“Since you always have conflicts with your sister-in-law here, maybe next month we should send you back to your hometown.”
In the family housing compound, Shen Qingli sat listlessly on the sofa, her eyes hollow and sorrowful as she stared at the door.
Su Jinshen stood there, handsome and imposing in his military uniform, yet his eyes were cold and distant, completely devoid of warmth.
Her chest tightened, and her body trembled with a grief so deep it seemed to have physical form, her throat constricted, unable to utter a word.
Lin Meiyun wore the latest stylish dress, her face heavily made up, feigning distress. “Jinshen, since Qingli can’t bear to have me and TianTian here, maybe we should leave.”
Su Jinshen spoke sincerely: “I promised my elder brother I’d take good care of you both, and I won’t break that promise. You can stay here without worry.”
A wave of sorrow swept across Shen Qingli’s eyes; her heart turned cold. She had been reborn. In her past life, countless times she had been hurt by Su Jinshen favoring Lin Meiyun and her child, leaving her in tears every night.
She couldn’t change anything before—Su Jinshen’s elder brother had died saving their mother, and the family, full of guilt toward Lin Meiyun and Su TianTian, indulged them in everything.
Even though the rules of the military housing allowed only spouses and immediate family to live there, Lin Meiyun and her child had no right to stay long-term. But Su Jinshen, out of consideration for his late brother’s sacrifice and Lin Meiyun raising her child alone, registered Su TianTian under his name as his “son” and allowed Lin Meiyun to move in as a caretaker.
They acted like a family, leaving Shen Qingli on the outside, making her feel like an outsider.
Yet from the moment he had rescued her after a snakebite, she had fallen in love with him at first sight. In her past life, after three years of marriage, she gave up becoming a skilled surgeon to stay by his side, trying to prevent Lin Meiyun from taking advantage of any situation.
But Lin Meiyun’s constant provocations pushed her from a calm, serene person into someone who couldn’t control her hysteria and argued over every small matter—Su Jinshen’s coldness also contributed to the depression that eventually led to her suicide.
Now, after being reborn to the first year of her marriage, Su Jinshen had already begun the silent cold war, refusing to speak to her.
Fortunately, she no longer wanted to repeat the suffering of her previous life.
Closing her eyes, she suppressed the bitterness rising in her throat and said steadily:“Next month, I’ll leave on my own. You don’t need to trouble yourself.”
Her appearance was coldly beautiful, her willow-shaped eyes filled with a resolute sadness, her voice as calm as if she were describing the weather—completely unlike the person who previously argued over every slight.
Su Jinshen furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze lingering on her calm face. He felt a twinge of unease and wanted to tell her she could stay if she didn’t make trouble, but in the end, he thought it better for everyone to have some distance. His elder brother had died saving their mother, and his parents were aging; he couldn’t allow his wife and child to be left unsupported. His lips pressed into a thin line, and he remained silent.
Lin Meiyun’s heart raced, her excitement barely restrained, as she forced a look of sadness. “Qingli, I’m sorry… If it weren’t for Jinshen dying so early, we wouldn’t have disturbed you like this.”
Shen Qingli recognized the guilt-trap—Su Jinshen’s family would always be swayed by that argument, just like in her past life. She no longer wished to expose her. Suppressing the bitter ache in her chest, she stumbled to leave:“It’s nothing, really.”
Lin Meiyun inwardly rejoiced, her delicate hands trembling with excitement, though she showed none of it.
Su Jinshen, however, watched Shen Qingli’s retreating figure, his brows tightening. A heavy feeling arose in his chest, a fear she might do something reckless. But he remembered how she had forced him into marriage, taking advantage of his kindness and demanding a large bride price. He said nothing.
Shen Qingli rode the bus to the county town in a daze. Once she arrived, she sat on a bench, staring at the passing crowd, unsure where to go.
Her parents had divorced when she was young, each forming a new family with children of their own, living happily. She, however, felt like an outsider wherever she went.
She had thought that after borrowing all she could from her grandmother and working hard to enter medical school, becoming a qualified surgeon would make her parents proud. Instead, they asked if she could give opportunities to her siblings.
In the county hospital, nepotism was rampant. While others could practice independently in months or a year, she had to stay in a mentoring position for years, despite being skilled in gastrointestinal surgery.
Now, her future seemed bleak. Exhausted, she leaned back, closing her eyes, unwilling to think about her miserable life.
Suddenly, a commotion caught her attention:“Hurry, someone’s fainted! Help!”
Shen Qingli’s eyes flickered with alertness as she looked over. An elderly man lay by the roadside, dressed in a white shirt and black pants, his hair streaked with silver, his features refined.
Frowning briefly, she suppressed her sorrow and stepped forward. She checked his breathing and pulse, then raised his legs about twenty centimeters to ensure blood returned to the brain.
Two young women panicked, rushing forward:“Young lady, press his Ren Zhong! Or the chest! That’s what the newspapers say!”“Let me try! If the position is wrong, it won’t work! His life could be gone in seconds!”
They reached to help, but the man stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
One woman gasped: “He’s awake already?”The other asked: “What just happened?”
Shen Qingli said calmly: “He just had a brief faint from low blood pressure. Elevating the legs helps return blood to the brain. That’s all. Step back and let him breathe.”
The crowd was astonished. “I’ve never seen this method before!”“Low blood pressure, just lift your legs? I faint every time I stand too quickly—I’ll try that next time.”
She didn’t respond. Once the man was fully conscious, she helped him sit up:“Grandfather, your blood pressure is a bit low. You should see a doctor and take medicine. Also, avoid sudden movements like squatting and standing quickly.”
Zhou Taimin, still a bit dizzy, looked at her and smiled. “Young lady, you really know what to do. Does someone in your family have this problem?”
“I worked as a surgeon in a small county hospital for two years before getting married. My work was interrupted afterward,” she said.
Though she had mostly done surgeries, not consultations or prescriptions, she had studied tirelessly in medical school. She realized her past sacrifices for love had been foolish, but her heart yearned for affection more than career.
Zhou Taimin was silent, impressed. Becoming a surgeon required immense effort, especially to master operations. That she had paused her career for love was remarkable.
Shen Qingli pressed her lips together, unwilling to chat further:“Grandfather, if you’re okay, I have other matters to attend to. I’ll be going.”
As she turned to leave, Zhou Taimin called after her:“Since you gave up your county hospital job for marriage, would you be interested in working at Ning’an Hospital?”