C3 He Ran in the Wrong Direction!

Xue Lang was wheeled into the operating room once again, and it wasn't until dawn that the second round of sutures on his back was completed. Xue Lang himself was in decent shape, but he was informed that due to the repeat suturing, his wound was prone to liquefaction. He would need to extend his hospital stay and refrain from any further movement.

Ye Si, who had also undergone surgery and now sported a steel plate in his arm, was a different story. Since he had covered his own medical costs, the hospital chose not to get involved further, not even bothering to call the police. The two patients were placed in rooms far apart, with Ye Si being sent to the internal medicine ward. His severe injuries, however, had sent ripples of shock through the hospital. He was known to be a tough character, infamous for inflicting harm rather than receiving it.

The hospital, while opting not to involve the police, did notify the granary to provide guards, ostensibly for better care, but truly out of concern that Ye Si's friends might come looking for trouble.

Unaware of these developments, Xue Lang had been conscious the whole time due to the local anesthesia, which left him feeling incredibly self-conscious. The anesthetist and the assistants were all women, and while stitching his back was manageable under the cover of a surgical drape, suturing his shoulder required him to lie down, leaving him exposed in a way that made him too embarrassed to even glance around.

It was only after he was back in his ward and the medical staff had departed that Xue Lang finally breathed a sigh of relief. But before he could fully relax, a head appeared behind the glass.

As Xue Lang looked up, the visitor checked to ensure the room was empty before entering. It was Cui Ying...

Recognizing her, Xue Lang hesitated for a moment. She was petite, under 1.7 meters, with a slender frame, long hair cascading over her shoulders, and a fair complexion. Her oval face, arched eyebrows, and cherry lips might not place her in the same league as the stunning beauties like Master Fan or Fei Fei, but she was certainly beautiful in his eyes.

This foolish boy had risked his life to save others, and it seemed his taste was quite discerning after all.

Xue Lang was quietly muttering to himself when Cui Ying flashed a radiant smile and spoke up first, "Xue Lang, feeling any better? I heard you're dealing with dozens of wounds. Everything okay?"

"I'm alright, not missing any parts. Just lost some blood and got a few stitches," Xue Lang replied with a smile. "How about you, Cui Ying?"

"The exam yesterday showed a linear fracture in the sixth rib on my left side. Just a crack in the rib, nothing serious."

While speaking, Cui Ying set down the thermos she was holding. "You haven't had a chance to eat, have you? This is winter melon and pork rib soup my mom made. It's very light. Have some while it's hot."

"You're a patient yourself. Why are you bringing me food?"

Xue Lang felt a small wave of emotion looking at the thermos.

"Go ahead and eat. Your family isn't here, and you haven't eaten yet, have you?" Cui Ying encouraged, twisting open the thermos lid.

A rich aroma filled the air as soon as the lid came off.

"That smells amazing..." Xue Lang began, but his stomach interrupted with an untimely growl.

Cui Ying chuckled at the sound and bent over to crank up Xue Lang's bed.

"Don't... You're still hurt, no need to strain yourself."

While speaking, Xue Lang pushed himself up, scooted back, and settled against the headboard.

Seeing Xue Lang could move on his own, Cui Ying stood up straight, pulled a packet of wet wipes from her pocket, and without waiting for a response, tore it open, took his uninjured hand, and began to clean it.

Xue Lang was momentarily taken aback by her gesture.

As far as he could recall, both he and Cui Ying worked in logistics. He was known to be a bit naive and hardworking, somewhat reserved, and had barely spoken to Cui Ying before. They weren't close.

But he didn't want to reject her kindness. After a brief silence, Xue Lang spoke with a gentle tone, "Thanks, I am pretty hungry."

"Don't wait, eat up," said Cui Ying, her cheeks flushing as she offered the plate to Xue Lang, looking down.

Xue Lang didn't bother with formalities. He had skipped dinner and after a whole night, his stomach was growling. Spotting a plate of bean buns, he grabbed one and bit off a generous half.

Just as the sweet taste of the bean filling hit his tongue, a flurry of footsteps echoed in the corridor. He had barely chewed twice when a sea of faces crowded the doorway.

Before Xue Lang could even look up, the room filled with the sound of giggling as the girls burst in, their laughter mingling with a cool, fragrant breeze.

What on earth...

Xue Lang gulped down the rest of the bean bun and stared at the newcomers, realizing he didn't recognize a single one.

The girls took in the scene and erupted in excitement.

"He's actually here!"

"I told you Cui Ying would be here. And look, she even brought breakfast."

"Cui Ying, Xue Lang saved you. Are you planning to repay him with your body?"

"Stop it, that's ridiculous..."

Cui Ying's face flushed crimson with embarrassment, her attempts to speak lost beneath the cacophony of voices.

Amidst the lively chatter, Xue Lang felt his head spin. It wasn't just that the original Xue Lang had never interacted with girls; even at thirty-three, he had no experience with being the center of attention among a group of beauties.

But before he could get a word in, a girl with a touch of baby fat on her cheeks grinned and teased, "Xue Lang, come clean! Have you had your eye on our Cui Ying for a while now? Why else would you go to such lengths to rescue her?"

