Everyone knew Xiao Yi was joking, so no one took it seriously. However, Sizhe's marriage really needed to be put on the agenda. The kid was somewhat afraid of marriage, but he had finally met his match.
Recently, he was injured while on a mission outside and was arranged to stay at a nearby military hospital. Liang Jing was his attending physician.
Sizhe first saw Liang Jing when she was doing her ward rounds. She lowered her head to check his wounds, asking a few questions from time to time. Long after she left, Sizhe's gaze remained fixed on the doorway.
Liang Jing was extremely responsible in her work, personally checking on her patients' conditions every day. Although she had a cold personality, she was very patient with her patients. The more Sizhe looked at her, the more he liked her, and he immediately had the thought of pursuing her.
Sizhe hadn't told his family about his injury; he only had his orderly taking care of him. He asked the orderly to go out and buy him two nice-looking outfits.
As the saying goes, clothes make the man. He felt that it must be because he looked too scruffy that he hadn't caught Liang Jing's attention.
His injuries were on his arm and abdomen. When he was finally able to get out of bed and walk around, Sizhe draped his new clothes over his shoulders, striking poses while pacing back and forth in the hospital corridors, occasionally even strolling into the doctors' office.
After posing for a few days, he didn't attract Liang Jing, but he did attract quite a few young nurses, which annoyed him to no end.
Seeing that he was about to be discharged, he grew genuinely anxious. He picked a time when Dr. Liang was alone in her office and knocked on the door.
"Regiment Commander Lin? Is there something you need?"
"Hello, Dr. Liang. My name is Lin Sizhe, a soldier from the Rongcheng Military Region. Both my parents are alive, and I have a younger sister. I have never been in a relationship before. I came here to tell you that I have very strong feelings for you. If you don't dislike me, could you give me a chance to pursue you?"
Hearing these words, Liang Jing had no idea how to react. She certainly knew that Lin Sizhe was outstanding; ever since the day he was admitted, many people had gossiped about him, saying that with his handsome looks, they would be willing to marry him even without a bride price.
She considered her own looks to be merely average. She was busy with work every day and had a cold personality. The few blind dates introduced by her family had stopped contacting her after a short time of getting to know each other. Experiencing such a sudden confession for the first time, she felt completely at a loss.
"Regiment Commander Lin, I... I am your attending physician. Please take back what you just said."
Sizhe was raised by Nan Sheng. His stepmother had a very difficult personality, so he had long developed a thick skin. This kind of mild rejection couldn't deter him at all.
"Dr. Liang, if you have concerns, I will wait until I am discharged to officially pursue you. Please rest assured, if you ever feel that I am having a negative impact on your life, I will stop immediately."
After Lin Han left, Liang Jing couldn't even focus on reading the medical records. They say women are a source of trouble, but she felt Lin Sizhe was no less of one.
However, her previous failed blind dates had put a lot of pressure on her. Lin Sizhe was so outstanding, and she didn't know if she should really give him a chance...
Ever since Sizhe's confession, every time Liang Jing did her rounds, there was an unnatural subtlety in their conversations and eye contact. Sizhe was a man of his word; he didn't push her. It wasn't until his injuries healed and he was discharged that he gave Liang Jing his first gift.
"Dr. Liang, I am about to return to the Rongcheng Military Region. Thank you for your care during this time. This is a gift I specially picked out when I went out today; I think it suits you very well."
"Thank you for your kindness, but it is against our discipline to accept things from patients. After you go back, remember to keep your diet light. In a month, you can slowly resume your daily training based on your physical condition."
Liang Jing's gaze toward Sizhe remained calm, but only she knew that ripples had already begun to form in her heart.
Rongcheng was very far from here. Even if he was sincere, he wouldn't be able to keep it up for long, right? Liang Jing tried hard to convince herself not to expect too much.
Sizhe smiled mischievously at this moment. "I've already completed my discharge procedures, so I'm no longer your patient, but your suitor. I will write to you often, and I will save up my leave to come see you. Don't forget me!"
After saying that, he placed a small box on Liang Jing's medical record book and immediately turned to leave. Probably afraid that Liang Jing would return the item, he walked away very quickly.
Liang Jing watched Sizhe's retreating back, silently said goodbye in her heart, and then hid the small box.
After getting off work, she took the item home. Upon opening it, she found a pink fountain pen. It was a style she would never buy for herself, but looking at it now, she found it inexplicably cute.
After returning to the military region, Sizhe wrote a letter to Liang Jing every other week, sharing his daily life and his longing for her. It was only two months later that he received his first reply.
After reading it, he happily called home. "Grandma? Is my mom there?"
"Yes, she has the day off today. Wait a moment!"
Zhong Yanyan thought her grandson had something important to say, so she immediately went upstairs to call Nan Sheng down to answer the phone. "Daughter, your eldest boy is on the phone looking for you. Come down quickly."
Nan Sheng took the phone, and Sizhe started blabbering a whole bunch of things. Nan Sheng rolled her eyes elegantly, thinking to herself that the girl had merely responded, yet her son had practically already picked out the names for their future children.
"I know, I know. Then keep at it. Mom wishes you success in advance!"
After hanging up the phone, Zhong Yanyan asked what had happened.
"Nothing, Mom. And even if it is something, it's a good thing. Your eldest grandson wants to take a wife. Now it just depends on whether the girl is willing to marry him."
Zhong Yanyan had a blind confidence in her grandson. "Of course she'd be willing! I need to take out my bankbook tomorrow. Tomorrow, ask the boy what kind of furniture he wants to buy, and I'll get it all sorted out for him."
Half a year after leaving the hospital, Sizhe finally got some time off. He immediately rushed to the city where Liang Jing was, packed some food from a restaurant, and then headed to the hospital.
It was already past quitting time, but he knew Liang Jing was working the night shift tonight.
"Regiment Commander Lin? Are you here for a follow-up checkup?"
Sizhe had stayed in the hospital for quite a long time, so it was normal for him to be recognized. This was a young nurse who used to run to his ward whenever she had free time.
"No, I came to see Dr. Liang."
After Sizhe knocked on the office door, a "Come in!" rang out from inside, making him happy just hearing it.
"Dr. Liang, long time no see!"
Hearing Sizhe's voice, Liang Jing turned her head in disbelief. "Regiment Commander Lin? Why... why are you suddenly here!"
"I told you, as long as I have a vacation, I will definitely come over. Are you happy to see me?"
Liang Jing stammered, unable to speak. Sizhe didn't push her. Through their correspondence over the past few months, he knew that Liang Jing wasn't the type to easily express her feelings, but she was very sensitive inside, completely different from her cold exterior.
"You haven't had time to go to the cafeteria to eat yet, right? Neither have I. Shall we eat together?" Sizhe opened the lunchboxes, revealing three different dishes.
Liang Jing had previously told herself that if Lin Sizhe could hold on for half a year without giving up, she would be a little braver and accept his feelings. Thus, she took the initiative to pull up a chair for Sizhe...