Chapter 70 Qingyun, wait for me to come back and marry you.

A cold, hard dampness enveloped her, carrying a faint, neutral cedar scent that had been dissolved by the muddy water.

Rong Chengzhou had just waded through water and climbed steep rock walls, his body covered in wet mud.

When I saw him the day before yesterday, he was also covered in mud, but he was afraid of getting her white medical gown dirty, so he would rather stand outside in the pouring rain than come in to hand her anything.

She had long noticed that Rong Chengzhou never came to see her covered in sweat after training. Despite his profession of training being his livelihood, he was always clean and tidy. If he smelled of smoke or alcohol outside, he would take a shower and change into clean clothes before coming into the bedroom to find her.

However, this gentlemanly and considerate man broke the principles he had upheld until now.

He held her tightly in his arms, with such force that it felt as if he wanted to embed her into his bones.

Jiang Mingxue's breathing slowed, and she almost couldn't catch her breath. Her head rested against his chest, and through the damp camouflage uniform, she could hear the beating of his heart.

Rong Chengzhou, who was always calm and collected in the face of danger, was the first person she had ever heard whose heartbeat was so rapid.

So even though she was being held so tightly she felt like she was suffocating, she didn't say anything to remind him. Instead, she gently wrapped her arms around his waist and softly called his name: "Rong Chengzhou".

What worried him so much was her. She explained, "I didn't do it on purpose. The bridge collapsed, and the medical staff couldn't get in, so I jumped..."

“I know.” The man’s deep voice sounded above her head, with a slight, almost imperceptible tremor.

His throat tightened, and he paused for a moment before continuing:

"My Peipei is amazing."

His hoarse voice was incredibly strained, filled with a multitude of complex emotions.

It's pride, it's admiration, it's worry, it's guilt, it's heartache, it's self-reproach...

But more than anything, I was afraid.

They worried that her frail body wouldn't withstand the fierce winds and rain at such a height, that she might have an accident during the descent, and that if the bridge wasn't repaired properly, she would be trapped inside with the disaster victims...

The colonel, who faced the menacing bombers at the border without hesitation, suddenly felt his heart stop for several seconds when he learned that his wife had jumped alone into the deserted mountains.

Protecting the country is clearly a man's job, yet they're pushing a young woman into a dangerous situation.

This was a dereliction of duty on their part as soldiers, and even more so, a dereliction of duty on his part as a husband.

So when he rushed there in the evening, even though he knew she had landed safely and everyone was advising him that it was dangerous in the dark, Rong Chengzhou still climbed the steep rock face alone to build a suspension bridge.

This time, it wasn't to rescue disaster victims, but only to save his brave and fearless wife.

He spent three days and three nights rescuing thousands of strangers from the disaster.

Now, it's time to grant his selfish wish.

Rong Chengzhou tightened his arms and hugged her tightly.

It seems that only in this way can one perceive her presence.

Only then can he feel at ease.

As Jiang Mingxue listened to his slightly trembling voice, a sharp pain shot through her left atrium.

She leaned against his chest and whispered, "Rong Chengzhou, I'm alright now."

The man didn't speak, but simply lowered his head and buried it in the crook of her neck.

Jiang Mingxue took his hand and touched her cheek: "Feel it, it's really okay now."

His fingertips paused for a moment before gently caressing her cheek as if stroking a precious jewel:

"Next time something like this happens, please let me handle it, okay?"

Even if he cannot replace the role of a doctor, he can at least ensure her safety.

Jiang Mingxue nodded obediently several times: "I won't act on my own initiative again next time."

Rong Chengzhou now seems fragile, as if he might break at the slightest touch; she would agree to anything he said.

The man's tightly furrowed brows finally relaxed slightly, but he still didn't let go.

Jiang Mingxue had no choice but to remain still and let him hold her.

Inevitably, the dirt from the military uniform smeared onto Jiang Mingxue's white lab coat, staining the pristine fabric with a few black patches.

