Chapter 74 Xie Jingchen Remains Silent
When Ma Nanzheng came to see Xia Fanxing again, he finally overheard these private discussions, which angered him so much that he stopped the doctors and nurses who were gossiping behind his back.
"Nurse Xia and I are friends, you understand? It's not the kind of improper relationship you're imagining at all!"
The doctors and nurses, caught red-handed, nodded repeatedly, assuring that they would never again believe rumors.
As Ma Nanzheng walked down the corridor of the regimental hospital, he always felt that someone was secretly watching him from time to time.
He was both angry and frustrated, and could only scratch his hair a couple of times.
"You've arrived." Xia Fanxing walked out of the ward, carrying medical waste in her hands.
She had just finished caring for a patient.
Ma Nanzheng wanted to get closer to her and talk as usual, but remembering the rumors he had just heard, he stopped in his tracks and asked, "Have you heard? There have been rumors about us lately, and they sound so real."
"I've heard about it," Xia Fanxing said indifferently.
Without stopping her hands, she properly disposed of the medical waste before looking up at Ma Nanzheng. "How have you been feeling lately? Is it because you've finished the medicine I prescribed for you that you come to pick up your next prescription?"
Ma Nanzheng subconsciously replied, "Yes, I finished drinking it. I feel great, my body seems to be getting better and better. And I've also gained quite a bit of weight recently, look at my arms and legs, they're all fleshy now—"
He suddenly realized something was wrong. "Wait! Didn't you hear about it? Why aren't you clarifying things? Are you just letting them slander you like this?"
While washing her hands, Xia Fanxing said, "They've clarified it, but is it useful? I'm sure you clarified it immediately when you heard it, but can they really keep quiet as promised?"
Ma Nanzheng was furious. "Then I won't come looking for you anymore. If I really need something, I'll have someone else pass on the message!"
Xia Fanxing pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands and smiled helplessly, "They'll say we're guilty. If we're really innocent, why don't we dare to meet anyone?"
"I...I..." Ma Nanzheng thought for a long time, but in the end he had no words to refute it.
This rumor is a carefully designed trap. Once it gets out, no matter what he and Xia Fanxing do, they will be wrong and will be unable to clear the doubts in other people's eyes.
Ma Nanzheng said dejectedly, "What should we do now? We can't just let them keep spreading this, can we? If it continues for another two days, it'll probably reach the leaders' ears. It's a small matter if I get punished then, but you've worked so hard to get to where you are today, I can't drag you down with me!"
Xia Fanxing lowered her eyelids, carefully folded the handkerchief, and said casually, "We met because I treated your illness. If you want to prove the innocence of our relationship, you can't exactly go to Haicheng and invite your parents over, can you?"
Ma Nanzheng's eyes lit up, and he suddenly slapped his forehead. "Oh dear, how could I forget about that? Nurse Xia, wait here, I'll go find some witnesses for you right away!"
Ma Nanzheng turned and left, leaving Xia Fanxing both amused and exasperated. She quickly called out to him, "You're not really going back to Haicheng to pick up your parents, are you?"
"Hey, my parents are too close to me, they can't be witnesses at all. I'm going to find the regimental commander!" Ma Nanzheng said, his figure disappearing at the end of the corridor.
Xia Fanxing put the handkerchief back into her pocket, a small smile curving her lips.
She actually had a way to deal with the rumor, but she deliberately didn't address it and let the rumor spread.
She wanted Ma Nanzheng to hear and see it with his own ears, and then let Xie Jingchen know through Ma Nanzheng's mouth.
Qiao Feitian should be able to close the net soon. She wants to see Xie Jingchen's current opinion and attitude towards her, and how he will react to this matter.
·
The next day, Xia Fanxing went to work at the regimental hospital as usual.
She sensed something was wrong as soon as she stepped into the hospital.
Previously, because of the rumors, many secretive eyes would always fall on her, as if if they didn't keep an eye on her, they would miss a good show.
But today, all those gazes have vanished.
Everyone obediently went about their business, their eyes no longer daring to wander, as if someone had put a tight rein on them.
Xia Fanxing had already guessed what was going on when she saw this scene.
Sure enough, after she got off work at noon, she hadn't walked far from the hospital when she saw Xie Jingchen standing not far ahead, looking at her and nodding slightly in acknowledgment.
Xie Jingchen was carrying two aluminum lunch boxes in his hands using a nylon net.
The two arrived at the edge of the playground.
Xie Jingchen sat down directly on the ground, while Xia Fanxing took out a handkerchief, spread it on the ground, and then sat down.
The aluminum lunchbox was opened, revealing glistening, fragrant braised pork that looked incredibly appetizing.
Xia Fanxing enthusiastically exclaimed, "Wow!" "Thank you, Commander Xie, for treating me to braised pork."
Then, she sighed, feigning sadness, "Although I'm now a formal employee of the Production and Construction Corps and a nurse at the regimental hospital, my meals aren't as good as they were back in the agricultural company. After all, back then my rations were all on Commander Xie's tab. I didn't dare to have braised pork every day, but I could eat it once every ten days or so. Unlike now? I can only eat it once a year during holidays. Oh, and you treated me to one."
Xie Jingchen didn't say anything, but his actions spoke volumes.
He picked out all the braised pork from his aluminum lunchbox and put it all on top of Xia Fanxing's rice in her lunchbox.
He looked at Xia Fanxing with deep, dark eyes and asked, "Is it enough? If not, I'll go and get some more."
"That's enough, that's enough. I can't finish all of this. I was just joking." Xia Fanxing picked up a few more pieces and returned them.
She took a bite of the braised pork, and the aroma filled the air. She couldn't help but exclaim, "It's so delicious! It truly lives up to its name as braised pork!"
Xie Jingchen lightly poked the braised pork with his chopsticks, his voice low and deep: "If you want to eat meat, you can put it on my tab, just like before."
Xia Fanxing retorted, "I put it on your tab before because you apologized for what Qiao Feitian did wrong. Now you're asking me to put it on your tab, what's the reason for that?"
"..." Xie Jingchen hesitated, then fell silent.
Once doubts are raised about certain things, they can never be closed again.
Xie Jingchen has privately contacted the Haicheng Public Security Bureau, asking them to help investigate Qiao Feitian's case.
Based on Qiao Feitian's behavior after arriving at the Corps, her identity is very likely fake.
He expects to receive the information he wants from Haicheng soon.
At that time, he can piece together the whole truth from the fragmented information and completely end his relationship with Qiao Feitian.
But before that, he could only remain silent about matters of the heart.
Xie Jingchen abruptly changed the subject, saying, "At last night's regimental meeting, I explained your relationship with Ma Nanzheng to everyone. Don't worry, there won't be any more similar rumors circulating in the future."
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