After the Luolin earthquake, there were frequent aftershocks. The medical center where Ruan Mian and the others were staying was one of the first to be set up. It wasn’t far from the disaster area. After being affected by the aftershocks that day, Chen Yi reported the situation to higher ups. The leaders of the team discussed and dispatched a batch of fire rescue personnel to quickly set up another emergency medical center near the second one within the next couple days.
The fire department was experienced in infrastructure. In just a day and a half, they used the previous medical center as a model to construct a new one.
On the day of the move, Meng Fuping and several directors had a meeting and decided to transfer some patients to hospitals outside the disaster zone. The remaining patients and medical supplies would all be relocated within the remaining half day.
The new and old medical centers were quite far apart, taking half an hour to walk back and forth. The military dispatched vehicles to transport large items and patients.
Everything else was loaded onto hand carts to be pushed by manpower. Ruan Mian and Lin Jiahui were responsible for taking inventory of the medication. When it was almost done, they followed the last batch on foot to the new medical center.
By then, it was already evening. The ones pushing the cart were the male doctors in the medical team, Fang Cheng. Ruan Mian and Lin Jiahui walked alongside the cart on both sides, holding up the boxes of medication and helping push. All around were the muffled sounds of pebbles being crushed under the wheels.
Halfway there, none of them noticed when a wheel went into a pothole and got stuck. Fang Cheng tried hard to get it out to no avail. He could only sigh, “Oh no, I’m too tired after running around all day. I’m all out of strength.”
Lin Jiahui was also drenched in sweat. She put her hands on her hips, panting, “Alright, no point in us three struggling anymore. I’ll go back and find people. You two wait here.”
“Okay.”
Ruan Mian and Fang Cheng stood by the roadside. The night was serene, and in the distance, sounds and movements intermittently reached them. After a few minutes, Ruan Mian saw the figure of Lin Jiahui approaching, accompanied by two others.
Two very familiar people.
Lin Jiahui trotted over with a big smile, “What a coincidence, I ran into your two high school classmates halfway. I asked if they could help out, you don’t mind right?”
“Why would I mind?”
Ruan Mian retracted her gaze, turning her head to look behind and nodded with a smile at the two coming over.
Chen Yi and Shen Yu each pulled one side and easily got the cart unstuck. They helped push the cart the rest of the way too.
The five of them didn’t talk much on the road, mostly Fang Cheng asking them about the rescue situation.
Ruan Mian and Lin Jiahui trailed several steps behind.
When they arrived at the new medical center, Chen Yi and Shen Yu also helped move the boxes inside. Lin Jiahui handed two bottles of water to Ruan Mian for her to bring them over.
Ruan Mian held the two bottles like they were blocks of iron. She stood at the entrance for a while. By the time everyone was about to leave, she hurried to catch up, “Thanks for the help today.”
“No need to be polite in times like these.”
Shen Yu took the water, “Oh right, our teammate Xiao Zhou, Zhou Zheng, he might not be in the best mood these past couple days. Please keep an eye out for him.”
“Okay, I’ll let the medical team know too.”
Ruan Mian retracted her hands and habitually tucked them into her pockets, glancing at Chen Yi, “You guys should get back to work. I should head in and tidy up too.”
“Alright.”
Shen Yu screwed the bottle cap back on, slinging his arm over Chen Yi’s shoulder as they walked back.
Ruan Mian stood at the medical center entrance and looked back one last time. Their figures quickly disappeared into the vast night.
She sighed softly for no reason, massaging her shoulders as she headed inside.
After Lin Jiahui finished checking off the medication list, she tucked the clipboard under her arm and mysteriously walked over, “I investigated for you.”
Ruan Mian adjusted her white coat, “Investigated what?”
“That high school classmate of yours.”
Lin Jiahui smiled, “Wasn’t there a teammate of his staying here? I chatted with the person last night. Captain Chen is still single.”
“Whether he’s single or not has nothing to do with me.”
Ruan Mian picked up the ward rounds sheet on the side and signed her name under today’s date, “I’m going to get back to work now.”
“Hey…”
Lin Jiahui swiftly grabbed her. Speaking from experience, she said, “Don’t be like that. A man and woman both unmarried, now a rare reunion. How perfect is this? Besides, didn’t you like him before? Now you have this chance, why not seize it?”
“You said it yourself, that was before.”