People were coming and going in the house, and the passersby were all armed police officers and soldiers who came to evacuate disaster victims. No one disturbed the couple by the window.

After a long while, he slowly let go, took her hand, and said, "Let me take you out first."

Jiang Mingxue nodded: "Okay, I'll get my things."

After saying that, he turned around, walked to the wall, put the unused medical supplies into his backpack, zipped it up, and stood up.

Suddenly everything went black, and he lost all consciousness in an instant, his body falling backward.

"Peipei!" A familiar, deep voice rang out simultaneously, tinged with obvious panic.

Rong Chengzhou's gaze remained fixed on her, and the moment her steps faltered, he alertly strode over.

The moment she closed her eyes, Jiang Mingxue clearly felt her body fall into his arms.

Looking at the man's furrowed brows, she longed to reach out and smooth them down.

But she couldn't lift it up.

I can't even open my eyes.

What should we do?

This will only make Rong Chengzhou worry again.

I didn't want to fall in front of him.

But it still couldn't hold on.

......

The rain finally stopped late at night, and the water level slowly receded after the flood peak.

Under the streetlights, the murky water flowed down the slope of the street toward the drain, gradually revealing the wet base of the wall and the muffled sound of sandbags being moved in the distance.

"Why--"

Jiang Mingxue sighed even in her sleep, complaining that her body was useless and that she had collapsed just as the event was about to end.

Rong Chengzhou held her as they lay down in the makeshift tent, and specially summoned the commander with the best medical skills to check on her condition.

The commander, with a stethoscope around his neck, stood up and said, "It's nothing serious, just overwork. Let Xiao Jiang rest a bit more."

Rong Chengzhou's anxiety finally subsided: "Okay, thank you."

The commander administered several bottles of saline and glucose solution to her, picked up his medical kit, and was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something. He turned back, handed her the ring, which was wrapped in layers of fabric in her inner pocket, and said:

"Xiao Rong, I advised Xiao Jiang not to go today."

Rong Chengzhou took the ring, glanced at him sideways, wondering what he was trying to prove.

"Okay, okay, just know about this."

The commander carefully observed him for a while, and seeing that he showed no signs of anger, he left with peace of mind, leaving the couple some space to be alone.

To avoid being held accountable later, he had to quickly distance himself from the situation.

--

Jiang Mingxue had been busy for three days and two nights, only sleeping for a few hours. In addition, she had been treating disaster victims for eight or nine hours straight without eating, which is why she suddenly fainted.

But she didn't sleep for long, only ten hours before waking up.

She had a nightmare in which the pregnant woman she was taking care of suddenly miscarried.

Her brows furrowed tightly as she shook her head frantically on the folding bed, murmuring under her breath, "No..."

"Peipei, don't be afraid."

"I'm here."

A voice kept comforting her, and she gradually calmed down.

When she opened her eyes again, Rong Chengzhou was sitting beside her bed, looking down at her, his hand tightly gripping hers.

As dawn broke, I peeked through the gaps in the tent.

Rong Chengzhou stayed by her side all night.

The moment he saw her open her eyes, his tense expression visibly relaxed.

Lying on the folding bed, Jiang Mingxue's first question upon waking was, "Rong Chengzhou, how are that pregnant woman and her baby?"

Rong Chengzhou held her hand and told her, word by word:

"Everything is alright now."

"The twenty-six people you rescued yesterday are all out of danger."

Jiang Mingxue breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good."

A faint, helpless sigh echoed from inside the tent. Rong Chengzhou was both angry and frustrated.

"I'm already in this state myself, yet I still have the energy to worry about others."

Jiang Mingxue insisted on clarifying: "I'm fine."

"You fainted and you still say you're fine." The man scolded in a low voice, but couldn't bring himself to raise his voice. "In your eyes, what counts as being fine?"

"Hmm..." She thought about it seriously, "It should at least be the kind where they are unconscious, right? I just need to take a nap and I'll be fine."

Upon hearing this, the man frowned and lowered his voice: "You still want to remain unconscious?"

