s house. If she came back and found out he hadn’t taken good care of Huanhuan, she’d skin him alive.
In just a few seconds, Chu Songqiang made his decision. Just as he was about to help Chu Youhuan onto the stretcher, he saw her shaking her head firmly, and soon she was crying, tears and snot streaming down her face. “Dad, how can our family afford to go to the hospital? I won’t go.”
Chu Songqiang was utterly confused. Although their family wasn’t exactly wealthy, they were better off than many others and still had some savings.
But before he could say anything, he heard her continue, “Even though Zhou Lifang beat me up like this, the Zhou family isn’t easy to deal with. Let’s just forget it.”
Zhou Lifang dared to come to the sweet potato field and beat someone up so brazenly because she relied on her father, who was about to become the village party secretary, and her good relationship with the Gongshe leaders. She thought that even if she beat someone up, as long as she stubbornly denied it afterward, nothing would come of it.
But she never expected an accident to happen in the middle of it all.
And Chu Youhuan was no pushover. Since Zhou Lifang dared to lay hands on her, she was willing to fan the flames and escalate the situation. After all, she was the victim—no matter how fierce the fire burned, it wouldn’t reach her.
“I just don’t know if Zhou Lifang will beat people up again in the future. If she dares to hit even me, what’s to stop her from attacking anyone she dislikes?”
“What if others start imitating her? Will our village ever have peaceful days again?”
“If this kind of thing spreads to the Gongshe, there’s bound to be criticism and education. Who knows if it’ll affect our village’s chances of being rated as outstanding?”
As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers who had been watching the commotion immediately tensed up. At least Chu Youhuan had her father, the Daduizhang, to protect her, but ordinary people like them had no one. If Zhou Lifang ever bullied them, they’d probably have nowhere to cry.
Fighting and brawling shouldn’t set a precedent; otherwise, it would be difficult to manage in the future.
Most importantly, being rated as outstanding was an honor for the entire village. If they were selected, they would receive rewards distributed from above at the end of the year—all tangible benefits. Last year, the neighboring village received three large, fat pigs, and every household was given a bar of soap.
Half the year had already passed, and their village hadn’t run into any trouble. It was highly likely they could be rated as outstanding. If this incident really affected their chances…
Thinking of this, someone couldn’t help but chime in, “This is too outrageous! Daring to attack someone in broad daylight—is there no law anymore?”
“Since Zhou Lifang did the beating, her family should be responsible for the medical expenses.”
“Our village has always been peaceful and harmonious; even local ruffians don’t dare to come here. We absolutely can’t let one bad apple spoil the whole barrel.”
Seeing that her goal had been achieved, Chu Youhuan’s lips curled imperceptibly. Turning her head, she noticed Chu Songqiang was still stunned and couldn’t help but tug at his sleeve, reminding him, “Dad?”
“Huh?”
Chu Songqiang had been lost in thought, pondering the seriousness of Chu Youhuan’s words. Seeing everyone’s emotions grow increasingly agitated, he finally snapped back to reality and subtly signaled to his cousin standing nearby.
The latter, quick-witted as ever, immediately spoke up: “Daduizhang, you’ve always been diligent, fair, and just—everyone in the village knows how well you’ve treated us. Right now, just focus on taking Huanhuan to the hospital. We’ll handle the Zhou family for you and make sure they apologize properly. Everyone, follow me!”
“That’s right, let’s go!”
Before long, Chu Youhuan was helped onto a stretcher by Chu Songqiang, and the group marched away from the sweet potato field in a grand procession.
Xu Chenxin walked at the very back, unable to resist glancing at the figure lying on the makeshift stretcher ahead. He raised an eyebrow slightly.
So young, yet quite skilled at stirring emotions and building momentum for herself…
————————!!————————
Next up: “Transmigrating into a 1970s Restricted Novel as the Annoying Female Supporting Character” — please add it to your collections, dear readers! Synopsis below:
Su Shiqing was born with fair skin, striking beauty, and an alluring charm. One day, she woke up transmigrated into a 1970s restricted novel, becoming the male lead’s annoying ex-wife.
In the original story, her main role was to teach the male lead various positions and techniques, preparing him to serve the female lead in the future, before gracefully stepping aside.
Su Shiqing looked at the endless rice seedlings waiting to be planted in the paddy field, then glanced at the exceptionally handsome man not far away—strong, lean, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. A faint smile curled her lips. Did he even understand the concept of first come, first served?
Skilled in bed and able to help with farm work? That sounded perfect.
But despite several attempts at flirting and entanglement, the man remained upright and rigid, like a block of wood.
It wasn’t until she shifted her focus and set her sights on the second male lead that he finally snapped, dragging her into a small grove in a frenzy.
Lying in his firm, scorching embrace, Su Shiqing gasped for breath, rubbing her sore waist as she silently thought: Who needs teaching? This man was clearly a natural!
Xu Donglin had known since childhood that he had an exceptionally beautiful fiancée in the neighboring village. Everyone said she had sky-high ambitions, wanting only to marry an educated youth from the city so she could follow him into urban life and live comfortably. They claimed she looked down on a rough, hardworking man like him.
At first, he believed it too and had long prepared himself for the engagement to be called off.
But after she repeatedly tugged at his belt, pulling him into small groves again and again, he quietly changed his mind. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to marry him—she clearly wanted to marry him far too much!
Still, he couldn’t be careless before marriage. In matters like these, girls were always the ones at a disadvantage, and he had to protect her reputation.
Yet, just as he endured sleepless nights, burying himself in preparing the betrothal gifts, he saw her at the educated youth’s quarters, smiling brightly at some fair-skinned, delicate-faced young man.
At that moment, he nearly gritted his teeth to dust.
Reading Guide: 1V1, SC (Single Couple)