Ruan Mian pleaded with clasped hands, “My dear sister, I’m begging you, don’t try to play matchmaker for me. I finally got away from my mom. Now you’re doing the same thing. Can you just let me have some peace?”
“Keep being stubborn. You’ll regret it in the future.”
Lin Jiahui let go, “I’m on duty tonight. Go get some rest after rounds.”
Ruan Mian waved the medical record in her hand to show she understood.
After rounds with the other colleagues, Ruan Mian went to say bye to Lin Jiahui before leaving the medical center. Before going back to rest, she dropped by to see Xiaohuo.
This group of disabled children had lived in the local orphanage since they could remember. The oldest one had been there for nine years. Now the orphanage was gone and the teachers had passed away too. The government still hadn’t found a suitable orphanage that could take in so many kids all at once, so they could only be temporarily housed here for now until they were transferred out later.
Ruan Mian went to take Xiaohuo’s temperature and got her to sleep. One boy named Xiaoyuan used sign language to say he needed to use the bathroom. Ruan Mian went over to help him put on clothes and led him out by the hand.
When they got to the bathroom entrance, Ruan Mian squatted down to communicate with him via sign language, telling him to go in by himself and that she would wait outside.
Xiaoyuan was probably afraid in the unfamiliar environment. He clung to her leg, not daring to go in alone.
Ruan Mian helplessly stood up, hesitating on whether she should just take him to a random spot to relieve himself first. A voice suddenly came from behind.
“What’s the matter?”
Ruan Mian’s heart skipped a beat. She turned back to see Chen Yi standing nearby, his tone gentle, “Could you help take him to the bathroom? He’s a little scared to go in alone.”
“Okay.”
Chen Yi walked over a few steps and bent down, saying to the little boy, “Let’s go, I’ll take you in.”
But Xiaoyuan didn’t move, blinking his big eyes and looking at him in confusion.
“He can’t hear or speak.”
Ruan Mian rubbed Xiaoyuan’s head and squatted down to explain with sign language. Only then did he give his hand to Chen Yi.
Chen Yi naturally held his hand and walked forward a few steps. He suddenly turned back and asked, “What did you tell him just now?”
Ruan Mian was taken aback for a moment before explaining, “That uncle is a soldier and will take you in.”
Hearing this, Chen Yi didn’t say anything more. He simply held Xiaoyuan and walked inside.
Ruan Mian stood in place for a while. A few soldiers who came to use the bathroom walked by. She inexplicably felt awkward when their eyes met and took a few steps to the side.
She stood by the grass. There used to be a lake below, but the terrain had changed due to the earthquake, drying up the lake water and exposing the muddy bottom and trash sunk below, giving off a stench.
After a few minutes, Ruan Mian saw Chen Yi leading Xiaoyuan back out. He walked back over and Xiaoyuan broke free of his hand to run towards her.
Ruan Mian took a small step back when he crashed into her. After steadying herself, she gestured to him a couple times. Xiaoyuan looked at Chen Yi again and moved his hands.
This time, Ruan Mian spoke before Chen Yi could ask, “He’s saying thank you to you.”
Chen Yi glanced at Xiaoyuan then raised his head to look at her, catching her off guard by asking, “No need to thank me. How do you say it in sign language?”
“Huh?”
She was startled.
Chen Yi laughed and repeated it again.
Ruan Mian had no choice but to demonstrate the three simple characters. He picked it up quickly after watching once, pulling up his pant legs and squatting in front of Xiaoyuan to mimic her, a smile hanging at the corner of his lips.
At that time, the moonlit night was as serene as water. The inky black sky was full of stars, and the cold moonlight gently spilled hazy glow onto the earth.
Ruan Mian could clearly see his sharp features in the light. She suddenly recalled the teenage boy in her memories, full of vibrant recklessness unlike his current steadiness.
Since reuniting, it seemed like only in that moment did she catch a glimpse of his past self in his features.
In a distracted instant, Chen Yi had already stood up from the ground. His gaze naturally fell upon the person before him, “Let’s go.”
Ruan Mian returned to her senses and led Xiaoyuan to wash his hands.
On the way back, Chen Yi asked, “How do you know sign language?”
“I joined my university’s sign language club and we held some activities at orphanages and welfare institutes. The club president had us learn for a period of time.”
“That’s pretty good.”
