"Boss! How about... you sleep a little longer?"

Song Ning was merely curious and had no intention of getting involved in other people's affairs...

She quickly pulled her head back and went downstairs, keeping her footsteps light.

But not long after she returned to the Guesthouse, Zhang Qianjin came looking for her.

After he hemmed and hawed for a while, Song Ning finally understood what he meant-

Lu Changqing had told him to return to his unit, saying he no longer needed him at the hospital and that Song Ning would come keep him company tomorrow.

Zhang Qianjin hadn't dared make the decision himself, so he had gone to ask Han Xiao. Han Xiao had told him to ask Song Ning directly.

If Song Ning told him to return, he should return; if she told him to stay, he should stay.

Song Ning fell silent for a moment...

Keep him company?

She had clearly said she would see him tomorrow morning to call off their engagement!

Although the agreement back then had been verbal, both sides had exchanged tokens. They weren't valuable, but they still needed to be returned!

Or was he still worried about being disciplined? Was he making one last attempt?

Seeing Zhang Qianjin's troubled expression, Song Ning told him,

"I will be there tomorrow morning, but I probably won't stay long!"

Only after getting a definite answer did Zhang Qianjin breathe a sigh of relief.

"Then... then I'll stay with the unit tomorrow morning! I'll come over whenever I'm told to!"

As he spoke, he handed her a mesh bag.

"Sister Ning! This is Company Commander Lu's lunch tin. I brought it over! When you go tomorrow, you can get breakfast straight from the cafeteria. Just give them his bed number!"

Song Ning paused, but reached out and accepted it.

Early the next morning, Song Ning picked up breakfast and brought it to Lu Changqing's ward.

Lu Changqing was delighted, though he said politely,

"Song Ning, I hope this isn't too much trouble for you!"

Old Zhang, beside him, joined in the teasing. "Well, well! Young Lu's day has finally come! His wife is bringing him meals!"

Song Ning smiled at Old Zhang. "Old Zhang! You've misunderstood! Lu Changqing and I are calling off our engagement!"

It wasn't as though she couldn't see through Lu Changqing's intentions. He wanted his comrades to think they had a good relationship, simply to prove that there was nothing wrong with his conduct.

But that illusion was meaningless. It would fall apart at the slightest touch.

She didn't want them to keep misunderstanding.

Old Zhang's expression stiffened, and he glanced awkwardly at Lu Changqing.

Lu Changqing merely smiled and spread his hands, looking helpless.

Then a nurse came over to change the dressings and administer injections.

There seemed to be another problem with Old Zhang's wound...

In short, people kept coming and going in the ward.

Lu Changqing said apologetically, "How about next time? There's no need... to rush this, is there?"

Song Ning glanced at the clock on the wall. It was almost time for Gu Zheng's acupuncture.

She stood up. "Then I'll come back in a little while!"

The officers' inpatient wing.

When Song Ning pushed open the door, Gu Zheng was "asleep"!

He had taken off his shirt, though, and was lying properly with his back to her, so it wouldn't interfere with her acupuncture at all.

Song Ning found it a little odd. It was almost noon, yet he was still asleep. Had he stayed up late last night?

Han Xiao wasn't there. Only Chen Liang was keeping watch beside him.

Chen Liang wasn't much of a talker, so Song Ning didn't ask any questions.

The entire acupuncture session was unusually quiet.

Even when she removed the needles and left, Gu Zheng still hadn't "woken up." Song Ning waved to Chen Liang and tiptoed out.

Only after Song Ning had left did Chen Liang look at Gu Zheng, who lay motionless on his side, and say,

"Boss! You... you can wake up now?"

Gu Zheng rolled over and glared at him.

"Mind your own damn business! Since when do you get to tell me when to sleep?"

Chen Liang pursed his lips. "I was just worried you'd... get tired... from sleeping too long!"

But he had barely finished speaking when a nurse's voice came from the corridor.

"Comrade Zhou! Bringing soup for Regimental Commander Gu again?"

Chen Liang's expression changed, and he quickly said, "Boss! How about... you sleep a little longer?"

When Song Ning returned to the main inpatient wing, Lu Changqing's IV was almost finished.

She called a nurse over to remove the needle while she was there.

In fact, the hospital had both nurses and nursing aides. Patients could ring the bell whenever they needed anything.

It was the Military District Hospital, after all, and most of the soldiers had no family members staying with them.

Ultimately, family members were there more to provide emotional companionship.

