Sheng Zexi was a soldier with keen perception, sharp observation, and strong judgment.
Gu Jianing knew that one day, Sheng Zexi would figure it out.
However, she would not tell him herself.
Even though she knew Sheng Zexi loved her, after everything she had experienced in her past life, she still couldn’t bring herself to trust him completely—to the point of revealing her secret, especially the fact that she had been reborn.
Perhaps only when Sheng Zexi noticed something suspicious and questioned her would she consider telling him.
Sheng Zexi gazed at Gu Jianing for a long time before finally looking away. He held Gu Jianing’s hand and said, “Alright, I believe you.”
Gu Jianing smiled slightly, secretly relieved.
…
The next morning, Sister Yu arrived with Cui Bin, who had taken leave. Accompanying them were their two tall sons, aged fourteen and thirteen, who were in middle school.
The boys attended a nearby school, and since it was Saturday, they had come along after hearing from their mother that their father was undergoing surgery that day.
Gu Jianing locked the door, shouldered her self-made medical kit, and followed them to the Military District Hospital.
Since this was a surgery—not just acupuncture—it was best to perform it in a proper operating room.
Within the military district, only the Military District Hospital had an operating room.
At Gu Jianing’s request, Cui Bin had used his connections to secure two hours of operating room time.
However, because Gu Jianing had previously stated that she didn’t want anyone to know, Cui Bin hadn’t disclosed the reason for borrowing the operating room.
On their way to the Military District Hospital, they ran into quite a few people.
Most of them had never seen Gu Jianing before. Seeing such a beautiful woman in the military family compound took them by surprise.
After hearing recent rumors, many began to speculate that this striking young woman might be Battalion Commander Sheng’s wife.
Soon, they arrived at the Military District Hospital.
Gu Jianing put on a white coat from the operating room and a face mask. Once Cui Bin was ready, she followed him inside. The door to the operating room slowly closed behind them.
…
“Huh? Who was that?”
“Is someone having surgery?”
Not far away, Peng Wenjing happened to pass by just as the operating room door was closing.
She caught a glimpse of the doctor inside. Although the person was wearing a face mask, their eyes were exceptionally beautiful. However, Peng Wenjing was certain she had never seen this doctor before.
Moreover, wasn’t the operating room supposed to be empty today?
With growing suspicion, Peng Wenjing went to ask the surgical room administrator and learned that there were no scheduled surgeries that day. However, Commander Cui Bin had borrowed the room for two hours.
Cui Bin?
The name sounded familiar.
Thanks to her excellent memory, Peng Wenjing quickly recalled who Cui Bin was.
Cui Bin, a battalion commander, had suffered a shrapnel injury to his leg during a mission years ago. However, since the shrapnel was lodged near a major artery, surgery was deemed too risky given the current medical technology. As a result, he opted for conservative treatment.
(Sometimes it’s “battalion commander,” and other times it’s “regimental commander.” I’m a bit confused, but I believe he is a battalion commander. Please disregard any previous mistakes as we move forward.)
Over the years, he had relied on conservative treatment. But during his recent checkup, the results weren’t promising.
If he didn’t undergo surgery soon, his leg would deteriorate beyond saving. No amount of conservative treatment would help, and he would be forced to retire from the military.
“So, why did Commander Cui borrow the operating room? Could it be… he found someone to perform the surgery?”
The more she thought about the woman in the white coat, the more Peng Wenjing felt her guess was correct.
“Nurse Peng, you figured it out!”
A voice suddenly spoke from behind.
Peng Wenjing turned around and saw an elderly woman, whom she recognized as a patient under her care—Mrs. Li. Her son was also a battalion commander.
She recalled that Mrs. Li loved gossiping about other people’s affairs.
Hearing the way Mrs. Li spoke, could it be that…
“Mrs. Li, do you know who’s performing Commander Cui Bin’s surgery?” Peng Wenjing asked.
“Of course, I do! My family lives right next door to Cui Bin’s.”
Both families resided in the same tube-shaped apartment building. These buildings had poor sound insulation, and although Mrs. Li was old, she had sharp ears and a strong love for gossip.
Seeing Mrs. Li hesitate, her eyes glinting with curiosity, Peng Wenjing took out a few pieces of candy from her pocket and slipped them into the old woman’s hand.
“Mrs. Li, if you know, tell me.”
Mrs. Li quickly pocketed the candy and eagerly shared the information.
“You’ve heard the recent rumors in the military family compound about Commander Sheng Zexi’s wife, right?”
Of course, Peng Wenjing had heard them.
When that woman first arrived with Brother Sheng, the entire family compound was gossiping about how she was an ugly woman covered in pockmarks, so ashamed of her appearance that she refused to show her face. They even claimed she had schemed to marry Brother Sheng.
But then, the rumors suddenly changed.
Now, they were saying that she was actually a great beauty. Some even claimed that not even the female soldiers in the art troupe could compare to her.
And this time, many people had seen her in person, so it was definitely not a lie.
They even speculated that Commander Sheng married her purely because of her looks—that even a hero couldn’t resist a beauty.
When Peng Wenjing first heard these rumors, she was furious.
She had wanted to rush to the family compound and see for herself what that woman looked like!
A country woman?
There was no way Peng Wenjing would believe she was some stunning fairy. And Brother Sheng wasn’t that shallow!
But what did this have to do with that country woman?
She didn’t have to wait long for Mrs. Li to explain.
“I heard Commander Sheng’s wife knows medicine. She’s the one who borrowed the operating room to perform surgery on Cui Bin’s leg!”
“What?!”
Peng Wenjing was completely stunned.
“Mrs. Li, are you serious?”
“Of course! I heard it with my own ears.”
“This is ridiculous! Cui Bin is insane! His leg was something even the hospital director—known as a top surgeon—didn’t dare to operate on, yet he’s trusting some country woman to do it? Does he have a death wish?”
“A country woman, performing surgery, more skilled than the hospital director? Impossible!”
A country woman, likely an illiterate peasant, performing surgery?
That was absurd!
Commander Cui Bin had definitely been fooled!
But now that they were already inside the operating room, Peng Wenjing could easily imagine what would happen next—
By the time they came out…
Battalion Commander Cui Bin might not even be alive.
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