Ruan Mian responded with an “mm”, looking at their shadows on the ground. Just like before, she was still taciturn, but no longer had the nervous tension from the past.
Chen Yi accompanied them to the tent area on the way. He didn’t say much either, “Get some rest early.”
“Okay.”
Ruan Mian led Xiaoyuan into the tent. Separated by a curtain, she heard the footsteps leaving outside and softly sighed, bowing her head.
Early next morning, Ruan Mian handed off duties to the colleague who was on night shift. She then went to take care of things in the hall. Today was the time to change Yuzhou’s dressings. The nurse had already helped him over.
His leg wounds couldn’t be unwrapped yet. Only the wound on his forehead needed periodic changing. Ruan Mian walked over and first bent down to flip up his pant leg, “Try to minimize walking these days as much as possible.”
“Got it.”
“Any discomfort anywhere?”
Ruan Mian went over and put on the mask and gloves the nurse had prepared, “Let the center know right away if there’s anything.”
Yuzhou smiled foolishly, “None.”
Ruan Mian responded with an “mm”. She turned on the overhead lamp and removed the gauze on his forehead, “Not bad, healing well. Just two more changes and it’ll be good.”
“Oh, okay, thank you Doctor Ruan.”
“No problem.”
Ruan Mian lowered her head to tidy up her things.
Yuzhou asked again, “Doctor Ruan, I heard Doctor Lin say you and our Captain were high school classmates?”
“Mm.”
“What was our Captain like back then?”
“A ‘pride child of the heavens’1 sort of person.”
Ruan Mian spoke matter-of-factly, “Excellent grades. Teachers and classmates all liked him quite a bit.”
Yuzhou continued to gossip, “Did he have a girlfriend then?”
“Not sure.”
Ruan Mian’s hands kept moving. Not wanting him to keep asking, she casually lied, “We actually weren’t very close.”
Right after she finished saying this, she was startled by a laugh from above.
“Not very close? I feel like you two were pretty close though.”
Ruan Mian and Yuzhou simultaneously looked up to see Shen Yu standing in the doorway with his arms crossed. An expressionless Chen Yi was beside him.
Yuzhou instantly felt the panic of gossiping about the boss behind his back, only to be caught red-handed. Somewhat awkwardly scratching his face, he didn’t dare speak again.
Ruan Mian was thankful for the layer of mask on her face. She retracted her gaze, no longer continuing this topic, and quickened her movements, “Okay, let the nurse send you back.”
After saying this, she got up and went to the side to start cleaning up.
Shen Yu patted Yuzhou’s shoulder and joked, “If you’re so curious about Captain Chen’s past, why not just come ask me? Wasn’t I classmates with Captain Chen too?”
Yuzhou looked just about ready to cry, “Squad Leader Shen…”
Chen Yi glanced at that figure before withdrawing his gaze and propping Yuzhou up, “Let’s go, I’ll take you back to your room first.”
Yuzhou was a little afraid of Chen Yi and kept his heart suspended the whole way. Only when they got to the ward and Chen Yi left did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Coming out of the ward, Shen Yu caught up to Chen Yi, “I remember you were pretty nice to Ruan Mian in high school. At least about the same as Liang Yiran. How come she’s telling others you two weren’t very close now?”
“How would I know?”
Chen Yi’s tone was indifferent as if he didn’t care. By the time they returned to the hall, Ruan Mian was already gone. Shen Yu called another doctor over to change Chen Yi’s dressings.
His wounds weren’t severe, but the recovery was far from ideal. There was still some inflammation.
After the doctor taped it up, he said, “Whenever you guys get a break, come get some IV fluids. The wounds are a little inflamed. I’m afraid waiting longer may lead to infection.”
“We still don’t know when we’ll get a break. I’ll come back to the center after we rest. Thank you.”
Chen Yi put on his coat.
The doctor smiled, “No problem. Just be sure to pay more attention.”
“Will do.”
Chen Yi and Shen Yu walked out shoulder to shoulder. Before even getting to the entrance, they heard the emergency assembly from headquarters. Their hearts tightened and they broke into a run.
When they got to the hall, some injured were being rushed in. Ruan Mian brushed past them, pushing a wheeled stretcher.
- ???? (proud child of heavens) – idiom here used to describe someone exceptional or outstanding. Like someone favoured/blessed by destiny or the divine. ↩︎
Leave a Reply