Qin Yuchen's words held not an ounce of mercy.
Fang Ya's face flushed and paled in turns, a mix of mortification and embarrassment making even her lips tremble slightly.
She had never expected that the girl who had just arrived at the family quarters would hold such heavy weight in his heart. She had only been testing the waters with a casual question, yet it had been enough to anger him.
Clenching her hands at her sides, her nails digging deep into her palms, she forced down her emotions and offered a dry explanation: "Yuchen, I didn't mean anything by it. I only thought that girl looked very pretty and seemed to know you, so I couldn't help asking..."
"If you felt I was being intrusive, I apologize."
Her voice grew softer and softer as she spoke, trailing off at the end into a faint, choked sob, as if she had already fully recognized her mistake.
Qin Yuchen's expression was not as icy as before, but it was hardly warm either. In a flat, indifferent tone, he said, "Never mind. I have things to do, I'll be leaving."
Without waiting for Fang Ya to react, he turned and walked straight toward Gu Qinghe, his eyes carrying a soft warmth she had never witnessed before.
Gu Qinghe appeared to be buying candy, chatting with the clerk: "Hello, which are better, the milk candies or the fruit drops?"
The experienced shop assistant smiled as she explained, "That depends on your preferences. The milk candies have less sugar and aren't as sweet, while the fruit drops are richer. If you have a sweet tooth, you might want to try the fruit drops."
Gu Qinghe tilted her head, gazing at the colorful assortment of candies behind the glass counter, and bit her lower lip in hesitation over which to choose.
"We'll take some of both," Qin Yuchen's voice sounded from behind her. "Half a catty of the milk candies, fruit drops, and malted sugar each."
Gu Qinghe glanced back at him. "Buying that much, are we going to finish it all?"
Qin Yuchen handed over the ration coupons and money, his tone casual yet tinged with gentle teasing. "Aren't you here?"
Gu Qinghe froze for a second, then instantly caught his meaning. She widened her apricot-shaped eyes and snapped playfully, "Are you saying I'm a glutton?"
Seeing her puffed-up, indignant look, the warmth in Qin Yuchen's eyes deepened, and the corners of his thin lips curved upward. "No."
"You did, I saw you smiling." Gu Qinghe refused to let the matter drop, determined to make him account for it.
"You saw wrong." Qin Yuchen resumed his usual stern expression, took the packages from the clerk, and smoothly changed the subject. "Aside from candy, is there anything else you'd like?"
Stuck in her momentary pique, Gu Qinghe immediately pointed toward the adjacent shelf and reeled off a list like a chef reading recipe orders.
"Two boxes of peach crisps, some preserved plums, candied fruit, and I want dried apricots too. Let's get some apples and pears as well."
Though Qin Yuchen had teased her moments ago about eating too much, not a single item she named was left behind.
Finally, with both hands filled to the brim, he looked down at Gu Qinghe beside him. "Satisfied now, my dear young lady?"
Gu Qinghe nodded, an air of haughty satisfaction on her face. "Barely acceptable."
...
Fang Ya stood watching quietly from a distance, her gaze fixed on the two of them until they disappeared entirely from the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
In her memory, Qin Yuchen had always been cold and detached—even toward his own flesh and blood he wore an unapproachable frost. Never had he worn such a vibrant, animated expression, lowering his pride to coax someone else.
It was clear that the girl named Gu Qinghe was by no means just a simple "younger sister," contrary to what outsiders claimed.
If she was someone he fancied...
Fang Ya's eyelids fluttered, a bitter, sour ache spreading through her chest. Moving her numb legs, she drifted back to the hospital in a daze.
No sooner had she seated herself in her office than a nurse escorted in a loud, short-haired girl.
"Doctor Fang, you're back just in time. Could you please take a look at this comrade? She accidentally twisted her ankle and it's hurting her terribly."
Suppressing the irritation in her heart, Fang Ya half-crouched to examine the injury.
Before she could even touch the foot she was lifting, the patient winced and complained unhappily, "Ow, ow, ow! Can't you be a little gentler?"
