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

The jeep didn't return to the compound; instead, it plunged into a narrow alley in Dongsi.

The afternoon sun slanted through the alleyway entrance, its rays dappled by the densely packed eaves, casting mottled shadows. The air was thick with the acrid smell of coal smoke billowing from every household's stove, mingled with the aroma of roasted cabbage, making one's stomach rumble. The gentle jolt of wheels rolling over the uneven cobblestone path broke the alley's tranquility.

The car stopped in front of an inconspicuous black lacquered wooden door, with a small wooden sign hanging on it, yellowed from smoke – “Old Li Hot Pot”. Ye Zhen said Quanjude and Donglaishun were too expensive, so Gu Zheng thought of this place.

"Get out of the car." Gu Zheng turned off the engine and, without letting Ye Zhen do it herself, got out of the car first and walked around to open the car door for her. His tall figure standing in front of the car door instantly blocked the cold wind that was blowing in from the alley entrance.

He stretched out a hand to protect the top frame of the car door, his voice low: "Be careful not to bump your head. This place is dilapidated, but the meat is exceptional."

Ye Zhen wrapped her military overcoat tighter around herself; it was his, still carrying the crisp scent of tobacco and his body warmth. She stepped out, falling from the cold carriage into the windless zone enveloped by his body.

Pushing open the creaking wooden door, a wave of boiling heat, carrying the rich aroma of meat and the smell of charcoal, rushed out, instantly dispelling the last trace of chill from her body.

The room was filled with smoke, like a giant steamer. A dozen or so low square tables were packed full, the men shirtless, their boisterous shouts of drinking games and boasting rising and falling. The copper pots on the tables were glowing red, the broth bubbling and reflecting off everyone's faces, making them flushed and dripping with sweat. This place had no fancy manners, yet it exuded a vibrant, alive energy.

"Oh! Young Master Gu?"

A plump woman wearing a greasy apron looked up from behind the counter, her eyes lighting up immediately when she saw Gu Zheng. She tossed the rag on her shoulder onto the counter and greeted him with a beaming smile: "What a rare guest! What brings you here today? Same as always?"

Gu Zheng nodded, and his hand that was protecting Ye Zhen slid naturally to her waist, pulling her closer to him, just in time to avoid a waiter carrying a scalding hot pot who was squeezing in from the side.

"Same as always, another serving of sweet fruit rolls for my wife." His voice wasn't loud, but it was very penetrating, enough to briefly silence the noise from the neighboring tables. Countless curious and inquisitive gazes were instantly cast over, only to quickly and discreetly look away.

"Auntie, this is my wife, Ye Zhen." Gu Zheng introduced her, his pride and boastfulness almost overflowing.

The plump woman paused, her gaze lingering on Ye Zhen's face, slightly pale from the long surgery. The girl's eyes were strikingly bright, like the coldest stars in a winter night. She stood quietly beside the powerful man, neither clinging nor shrinking back, a sight to behold in herself.

The plump auntie's wrinkled face broke into a wide smile: "Oh my, this girl is so pretty! She's as delicate as a figure in a painting. I knew you had incredibly high standards, Mr. Gu! All these years without a single move, turns out you've been keeping her hidden away! Wait here, I'll personally go to the kitchen and cut you the best cucumber strips!"

Gu Zheng felt extremely pleased with the praise and led Ye Zhen to sit down at a table that had just been cleaned in the corner.

Ye Zhen had just taken off her coat when Gu Zheng had already started. He picked up the large teapot on the table and poured boiling water over both of their bowls and chopsticks, scalding them inside and out, steam rising from them. Then, he used a spoon to scoop up chive blossoms and fermented bean curd sauce, his long, strong fingers focused intently on mixing the dipping sauce in the small bowl. That seriousness was exactly the same as the expression on his face when he was outside the operating room, staring intently at the glass.

Soon, a copper pot, thinly sliced ​​fresh mutton, neatly arranged tripe and frozen tofu were laid out on the table in a continuous stream.

"Don't move." Ye Zhen had just picked up her chopsticks when a warm, large hand pressed down on her wrist.

