Chapter 17: Deep Eyes

"But I threw that cashmere coat in the trash during your surgery. When I came out of the operating room, your husband only asked about your condition; he didn't say a single word about the coat."

Hearing Jiang Shiyi say this, the woman widened her beautiful phoenix eyes in disbelief, a new spark of life igniting within her once-lifeless gaze.

Jiang Shiyi scrutinized the lingering sorrow on Xue Feifei’s face and immediately pinpointed the root of the problem. Although she preferred not to get involved in the private affairs of her patients, Xue Feifei was still so young; perhaps a young life could find a new beginning through this conversation. Besides, a doctor’s heart is like that of a parent.

Before Jiang Shiyi could continue, Xue Feifei murmured in disappointment, "He just doesn't like me. Because I touched that coat, he didn't want it anymore."

Jiang Shiyi was stunned. Is that really how one interprets it?

Xue Feifei gave a pale smile. "His heart only holds his ex."

After saying this, she felt a pang of discomfort and added, "But it doesn't matter. I am his legal wife now."

Jiang Shiyi was speechless. She was a person who preferred directness, believing that a marriage without communication breeds misery. History had proven this to be true.

Jiang Shiyi took a deep breath and said softly, "I actually think your husband loves you very much."

Xue Feifei was dazed for two seconds before retorting, "He couldn't possibly like me. He has never once told me he loves me. On the contrary, he often stares at the things his ex left behind, dwelling on the past."

"Sometimes, loving someone doesn't require words. Those who say 'darling' at every turn are often the ones most prone to extramarital affairs."

Perhaps because Jiang Shiyi was too blunt, it challenged the woman's existing perceptions, and this time, she did not retort.

Jiang Shiyi continued, "Actually, if you want to know if he loves you, you can just ask him directly."

"Is there any need to ask? If he loved me, would he be dwelling on the past? Besides, what if he says he doesn't love me? Then the veil between us would be torn away completely."

Watching Xue Feifei persist in her narrow-mindedness, Jiang Shiyi lost her patience. "I heard from the nurses that you tried to harm yourself today. You aren't even afraid of death—are you really afraid of tearing through a thin veil of uncertainty?"

As she said this, Jiang Shiyi suddenly wondered: If she ever managed to capture that elusive, high-climbing flower, and the system offered her a chance to return to her original world, would she still be able to remain as rational as she was now?

She could not find an answer. It was all that Big Boss Huo’s fault for being so difficult to conquer, requiring so much of her effort.

Jiang Shiyi quickly tucked away her wandering thoughts. She looked at Xue Feifei and urged, "Anyway, if you intend to continue this marriage, it is best to speak your mind. Honest communication is the most important thing between a husband and wife."

Xue Feifei pondered this, and a smile finally graced her snow-pale face.

"Dr. Jiang, thank you."

Even though she was a complete stranger to Jiang Shiyi, she felt the other woman’s words carried immense weight. She decided to give Jiang Shiyi’s suggestion a try.

Jiang Shiyi would not tell her that she had honed her sharp insight by treating countless patients at international hospitals in her previous life. Some would sell everything they owned to save their beloved, while others would sign "do not resuscitate" orders to save a pittance, even when a small sum could have granted the person at least another decade of life...

That evening, the detachment led by Huo Yixun finished their field training. Having achieved excellent results, Huo Yixun granted them three days of leave.

Mrs. Huo sat on the sofa, applying a face mask, listening with a pained heart as her son complained. He lamented that he had finally finished the miserable days of "chewing tree bark and eating mud," and he intended to spend these three days at home properly nourishing his body. He also howled about how his own older brother had tortured him.

Listening to his wails, Mrs. Huo’s heart nearly broke. As soon as the conversation ended, she immediately ordered the domestic staff to prepare a feast for the next day.

Huo Shaoqin, meanwhile, was deep in thought. He already knew his "fairy sister" had started working at the Second Military District Hospital. Now that he finally had some personal time, he was considering staking out the hospital entrance tomorrow to bring her home. As he thought about it, Jiang Shiyi’s image grew clearer in his mind; before long, he was even fantasizing about their life after marriage...

The following two days were the weekend. On Saturday, near the end of her shift, Auntie Qiao called to ask Jiang Shiyi to come over early the next day, mentioning that she had painted a new landscape and wanted Jiang Shiyi’s advice. Jiang Shiyi readily agreed.

Sunday was Jiang Shiyi’s day off. After waking up, she dressed in simple, elegant clothes, thinking it inappropriate to be too flashy when visiting an elder. She wore a creamy-white long sweater paired with a pink long wool coat. Her black hair cascaded down her back, held loosely by a silver clip, and her light makeup made her look like a lotus flower blooming in clear water—chic and refined.

Half an hour later, Jiang Shiyi was walking down the street, carrying nutritional supplements and a skincare set. Suddenly, a flashy convertible pulled up in front of her. The man in the driver's seat leaned out: "Fairy sister?"

"What a serendipitous meeting! I was just about to head to the hospital to find you; I never expected to run into you on the street."

Huo Shaoqin looked at her with pleasant surprise.

Jiang Shiyi thought to herself: "Whose Siberian husky is this? Can someone keep the gate closed?"

Seeing her hands full, Huo Shaoqin’s expression immediately turned ingratiating. "Where are you going? Let me drive you."

The friend in the passenger seat thought: "Damn! This brat is actually going to forget his brothers for a girl!" There were only two seats in the car; if he was going to drive this girl, where was he supposed to sit?

The next moment, Huo Shaoqin turned to his friend and smiled. "What are you staring at? Hurry up and give up your seat for my fairy sister."

The scene struck Jiang Shiyi as rather amusing. Just as the other man was about to get out, she said, "No need. I can take a taxi myself."

"Hey, it’s not easy to get a chance to spend time with you alone... I mean—" Huo Shaoqin quickly got out of the car and walked up to her. "Fairy sister, I’ve finally managed to find some time. Can’t you have some mercy and give me a chance?"

Jiang Shiyi looked at him expressionlessly. "First of all, I have a name. It’s Jiang Shiyi."

"Secondly, I do not like you. Please stop pestering me."

Huo Shaoqin froze, his heart shattering into pieces.

At that exact moment, a black Mercedes drove by. The scene had naturally been observed by Huo Yixun in the driver's seat. He pulled the car over and watched Jiang Shiyi and Huo Shaoqin’s entanglement through the rearview mirror, his dark eyes deep and inscrutable.

Half an hour later, they met again, this time at Xu Weiguo’s home. Several times, Jiang Shiyi tried to start a conversation with Huo Yixun, but each time, she was ignored as he focused his attention on speaking with Elder Xu.