While Qiao Lanshu was waiting at the bus stop, a car slowly pulled up and stopped right in front of her.
Qiao Lanshu was entirely focused on waiting for the bus and paid no attention to it.
After all, her mind was in total turmoil. Her thoughts were completely consumed by Qin Yuanzheng; she was worried sick about his injuries and had no idea what to do next.
At that moment, the door of the car parked in front of her opened, and Guan Wenjun, whom she hadn't seen in a long time, stepped out.
Guan Wenjun was wearing a black overcoat, his hair slicked back as usual. As he got out of the car, he said to Qiao Lanshu, "What a coincidence, Comrade Xiao Qiao. Where are you heading?"
Guan Wenjun had been quite busy lately. Normally at this time, he should have been at work at the Revolutionary Committee.
However, he had also received the news of Qin Yuanzheng's injury.
After all, this matter had not been kept a secret. Everyone in the mining district's military unit, as well as several related key departments, knew about it.
An accident had occurred at the mining area in the middle of the night yesterday. A mine shaft had collapsed, and the troops went to provide support. Qin Yuanzheng, who had taken the lead, was injured.
When Guan Wenjun heard about this, he even said to his subordinate, "Oh my, how did Qin Yuanzheng get hurt? He didn't die, did he?"
Looking at the expectant look in Guan Wenjun's eyes, the subordinate realized that Guan Wenjun wasn't asking out of concern for Qin Yuanzheng, but rather as if he was eager for him to be dead.
The subordinate relayed the information he had gathered: "He's injured, but it's still unclear how bad it is. They are keeping a tight lid on the details over there, so it's hard for us to inquire further. But rest assured, he is definitely not dead."
Guan Wenjun: "..."
Guan Wenjun said with a hint of regret, "Ah, so he didn't die? I was just worrying about what his wife would do if he had passed away..."
The subordinate: "..."
What a pity, he really thought Qin Yuanzheng had died.
If Qin Yuanzheng was gone, his little wife was still so young, and her maiden family was thousands of kilometers away. How difficult would it be for a young girl like her to be all alone here?
In that case, as Qin Yuanzheng's good friend, Guan Wenjun would naturally have to pay her a visit to pay his respects and take good care of the young girl.
If it came down to it, he could offer her a warm embrace, a safe harbor...
As Guan Wenjun let his imagination run wild, he started to sigh again.
He grabbed his car keys and said to his subordinate, "He's at the military hospital, right? I'll go see him."
Guan Wenjun then drove out, and halfway there, he spotted Qiao Lanshu waiting for the bus at the station.
When Qiao Lanshu saw Guan Wenjun walking over, she finally snapped back to reality and asked in surprise, "Director Guan? What are you doing here?"
She actually hadn't noticed him at all just a moment ago!
Guan Wenjun looked at her surprised expression and said, "What was going on in that little head of yours just now? I've been here for a while, and you only just noticed?"
Qiao Lanshu: "..."
Guan Wenjun gestured with his chin and said to Qiao Lanshu, "Are you waiting for the bus to the military hospital? I happen to be heading there too. Come on, I'll give you a ride."
If Qiao Lanshu still had any doubts about Liu Weihong's words, her heart completely sank upon hearing what Guan Wenjun just said.
She didn't even have the courage to ask Guan Wenjun about Qin Yuanzheng's situation.
With a stiff expression, she nodded. "Alright, thank you, Director Guan."
Saying that, she got into the car. She sat inside with ice-cold hands and feet, a look of utter helplessness on her face.
Seeing her wear such an expression, Guan Wenjun couldn't help but feel a pang of heartache for her.
If Qin Yuanzheng saw her like this, wouldn't he just tear his heart out for her?
Guan Wenjun muttered, "Is this girl toxic or something?"
How could she be so seductive?
He realized that every time he saw Qiao Lanshu, he would be drawn to her. Seeing her sad made his own heart ache as well.
Wasn't that just like being poisoned?
Guan Wenjun sighed and drove the car toward the military hospital.
...
At this very moment, on the second floor of the military hospital, in Ward 203.
Qin Yuanzheng sat bare-chested on the bed, wearing military trousers and boots. His body and face were covered in black grime. He had rushed out of the mine so hurriedly that he hadn't had time to wash off the coal dust.
A nurse was applying medicine to his arm, while Staff Officer Lin stood beside him, equally blackened and dirty.
Lin Yucheng said, "My dear Regiment Commander, the doctor just said you need to stay in the hospital for a day of observation to make sure everything is fine before you leave. What's the rush? Where are you trying to go?"
Qin Yuanzheng's arm had been smashed by a rock, leaving a rather deep wound.
It happened when he went down into the mine to rescue the workers. He had shielded a worker, which was why he got hit.
He had bled quite a bit at the time, and the deep wound had scared everyone.
Carrying the injured worker out of the mine, Qin Yuanzheng had told his worried comrades, "The bone is fine. It's just a flesh wound."
He could check himself. For them, as long as it wasn't a vital spot and no bones were broken, it wasn't a big deal.
So now, he refused to stay in the hospital. He glanced at Lin Yucheng, who was standing nearby burning with anxiety, and said lightly, "You're not married, and you don't have a wife waiting for you at home. Of course, you don't know what I'm trying to do."
Lin Yucheng: "..."
Qin Yuanzheng: "Anyway, I can't explain it to you. The perks of having a family member... you just can't imagine."
Lin Yucheng: "..."
Lin Yucheng was truly exasperated by Qin Yuanzheng.
He said, "Yes, yes, yes. There are plenty of things I can't imagine. For example, Regiment Commander, you hiding your injury from your family. What if your family finds out and comes looking for you? That scene... oh man, I can't even imagine!"
Qin Yuanzheng: "..."
Qin Yuanzheng pursed his lips. With a dark expression, he said, "As long as you guys don't say anything, she won't know."
Lin Yucheng said, "I'm saying *if*, what *if*!"
Qin Yuanzheng snorted coldly and said, "There are no ifs!"
Anyway, the wound was on his arm, and the doctor had already bandaged it. Since there was no bone injury, he didn't need a cast or anything.
He would rest in the hospital for a day. When he went back at night, he would wear a long-sleeved shirt and not take off his clothes, so his little wife wouldn't see it.
He figured in his mind that a flesh wound like this would probably take ten days to half a month to heal. What a pity. For this half month, he probably wouldn't be able to do *that* with his wife.
If his wife found out and was scared to tears, he would have to be the one to coax her.