"..." Jiang Mingxue knew she was feeling guilty, and said softly, "I was just giving an example."

Rong Chengzhou, however, was not appeased. He pulled the blanket up higher and spoke with a somewhat forceful tone:

"Even giving examples is not accurate."

Jiang Mingxue snorted softly, unconvinced, but dared not voice her opinion.

Her small face, barely the size of a palm, was mostly covered by the camp blanket. She complained, "Why are you covering me up so tightly? I'm going to suffocate!"

Rong Chengzhou raised his hand and tore off a bit, revealing her nose: "Are you going to say something unpleasant to upset me today?"

Jiang Mingxue blinked and thought for a moment, then belatedly realized that she had accidentally said "suffocated".

She hid her mouth under the covers, frowned, and muttered an accusation: "Rong Chengzhou, you're too sensitive. Can't we have a proper conversation?"

Rong Chengzhou looked up at her, his expression serious: "I have been trying to communicate with you properly."

He's not the type to joke around; every word he says comes from the heart.

Jiang Mingxue originally wanted to lighten the mood because she was afraid he would worry, but after what he said, she dared not make any more jokes.

Slightly suppressing her laughter, she stretched out her arms from under the covers: "Rong Chengzhou, hug me."

The man moved his fingers, then restrained himself and withdrew them: "I'm dirty."

Jiang Mingxue ignored him, propped herself up on her arms and sat up, leaning forward to hug his neck:

“You got these stains from saving people, I don’t mind that you’re dirty.”

The man paused slightly, then placed his palm on her back.

He felt a distinct sense of bone structure emanating from his palm, and his brow furrowed involuntarily.

She's lost weight again in just a few days.

Jiang Mingxue leaned on his shoulder and said very seriously, "Actually, after experiencing so much these past few days, I understand your profession even better than before."

“My thoughts at the time were the same as yours when you were on the mission. If an adventure could bring peace to more than twenty people, then my life would not just be worth one person, but dozens of families. It’s just that it’s hard for either of us to have it all. I also thought about how you would spend the rest of your life if something happened to me. Would you be very sad?”

Rong Chengzhou tightened his arms, his voice cold and strained: "I can't imagine it."

He couldn't even come up with a plan.

Jiang Mingxue smiled slightly and whispered in his ear:

So, you have to live well too, don't leave me alone, okay?

Empathy is the best form of compassion. After a long silence, Rong Chengzhou solemnly promised her:

"Okay, I will try my best to live."

--

The flash flood has receded, and after five days of emergency rescue efforts, some of the rescue workers are now able to withdraw.

Jiang Mingxue originally wanted to stay and help out for a few more days, but Rong Chengzhou decisively refused. Once she had recovered a bit, he bought her a plane ticket for that day and sent a comrade to take her to the airport.

"The conditions here are harsh, you can't stay long. There's still some finishing work to be done, so I can't leave for now."

Before leaving, he stood by the car, opened the door for her, put the backpack containing food and water in the back seat, and gave her some instructions.

"After you get home, rest for two days before going back to work. While I'm away, remember to eat on time and get enough sleep. Don't try to tough it out when you encounter problems; take care of yourself, okay?"

Jiang Mingxue nodded, her tone slightly perfunctory: "I understand."

I've heard these words so many times.

Rong Chengzhou looked somewhat helpless, unsure how much she had taken in.

"Then I'll be going now."

After he finished speaking, Jiang Mingxue held onto the car door and was about to get in.

"Wait a minute." The man behind her suddenly called out to her.

"What is it now, Colonel Rong?" Jiang Mingxue turned around with amusement. "Is there anything else you want to tell me?"

Rong Chengzhou's jawline tightened: "Indeed, there is one most important thing I forgot to mention."

"Go ahead and tell me," Jiang Mingxue said, stopping in front of him and obediently waiting for him to start rambling about his trivial matters.

The man's thin lips pressed into a straight line, and he suddenly took a step forward, bent down, and hugged her.

A clear, deep voice rang distinctly in her ears:

"Peipei, wait for me to come back and marry you."