Chapter 107 Why does this person only have feelings for you?

He subconsciously scratched the back of his head, looking completely bewildered: "What... what's going on?"

The moment the doctor's voice came out, the fear and agitation that had just faded from Cui Hua's eyes surged back up.

She jumped up from the bed and squatted down, clutching the can of yellow peaches on the bedside table tightly, staring warily at the doctor in the white coat.

It seemed as if she was about to throw whatever she was holding at the other person if they took even one step forward.

Jiang Wanqiu frowned and thought for a moment, wondering if... it might be related to the dialect?

Sometimes, she would unconsciously speak with a soft, southern accent, while the doctors and nurses at the health center, including the human traffickers from Zhoujia Village, all spoke with a harsh, northern accent, especially the one from Zhoujia Village, which was very rough and heavy.

Could it be that this accent triggered some unpleasant memories for Xiao Cui?

She pulled the doctor aside and subtly offered her opinion: "...So I think it might be an accent issue? A southern accent or Mandarin without much regional flavor wouldn't bother her."

Seeing Jiang Wanqiu's thoughtful expression, the doctor was quite puzzled. He leaned forward and said in what he thought was perfect Mandarin, but which was actually full of a strong local accent, "I don't think there's anything wrong with my Mandarin. It's pretty standard."

"Pfft..." Jiang Wanqiu almost couldn't hold back her laughter. She quickly covered her mouth with her hand and forced back her laughter, leaving only her bright almond-shaped eyes curved into crescents.

She waved her hand and gave a dry laugh: "No, it's nothing, Doctor, what you said is quite right."

However, the doctor was perceptive and, seeing Cui Hua's condition, knew that he was in the way.

He sighed and said to Jiang Wanqiu, "Alright, you two chat first. I think this girl isn't resistant to you. Sometimes, without injections or medicine, just sitting and chatting with people is more effective than any medicine for mental problems. We call this 'chemotherapy through chatting'."

After the doctor finished speaking, he closed the door and left.

The two of them were left alone in the ward again.

Jiang Wanqiu didn't rush to speak. She unscrewed the malted milk powder can, scooped a large spoonful into an enamel mug, and dissolved it with boiling water from the thermos.

A rich, sweet milky aroma immediately and forcefully dispelled the faint smell of medicine in the ward.

For someone imprisoned for six years and starving, the aroma of such high-calorie, high-sugar food is a deadly temptation.

Sure enough, Xiao Cui, who had been curled up in the corner of the bed, twitched her nose involuntarily, and a glimmer of hope for life finally appeared in her terrified eyes.

Jiang Wanqiu handed over the warm enamel mug, her voice soft and gentle: "Have some, it's sweet, it'll warm you up."

Xiao Cui hesitated for a long time before finally succumbing to the allure of the fragrance and shakily reaching out to take it.

She first carefully brought it to her lips and took a sip, and the long-lost sweet fragrance instantly exploded on her taste buds.

The next second, as if struck by something, her mouth trembled, and she burst into tears without warning.

The cries were shrill and desperate, as if it were an outpouring of all the grievances and fears endured over the past six years.

This sudden shout startled Jiang Wanqiu.

But Xiao Cui cried as she drank large gulps of malted milk powder. She swallowed the scalding tears mixed with the milk, choking and coughing, but she still couldn't bear to stop.

A glass of malted milk powder was quickly emptied.

Strangely enough, after she finished drinking, her earth-shattering crying gradually subsided, leaving only soft sobs.

Jiang Wanqiu waited until she calmed down a bit before speaking up: "Actually... I also come from the south."

Xiao Cui raised her head, and on her small face, which was covered with tears and dirt, her eyes were red and swollen like peaches.

She stared blankly at Jiang Wanqiu, and asked in a hoarse voice, "You...you were also abducted here by them?"

“No.” Jiang Wanqiu shook her head.

Xiao Cui hurriedly said, "Then you must run! There are bad people all over here! They're hitting me and trying to prick me with needles!"

"Don't be afraid," Jiang Wanqiu reassured her. "This is a hospital. Those people in white coats are doctors. They're giving you injections to treat your illness, not to harm you."

She asked tentatively, "Xiao Cui, do you remember where you live? Do you remember your parents' names?"

When the topic of home came up, Xiao Cui's eyes became somewhat vacant and confused, and she just kept shaking her head.

But it was clear that her emotions had indeed calmed down considerably after her conversation with Jiang Wanqiu.

After talking for a while, Xiao Cui touched her empty stomach and whispered, "I'm so hungry."

Once a person relaxes, their five senses will start to function again.

Knowing that she was tired and hungry, Jiang Wanqiu thought it was a good sign.

"It's okay if you're hungry, I'll go get you some food." Jiang Wanqiu said, getting up to leave.

Xiao Cui grabbed her sleeve, her knuckles turning white with nervousness: "If you... if you leave, will they come and beat me again?"

“No, it won’t happen.” Jiang Wanqiu emphasized again, “Listen to me, this is the military region’s clinic, you are safe, no one will hurt you anymore.”

