RMM – Chapter 4 Getting Discharged First

The sun was shining brightly outside, and the sky was clear, but Su Ruo’s mood was anything but bright.

Just moments ago, He Wen had come with Lu Yue and Duan Wei under the pretense of visiting a patient, only to disturb her once again.

From He Wen’s words, Su Ruo finally understood the full story behind the real Su Ruo’s fall down the stairs.

That day, Xi Yuechen and Su Ruo had a grand and lively wedding. Just as everyone was preparing to start the traditional wedding night mischief, Xi Yuechen received a call. With just one sentence—”I have a mission”—he left in a hurry, leaving behind a room full of excited guests staring at each other in bewilderment.

The newlywed bride, Su Ruo, began removing her jewelry while cheerfully urging everyone to continue drinking and having fun. She said she was tired and wouldn’t be joining them any longer. She also reminded them to have some self-awareness and leave once they’d had their fun, so they wouldn’t disturb her sleep.

Before anyone could react, an even greater tragedy struck. As Su Ruo spoke and walked past the staircase, she somehow missed a step and tumbled down, accompanied by a sharp scream. She hit her head in the process and passed out immediately. When she was rushed to the hospital, the doctors nearly issued a critical condition notice—one could imagine just how serious the fall was.

“Ruoruo, you really had a brush with death this time. You have no idea—I almost thought you’d never wake up again while you were in a coma. Memory loss is fine as long as you’re alive. You’re pretty tough, huh?” He Wen sighed, patting Su Ruo’s shoulder.

“Exactly! Surviving a disaster means future blessings await. Ruoruo, who knows? Your days ahead might be filled with nothing but sweetness,” Duan Wei chimed in, looking forward to a bright future on Su Ruo’s behalf.

A brush with death? The real Su Ruo was already gone; she was just an imposter. But of course, there was no way she could say that out loud. As for those so-called “future blessings,” they were pure nonsense. She didn’t even know what her next step should be, let alone how to handle her baffling “older husband.” Where was this so-called sweetness supposed to come from?

After He Wen and the others left, Su Ruo gazed out at the clear sky. Somehow, she found herself thinking about her “cheap husband.” She wondered how things were on his end. The rainy season was almost over; it probably wasn’t too bad now, right?

“Ruoruo, bad news! Something happened!”

Zhang Huaqing’s panicked voice rang out, accompanied by hurried footsteps.

“Ruoruo, Xiao Chen is in trouble!”

Her usual elegance shattered by urgency, Zhang Huaqing had no time to maintain appearances.

“What happened, Mom?” Su Ruo’s heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively asked.

“Xiao Chen collapsed while trying to save someone! He was overworked, suffered a stomach hemorrhage, and was rushed to the hospital. The doctors said that if they had delayed any longer, it could have been dangerous!”

“Then… how is he now?”

“He’s still unconscious, and the situation doesn’t look good,” Zhang Huaqing said, her expression heavy with worry.

In reality, it wasn’t as severe as she made it sound. He was indeed unconscious, but it was due to exhaustion, which wasn’t uncommon. The stomach hemorrhage had been treated promptly, and he was no longer in any real danger. Zhang Huaqing had deliberately exaggerated the situation in front of her daughter—who knew what she was up to?

“Oh.”

After her initial reaction of slight surprise, Su Ruo quickly regained her composure and responded with an indifferent tone.

What kind of reaction was she supposed to have? To her, Xi Yuechen was nothing more than a stranger—at most, a husband in name only. He didn’t stir up even the slightest ripple in her heart.

Zhang Huaqing looked at her daughter’s calm and detached expression and suddenly didn’t know what to say. After a long moment, she reached out and tapped Su Ruo’s forehead lightly, chiding her with feigned annoyance, “You silly girl, what do you mean by ‘oh’? That’s your husband! What if something really happens to him?”

Hearing this, Su Ruo replied with a grin, “Your daughter has amnesia—how could I remember any husband? He really does feel like a stranger now. And even if something happens to him, isn’t that what you and Dad are here for?”

“Nonsense! Have you forgotten how to speak properly after just two days in the hospital?”

As soon as Su Ruo finished speaking, a familiar voice rang out from the doorway. However, this time, it lacked its usual warmth and was instead laced with clear displeasure.

Startled, Su Ruo immediately shut her mouth.

Although Su Feng had been treating her quite gently these past few days—so much so that even Su Heng complained about their father’s favoritism, saying he couldn’t even bear to raise his voice at her—Su Ruo knew better than to take advantage of his kindness.

Ever since she first saw Su Feng walk into the hospital in his military uniform, she hadn’t dared to act too casually in front of him. The olive branches on his epaulets nearly blinded her with their brilliance. No wonder he always carried an air of authority—one that was impossible to conceal.

Su Ruo had suspected before that her current family background wasn’t ordinary, but she had never imagined it was this prestigious. After that realization, she had developed a deep sense of caution toward this “father” and never dared to act out in front of him.

Now that this “cheap dad” had overheard her outrageous words, how could she not be afraid? Especially when he was clearly expressing strong discontent.

Seeing her daughter, who had just recovered from a serious illness, looking so frightened, Zhang Huaqing couldn’t bear it. She turned to glare at Su Feng and scolded lightly, “Why are you being so fierce? Do you think she’s one of your soldiers? It was just a joke—can’t she even make one?”

“Hmph, a joke? Even jokes have their limits. What would people think if they heard her say that?” Su Feng frowned slightly, his tone displeased.

Su Ruo knew she had misspoken and quickly admitted her mistake. “Dad, I was out of line. I’ll be more careful in the future. Please don’t be angry.”

