Wherever you are, I'll come find you!

Song Ning nodded. "I'm definitely going to the army base!"

Zheng Chang'an grew anxious. "Ning! Why don't... why don't you come to Bijie with me? You're so good at medicine, you'd definitely pass our hospital's recruitment exam! My mom's the director. I'll ask her to recruit you directly! I'll have her find a way to transfer your household registration and everything!"

"Tsk!" Song Ning looked at Zheng Chang'an with a smile. "So I accidentally made friends with an official's son!"

"Ning! I'm serious! Think about it!"

Seeing that Song Ning wasn't taking him very seriously, Zheng Chang'an steeled himself and said:

"Let me be honest. Even if they're all punished, Lu Changqing has already fallen for someone else. A man like that... nothing good will come of chasing after him! You'd be better off finding another way forward!"

Looking at Zheng Chang'an's earnest face, Song Ning stopped smiling and said seriously:

"Zheng Chang'an! Thank you for saying all this to me! I will put an end to this marriage arrangement, but I can't do it so hastily, here!"

"My grandfather didn't arrange this marriage with Lu Changqing for no reason! And there's more to it than just marriage. Lu Changqing... made my grandfather another promise! Grandfather was still thinking about that promise before he passed away... There are things I need to get to the bottom of!"

"This is a disaster relief site. I can't take up too much of everyone's time and energy with my personal affairs. Besides, only by going to the base can I get what I want and have this matter resolved as fairly as possible!"

Seeing that Song Ning had made up her mind, Zheng Chang'an plopped down beside her and fell silent.

For a moment, Song Ning didn't know what to say either. She had only known Zheng Chang'an for a few days, yet he trusted her far more than she had expected. Right now, he even seemed a little childish.

She was just thinking of saying something to comfort him when Zheng Chang'an sprang to his feet...

"Ning! Then wait for me! One month at most! I'll come find you at the base!"

"F-find me?" Song Ning froze. "At the base?"

"Yes!"

As though he had reached some firm decision, Zheng Chang'an said resolutely:

"I'll be honest with you! I've been an intern at our hospital for two years! Everyone who started with me has already become a full-fledged doctor, but I still haven't been made permanent! Part of it is because my mom holds me to strict standards, but the other reason... is that I really can't work up any interest in the job!"

"But, but now I've found something that interests me! Traditional Chinese medicine! It's not that I'm unsuited to being a doctor-I'm unsuited to practicing Western medicine! Ning! I've made up my mind! I'm going to become your apprentice! I want to learn traditional Chinese medicine!"

Song Ning reached out and felt his forehead. "No fever! So why are you talking nonsense?"

She cleared her throat and said helplessly:

"Zheng Chang'an! Right now, I'm like duckweed without roots. I can barely fend for myself! Even at the base, I'll be living under someone else's roof! I'll have to take life one step at a time. What would you be coming to me for? So we can wander around together?"

"Wander around together? That sounds like a real challenge! We could..."

"Stop, stop-Zheng Chang'an! Focus on your work! Maybe you'll be made permanent when you get back this time! Stay at the hospital and stop getting carried away!"

"Ning! I'm serious! I couldn't be more serious!" Zheng Chang'an stared steadily at her, his eyes reddening.

Song Ning gazed at Zheng Chang'an and realized this wasn't a passing whim. The young man really had made up his mind...

After a moment of silence, she held up one finger.

"One year! Give me one year! Once I've found my footing, we can discuss learning traditional Chinese medicine!"

"A year is too long!"

Zheng Chang'an shook his head. "Six months! Ning! With your abilities, I know you can carve out a place for yourself in just six months! Then, wherever you are, I'll come find you!"

Then Zheng Chang'an held out his hand to Song Ning, as though stubbornly demanding a promise from her.

Song Ning sighed and held out her hand too...

Their hands clasped, and they shook firmly.

In the middle of the night, while Song Ning was asleep, Zheng Chang'an quietly slipped a roll of banknotes into her bag.

Song Ning noticed but didn't move. At daybreak, she secretly slipped it back to him.

She had already received his precious trust. She couldn't accept anything more.

The next day, Han Xiao and Chen Liang came to see Song Ning. They had orders to escort her back to the base.

The rain that had fallen for days had stopped, and the disaster relief work was nearing its end.

After that would come the long process of rebuilding.

More government leaders and local officials would devote their time and energy to carrying on this prolonged battle.

Meanwhile, the troops would withdraw in batches.

To their credit, the leaders hadn't arranged for Song Ning to return to the base with Lu Changqing. Instead, they had her travel with Han Xiao and Chen Liang, whom she had dealt with before. It was a thoughtful touch.

On the journey, Chen Liang, who had never been much of a talker, seemed no different from before. But the normally chatty Han Xiao was also very reserved, as though afraid of saying the wrong thing.

Song Ning knew what they were avoiding. The journey to the Military District would take three days, and this made things awkward for everyone.

Song Ning had no choice but to speak first. "I don't actually mind talking about Lu Changqing! It was just a marriage arranged by our elders. Whether it goes ahead or not, I can accept it! These days, even married couples get divorced. You don't need to avoid the subject!"

Only after Song Ning brought it up herself did Han Xiao sigh and say:

"Honestly, Lu Changqing is a decent man! He's a hardworking, ambitious young fellow! He even earned a major commendation last year! We're in the same regiment, but we really hadn't heard anything about him and Chen Yuting! If we'd known, we'd have warned you sooner!"

Song Ning said, "There was no need to warn me. It's already two years past the wedding date we originally agreed on, so I'd prepared myself long ago! I'm going to the base to get the facts straight. We can't just leave this matter hanging indefinitely!"

Seeing that Song Ning truly didn't mind, Han Xiao spoke more freely:

"That Chen Yuting is famous around the Military District for being a spoiled princess. She's always had very high standards. I heard Regiment Commander Chen even arranged blind dates for her. Who would've thought she'd take a fancy to Lu Changqing..."

Song Ning asked, "Is this Regiment Commander Chen the commander of your 7th Regiment?"

"He used to be! Regiment Commander Chen was wounded on the battlefield years ago. His old injury flared up last year, so he stepped back from frontline duties! Regimental Commander Gu is in charge of the 7th Regiment now!"

Regimental Commander Gu?

Song Ning thought for a moment, then asked, "But from what I saw, Regimental Commander Gu's rank is at the deputy regimental level!"

Han Xiao gave her a thumbs-up. "That's right! After Regiment Commander Chen stepped back, the higher-ups appointed Regimental Commander Gu as acting commander. But because he's so young, they said he still needed to prove himself, so they've held back his promotion! I reckon they'll wait until Boss Gu earns another commendation or something before they consider it!"

"Getting married would do it!" Chen Liang, who hadn't said a word until then, remarked quietly.

Han Xiao paused, then nodded. "True! The older generation thinks marriage means maturity and stability. Maybe once Boss Gu gets married, he'll get that promotion!"

"So, Comrade Song Ning..." Han Xiao turned to her and said:

"Once you're at the base, just let us know if you need any help. If we can't help, Boss Gu definitely can! After all, we're revolutionary comrades who caught human traffickers together!"

Song Ning smiled. "Don't worry! I'll certainly be coming to you for help!"

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