After being separated from my family, I became a darling of the military region thanks to my medical

Dean Zhou's words, "Head of the Discipline Inspection Team," exploded like a depth charge in Ye Zhen's mind, which was on the verge of collapse due to extreme exhaustion.

Her fingers, which were supporting her against the wall, went slightly numb.

Head of the Discipline Inspection Team.

Inspecting the Beicheng Military Region.

car accident.

When these words are strung together, the answer becomes obvious.

This was not an accident; it was murder.

She saved not just a patient, but a huge problem, a political bomb that could explode at any moment.

Gu Zheng's words, "Can you protect yourself?" echoed in her ears like a ghostly whisper.

It seems... she really can't protect him.

Seeing her face turn deathly pale, Dean Zhou realized he had let something slip and quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Xiao Ye, don't overthink it! You're just a doctor; healing and saving lives is your duty! As for anything else, even if the sky falls, we old folks will handle it!"

Even he himself felt guilty saying those words.

Ye Zhen twitched the corner of her mouth but didn't say anything.

She was so tired that she couldn't even force a fake smile.

All she wants now is to go back to her professor's office, lock the door, and sleep for three days and three nights.

However, fate clearly did not want her to have her way.

She had just dragged herself to the door of the surgical office when the black telephone on the desk rang again.

It was still that kind of urgent, shrill ringing that gave no chance to catch one's breath.

Ye Zhen picked up the microphone almost instinctively.

"Feed".

"it's me."

It's Gu Zheng.

But the voice on the other end of the phone was completely different from the man who had been playing with amusement and chuckling last night.

His voice was cold, hard, and fast, like a drawn military knife, carrying the chill of metal and an unquestionable sense of command.

"Stay in the hospital and don't go anywhere. In the ICU, no one except you and Dean Zhou is allowed to approach that patient. I'll be there soon."

Not a single word wasted; every word read like a military order.

After saying that, the phone call ended.

Ye Zhen stood there, holding the microphone that was still making a "beep beep" sound, lost in thought for a moment.

Is this his true self?

The commander who issues orders on the battlefield.

The young master of the Gu family, whom even Uncle Fu bowed to with utmost respect.

It seemed like she was glimpsing, for the first time, a tiny part of the iceberg beneath his "rogue" facade.

Ye Zhen put down the phone and rubbed her aching temples.

Instead of returning to the specialist building, she turned around and headed towards the ICU.

No matter who he is, no matter how big the storm is, the people lying in the ICU are first and foremost her patients.

As long as she wears this white coat, she has to be responsible for him.

At the entrance of the ICU, Dean Zhou was pacing anxiously. When he saw Ye Zhen coming over, he seemed to have found his pillar of support.

"Xiao Ye, you've come at the right time! Just now... Political Commissar Zhang from the Logistics Department of the Military Region came over, saying he was here on behalf of the Military Region Party Committee to visit and express his condolences to the heroes."

"Hero?" Ye Zhen caught the unusual word.

"Yes," Dean Zhou lowered his voice, "the official statement is that Team Leader Ji crashed into the guardrail while trying to avoid an out-of-control truck, and it was an accident."

accident.

Want to cover up.

Just then, footsteps came from the end of the corridor.

A man around fifty years old, with a kind face, wearing glasses and a crisp military uniform, walked over, surrounded by several officers.

Upon seeing Dean Zhou, he immediately extended his hands warmly: "Old Zhou, thank you for your hard work! On behalf of the military region's Party Committee, I've come to thank you for turning the tide and saving our comrades!"

He is Political Commissar Zhang.

Dean Zhou shook hands with him and introduced him, "Political Commissar Zhang, this is our chief surgeon for this operation, Dr. Ye Zhen, Dr. Ye."

Political Commissar Zhang's gaze fell on Ye Zhen, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, which was quickly replaced by an even warmer smile.

"Wow! A hero emerges from among the young! I never expected it to be such a young and beautiful woman! Expert Ye, you're amazing! You're a great hero of our Beicheng Military Region!"

As he spoke, he started to walk towards the ICU, saying, "Can I go in and check on the comrade's condition? The leaders are very concerned."

"no."

Ye Zhen's cold voice interrupted him directly.

Political Commissar Zhang's smile froze on his face. The officer behind him immediately turned grim.

"The first 24 hours after surgery are a critical period for patients, requiring an absolutely sterile environment, and all visits are prohibited." Ye Zhen stated the regulations expressionlessly, as if she were facing not a political commissar, but an ignorant family member of a patient.

Political Commissar Zhang's secretary couldn't help but rebuke him: "Dr. Ye! Political Commissar Zhang represents the organization, how could you..."

"I'm responsible for my patient." Ye Zhen raised her eyes, her gaze piercing the secretary like an icicle. "If anything goes wrong, will you take responsibility?"