Zhang Huaqing also spoke up to smooth things over. “See? She knows she was wrong. As long as she corrects herself, don’t dwell on it. By the way, why are you here today?”

Su Feng glanced at his daughter, who had her head lowered, and let the matter drop. Following his wife’s lead, he said, “The disaster situation in the south has improved. The rescue troops sent out by the military district have all returned, so I came by since there wasn’t much else to do.”

“It’s good that the disaster has improved. These frequent calamities really unsettle the people. Oh, by the way, have you heard about Xiao Chen?”

As Zhang Huaqing spoke, she walked over and took Su Feng’s military jacket from him.

“Yes, I heard. His reinforcement unit performed well this time—he might even receive a commendation,” Su Feng said in a calm tone, but there was unmistakable appreciation in his words. It seemed that he was quite satisfied with this son-in-law.

“He worked himself into the hospital—how could he be fine? By the way, I heard that Xiao Chen is going to be transferred to this hospital?” Zhang Huaqing asked casually, though her gaze subtly swept across Su Ruo’s face.

Su Ruo, however, kept her eyes down, quietly listening to their conversation without revealing any emotion.

Unaware of his wife’s little observation, Su Feng simply answered, “Yes, the troops have already been withdrawn. It’s inconvenient for Yuechen to stay there alone, so they’re transferring him back. He didn’t even get to take his full wedding leave before, so he might continue his leave after coming back and take the time to recover properly.”

Hearing her husband’s words, Zhang Huaqing was pleasantly surprised. If he was saying this, it meant that Xiao Chen’s leave would definitely be approved. That was perfect—he could rest and recover while also spending time with Ruo Ruo to develop their relationship. A married couple that barely saw each other once a year—how could they build any feelings? If things went on like this, their relationship might never deepen.

Sometimes, Zhang Huaqing also wondered if marrying Ruo Ruo to Xi Yuechen was the right decision. But seeing how her daughter had never had a boyfriend in over twenty years and was indifferent to romance, she thought that maybe the two of them could make it work. She had brought up the topic with her daughter before, and Su Ruo had just smiled and said, “If you and Dad, as well as Uncle Xi and Auntie, are happy with it, then I’ll marry him.”

Since Su Ruo hadn’t shown any resistance, Zhang Huaqing had felt reassured and informed the Xi family, cheerfully preparing for the wedding. She had considered that Xiao Chen was always stationed at the base and that the two weren’t very familiar with each other, but she believed that spending time together after marriage would naturally bring them closer. Besides, they had watched Xiao Chen grow up—he was a good, dependable young man, even if a bit reserved. Most importantly, he was trustworthy. If they waited for Su Ruo to find someone on her own, who knew how many years that would take?

Upon hearing that Xi Yuechen was coming back, Su Ruo suddenly panicked. If he returned, they would inevitably have to interact—perhaps even see each other every day. What would she do then?

For a moment, all three of them were lost in their own thoughts, and the hospital room fell into silence.

“By the way, Mom, I’m almost fully recovered. When can I be discharged?”

Su Ruo was thinking that if Xi Yuechen really was transferred here, he would probably be admitted to this very hospital. By then, avoiding him would be impossible. But if she was discharged first, she wouldn’t have to visit the hospital daily—if she couldn’t afford to confront him, she could at least avoid him.

“Does your head still hurt? You can’t take head injuries lightly. What’s the rush? A few more days of observation won’t hurt.”

Zhang Huaqing still wasn’t at ease about Su Ruo’s condition. What if there were lingering aftereffects?

Su Feng also thought it would be safer to keep her under observation a little longer. Both parents were being extra cautious about their daughter’s injury.

“Dad, Mom, I really feel fine now. I’ve been in the hospital for so long, and my wounds have already healed—I don’t feel anything at all. I’m going to go crazy staying here! If it’s really necessary, I can just recover at home. Please let me leave.” Su Ruo rarely acted spoiled, but she did so now.

Hearing his daughter’s plea, Su Feng hesitated. After thinking for a moment, he said, “I’ll go ask the doctor what they think.”

In the end, Su Ruo was discharged the next day—just before Xi Yuechen’s arrival—feeling completely satisfied.

As she passed by the main gate of the military compound, she couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of respect for the solemn-faced sentry standing guard. Living in a military district like this—this was something she could never have imagined in her past life. Who would have thought her fate would take such a drastic turn?

Following Zhang Huaqing through the front door of their home, Su Ruo saw a middle-aged woman rushing over excitedly. With a warm smile, the woman said, “I told you, blessed people will always be fine. Miss is back home safe and sound! Let me prepare some of your favorite dishes to celebrate.”

Zhang Huaqing took the opportunity to introduce her. “This is Auntie Li. She’s doted on you since you were little.”

“Hello, Auntie Li,” Su Ruo greeted with a smile.

It seemed that Zhang Huaqing had already explained the situation to Auntie Li in advance, because even though Su Ruo didn’t recognize her, Auntie Li showed no sign of surprise. She simply smiled and nodded before hurrying off to prepare lunch.

Zhang Huaqing then led Su Ruo to her old room.

Looking at the simple yet elegant decor, Su Ruo couldn’t help but nod approvingly. This was exactly the kind of style she liked. The room had excellent lighting, with a small tatami area by the floor-to-ceiling window. A white cashmere rug covered the floor, and in the corner stood a bookshelf packed with books, with a computer desk placed nearby.

Su Ruo instantly fell in love with the room. It seemed that her new life wouldn’t be too bad—staying in this cozy space, reading, and browsing the internet would be enjoyable enough.

After settling in, lunch was ready, marking the official start of her life at the Su household.

Of course, this was only the beginning of Su Ruo’s new life. Who knew what stories would unfold in the long days ahead?