Lin Xiaoxiao never expected to become such a hot commodity overnight—and the attention made her more than a little uneasy. Were these people really not concerned about her background?

They were inviting her to work as a doctor at their hospitals, just like that. Weren't they afraid she might end up killing a patient?

Lu Yuanda himself showed up at her door. He didn't seem to care whether Zhou Huaian was home or if it was inappropriate—he got straight to the point. "Come with me to the military hospital. We'll arrange housing for you, and you'll receive the same benefits as a commissioned military doctor. Zhou Huaian can visit anytime, and you'll be able to come home for four days every month."

Lin Xiaoxiao was flattered but hesitant. "Director Lu, it's not that I don't want to go. My health isn't up to it right now. Besides, I don't want to be apart from Zhou Huaian. Seeing each other once a month isn't enough."

Lu Yuanda nearly gritted his teeth. Was this girl really putting a man ahead of her own future? He tried again, patiently but firmly: "We know about your grandmother. She was a remarkable doctor. You should follow in her footsteps—put your career first, embrace the spirit of dedication. Don't let family responsibilities hold you back."

He might as well have said: Don't throw your future away over a man.

He'd never had anything against Zhou Huainan—until now. Suddenly, the man seemed like nothing but a burden.

But Lin Xiaoxiao stood her ground. "I'd better not. My skills aren't that exceptional, and I wouldn't want to let you down. Besides, I'm pregnant now. After the baby comes, I'll be raising a child. I just won't have the time."

If she really went to the military hospital, she'd be stuck in this small city of Longbei—and that was the last thing she wanted.

Seeing her resistance, Lu grew anxious. "After you have the baby, your sister-in-law can help look after it. And as for your surgical skills—I'm not saying you're the best in the country, but you're certainly the finest in the entire province. I won't even ask how you learned. Just come to the military hospital. I'll personally create a file for you."

Lin Xiaoxiao almost laughed. She was only twenty. How impressive could a fabricated file make her? Life experience was something you couldn't fake. Was he going to claim she was some child prodigy who'd been studying surgery since infancy?

Lu Yuanda drank two cups of water and poured out a river of persuasive words, nearly wearing his lips out in the process—but Lin Xiaoxiao wouldn't budge. Finally, he sighed in defeat. "If you won't come to my hospital, at least promise you won't go anywhere else."

"I won't," Lin Xiaoxiao assured him quickly. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll wait right here for Zhou Huainan to return. Wherever he goes in the future, I'll go too."

As Lu Yuanda left, he scowled to himself. Zhou Huainan was nothing but a pretty distraction—how had he managed to cloud Lin Xiaoxiao's judgment so completely?

After he left, doctors from the Municipal First and Second Hospitals also came calling, each hoping to recruit Lin Xiaoxiao. Each was visibly surprised to see how young she was.

But they were too focused on recruiting her to stop and ask how someone so young could possibly be so skilled.

Lin Xiaoxiao declined them all—firmly and directly. She was still young, after all. She was determined to go to university—a top-tier one—and eventually settle in a major city.

After the last visitor had gone, Zhou Xiaoling stared in amazement. "I can't believe it! One incident and suddenly you're famous. All these hospitals fighting over you."

Lin Xiaoxiao shook her head. "This isn't necessarily a good thing. It might even be bad."

If someone made an issue of it—if they started asking how she'd learned to perform surgery, or contacted her biological family—wouldn't she be exposed?

Xiao Yan—damn her—had really stirred up trouble this time.

Zhou Xiaoling looked puzzled. "How could it be bad?"

Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a moment. "Aren't you curious how I knew how to perform surgery?

How I had the courage to open up someone's skull?"

Zhou Xiaoling nodded. "Of course I'm curious! So how did you learn?"

Lin Xiaoxiao had no real explanation. "What if I told you I suddenly learned in a dream? Would you believe me?"

Zhou Xiaoling shot her a sidelong glance. "Do you think I would?"

Lin Xiaoxiao scratched her head, lay down, and sighed. "See? I don't know how to explain it. I just can. Let's just say I've been possessed by some kind of medical genius."

Zhou Xiaoling decided it was time to make dinner—anything was better than listening to Lin Xiaoxiao's nonsense.

Still, as curious as she was, she didn't press further. If Lin Xiaoxiao didn't want to talk about it, that was fine. After all, this incredibly skilled person was her sister-in-law.

......Wang Wenju had been summoned by Zhong Zhiguo and subjected to a fierce dressing-down over Zhang Yimei's accusation letter.

Zhong Zhiguo couldn't very well yell at Zhang Yimei directly—but Wang Wenju was another story. He pointed a finger in his face and snarled, "What the hell is wrong with you? Can't you even manage your own household? If you can't control your own family, get the hell out of here. Don't waste my time."

"I always thought you were a real man. Now I see you can't even keep your own wife in line. Look what she's done! Did she think it's still like the old days?"

"Why did Zhou Huainan ever risk his life for an ingrate like you? Do you have any idea what would've happened to Zhou Huainan and Lin Xiaoxiao if this letter had been written a few years back? Don't tell me you didn't know! If you were any kind of man, you would never have allowed this—and you sure as hell wouldn't have let your woman do something like this!"

The tirade went on, each word more biting than the last. Wang Wenju stood there, flushing red and pale by turns, wishing he could sink through the floor.

He truly hadn't known about Zhang Yimei's actions. If he had, he would never have let her go through with it.

But there was no way to explain that. The fact that the person he shared a bed with could do such a thing without his knowledge only highlighted his own negligence.

Face dark, he left Zhong Zhiguo's office and went straight to the hospital ward.

The old woman was now able to sit up with support and take small amounts of soft food.

But as she drank, the liquid dribbled uncontrollably from one corner of her mouth.

Zhang Yimei, face stern, was feeding her—wiping her mouth with clear disgust—while her child tugged at her clothes, crying, "Mom, up! Hold me, Mom..."

Already on edge from days of stress—worries about money, the exhaustion of pregnancy, a fussy child, and now a helpless mother-in-law—Zhang Yimei finally snapped.

She slammed the bowl onto the bedside table. "Can't you even try to eat properly? Can't you keep the food in your mouth? I have to wash your clothes, the kid's clothes... Do you even care if I live or die?"

Though her body was failing her, the old woman's mind was clear. Seeing Zhang Yimei's tantrum, she reached out weakly with her functional hand, swatting and whimpering in protest.

Zhang Yimei shoved her back. "You old hag! Why didn't you just die when you fell? If you were dead, we wouldn't be in this mess! You're nothing but a burden!"

At that moment, Wang Wenju walked in—just in time to see his wife shove his sick mother and hear her vicious words. Their child was watching everything.

Rage exploded in his chest. He grabbed Zhang Yimei by the arm and flung her aside. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"