Already out of sorts because of Qin Yuchen and Gu Qinghe, Fang Ya was in no mood to be patient. She deliberately increased the pressure of her grip while keeping her voice level. "How am I supposed to know where you're hurt if I don't examine it?"
The girl pursed her lips and finally fell silent.
At that moment, the door to the consulting room pushed open once more, and a dainty young girl holding a billing slip asked with concern, "How is Xiaotang?"
Su Xiaotang furrowed her brows in pain. "The doctor just looked at it, we don't know the extent of it yet."
Inwardly, she cursed her terrible luck. When it rained, it poured.
Ever since that Gu Qinghe had arrived, nothing had gone right for her over the past two days.
Now she had managed to sprain her ankle during a routine drill; who knew what other bad luck was waiting for her?
Fang Ya, in the middle of writing out a prescription, glanced up at the sound of the newcomer's voice, a flash of surprise crossing her eyes. "Fang Min?"
Hearing her name, Fang Min looked over and realized that the doctor treating Su Xiaotang was none of other than her own older cousin, a well-known surgeon at the military district hospital.
She smiled in greeting. "Cousin, didn't they say you were out? I thought I wouldn't be able to see you today."
Fang Ya could not summon a smile, forcing a bitter, strained twitch of her lips. "Mm, once I finished my business, I came back."
Suspecting nothing, Fang Min nodded and asked, "So, how is my friend's foot?"
Handing over the medicine slip, Fang Ya replied indifferently, "Nothing serious, just a soft-tissue strain. I'll prescribe some liniment. She just needs to apply it and rest for a few days, and she'll be fine."
Su Xiaotang's expression relaxed, shedding the tension from moments before.
Fang Min happily stepped in to support her. "Good to hear. Once we pick up the medicine, I'll walk you back to Commissar Qin's place."
"I suppose that's all I can do," Su Xiaotang sighed.
Fortunately, her foot wasn't broken; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to participate in the upcoming performances, and all the spotlight would have been stolen by others.
Fang Min's mention of "Commissar Qin" caused Fang Ya, who was currently sipping tea, to pause mid-motion. Keeping her expression completely neutral, she asked, "Commissar Qin? Would that be Commissar Qin Hongying from our military district?"
Owing to her connection with Fang Min, Su Xiaotang's attitude toward Fang Ya had softened considerably. She grinned. "As if there's a second Commissar Qin in our military district."
Fang Ya narrowed her eyes slightly, appraising Su Xiaotang. "And you are..."
Before Su Xiaotang could answer, Fang Min chimed in eagerly, "Xiaotang is Commissar Qin's newly adopted daughter. She just joined our art troupe, and we're the best of friends."
A glint flickered in Fang Ya's eyes. Setting down her enamel mug, she stood up to support Su Xiaotang's other side and smiled. "Well, in that case, Xiaotang is my friend too. Fang Min and I will walk you back together in a moment."
—
After leaving the Supply and Marketing Cooperative, Gu Qinghe and Qin Yuchen realized it was already getting late and decided to grab a bite at the state-run restaurant.
Before they even reached the entrance, someone called out from behind.
"Number Two Qin, come over here."
A middle-aged woman dressed in a fashionable outfit with permed curls, holding a portable radio, beckoned to Qin Yuchen with a smile.
Upon seeing her, Qin Yuchen's expression darkened, his sharply chiseled lips pressing into a thin line, as if he had run into serious trouble.
The middle-aged woman seemed well-accustomed to his cold demeanor and strolled over on her own accord.
"What kind of look is that? Your auntie is greeting you, and you won't even acknowledge me, you brat."
Her accent was thick with the distinct flavor of the Northeast.
Gu Qinghe couldn't help letting out a giggle, which instantly drew the middle-aged woman's attention.
After taking a single look, the woman gasped in delight. "Oh my, where did this little girl come from? She's an absolute beauty!"
"Are you seeing anyone? If not, I've got a rascal of a boy at home with a pretty decent background. I can introduce you two."
"... " Gu Qinghe's smile froze on her face.
As for Qin Yuchen, his face was as dark as the bottom of a wok. Had they stepped into a matchmaker's nest today?
Why was everyone and their mother trying to set Gu Qinghe up with someone!