Huang Xue’er took in this entire scene of familial harmony and silently spat in her heart.
Hmph! Why was everyone siding with that woman?
She was deeply dissatisfied, but she could no longer say much.
After all, not only had she failed to show off in front of Director Ji this time, but she had also been openly and indirectly lectured by him.
Huang Xue’er had never suffered such humiliation before.
So she could only force a hurried smile and say to Zhou Xiulan and Ji Shaohui, “Godmother, Director, seeing Godfather recover has put my mind at ease. There is still something to take care of at the clinic, so I will head back first.”
Before either of them could respond, Huang Xue’er turned around and hurried out of the hospital room. Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, several military doctors and nurses tactfully dispersed as well.
The noise in the hospital room gradually subsided, replaced by a strange silence.
Huo Qiang stood a few steps away, watching Ruan Yingying speak softly with Ji Shaohui.
They were clearly not far apart, yet he felt as though an invisible wall stood between them.
Listening to Ji Shaohui’s undisguised approval of Ruan Yingying, Huo Qiang felt his face grow warmer.
No matter what, Ruan Yingying had indeed helped tremendously today. He had indeed been too impulsive just now.
Ruan Yingying listened with her head slightly tilted, a faint smile lingering on her lips. From time to time, she gave a gentle nod. Her manner was quiet and graceful, without the slightest trace of her usual spoiled and sharp temperament.
For some reason, Huo Qiang found himself staring at her in a daze.
After a moment, he cleared his slightly dry throat, glanced at the guard Xiao Cheng who had been waiting outside the hospital room, and said, “I will have Xiao Cheng drive you back to your family home in Shanghai later. He can help you move all your things back.”
His words were directed at Ruan Yingying, yet he deliberately avoided her gaze.
Before Ruan Yingying could answer, Ji Shaohui interrupted with a broad smile.
“Little Huo, I will keep an eye on the old commander here. Nothing will go wrong. Your wife has just finished helping out, and she is pregnant too. As her husband, shouldn’t you personally accompany her home?”
Huo Qiang froze and instinctively tried to object.
“I will stay and take care of Dad…”
After all, whenever Ruan Yingying had returned to her family home in the past, she had never asked him to accompany her. She had even openly expressed her dislike and impatience at the thought.
He had been more than happy to enjoy the peace and quiet, and he had never once considered going with her to the family home of the Ruan family, a place he disliked and believed was steeped in the habits of capitalists.
“Thank you for your concern, Director.”
Ruan Yingying’s gentle voice suddenly rang out, interrupting him.
She then looked at Huo Qiang, took a few steps toward him, raised her head, and softly said, “Let’s go back together.”
To be honest, Ruan Yingying herself was uncertain.
After all, the book had described how the original owner disliked Huo Qiang’s military bearing, disliked the fact that he could not say sweet and flattering things, and disliked the idea that his appearance at her sophisticated family home would embarrass her.
That was why, in the two years since their marriage, aside from the wedding itself, he had never once set foot in the Ruan family home in Shanghai. Every time, the original owner had gone back alone and returned after demanding something from her family.
For quite a while, Huo Qiang felt as though his mind was covered in fog, and an indescribable illusion rose within his heart.
But only for a moment.
He quickly thought of another possibility. His lips tightened, and his tone became deliberately cold, as though he wanted to make it clear that he had nothing to do with her intentions.
“There is no need to put on an act in front of the director.”
After all, she had just cured his father with a few silver needles, and even Director Ji had unexpectedly taken a liking to her.
Based on what he knew about this woman, Huo Qiang felt that Ruan Yingying was probably trying to put on a show of marital harmony in front of Director Ji.
Hearing this, the corner of Ruan Yingying’s mouth twitched, and she felt utterly speechless.
This man really knew how to invent an entire drama in his own head.
Why would she want him to accompany her merely to perform some display of marital affection in front of Ji Shaohui?
She had suddenly transmigrated into the novel and still had no idea what her original family was really like.
If she wanted to reclaim the money and valuables the original owner had poured into that family over the years, what weight would she carry if she returned alone as a disgraced daughter who was also pregnant?
She would merely be allowing that parasitic family to manipulate her all over again.
With Huo Qiang there, even if he simply stood beside her with a cold expression, she would at least have someone to give her confidence.
During this subtle silence, Zhou Xiulan had already taken action.
She supported Ruan Yingying with one hand and led her toward the door, while using the other hand to give her son a forceful push. With a reproachful command, she said, “I told you to accompany Yingying home, so accompany her properly! Yingying is heavily pregnant now. How could I possibly feel at ease letting her go alone? With you beside her, at least someone can look after her. Hurry up, stop dawdling!”
The old woman had her own motives as well.
Previously, she had held some unfavorable opinions about this daughter in law.
But now her husband had been brought back from the brink of death by her daughter in law, and the child was staying too. Everything seemed to be developing in a better direction.
Letting her son and daughter in law spend more time together and develop their relationship was not necessarily a bad thing.
The old woman was quite strong, and in her haste she pushed hard. Huo Qiang was caught off guard and nearly collided with Ruan Yingying.
When he caught sight of her rounded belly, the tightly furrowed lines between his brows finally loosened somewhat. The objection that had reached his lips was ultimately swallowed back down.
He quickly nodded and walked out of the hospital room first.
The two of them entered the military green jeep one after another in silence.
Guard Xiao Cheng was already seated in the driver’s seat, his hands on the steering wheel and his back perfectly straight.
When he heard the rear door close, he instinctively glanced into the rearview mirror. His gaze passed over Commander Huo’s solemn profile and landed on the female comrade sitting beside him, her eyes slightly lowered and her expression calm.
In the past, he had harbored an indescribable resistance toward this “regimental commander’s wife.”
The rumors about her being spoiled, selfish, demanding a divorce, and even nearly harming the old commander had already left a terrible impression on him.
Yet just moments ago, he had personally witnessed this very woman, whom he had secretly looked down upon, save the old commander’s life with several slender silver needles.
The shock of that scene still reverberated in his chest.
According to his simple sense of right and wrong, anyone capable of treating illness and saving lives, anyone courageous enough to snatch a life back from the King of Hell, was undoubtedly an exceptionally kind and remarkable person.
Just like the gentle and considerate Miss Xue’er whom he had always respected.
The deeply rooted prejudice in his heart silently cracked open at that moment.
He cleared his throat, turned his head, and called out loudly toward the back seat.
“Sister in law, sit tight! We are setting off!”
That “Sister in law” sounded especially natural, and especially respectful.
Ruan Yingying was completely absorbed in figuring out how she would demand repayment from her family once she returned home. Suddenly hearing someone call out to her, she did not have time to think about it and instinctively responded with a soft “Mm.”
That light little response was like a tiny pebble landing squarely in the already unsettled lake of Huo Qiang’s heart.
Huo Qiang’s expression instantly became complicated, while the tips of his ears turned unmistakably red.
This woman!
Xiao Cheng had merely been being polite. How could she actually respond to him?
Honestly… She was really pushing her luck!
He gritted his teeth, feeling the heat spreading across his face grow even stronger. In the end, he gave Xiao Cheng a warning look.
“You talk too much. Just drive properly! Watch the road!”
Although Xiao Cheng had no idea what he had done to offend his commander, he still shrank his neck and awkwardly fell silent.
The vehicle became quiet once again.
But Huo Qiang’s heart was anything but calm. His hands rested on his knees, loosening and tightening repeatedly as he kept shifting their position.
He had no idea what was wrong with him.
His heartbeat seemed to be somewhat out of control, especially whenever the faint, delicate scent belonging to her occasionally lingered beneath his nose.