He was a disabled military officer who doted on his research work in the Northwest.

"You don't know yet, do you?" Liu Fang lowered her voice, her tone gentle as if she were speaking from the heart. "Her name is Shen Tang, and she's Commander Mu's fiancée. But not the original one; the original was an adopted daughter—this is the biological daughter the Shen family just found in the countryside. Commander Mu is ill, and the Shen family couldn't bear to let their adopted daughter marry him, so they forced this biological daughter, who had just been rescued from human traffickers by the police, to take the blame. I heard they even signed a disownment agreement."

Bai Wei's eyes widened, and just as she was about to say something, Liu Fang added unhurriedly:

"However—Commander Mu never acknowledged this marriage. Zhiyuan heard it from the commander himself; the engagement is null and void."

Bai Wei's eyes lit up as if she had heard the most exciting news in the world: "The engagement wasn't acknowledged?! Sister Fang, are you telling the truth?!"

"Of course it's true." Liu Fang's words, seemingly meant to persuade, were actually adding fuel to the fire. "The commander only let her cook a meal out of pity because she was penniless. But then again, with Commander Mu's personality, how could he possibly let a strange woman come and go from his hospital room every day? It's probably just temporary. Once the commander is better, he'll arrange things as before. Why are you arguing with a temporary helper who doesn't even have a home?"

Upon hearing these words, Bai Wei's gloom vanished, replaced by a surge of elation and disdain.

After all that fuss, she turned out to be an unwanted substitute bride! Commander Mu didn't even fancy her!

What is Shen Tang pretending to be so important about? Bai Wei is a legitimate nurse with a city household registration. She has the advantage of being close to the source of the wealth, so why can't she compete for the Mu family's golden rice bowl?

"Thank you, Sister Fang! I know what to do!" Bai Wei straightened her back again, her eyes gleaming with calculation once more, and walked away with the plate in her hand, looking very proud and confident.

Watching Bai Wei's retreating figure, Chen Zhiyuan glanced at his fiancée beside him and sighed, "Fang'er, you're just too soft-hearted. You even spoke up for Shen Tang and tried to comfort her. But Bai Wei really should tone down her behavior."

Liu Fang smiled gently and took his arm: "We're all women, I understand their difficulties. Let's go see the regimental commander."

A warm feeling welled up in Chen Zhiyuan's heart, and he felt that his fiancée was truly the kindest and most virtuous woman in the entire military region.

Unbeknownst to him, Liu Fang's lowered eyes held a different kind of calculation—was it a good thing or a bad thing that Shen Tang's cooking had given Mu Qinghan an appetite? If Mu Qinghan recovered and didn't retire from the army, when would Chen Zhiyuan be able to take over?

She had to find a way to make Shen Tang less "useful".

In the following days, although Bai Wei dared not openly enter Mu Qinghan's ward, she would wander around the second-floor corridor every day under the pretext of "helping to deliver medicine" and "changing water on the way".

She wasn't a member of Mu Qinghan's medical team, but she always seemed to have some reason to appear on this floor. Dr. Chen had bumped into her several times, frowning as he reminded her that this wasn't her ward. Bai Wei would reply with "Just passing by," and then continue as before. Dr. Chen, mindful that she was introduced by a distant relative of the hospital director, couldn't afford to be confrontational and could only turn a blind eye.

Bai Wei just stared at Shen Tang, watching her deliver meals on time every day, watching her perform acupressure on Mu Qinghan, and watching Mu Qinghan go from being indifferent at first to no longer rejecting her approach.

Each time she saw it, Bai Wei's hatred grew stronger.

But she comforted herself: Liu Fang said that Commander Mu hadn't acknowledged the marriage agreement. Shen Tang was just a temporary helper; she'd be kicked out sooner or later.

Day .

After delivering the meal as usual, Shen Tang began to perform the daily acupressure on Mu Qinghan. Today, in addition to the usual Zusanli and Yanglingquan acupoints, she added Huantiao and Weizhong acupoints, using a rolling technique to push from the outside of the thigh all the way down to the calf, applying a deeper pressure than in the previous days.

Mu Qinghan leaned against the headboard, his complexion much better than when he first arrived. Several days of spiritual spring food therapy had greatly improved his stomach ailment, and color had returned to his cheeks. He was no longer the dejected and listless man he had been before.

"Click."

Dr. Chen pushed open the door and came in for his routine ward rounds. He squatted down and gently tapped Mu Qinghan's knees and calves with a small hammer, then reached out and pressed several muscles, his eyebrows rising higher and higher.

"Commander Mu, the elasticity of your leg muscles has recovered by at least 20% compared to last week! The subcutaneous bruising has also mostly dissipated!" Doctor Chen rubbed his hands excitedly, turning to look at Shen Tang as if she were a priceless treasure. "Comrade Shen! Your technique is amazing! Just a few days of auxiliary massage has been more effective than half a month of our physical therapy!"

He pushed up his glasses, looking increasingly incredulous: "The Huantiao and Weizhong acupoints you just added are specifically for the sciatic nerve pathway, right? And the frequency of your rolling motion—I've been observing it for several days, and it's consistently around 120 times per minute—that's textbook standard! Just who is your country bumpkin master?"

Shen Tang continued his fabrication without changing his expression, his hands moving non-stop: "I don't even know the old man's surname. Everyone in our village calls him 'The Madman of Medicine.' They say he worked at a big hospital in Beijing when he was young, but later, for some unknown reason, he was sent down to our poor mountain village. He was very eccentric and wouldn't talk to anyone, except for me. Unfortunately, he passed away a few years ago, leaving nothing behind."

In those days, intellectuals sent to the countryside were scattered throughout every corner of the country; such stories were all too common. Dr. Chen had no doubt whatsoever; instead, he sighed with regret, "What a pity! If only such skilled folk healers were still alive, we could invite them to our hospital to practice!"

He looked at Mu Qinghan seriously: "Commander, I formally recommend that—starting today—Comrade Shen's massage therapy be included in your rehabilitation program. Her techniques have a clear auxiliary effect on your nerve repair, and combined with our medication, your leg… has a very good chance of recovery!"

Mu Qinghan's deep black eyes fell on Shen Tang's calm profile. After a few seconds of silence, he said calmly, "Do as you please."

Shen Tang was overjoyed inside, but remained outwardly calm, simply nodding slightly: "Then I'll give you a massage every day when I deliver your meals. I hope Commander Mu doesn't find it too much trouble."

She glanced at him quickly, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Commander Mu, your health is important. Don't avoid seeking medical help."

Mu Qinghan didn't reply, but just looked at her deeply with his dark eyes.

……

At that very moment, at the corner of the corridor, Bai Wei was gripping the dressing tray tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white.

She heard it all.

Including her in the formal rehabilitation program?! On what grounds?! How dare a country bumpkin without even a medical license steal the limelight from her, a legitimate nurse!

Doctor Chen must have been bewitched by that vixen! He's deliberately taking sides!

In a moment of impulsiveness, Bai Wei disregarded the matter of changing the dressing and rushed towards the dean's office.

"Dean! I want to report this!"