Chapter 42: The Unraveling

“It’s nothing serious. After two months of recovery, you can resume your duties.”
Who wants to hear such consolation?
Zhang Yanming was truly terrified this time. Until now, things had gone smoothly for him; all his previous missions had been routine, with no life-threatening incidents, and they had even facilitated his promotions.
However, ever since he lost the Zhang family’s protection, he had increasingly been thrust into more dangerous tasks. This time, the enemy even threw a bomb at him. If he hadn’t dodged quickly and pushed the soldier beside him to take the bullet, he might not have made it out alive.
He regretted it but didn’t want to bow his head in front of his family.
It would be better if he were more seriously injured so that he could avoid dangerous missions. Perhaps they would have some compassion for him and soften their stance.
Most importantly, Zhang Yanming had pushed that severely wounded soldier out to block the bullet. If he survived and exposed this incident, he would really have no reason to stay in the army.
After thinking it through, he first told the doctor to notify his wife to come to the hospital to take care of him, then closed his eyes and fell into a “coma.”
He had pretended to be asleep countless times as a child to avoid school, and he was quite skilled at it. At least in such a chaotic situation, as an injured soldier, the doctor wouldn’t suspect him of faking it.
Zhang Yanming’s plan was sound. Miao Xing was a nurse, knowledgeable about such matters. As a couple, with him pretending to be comatose, she would cover for him until their parents felt sorry for him and softened up, and he could then “wake up” naturally.
That was Zhang Yanming’s original plan, but just as he was about to open his eyes and tell Miao Xing the truth, he suddenly received a sharp blow to the head.
This hit left Zhang Yanming dazed.
He only opened his eyes after the ward door closed, utterly puzzled.
A gentle person like Miao Xing, how could she have struck him?
After some thought, Zhang Yanming decided to remain still and keep his eyes shut, withholding his plan from Miao Xing for now to observe the situation.
However, the events that followed only fueled his growing anger.
After the nurse came to apply medicine to him while he was “unconscious,” they intended to change his soiled shirt, caked with dirt and dark red blood.
They struggled to move him and asked Miao Xing, his wife, for help, but she categorically refused.
He was her husband, gravely injured and unconscious, yet she wouldn’t even help him change his clothes.
Zhang Yanming’s face was pale, and his eyes remained tightly shut, but inside he was wrestling with suppressed rage.
He began to doubt his “little darling wife” and what her true feelings for him might be.
He continued to pretend, telling no one, keeping his eyes closed in a perpetual state of “coma.”
Normally, he would think that this charade couldn’t last for long, but Miao Xing seemed indifferent to him. He could move a little during the night without her noticing at all.
Yet, Zhang Yanming didn’t feel happy about not being discovered. In his heart, Miao Xing had always loved him, and he loved her. They would always be together, and she had always shown that love before.
However, since he fell “unconscious,” while she seemed fine in front of others, her attitude towards him when they were alone was worlds apart.
As his suspicions grew deeper, news of his grave condition and prolonged unconsciousness reached the compound.
“I heard he was injured by a bomb and the doctors still can’t figure out why he hasn’t regained consciousness.”
On this day, as usual, a group of women were chatting while making shoe pads, discussing this matter among themselves.
Their expressions carried a hint of sadness.
They weren’t worried because of Zhang Yanming, a guy who wasn’t well-liked; instead, they thought of their own men.
In this era that seemed peaceful, constant skirmishes persisted at the borders. Previously, they heard about minor conflicts, but now a bomb had landed.
It was Zhang Yanming this time; what if their men were next?
This concern weighed heavily on everyone’s sentiment, and their voices fell silent: “A friend of mine works as a nurse in the hospital. She said Miao Xing is taking care of Captain Zhang day and night.”
“Oh, that explains why we haven’t seen her these days.”
The people in the compound, previously biased against Miao Xing because of rumors and Zhou Qianqian’s influence, began to have a different feeling about her after this incident.
People naturally feel sympathy, especially for someone as young as Miao Xing, who had to care for her unconscious husband day and night in the hospital.
“I didn’t expect Miao Xing to be so conscientious. It must be tough for her. They’ve been married for nearly half a year without even a child, and now this happens.”
“It’s not easy; how about this? Let’s set a time to visit the hospital together and bring some gifts.”
If it were Zhou Qianqian facing such a situation, they might hesitate, but Miao Xing, despite making others feel distant, was not like Zhou Qianqian, who thrived on self-destruction.
Her misfortune elicited sympathy, and even the previous hostility towards her faded as they admired her dedication to her husband.
Meanwhile, while they were planning to visit Zhang Yanming and Miao Xing, Lin Shiheng had already arrived at the hospital.
His presence to visit Zhang Yanming was not surprising to others. After all, Lin Shiheng was known for holding no grudges. Before Zhang’s incident, many who didn’t like him had taken the opportunity to make things difficult for him, yet Lin Shiheng, despite having opportunities, never acted against him.
Previously, some had even mocked Lin Shiheng for being too soft, having been targeted multiple times by Zhang Yanming but not retaliating. Now that something bad had happened to Zhang, those who had previously taken action were on edge, fearing Zhang’s family would seek retribution. As for Lin Shiheng, who had done nothing, he felt no concern, and no one laughed at his temperament anymore.