No matter what she said, Xiao Cui's eyes remained filled with panic.

With a thought, Jiang Wanyi conjured something up in her palm.

It was a plump scented candle, housed in a delicate glass.

She brought this from her own room. Back in the South, wealthy young ladies loved to light one in their rooms to fill them with fragrance.

This was the most fashionable thing at the time.

She struck a match and lit the candle.

A delicate and calming lavender scent, accompanied by wisps of smoke, slowly filled the ward.

Xiao Cui, who had been tense all along, smelled the scent and took a deep sniff. For the first time, a look of surprise and delight appeared in her dull eyes.

"This smell..." she murmured to herself, then, as if remembering something, she excitedly pointed to the candle and said to Jiang Wanqiu, "I have one too! I have one exactly the same!"

It's a familiar taste, the taste of home.

Her tense shoulders visibly relaxed, and the wariness and fear in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by extreme exhaustion.

She leaned against the headboard, staring at the scented candle on the bedside table. Her eyelids grew heavier and heavier, and before long, she drifted off to sleep.

Looking at her finally sleeping peacefully, Jiang Wanqiu breathed a long sigh of relief.

She tiptoed out of the ward and specifically instructed the doctor at the door: "Comrade Cui just fell asleep. She was too stressed. Let her get a good night's sleep, it will be good for her recovery. Don't disturb her for now."

The doctor nodded repeatedly, his eyes filled with admiration as he looked at Jiang Wanqiu: "People from big cities like you really know how to do things."

After settling Xiao Cui in, Jiang Wanqiu thought for a moment and went directly to the military region's canteen.

The food in the canteen is always better in terms of appearance, aroma, and taste than what you cook yourself.

It was still some time before lunchtime, and the canteen was almost empty.

Just as Jiang Wanqiu reached the door, a hesitant young male voice came from behind her.

"Excuse me... are you Comrade Jiang?"

Jiang Wanqiu turned around and saw a slender young man in military uniform looking at her awkwardly.

She felt that the person looked familiar, but couldn't remember where she had seen him before.

Seeing her puzzled expression, the other person quickly jogged over and introduced himself, "Comrade Jiang, hello, my name is Le Bai. My sister is Le Yunyun."

Le Bai? Le Yunyun's younger brother?

Jiang Wanqiu then remembered that she had indeed met him once before when they were in the cultural troupe.

"So it was you."

Looking at Jiang Wanqiu's delicate face, Le Bai's ears turned slightly red. He scratched his head and said very sincerely, "Comrade Jiang, I heard about my sister's matter. She was confused and was deceived, causing you so much trouble. I... I apologize to you again on her behalf."

“It’s alright,” Jiang Wanqiu waved her hand. “Your sister meant well; she was also deceived.”

"That's different!" Le Bai insisted. "No matter what, I'm sorry to you. How about this, I'll treat you to dinner today as an apology, okay?"

Seeing his familiar and sincere demeanor, Jiang Wanqiu chuckled inwardly, thinking that this was probably not the first time he had cleaned up a mess for his sister.

The military region's mess hall had several floors, and the officers had special meals prepared for them. Le Bai, familiar with the area, led Jiang Wanqiu up to the third floor.

As he walked, he said, "But Comrade Jiang, you've come at the right time! I heard from my dad that they braised pork hocks today! The taste was absolutely amazing!"

In this day and age, braised pork knuckle is a rare delicacy.

However, the two arrived a bit early. When they got there, the head chef was wielding a large ladle, and the braised pork knuckle in the pot was bubbling and tumbling in the rich braising liquid, exuding a wonderful aroma, but it wasn't quite done yet.

The head chef waved his hand: "You guys are too early! It needs to simmer for another hour! Find a place to sit and wait!"

The head chef had a loud voice, but Le Bai wasn't annoyed by being yelled at. He just chuckled and led Jiang Wanqiu to sit down at a gleaming octagonal table next to him.

"Comrade Jiang, please sit down for a while. I'll get you a glass of water." Le Bai solicitously picked up the thermos on the table and poured half a glass of hot water into the thick-bottomed glass in front of Jiang Wanqiu.

The small kitchen on the third floor, with only three or four tables, was specifically for high-ranking officials to dine at, but it was currently empty.

In the corner behind the food serving area, a large pot was bubbling away, releasing a rich aroma of meat mixed with the salty fragrance of sauce. This aroma forcefully filled the air, permeating the entire room and making everyone's stomachs rumble with anticipation.

Jiang Wanqiu's fair and delicate face flushed slightly in the steam, adding to her gentle and charming appearance reminiscent of the Jiangnan water towns.

She thanked him and pondered how to ask Le Bai to pack another portion for herself and take it to Cui Hua.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the stairwell.

A woman with two braids and wearing an old work uniform came up carrying an empty basin.

She seemed to be there to retrieve something. She went straight to the locker as soon as she arrived, muttering something under her breath, looking indignant.

Her steps abruptly halted as her gaze swept over the octagonal table.

Sun Xiaomei stared intently at the figure sitting at the table.