When Zhou Ang saw the patient's name, she only felt it was somewhat familiar.
She worked in orthopedics and was on standby in case of emergencies, though she wasn’t required to enter the operating room.
"Should we contact the family? What if…"
Zhou Ang listened as the men in military uniforms spoke.
"Go to the family quarters and bring Aunt Yang and Comrade Qin here. Call Dean Hu."
Zhou Ang suddenly looked up. She remembered—Niannian’s husband was named Shen Xianjun, Aunt Yang’s son.
"I’ll make the call. Niannian and Aunt Yang are at my place. I’m Niannian’s sister-in-law."
Zhou Ang stood up and spoke, already picking up the receiver to dial.
As the dean, Dean Hu had a telephone at home for convenience. When the phone rang, Professor Wen glanced at it, assuming it was Zhou Ang calling because she missed her child.
"Hello…"
"Mom, let Aunt Yang take the call. Her son is in critical condition at our hospital."
Professor Wen froze at the voice on the other end, momentarily stunned, but she still handed the phone to Yang Yufen.
"Hello, Xiao Zhou?"
"Aunt Yang, this is Political Commissar Zhao. Xianjun is in emergency care at the military hospital. We’ve already sent a car to the family quarters to pick you and Comrade Qin up."
Yang Yufen took a deep breath.
"Alright, I understand."
She hung up, and Professor Wen muted the TV, leaving the room in silence.
"Family…"
Professor Wen didn’t know what to say.
"I know. I’ll go find Niannian. She needs to be told about this."
Yang Yufen couldn’t muster a smile. Professor Wen stood and accompanied her outside.
"Mom, Professor Wen, you’re here too."
"Niannian, Xianjun’s had an accident. He’s in emergency care at the military hospital. The car will be here soon to pick us up. Stay with the children—I’ll go check on him. If anything happens, your sister-in-law will call you."
"Mom, let me go with you. The children can stay with Professor Wen."
Qin Nian couldn’t hide her worry.
"No. If the worst happens… it’s better you don’t see it."
Yang Yufen stopped her firmly. If that reckless boy didn’t make it, she didn’t want Niannian to suffer. The memory of Niannian’s accident was still fresh—the children could live without a grandmother, but not without a mother.
Yang Yufen braced for the worst. The military vehicle arrived quickly, pulling up right in front of the Hu residence.
"Aunt Yang, I’m sorry."
"It’s fine. If he doesn’t pull through, it’s just fate—like his father before him."
Compared to last time, Yang Yufen’s emotions were different now.
"We’ve mobilized the best doctors to treat Xianjun. Why didn’t Comrade Qin come with you?"
"The children need their mother. I can’t take that risk."
At her words, everyone present lowered their heads.
"He’ll be fine. That boy’s always been tough. I’ll wait for him here."
Yang Yufen couldn’t force a smile. She wiped her face, only then realizing tears had streaked down her cheeks.
She stood silently outside the operating room, neither crying nor making a scene. Everyone waited with her, watching as medical staff hurried in and out, the scent of blood and disinfectant mingling in the air as time ticked by.
"The surgery was successful, but the next few days will determine whether he wakes up. The shrapnel pierced his abdomen and damaged his kidney. There’s still a risk of infection—we can’t say for sure if he’ll pull through."
Yang Yufen didn’t understand the medical jargon, but she grasped the gist—he was alive for now. Her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.
"The patient requires specialized care and can’t be moved to a regular ward yet."
Yang Yufen looked at Zhou Ang.
"Family can’t see him yet, but don’t worry, Aunt Yang. I’ll update you immediately if anything changes. There’s no need to bring food either—he can’t eat."
Zhou Ang quickly reassured her.
"Thank you. In that case, I’ll call Niannian and tell her not to come."
There was no point in her waiting here if she couldn’t see him or even bring meals. She couldn’t leave the children alone for so long.
"Aunt Yang, don’t worry. Comrade Shen Xianjun was injured serving our country. We’ll arrange dedicated care for him. As long as he’s stabilized, he’ll pull through."
Political Commissar Zhao also stepped forward to comfort her.
After keeping vigil all night, Yang Yufen accepted that she couldn’t see him and didn’t want to trouble the officers further. She returned home with Zhou Ang.
When Qin Nian received the call and learned he was alive, her sleepless heart finally settled a little.
Hospital
"You’d better pull through, kid. You’ve earned a major merit this time—the higher-ups are promoting you three ranks. Before, your experience was too limited, and your achievements were held back. But this? You fought for it with your life. Don’t mess it up now!"
Political Commissar Zhao spoke to the unconscious Shen Xianjun. Nearby, the nurse Zhang Lingling paused briefly before continuing her tasks—changing his IV and checking his vitals before stepping out.
Over the following days, Shen Xianjun’s condition fluctuated. Each time he was rushed back into surgery, Yang Yufen returned to the hospital.
Qin Nian’s leave was short. The nation needed talent, and every second lost was a step behind their rivals. By the second day of the Lunar New Year, she had thrown herself back into work.
When Shen Xianjun was wheeled into surgery for the second time, Qin Nian insisted on accompanying Yang Yufen. But by the third and fourth times, Yang Yufen refused to let her come.
After the Lantern Festival, the kindergarten reopened. True to his word, Hu Zhenghao escorted the twins to school each morning before sprinting to his own classes.
"Just survive these seven days, kid. No more trips to the OR—every time is a heart attack. Your old mother’s waiting for you out here."
As spring breathed life into the land, Shen Xianjun finally turned a corner after over a month in a haze of unconsciousness. By the end of March, he was stable enough to be transferred to a regular ward.
"Mom…"
On his first day in the new room, Shen Xianjun opened his eyes to see his mother.
"At least you recognize me. I thought a coma that long would’ve turned you into an idiot."
Yang Yufen’s tone was sharp, but her hands were gentle as she poured water, wetting a cotton swab to soothe his cracked lips.
"Aunt Yang, let me handle it. Your hands are too firm—Comrade Shen just woke up and might not be fully aware. I’ve been caring for him this whole time. I know how to do this."
Zhang Lingling entered and hurried to the bedside when she saw Shen Xianjun awake. Though her words rubbed Yang Yufen the wrong way, she stepped aside—especially since the IV bag was nearly empty.
Zhang Lingling deftly replaced the IV, helped Shen Xianjun drink, and examined his wounds. Instead of leaving, she fetched a basin from under the bed to fetch water.
Thanks to special arrangements, the room had its own bathroom.
