Huo Qiang felt as though his mind had become shrouded in fog. He could not help replaying Ji Shaohui’s words from earlier over and over in his head.
His wife… had good medical skills?
Director Ji was talking about… Ruan Yingying?
Looking at the young regimental commander who was decisive and ruthless on the battlefield yet now stood there with a completely bewildered expression, Ji Shaohui could not help shaking his head and letting out a quiet chuckle before explaining.
“Rest assured, we have saved him. The old commander’s coughing and shortness of breath just now were actually normal reactions caused by the stagnant energy being released and the circulation of his heart meridians beginning to recover.”
Saved him?!
The moment Ji Shaohui said this, everyone looked toward the hospital bed in astonishment.
Although Huo Jianguo still had his eyes closed, the frightening rise and fall of his chest had already calmed down. The bluish purple color of his lips was gradually returning to a pale red, and the distressing sounds of labored breathing had disappeared.
The old commander had truly been saved.
The gradually stabilizing waveform on the electrocardiogram machine was the best proof.
What no one had expected was that Ruan Yingying had been the one to save him.
Even Huo Qiang was stunned where he stood.
His hand hanging by his side unconsciously clenched, then loosened, then clenched again. He repeated the simple motion as though trying to confirm that what he was seeing was not an illusion.
The burning fury in his chest had already vanished, replaced by an almost bewildered shock.
She… really knew medicine.
This was not reckless fooling around, nor was she putting on an act. She truly possessed the medical skill to drag his father back from the brink of death.
Beside him, Huang Xue’er’s face flushed crimson, as though someone had slapped her in front of everyone.
She stared without blinking, as if she wanted to see through the screen of the electrocardiogram machine.
This… how was this possible?
Wasn’t this miraculous acupuncture technique, capable of bringing someone back from the brink of death, said to be mastered only by the old master of traditional Chinese medicine who had long since retired from the hospital?
Everyone at the Military District General Hospital, including Director Ji, had been trained in Western medicine. Their understanding of traditional Chinese medicine was still at the learning stage, leaving them helpless when faced with such a dangerous acute condition.
Yet Ruan Yingying, that fool who only knew how to eat, drink, have fun, and flirt with men, had actually… actually done it?
Huang Xue’er’s fingernails dug deeply into her palm. The sharp pain barely brought her back to her senses.
When she raised her face again, she was already wearing a gentle smile tinged with delight, and her soft voice rang out.
“Sister in law is truly amazing! After just a few needles, Godfather’s condition turned around. This is simply… Heaven itself must be helping our family!”
She sounded sincere, yet she still attributed Ruan Yingying’s miraculous recovery to nothing more than luck.
Hmph, what was there to be proud of? She only knew a little superficial traditional Chinese medicine and had merely happened to get lucky.
After all, only by thinking this way could Huang Xue’er feel somewhat better.
Hearing this, Ji Shaohui frowned slightly.
Although he himself found the medical skills of this young female comrade almost unbelievable, he did not agree with Huang Xue’er’s explanation.
With that thought, he walked straight over to Ruan Yingying. The admiration in his eyes was almost overflowing as he turned toward everyone and said.
“No, no, this was definitely not a coincidence. Comrade Ruan’s needle placement was unbelievably steady, precise, and accurate! You have to understand that the Xinshu acupoint is extremely dangerous. Without years of experience, courage, and meticulous control, no one would dare select this acupuncture so casually.”
Ji Shaohui’s words praised Ruan Yingying without reservation while quietly refuting Huang Xue’er’s claim.
Once again, everyone’s gazes focused on Ruan Yingying. Unlike before, their eyes were now filled with far more goodwill.
This instead made Ruan Yingying feel somewhat uncomfortable.
She lowered her eyelashes slightly, avoiding the overly direct gazes, and softly said to Ji Shaohui, “Director, you flatter me. As long as Dad has pulled through, I am relieved.”
Her tone was calm and composed, and her expression was natural. There was not the slightest trace of pride or eagerness to claim credit.
It was as though the heart stopping treatment she had just performed was merely her duty as a physician, something entirely ordinary to her.
This reaction surprised Ji Shaohui.
From all the rumors he had heard in the past, the image of this regimental commander’s wife had been far from flattering. She was said to be spoiled, willful, and arrogant.
Moreover, with such astonishing medical skills capable of bringing someone back from the brink of death, it would have been perfectly understandable for a young person to become somewhat proud and conceited.
Yet the Ruan Yingying standing before him was quiet and humble, even showing a hint of embarrassment after being praised.
This differed considerably from his previous impression of her.
Along with his surprise, the admiration Ji Shaohui already felt for her medical abilities was now accompanied by a little more appreciation for her character.
Zhou Xiulan, who had remained by the bedside the entire time, gently held Huo Jianguo’s hand, which had already begun to warm.
The old woman’s eyes were red, and tears continued to stream down her face. Yet these were no longer tears of despair and grief. They were tears of overwhelming joy after getting back something she had almost lost.
She raised her head and looked at Ruan Yingying with complicated emotions, her voice choked with tears.
“Old man, old man, did you hear that? It was our Yingying who brought you back to life! She snatched you right back from the hands of the King of Hell!”
As she spoke, she turned toward everyone, almost as though making an announcement and almost as though talking to herself.
“She not only saved you, but Yingying also promised to give birth to our Huo family’s grandchild safely… You have to wake up soon and take a look at our daughter in law, and take a look at our future eldest grandson…”
The moment these words were spoken, the hospital room, which had only just quieted down, became noisy once again.
“What? She’s keeping the baby and not getting an abortion?”
“But… hasn’t Commander Huo already submitted the divorce report?”
“Forget about divorce! She’s the old commander’s lifesaver now! The Huo family would not even have enough time to thank her, let alone drive her away!”
The hushed discussions clearly reached Ruan Yingying’s ears. Her cheeks grew slightly warm, and she could not help coughing twice to conceal her embarrassment.
She had stepped forward today for two reasons.
First, as a physician, she simply could not stand by and watch a life slip away before her eyes.
Second, she wanted to make up, at least somewhat, for the absurd things the original owner had done and ease the heavy guilt weighing on her heart.
She had absolutely no intention of using this as an excuse to cling to the Huo family or demand repayment for saving their lives.
Once the child in her belly was safely born, whatever needed to be settled would still have to be settled.
Thinking of this, her heart tightened. Afraid that Huo Qiang might misunderstand after hearing these idle remarks, she instinctively raised her eyes toward him.
Unexpectedly, Huo Qiang happened to be looking in her direction as well.
Their gazes suddenly collided in midair.
It was as though a tiny current of electricity passed between them. Both of them froze, then quickly looked away almost simultaneously, as though they had been burned.
Just then, Zhou Xiulan, who had been standing by the bedside, rose and walked over to her son. She gently tugged at his sleeve, then glanced toward Ruan Yingying and lowered her voice.
“A Qiang, we have your wife to thank today. She has been busy for so long and must be tired. Hurry and help her outside to rest and get some fresh air.”
Ji Shaohui also smiled gently and chimed in from the side.
“That’s right, Little Huo. We truly have your wife to thank today. Let her get some proper rest.”
Hearing this, the tips of Huo Qiang’s ears grew even hotter, and the strange discomfort in his heart nearly reached its peak.
He abruptly turned his face away, yet his feet seemed rooted to the floor and did not move.
No matter how unwilling he was to face it or how difficult it was for him to accept, he had no choice but to admit that today, it was indeed Ruan Yingying who had helped tremendously and saved his father.
Moreover…
Why did that word “wife” sound more and more awkward to him every time he heard his mother say it?