The aloof military doctor arrives at the unit, and the tough guy can't sit still.

"In a ward filled with snoring, it's impossible to study or sleep well."

"I'll go to your bedside; you can stay here."

After Lu Zhenghan finished speaking, he was about to leave first. His tone was calm, but his whole body exuded a strong sense of coldness.

"That won't do. Your injury is much more serious than mine. Not getting enough rest will greatly affect your recovery."

Xia Qiuran quickly stopped him. The regimental commander was sleeping in a regular ward, while she was sleeping in a VIP ward. If the soldiers of the 45th Regiment found out, they would break her back.

To abandon one's superiors for one's own enjoyment—if this were to happen during a time of war, wouldn't that make one a traitor?

She shouldn't do that even if she stays up all night.

"It's alright. This little injury is nothing," Lu Zhenghan said casually.

"No, I'd better go back to my room. I'm not used to sleeping on such a soft bed all of a sudden."

The two argued back and forth, neither giving an inch, each trying their best to be the first to leave the ward.

"Xia Qiuran, this is a military order."

Xia Qiuran opened the door and was about to leave.

Anxious, Lu Zhenghan grabbed Xia Qiuran's slender arm and gently pulled her to his side.

A tall figure suddenly loomed over Xia Qiuran, his broad, upright chest emitting a powerful, thumping heartbeat.

His breathing was steady but slightly heavy, and his warm breath fell gently on her already reddened earlobes.

His gaze was fixed on Xia Qiuran, and the oppressive feeling seemed to want to swallow her whole.

Despite not having made any inappropriate moves, Xia Qiuran was incredibly nervous. Her long eyelashes fluttered in surprise, her face flushed, and her breathing became shallow and rapid.

Lu Zhenghan looked down and saw Xia Qiuran's slightly open collar. Her delicate collarbone outlined a soft line, and with each breath, the tender white skin inside undulated and trembled gently.

Lu Zhenghan's Adam's apple bobbed twice, and the movement of his chest seemed to become more and more obvious. In just a moment, he quickly turned his head away.

His movements were so fast it was as if he had been burned. His gaze fell elsewhere, his neck stiffened, and his eyes regained their usual coldness.

"Stop struggling. You were injured because of me, and I have a responsibility to ensure you receive proper treatment." His tone turned serious and distant again.

Xia Qiuran did not back down this time either. She tilted her head slightly to meet Lu Zhenghan's gaze, her eyes revealing a determination not to give in.

"But this whole thing started because you accompanied me to investigate Li Shuangshuang's family. In the end, it's my fault that I'm being made to suffer. Even though I'm in this comfortable hospital room, I won't feel at ease."

Looking at Xia Qiuran's stubborn appearance, a hint of helplessness flashed in Lu Zhenghan's eyes.

"If we must get to the bottom of this, Sun Xiaocao was a reserve soldier I agreed to enlist in the army. Now that something has happened to her, I also have a responsibility to get involved. So, sending her to a medical vocational school is not just your personal matter."

"You can choose to go back to a regular ward or stay here; it's up to you."

After saying that, Lu Zhenghan turned and walked out.

He sat on a bench in the hospital corridor, leaned back gently, and slowly closed his eyes, as if he had already decided to stay there for the night.

Xia Qiuran stood at the door, her brows slightly furrowed.

The hospital corridors at night are cold and damp, even in summer. If Lu Zhenghan were to sit there all night, he would definitely get sick from the cold, given his current physical condition.

Persuasion is definitely futile; it seems this is the only option.

Xia Qiuran walked over and sat down next to him, calmly saying...

"Commander, this ward is so big, why don't we both stay here?"

Lu Zhenghan's gaze involuntarily shifted to the other person, his eyes showing obvious emotion.

"Xia Qiuran, do you even know what you're saying?"

She just firmly rejected his marriage proposal, and now she wants to be in the same room with him? It's ridiculous!

"Since neither of us wants to stay here alone, why don't we stay here together? That way, there won't be any issue of who's being considerate of whom," Xia Qiuran explained again.

Lu Zhenghan immediately objected: "No way."

"Alright then. I'll sit here and sleep too."

Xia Qiuran stopped arguing and leaned back in her chair to find a more comfortable position, her eyelashes drooping as if she was ready to fall asleep at any moment.

Lu Zhenghan sighed softly and said in a low voice.

"Xia Qiuran, this is an order. Military orders are absolute. Do you understand?"

"Commander, this is a hospital. You're on sick leave right now. We're equals." Xia Qiuran said calmly with her eyes closed.

Achoo!

A moment later, Xia Qiuran sneezed accidentally, sneezed, turned her head and went back to sleep.

Lu Zhenghan took a deep breath, all the grand principles he had prepared stuck in his throat, and in the end, he simply uttered a single sentence.

"go back."

Xia Qiuran squinted and saw Lu Zhenghan walk back to the ward, then revealed a slight smug smile.

After entering the ward, Xia Qiuran deliberately said something to make sure Lu Zhenghan could sleep comfortably in bed.

"Commander, you go to sleep first. I'll sit here and read for a while."

"Can you recognize all the letters? Just look at foreign books that are all dialogues," Lu Zhenghan said casually.

Xia Qiuran choked, wanting to refute but unable to find the words. She indeed couldn't understand the dialogue in the book, but how could anyone say that he couldn't even recognize all the letters? That was too insulting.

"It's just those 24 letters, isn't it? They look almost the same as pinyin, how come I don't recognize them!" she replied somewhat unhappily.

24?

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhenghan was stunned for a moment, then his originally cold jaw suddenly relaxed, and his taut lips slowly curved upwards into a shallow arc.

His usually sharp and cold eyes, devoid of any warmth, softened considerably at this moment.

The contrast was striking, like a snow-covered ice peak suddenly bathed in the warm sun, and Xia Qiuran was unconsciously mesmerized by it.

I never realized Lu Zhenghan's smile was so handsome.

"What are you laughing at? Am I wrong?" Xia Qiuran said with a stern face, quickly realizing what was happening.

"There's nothing wrong with that, but I suggest you add the two letters you missed memorizing before," Lu Zhenghan replied calmly.

Add two letters, and you have 26!

"Yes, there are 26 letters in the English alphabet." Xia Qiuran's cheeks flushed instantly upon remembering this, even redder than when she first entered the ward.

"What's so funny? They've learned too much and just got confused for a moment."

Xia Qiuran pouted slightly, her cheeks puffed out, and her swollen lips looked like a round and plump cherry.

"Besides, this isn't my forte. If I asked you how many types of Chinese medicine there are, and how many ingredients are in each type, you probably wouldn't be able to answer that either."

Lu Zhenghan stopped smiling, a hint of doting flashing in his eyes, and nodded.

"You're right. Everyone has their strengths. You can't compare one person's strengths to another's weaknesses. I shouldn't have laughed just now. I'm sorry."

"Never mind, I'm not that petty."

Seeing that Lu Zhenghan's apology was fairly sincere, Xia Qiuran didn't hold it against him and sat on the sofa to read a book.

After reading for a while, Xia Qiuran frowned more and more as she looked at the continuous text in the book.

She stole a glance at Lu Zhenghan, wanting to ask for his advice but too embarrassed to speak up.