Xue Lang's mind might not be prone to blushing shyness, but he was at a loss on how to handle the incessant chatter of these young ladies. To him, they were still just girls, even if they were about his age.

Blinking, Xue Lang realized there was no avoiding the question. He set down the bean bun and asked, "Do you really want to know?"

"Yes!" they chorused, their faces alight with eager gossip, their voices loud and clear.

Xue Lang leaned back once more, pondering before he spoke: "The moment I heard that bear's roar, my mind kicked into overdrive. I snatched up the axe and bolted..."

He paused there, noticing the little girls hanging on his every word, even the usually bashful Cui Ying watched intently. A sly grin spread across his face as he continued, "But I was petrified, my head a complete blank. By the time I saw the bear, it was too late to change course..."

The room erupted in laughter before he could finish, the girls doubling over in mirth, with Cui Ying trying to stifle her giggles behind her hand.

With a heavy sigh, Xue Lang exhaled a murky breath, relieved to have weathered the storm of attention.

The plump-cheeked girl was laughing so hard she was gasping for air, pointing at Xue Lang she managed to say, "So... So... You weren't the hero saving the damsel... You just ran the wrong way..."

The others joined in, clutching their sides, the interrogation they had planned forgotten in their amusement.

In the midst of their laughter, the night-shift nurse pushed the door open and entered, her voice cutting through the noise, "Keep it down, please. Let's not disturb the other patients."

The laughter ceased abruptly, the girls sheepishly sticking out their tongues and pulling faces at each other.

The nurse, without further comment, made her way to the bedside after the others stepped aside. She glanced at the steaming thermos, then at Xue Lang, before turning her attention to check the IV. Pulling out a thermometer, she instructed, "Open your mouth."

Xue Lang, compliant, opened his mouth to accommodate the thermometer. The nurse added, "Eat quickly when it's time. We're about to switch shifts, and the director will be making rounds soon. We don't want the room smelling of food."

He nodded silently in agreement.

Cui Ying's friends, who must be her close companions, now stood as proper as young ladies, silently observing everything.

The ward fell into a hushed silence as the nurse checked the temperature and finished her notes, leaving the room without a word from anyone.

Once the nurse had gone, the girls exhaled in unison, poised to speak, but were interrupted by the arrival of the shift-changing nurse.

The nurse, surveying the crowded room, removed her mask and instructed, "We're about to start rounds. Eat quickly, keep the cabinets clear, and family members should wait outside."

No sooner had she spoken than she noticed Cui Ying in her surgical gown and directed her, "Time for rounds, head back to your ward."

Cui Ying tucked her neck, exchanged a glance with Xue Lang, gestured to the thermos, and without a word, turned to leave. The other girls pulled faces and hastened away, their merriment disrupted by the nurses' intervention.

Xue Lang was familiar with the routine of ward rounds from his frequent hospital stays due to injuries. As the nurse straightened his sheets, he asked, "Nurse, could I have my underwear?"

The nurse, a woman in her thirties and clearly a mother, peeked under the blanket after Xue Lang's request, then looked up and said, "Why do you need underwear now? You think you can wear it outside? All those bandages, you're not going to turn into Superman. Wait two days until we remove the gauze, then you can wear them."

Resigned, Xue Lang shifted as the blanket was lifted, silently sympathizing with his 'little brother'.

The nurse left, and Xue Lang wolfed down the bean buns as big as cow's eyes, slurped up the soup, and nearly devoured the spare ribs—his hunger was that fierce.

The ward round passed without incident, a cluster of doctors and nurses making their rounds without the embarrassment of lifting his blanket, much to Xue Lang's relief.

Barely two minutes after the medical team had left, before Xue Lang could settle his thoughts, the sound of footsteps announced the arrival of another group pushing open his ward door.

Confronted with a well-dressed crowd that clearly belonged in an office setting, Xue Lang promptly sat up, ready to face them.

Lee Chunjiang, his face slick with oil, was the first to step into the ward, his smile beaming. Shifting slightly to the side, he announced, "Xue, Chair Yu himself has come to visit you."

Following his introduction, a middle-aged man exuding a commanding presence entered with a warm smile. "Our hero looks to be in high spirits," he remarked.

Xue Lang instinctively straightened up and began, "Thank you, chief..." but caught himself mid-sentence. He swiftly amended, "Thank you, Chair Yu, and the entire leadership team for your care. Director, calling me a hero is far too generous. I merely did what was necessary. I couldn't stand by and let a tragedy unfold—that would weigh heavily on my conscience."

While most of the visitors were unfamiliar with Xue Lang, his supervisor, Lee Wenming, knew him well. As Xue Lang finished speaking, Wenming's eyes widened in astonishment. When had this usually reticent man learned to speak so eloquently?

Director Yu Hai nodded approvingly. As the rest of the group filed in, he commented, "A conscience that won't allow you to stand idle, without arrogance or haste, not seeking accolades—very good indeed."

Lee Wenming wasn't bothered that Lee Chunjiang had upstaged him. Sensing the underlying message in Yu Hai's words, he eagerly chimed in as soon as Yu Hai had finished, "Director, Xue Lang has consistently performed exceptionally. He's diligent and uncomplaining in logistics, never shirking any task, and he's well-liked among his peers."