Song Ning brought over a wheelchair, intending to take Lu Changqing outside to talk.

But Lu Changqing stopped her.

"You want to talk here?" Song Ning glanced at Old Zhang beside them.

She didn't mind, but did Lu Changqing really not mind either?

"No! That's not it!"

Lu Changqing pointed at his leg and said awkwardly,

"I'm sorry, Song Ning! I accidentally fell out of bed just now and tore my wound open again! Could we... talk about this in a couple of days?"

Song Ning looked and saw faint traces of blood seeping through the white gauze wrapped around his leg.

She was sure that if she removed the gauze, the wound would indeed be torn open...

Lu Changqing was the sort of person who would go that far.

Song Ning looked up at Lu Changqing. "Your leg really shouldn't be moved. It's only a few words, so I'll say them here!"

Lu Changqing hurriedly said, "Well, Song Ning! Old Zhang... Old Zhang has something he'd like your help with. Could you..."

Song Ning turned to Old Zhang, who said rather awkwardly,

"Sister-in-law... ah! No! Song, I heard from Company Commander Lu that you're good at traditional Chinese medicine, and you're giving Elder Zhou and Regimental Commander Gu acupuncture now. I... I'd like to ask you a favor..."

Song Ning glanced at Lu Changqing, who stood by with an awkward smile.

"I have an old buddy who used to be in the same company as me. A leg injury from years ago left him with a chronic problem. It hurts terribly whenever the weather changes, and when it's bad, he needs a crutch. I was wondering, if you get the chance, could you... take a look at him?"

Song Ning paused, then told Old Zhang, "All right! If I get the chance, I can take a look!"

Old Zhang was delighted. "Then... great! I'll tell him later!"

When Song Ning turned back to Lu Changqing, his eyes were full of pleading. "Song Ning! Just wait two more days! Only two days. Can't you?"

Song Ning gave Lu Changqing a long look, restrained her rapidly dwindling patience, and finally turned and walked out.

After learning about what had happened between him and Grandpa Song, she didn't want things to become too bitter between them.

It wasn't that she was unwilling to help Lu Changqing.

She simply preferred to help him through her own abilities, rather than remain tangled up in some tenuous relationship or personal obligation.

He was dragging things out simply because he wanted to wait for the disciplinary decision!

After returning to the Guesthouse and eating lunch, Song Ning wanted to head out early and explore.

Rong City was a jewel of the southwest.

Regardless of the era, it was always an important city on Hua Country's map.

In a few days at most, she and Lu Changqing would be able to end their engagement. She wanted to take a good look at this city in the early days of reform and opening up, while also seriously considering where she would go next.

But someone was waiting for her at the entrance to the Guesthouse.

At least, she seemed to be waiting for her!

Dressed in casual clothes, Zhou Yunzhi stood at the entrance and stared steadily at her, her eyes still a little red and swollen.

Song Ning looked around. She was the only person at the entrance.

She could only ask, "Comrade Zhou, what are you..."

"I'm waiting for you!"

"For me?"

"Brother Gu Zheng won't see me, and he won't drink the soup I brought him!"

Zhou Yunzhi's voice was aggrieved, and she looked ready to cry again.

"Uh..."

Song Ning was at a loss for words. Honestly, she didn't know what she should say at a time like this, much less why Zhou Yunzhi had come to her.

She hadn't misunderstood something, had she?

Fortunately, Zhou Yunzhi continued, "Chen Liang wouldn't even let me through the door today. He said Brother Gu Zheng was ill-very seriously ill!"

"I just wanted to ask you how Brother Gu Zheng was doing when you gave him acupuncture today."

Song Ning breathed a sigh of relief and said,

"Well, Comrade Zhou! When I gave Regimental Commander Gu acupuncture today, he really was acting very unusually. He slept the whole time! He didn't say a single word from beginning to end! I even tiptoed out when I left, afraid I'd wake him!"

Zhou Yunzhi asked, "Really? He was still asleep when you went?"

Song Ning nodded firmly. "Yes! I think you should ask Director Li about the details. Director Li should know."

With that, Song Ning waved to her.

"Comrade Zhou! I need to buy a few things in town, so I'll leave you to it!"

She immediately walked away. Better to make a quick escape.

But before she had gone more than a few steps, Zhou Yunzhi followed her.

"Hey! Where are you going? I'm in a bad mood right now. Oh, fine, I suppose I'll do you a favor and keep you company!"

Song Ning froze. Shouldn't you be going to ask Director Li about Gu Zheng's condition right now?