Lin Xiaoxiao had never considered herself a particularly good person, nor was she one to overflow with sympathy.

Right now, everything about Luo Caixia rubbed her the wrong way. She shifted closer to the car door, putting as much distance between them as possible.

Lü Zhigang kept driving while glancing in the rearview mirror at the crowd now far behind them. "Where did all those people come from?" he wondered aloud.

Zhou Huai'an stayed silent. Leaning out of the window earlier had pressed his wound against the frame, and the sudden exertion had clearly aggravated it. A dull, persistent throbbing had set in.

If Lin Xiaoxiao finds out about this, he thought, she's going to be furious.

It took Luo Caixia a while to recover from the shock. Still bound from behind, she twisted around to sit properly, tears welling in her eyes as she stared at the back of Zhou Huai'an's head. "Huai'an, thank you... Are you hurt?"

Lin Xiaoxiao let out a dismissive snort. She glanced at Luo Caixia's pitiful, tear-streaked face—the kind of crying meant to stir sympathy. "How did you even get kidnapped? Weren't you supposed to be resting at home? Don't tell me they broke into your house to grab you."

Caught off guard by the questioning, Luo Caixia stammered, "I... I heard about Zhou Chang'an, and that you'd all gone to the county town... I was worried, I wanted to help."

Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't having it. "Are you a doctor? A police officer? What help could you possibly be? Look at you—you'd just be a burden."

Luo Caixia hadn't expected such direct hostility. Pressing her lips together, she fell silent, unable to form a response.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't care about her intentions; she had no patience for people who overestimated themselves. "If you want to help someone, know your own limits. Don't make things worse and then act all pitiful."

Luo Caixia said nothing more. Arguing was pointless—she couldn't win against Lin Xiaoxiao.Even crying seemed risky now. She turned away, written all over her face.

Surprisingly, Lü Zhigang found himself agreeing with Lin Xiaoxiao. On missions, people like Luo Caixia—well-intentioned but utterly unhelpful—were nothing but trouble.

They didn't stop until they reached the town. Lü Zhigang looked at Zhou Huai'an. "What now?"

Luo Caixia, uncomfortable in her ropes, spoke up softly: "Could you untie me? I can walk back from here."

Zhou Huai'an glanced back. Lin Xiaoxiao was pressed against the door behind Lü Zhigang, eyes closed, clearly ignoring Luo Caixia. Asking her to help was out of the question.

"You go untie her," he directed Lü Zhigang.

Figuring Zhou Huai'an was avoiding any appearance of impropriety, Lü Zhigang got out and loosened the ropes.

Freed, Luo Caixia finally felt like she could breathe again. She rubbed her wrists, her eyes still red-rimmed as she looked at Zhou Huai'an. "Huai'an, I'll go now. Thank you for today."

Zhou Huai'an frowned. "Have a meal in town first. We're heading back to the village soon anyway."

Luo Caixia shook her head. "I shouldn't trouble you further—"

"If he says eat, then eat," Lin Xiaoxiao cut in irritably. "Must you always argue? What if something happens to you on the road? Whose fault would that be?"

Her sharp tone shut Luo Caixia up immediately.

Even Lü Zhigang had to mentally applaud Lin Xiaoxiao. Zhou Huai'an's wife was certainly fierce—but not unreasonable. In fact, she made a lot of sense.

The town had only one small state-run canteen, serving steamed buns and noodles.

Lin Xiaoxiao ordered three tofu-filled buns. Zhou Huai'an and the others got noodles.

With Lin Xiaoxiao there, Luo Caixia didn't dare speak. She'd learned her lesson.

Lin Xiaoxiao noticed Zhou Huai'an sitting slightly hunched, not his usual upright posture. His wound must have reopened, she thought. At this rate, it'll never heal.

She shot him a sharp look and sipped her tea slowly.

Zhou Huai'an knew she'd figured it out. Feeling guilty, he stayed quiet.

When the food arrived, he nudged his bowl toward her. "Do you want some?"

Lin Xiaoxiao's irritation softened slightly. It wasn't every day this stubborn man offered something willingly. She nodded. "Just some broth, please."

Zhou Huai'an got an empty bowl, poured her some broth, and even gave her the sparse spinach from his noodles.

Noticing Luo Caixia's uncomfortable expression, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a little better. "That's enough.After we eat, we're going to the clinic. That wound needs attention, or it'll get infected."

If it had reopened, it might even need restitching.

Luo Caixia looked anxiously at Zhou Huai'an. "Huai'an, your injury still isn't better?"

Lin Xiaoxiao snorted. "He's not a god—wounds don't heal overnight. Maybe a few more rounds of you people making things worse will help him recover faster."

The sarcasm was thick enough to make Luo Caixia shut up again.

Lü Zhigang nearly choked trying not to laugh. Zhou Huai'an's wife is something else.

After the meal, they went to the town clinic—a simple, small compound with two rows of old single-story buildings, six rooms in total.

Lin Xiaoxiao was skeptical. Can this place even handle surgery?

The doctor, who had just started his shift, examined Zhou Huai'an's wound and hesitated. "This needs suturing, but our surgeon is away training in the county. You should go there."

Through a yellowish cloth curtain, Lin Xiaoxiao stepped forward and pulled it aside. The wound, about ten centimeters long, had split open halfway, the flesh raw and exposed.

She turned to the doctor. "Where's the operating room? I'll suture it."

With local anesthesia and the right tools, she could do it herself.

The doctor hesitated. "Are you a doctor? Who takes responsibility if something goes wrong?"

Lin Xiaoxiao pressed lightly around the wound. "He had a splenic rupture. Leaving it exposed like this will lead to infection."

Although she sounded professional, the doctor still wasn't convinced. "I can't allow it. Who's liable if there's a problem?"

"I'll take responsibility," Lin Xiaoxiao said firmly.

Zhou Huai'an trusted her completely. "Let her do it."

Lü Zhigang was stunned. "Sis-in-law, can you really do this? Maybe I should drive him back to the county hospital—it's only an hour or so."

Zhou Huai'an shook his head. "No need. She can handle it."

The doctor reluctantly found a clean mask and rubber gloves for Lin Xiaoxiao. He would administer the local anesthetic.

As she put on the gloves and picked up the surgical needle, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a familiar sense of focus wash over her—like returning to the world she loved most.