Su Lang woke up to excruciating pain.
As the anesthesia wore off, the pain from the surgical incision crashed over him like a tidal wave, forcefully dragging him back to consciousness.
Su Lang didn't make a sound.
He looked at his wife, who was resting her head on the edge of the bed.
Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her face was beautiful and aloof, yet she couldn't hide her exhaustion, making his heart soften at the sight.
Su Lang's throat felt a little dry. He raised a hand to lightly trace Lin Zhilan's features, smoothing out the slight furrow between her brows.
This simple action alone was enough to leave his forehead covered in a layer of sweat.
As if sensing something, Lin Zhilan's eyelashes fluttered, and her eyes suddenly snapped open.
"You're awake?"
Lin Zhilan's hoarse voice could not conceal her pleasant surprise. She quickly sat up and placed a hand on his forehead. Only after confirming his temperature was normal did she let out a long sigh of relief.
Su Lang grasped her hand. "I made you worry."
"You did well. At least you made it back alive," Lin Zhilan teased, though her heartache was evident. "Does the wound hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt." Su Lang couldn't bear to look away from her for even a second.
"Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere else? Are you feeling bloated?"
"No," Su Lang's lips curled into a faint smile. "With you sitting right here, I have absolutely no problems."
Lin Zhilan shot him a sideways glance and naturally took his hand to check his pulse.
His pulse was weak, deep, and slow, floating and unrooted—a typical sign of severe blood loss and a massive depletion of qi and blood.
Yet, Lin Zhilan breathed a sigh of relief.
Su Lang had finally made it through.
As for his depleted body, with her around, she would definitely help him nurse it back to health.
After all, it was only the second day after his surgery. Due to the massive blood loss, Su Lang soon fell back into a deep sleep.
Lin Zhilan gently pried his hand away and stepped out of the ward, running right into Director Zhu, who was doing his rounds.
"Doctor Lin."
"Director Zhu," Lin Zhilan nodded in greeting. "Su Lang woke up for a moment just now, but he's asleep again."
"That's good."
Seeing Lin Zhilan's demeanor, Director Zhu knew that Su Lang was stable this time.
"I'll bring someone to check on his incision. Doctor Lin, why don't you go to the adjacent ward and rest for a while? I heard you were busy all night yesterday."
Director Zhu hadn't been on the night shift yesterday; he only heard about it from the on-duty doctor this morning.
Lin Zhilan glanced at her watch. "No need. I have to make a trip home."
She had left in such a hurry yesterday without explaining anything, and she had no idea how the children were doing.
Director Zhu sighed. "I've already spoken with Director Ye. You don't need to worry about the traditional Chinese medicine department for the next few days. The dean has also contacted the school for you, and your classes will be pushed back."
Lin Zhilan's shoulders relaxed, and she said gratefully, "Director Zhu, thank you so much."
"No need to be polite, it's what we should do." Director Zhu waved his hand, shooing her back to rest.
It was already midsummer, and Lin Zhilan hadn't had the time to freshen up yesterday.
She went home to wash up before riding her bicycle to the village.
The courtyard was quite peaceful. Lin Zhilan pushed the door open to find the two children being kept in the side room by Xu Yueyun to practice their calligraphy.
Liu Feng was helping Auntie Yu tend the fire, while her father-in-law, Su Bingcheng, was nowhere to be seen.
Lin Zhilan didn't disturb them and went straight into her daughter's room.
She really couldn't hold on any longer. Just a moment after lying down on the bed, she fell fast asleep.
When she woke up again, her daughter was sitting in front of her, looking at her with a beaming smile.
Lin Zhilan smiled too and reached out both hands. "Come here, let Mommy give you a hug."
Linlin threw herself into her arms, touching her face with a pained expression. "Mommy is tired."
"Mommy won't be tired after giving you a kiss."
Linlin tilted her face up, acting quite generous. "Kiss then."
Lin Zhilan couldn't help but laugh, planting several kisses on her cheek.
Xu Yueyun had appeared at the doorway at some point. She watched the mother and daughter playing on the bed for a good while before saying, "Alright, stop playing. Get up and eat."
"Coming, Mom."
Lin Zhilan picked up her daughter and walked out of the room.
Su Bingcheng was coming out of the kitchen carrying a pot. Seeing her, he smiled and said, "I thought you wouldn't be back for another two days. I specifically traded for a chicken from a fellow villager to stew for you to nourish your body."
Auntie Yu, who followed him out, wiped her hands on her apron. "I heard from Comrade Wang Rou that you like coconut stewed chicken. This is my first time making it, so my cooking skills probably aren't as good as yours."
Lin Zhilan's heart warmed, and she smiled at her. "I could smell the aroma from the room. It's definitely delicious."
Auntie Yu smiled and rubbed her apron, then turned back to the kitchen to bring out more dishes.
The family sat around the dining table.
With the elders present, Lin Zhilan not only didn't have to take care of the children, but the first bowl of soup Xu Yueyun served was also given to her.
"Thank you, Mom."
Lin Zhilan accepted it without hesitation, thanking her with a smile.
It was easy to lose one's appetite in the summer, but with the coconut chicken paired with a sour and spicy dipping sauce, Lin Zhilan managed the rare feat of eating a few extra pieces.
Seeing this, Xu Yueyun scooped a few more pieces of chicken into her bowl and asked casually, "You left so hurriedly yesterday. Did something happen?"
Lin Zhilan's chopsticks paused for a moment. She picked up some vegetables for her daughter and replied in a natural tone, "A soldier was injured during training. It was quite serious, so I went over to take a look."
"How is he now?" Xu Yueyun frowned slightly.
"It's nothing major," Lin Zhilan smiled. "He's already out of danger, but I might have to stay at the hospital for the next few days. The children will have to stay with you at night."
"You go ahead and do your work, leave the children to me and don't worry." Xu Yueyun agreed readily, though she couldn't help but add a word of concern, "You need to take good care of your own body too. I can see dark circles under your eyes today."
Lin Zhilan had come over today, said nothing, and just slept in the room.
Xu Yueyun knew she must be exhausted.
Lin Zhilan obediently agreed and observed the reactions of the two children.
She originally thought she would have to coax them a bit, but after hearing this, the two children acted as if it was nothing.
"Babies, is it okay if you sleep at Grandma's house again tonight?"
Linlin nodded readily, then glanced at her brother and asked hesitantly, "Then when will Mommy come back?"
Grandpa, Grandma, and her brother had all agreed with her beforehand.
Mommy was busy with work, so she couldn't be too clingy.
Although Linlin had agreed, she was too young to think that far ahead and still couldn't help but ask how long it would be until Mommy came back.
Lin Zhilan didn't brush her off. She told her earnestly, "Mommy is just at the hospital. I'll come back to see you whenever I have free time, just like today."
Only then was Linlin satisfied, lowering her head to eat seriously.
Lin Zhilan patted her daughter's head, feeling a soft ache in her heart.
Jiang Chengzhou stood up, scooped a chicken wing from the pot, and placed it in Lin Zhilan's bowl. "Auntie, just focus on your work. I'll take good care of my little sister, as well as Grandma, Grandpa, Auntie Yu, and Brother Liu Feng."
Lin Zhilan straightened her back and said seriously, "Then I'll leave it to you, Comrade Jiang Chengzhou."
Jiang Chengzhou put down his chopsticks, clicked his heels together, straightened his back, and brought his right hand up to his eyebrow in a salute. "I guarantee to complete the mission!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
After dinner, Lin Zhilan rode her bicycle back to the hospital.