Gu Zheng rolled up the sleeves of his military uniform, revealing a forearm covered with several hideous old scars. He used serving chopsticks to pick up a piece of mutton, his arm steady as he deftly dipped it seven or eight times in the boiling water. As soon as the meat turned from red to white, he immediately scooped it out, quickly and precisely rolled it in the sesame sauce he had just prepared, without letting a single drop of sauce drip, and placed it accurately into Ye Zhen's bowl.

"Try it." He raised his chin slightly, his eyes full of expectation and pride, as if to say, "Praise me!"

Ye Zhen looked at the piece of meat in the bowl, which was covered in sauce and still steaming, paused for two seconds, picked it up and put it in her mouth.

The tender lamb practically melted in her mouth, requiring almost no chewing. The rich aroma of sesame sauce mingled with the sweetness of the meat, exploding on her tongue. A warm, satisfying sensation slid down her esophagus into her stomach, like a warm hand soothing her stomach, which had been convulsing from intense tension, and dispelling the last trace of coldness and fatigue remaining after the surgery.

"It's delicious." She spoke, a rare occurrence for her, her voice low, but the tense sharpness in her eyes and brows finally dissipated.

Seeing her unusually relaxed state, Gu Zheng felt a little less heartache in his eyes. He didn't touch his chopsticks, but instead, like feeding his own picky eater, he kept eating, picking up meat and vegetables one after another, quickly piling up the small white porcelain bowl in front of Ye Zhen into a small mountain.

"You eat too." Ye Zhen felt a little uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Watching you eat is more enjoyable than eating it myself." Gu Zheng grinned, revealing his pearly white teeth. He peeled a clove of garlic and popped it into his mouth. Suddenly, he leaned closer and lowered his voice, "Wife, you have no idea. While you're working your butt off in there, I'm out here, my palms sweating buckets."

Ye Zhen paused in her act of picking up food.

Gu Zheng's eyes darkened, his usual carefree roguishness gone, replaced by lingering fear: "I'm not afraid you'll mess things up and embarrass yourself. Reputation is nothing, I'll earn it back for you if you lose it."

He stared into her eyes, his deep gaze filled with a seriousness she had never seen before, and said, word by word, "I'm afraid you won't be able to get over it yourself. What if... I mean, what if that child can't be saved? You'll be trapped inside."

Ye Zhen's knuckles turned white from gripping the chopsticks so tightly.

My heart felt as if it had been scalded by boiling broth, a sharp, piercing pain for a moment, followed by a surge of unfamiliar warmth.

In both her lives, she was seen as a genius, a madwoman, and a surgical machine. She was Dr. Ye, who saved lives, but she was never an ordinary person who felt pain, fear, or collapsed because of failure.

This was the first time someone had seen through the obsession and vulnerability beneath her scalpel.

He saw through her, but he didn't judge her. Instead, he chose to stand behind her, ready to hold up the sky that might collapse for her.

"...Eat quickly." Ye Zhen awkwardly looked away, grabbed a piece of frozen tofu soaked in soup, and with a hint of annoyance, shoved it into Gu Zheng's mouth to shut him up. "Eat and go home, I'm so sleepy."

Gu Zheng grimaced from the burn, but didn't flinch. He chewed on the scalding hot tofu, smiling like a child who had just received candy.

This meal finally had that comforting, homey feel.

Halfway through their meal, the shopkeeper brought over a steaming bowl of sweet and sour fruit rolls. Gu Zheng seemed to remember something and suddenly said, "Oh, right, there's something I need to tell you."

"Hmm?" Ye Zhen responded indistinctly as she ate a sweet and sticky rolled fruit.

"Your surgery stunned all those old experts at the main hospital." Gu Zheng said, his chin practically pointing to the sky, his pride more than if he had received a military medal himself. "That Professor Wang... the old man who was jumping up and down opposing you before the surgery, is completely deflated now."

Ye Zhen raised an eyebrow, poked at the yam puree in the bowl with her chopsticks, and remained silent, waiting for him to continue.

Gu Zheng's lips curled into a playful smile. He leaned forward, lowered his voice, and spoke with a mischievous and smug air, as if he were watching a good show.

"He asked me to tell you that he wants to come see you tomorrow..."

"I'm not here to interrogate you." Gu Zheng looked into Ye Zhen's clear, cold eyes, paused, and then his dark eyes were filled with undisguised pride. He uttered the last two words clearly and deliberately.

"I wanted to ask you for advice."