The secretary shuddered under her gaze and immediately fell silent.

Political Commissar Zhang's expression was somewhat unpleasant, but he quickly regained his smile, though the smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Okay, okay, we'll wait outside as the expert says. Dr. Ye, could we speak in private? I have some questions about the patient's follow-up treatment and recuperation arrangements that I'd like to ask you, the chief surgeon."

coming.

Dean Zhou's heart tightened, and he was about to speak up to defend Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen calmly nodded: "Okay."

The two walked to the window in the corridor, where Political Commissar Zhang's two bodyguards stood at a distance that blocked the view of others.

"Expert Ye," Political Commissar Zhang's voice softened, like that of a kind elder, "Were you at the scene of this car accident?"

"When I arrived, the patient had already been taken to the emergency room."

"Oh...so, when the patient was brought in, did they...say anything?"

"Deep coma, unconscious."

"Was the surgery...successful? Were there any...abnormalities?"

"The textbook-level 'damage control surgery' and 'retrograde decompression craniotomy' went very smoothly, without any abnormalities." Ye Zhen spoke each word clearly, emphasizing the two technical terms that he couldn't understand at all.

Political Commissar Zhang's facial muscles twitched slightly.

This flawless answer rendered all his carefully prepared platitudes useless.

He stared into Ye Zhen's calm, still eyes, and suddenly smiled.

"Dr. Ye, you're a smart man." He no longer pretended, his tone carrying a chilling pressure. "Some things, just because you see them doesn't mean you can say them. And if you do say them, you have to take responsibility. You're still young, with a bright future ahead of you. Don't ruin yourself because of things that aren't your business."

A naked threat.

Ye Zhen's heart skipped a beat.

But her face remained completely expressionless.

Just as she was about to speak, an even more imposing figure appeared at the other end of the corridor.

It's Gu Zheng.

He changed out of his hospital gown and into a crisp military uniform, the stars on his shoulders gleaming coldly under the lights. His leg was still in a cast, and he used a cane, but he walked with the imposing presence of a thousand troops.

Behind him, only Xiao Wang was following.

But the moment he appeared, it was as if all the air in the corridor had been sucked out.

Commissar Zhang's pupils suddenly contracted.

Gu Zheng ignored everyone and walked straight to Ye Zhen's side. He naturally reached out and put his arm around her shoulder, encircling her in his protective circle.

This action broke their agreement of "no physical contact," yet it carried an unquestionable sense of possession and protection.

"Political Commissar Zhang," Gu Zheng's gaze passed over Ye Zhen and landed coldly on Political Commissar Zhang's face, "My fiancée has been exhausted for a day and a night. If there's anything you need, talk to me."

He spoke the words "fiancée" with a heavy, somber tone.

Political Commissar Zhang's expression completely changed.

Ye Zhen and Gu Zheng? How could they be...?

"Commander Gu," he forced a smile, "I was just concerned about my comrade, and also wanted to chat with Expert Ye about follow-up treatment..."

"No need," Gu Zheng interrupted him, his tone devoid of any politeness. "From now on, this patient's security will be taken over by the military region's directly subordinate special operations medical team. All visits and inquiries must be approved through my office."

He paused, tightened his grip on Ye Zhen's arm, and a bloodthirsty glint flashed in his unfathomable black eyes.

"Everything in his head, everything in his legs, must remain intact. No one dares to touch it or ask a single question before he wakes up..."

He leaned closer to Political Commissar Zhang, his voice low but sharp as a knife.

"I'll make sure he never has to speak again in his entire life."

Political Commissar Zhang was so frightened by the murderous intent in his eyes that he took half a step back, his face turning deathly pale.

Looking at the man in front of him, who had one arm around a woman and was leaning on a cane with the other, yet resembled a ferocious beast about to go berserk, he knew he wouldn't get any more information out of him today.

"Okay...okay...I'll do as Commander Gu says." He left in a disheveled state with his men.

Silence returned to the corridor.

Gu Zheng released Ye Zhen, looked down at her pale but still calm face, and the violence in his heart suddenly softened.

"Scared?"

Ye Zhen raised her head and met his gaze.

"I just feel that my 'cooperation fee' this year might be less."

Gu Zheng was taken aback, then chuckled softly. The vibration in his chest made his murderous aura lessen considerably.

"Don't worry," he reached out and gently wiped away the light blue under her eyes with his fingertips, a gesture that carried a tenderness he himself didn't even realize, "I'll give you extra money."

Ye Zhen turned her head away.

Gu Zheng didn't care. He withdrew his hand, his eyes sharpening again as he looked at the closed doors of the ICU.

"They failed once," he said, his voice turning cold. "Tonight, they will come again."