Nan Sheng sat in the chair, and Lin Han immediately reached out to hold her hand. Nan Sheng asked the nurse first before allowing him to take it.
Lin Han’s gaze was fixed on Nan Sheng’s face, revealing the relief of surviving a great ordeal and a deep appreciation for their reunion. Just as he was about to speak, Nan Sheng gently shook her head and spoke softly.
“Your lips are chapped; your throat must be really dry, right? Don’t rush to talk yet. We have plenty of time once you feel better. The doctor said you were shot and need to rest properly—no stressing yourself.”
“I and the baby are here at the hospital, with Little Hou looking after us. The military district leaders have also come to see you. Once your condition stabilizes, there won’t be any more visiting restrictions. You have to stay strong, okay?”
Lin Han nodded firmly. After being shot, he had been thinking: if he really died, given Nan Sheng’s character, she would have to raise their two children alone.
She was still so young, with her own dreams and ambitions. How could he bear to let her shoulder that burden for him?
That’s why he insisted on staying conscious, holding on until the military doctor arrived to treat him. Luckily, he made it through.
Although Nan Sheng urged Lin Han to speak less, he couldn’t help himself. Seeing the dark bruises under her eyes made him ache with worry.
“Darling, I’m already much better. The wound doesn’t hurt as much. When you leave, find a place to get a good rest. Don’t worry about me.”
Thinking of the pills in their shared space, Nan Sheng asked the nurse, “His mouth is really dry. When can he drink water?”
“You can start feeding him with a soft tube now, but be careful not to move too much and disturb the wound.”
Nan Sheng stayed in the ward for fifteen minutes before the nurse politely asked her to leave. There was no chance to give him the medicine yet—they had to wait for the right moment.
Outside, Little Hou and the two children kept asking about Lin Han’s condition, chattering nonstop.
“Don’t worry, he’s very clear-headed now. As for when he can be cared for by his own people, we still have to wait for the doctor’s orders.”
Little Hou had been dozing on the bench for hours the night before. Even the toughest person couldn’t endure two days straight without rest.
Taking advantage of his distraction, Nan Sheng went out and brought back a few hearty dishes. After he finished eating, she sent him to the ward to sleep. He slept soundly until evening, waking up to find dinner laid out on the table.
Standing at the ward door, the young man looked embarrassed. He was supposed to be taking care of the commander’s family, but now he had become the one being cared for.
Nan Sheng noticed and gave him an easy way out. “Don’t blame your sister-in-law for being tough on you. You still have to keep watch tonight. The treats are just a bribe!”
Little Hou scratched his head and smiled, thinking that his sister-in-law had such a kind personality—not like other commanders’ wives who treated their aides like slaves.
Another night passed, and Lin Han continued to improve without any recurring fever. The doctor told them that family members could now freely enter the ward.
Having learned from previous experience, everyone thoroughly disinfected themselves before entering to protect Lin Han’s health. The young nurse gave them some precautions before leaving.
Now, she didn’t need to stay in the ward all day—she would only come by for IV changes and to check his temperature.
Before entering the ward, Nan Sheng had already told the two children not to touch Lin Han casually. Seeing them crying pitifully, Lin Han gently patted each of their heads to comfort them.
Probably because it tugged at his wound, he unconsciously frowned. Nan Sheng noticed and told him to lie still and not speak anymore.
Little Hou said a few words to Lin Han before going to wait by the door. The single ward was small, and it was already crowded with everyone inside. Somehow, he managed to borrow three chairs, so Nan Sheng and the kids all had a place to sit.
Around noon, a young nurse brought the medicine and explained to Nan Sheng how many times a day Lin Han needed to take it. Knowing that Lin Han wasn’t in a condition to move easily, she kindly suggested, “You can crush the pills and dilute them in water, then feed it to him through a soft tube like drinking water.”
Nan Sheng’s heart leapt with hope—this was the opportunity she’d been waiting for.
She turned away and took the pills out from the storage space. Fearing the effect might be too strong, she only crushed half the pill and dissolved it in water for Lin Han’s first dose. When he took the second dose, Lin Han even questioned, “Why does it suddenly taste so bitter?”
To hide her nervousness, Nan Sheng teased him, “Lin Tuan Zhang, a fearless soldier who’s not afraid of guns, and yet you’re scared of bitter medicine?”
The two kids saw their dad was doing well and stopped being scared. Hearing their mom teasing their dad, they giggled along. Lin Han smiled with them, wishing the smiles would never leave his wife and children’s faces.
That night, Nan Sheng had Little Hou take the two kids back to the ward to sleep for a while, promising to come back at ten to relieve him. Little Hou was obedient and immediately took the two kids away.
Lin Tuan’s gaze at his sister-in-law was full of tender affection—of course, he was going to be well-behaved!
Nan Sheng wiped Lin Han’s hands and feet and asked if his wounds still hurt. “The kids aren’t here now. If it hurts badly, don’t hold back.”
Lin Han shook his head. He was surprised to find he could move a little now and that the pain had lessened.
“It really doesn’t hurt. Honey, it’s just uncomfortable lying down.”
Nan Sheng understood this feeling. Many patients who stayed still for too long developed bedsores, so she regularly massaged Lin Han’s arms and legs. But she dared not let him turn over, fearing the wound might tear open.
“Why haven’t you asked me if this gunshot wound will leave any lasting effects? What if you can’t be a soldier anymore?”
Nan Sheng was especially curious about this. On TV, patients always woke up and immediately asked about their condition, then fell apart upon hearing bad news.
But Lin Han was different. Ever since waking up, he’d been optimistic, seemingly unconcerned about his future.
Lin Han smiled and squeezed his wife’s small hand, his tone calm and steady. “Being alive is already a blessing. I don’t dare hope for too much.”
He was true to his military career. Even if he couldn’t serve as a soldier anymore, he could transfer to another role. As long as the family could be together, what else could he want?
Nan Sheng didn’t fully understand how powerful the medicine was. Splitting one pill into two doses for Lin Han had a remarkable effect—his recovery far exceeded the doctors’ expectations.
By the fifth day in the hospital, he was already able to get out of bed and walk around, and his wound was healing exceptionally well.
Once his health improved, he started thinking about going home. He knew his wife’s job was important, and she couldn’t just stay by his side in the hospital all the time. So, when the doctor came for the rounds, he asked if he could go home to recover.
Nan Sheng shot him a sharp look. “What’s the rush? The conditions here are better than in the county hospital. You’d better stay put for a couple more days.”
Lin Han immediately shut up, intimidated by her stern tone. Little Hou and the child didn’t dare to say a word either. At the top of the food chain, there was only Nan Sheng.
However, after examining Lin Han’s wound, the doctor said it wasn’t serious. He could take medicine and get injections at the county hospital just the same. He just needed to come back for a follow-up in two weeks.
Lin Han felt wronged and didn’t dare to argue. The message was clear: whether he could go home or not, his “boss” at home had the final say!
