Special Forces Medic

"Hehe, have you seen enough?" Xiao Lin asked with his eyes closed, enjoying the sensation of fingertips wandering over his body. If possible, he wished this could be his life, unchanging, but it was just wishful thinking.

"Keep staring, and you'll put holes in me."

"I can never see enough! Not in this lifetime." Xia Xue shyly buried her head into Xiao Lin's shoulder.

"How's your father?" He pulled the covers up to tuck Xia Xue beside him. At the end of the year, Yanjing was particularly cold. The windows were covered with thick ice and snow, yet inside, it felt like spring with the floor heating and radiators, shielding them from the chilly wind outside.

"Hmm, the company has now been passed from my grandfather to my father. Even with your gift last time, it's still a bit difficult to recover in full." Xia Xue said sincerely. In fact, Xiao Lin was a mysterious figure to her, as if no problem was unsolvable for him.

"And you?" Xiao Lin toyed with Xia Xue's long hair, the floral scent wafting into his nostrils as he moved: "How's the beauty salon?"

"It's doing okay!"

"Really?" His hand playfully brushed her side, eliciting a giggle from Xia Xue. Xiao Lin asked again, "While I was away, did you practice diligently?"

"Mm, I've been practicing every day, and now I can always feel the energy flowing through my body, it's quite interesting." Xia Xue said as she sat up from the covers, wanting to show Xiao Lin.

When her eyes met Xiao Lin's gaze, she saw his dark, deep eyes and realized she was naked at the moment. With a small exclamation, Xia Xue dove back under the covers, refusing to poke her head out.

"What's there to be shy about? We've been together forever, haven't I seen every part of you?" Xiao Lin teased, amused by Xia Xue's childish behavior. For a moment, he felt truly happy: "Come on out, or you'll suffocate."

"You're always bullying me!" Xia Xue pouted as she poked her head out of the covers: "Now that you're back, take some time to visit Liang Feng and them!"

"Mm!" Xiao Lin responded with a low hum, the faint floral scent making him sleepy again.

After being away for over two months, the already unfamiliar city felt even more so. Walking down the paths of Yanjing University, Xiao Lin chose to avoid peak times and entered the campus during class hours. Yet, he couldn't escape the stares of others; beside him was Lian.

Regarding Xia Xue's angry departure early in the morning, Xiao Lin didn't offer much explanation—it's just her little temper, and he felt no need to explain to Lian.

"I think it's better if I move out." It wasn't a tantrum, just a simple thought that her presence might be interfering in Xiao Lin's life.

"I went through so much to bring you out from there, only to see you taken back?" Xiao Lin didn't look back; he understood what she was thinking.

"But..." Lian wanted to say more, but Xiao Lin's sudden halt cut her off.

"Lian, you're my military advisor, our military advisor. No matter how Lao Long sees you, I, Xiao Lin, have always believed in you." His serious expression made Lian unable to meet his eyes: "Xia Xue is my woman, and I believe she can understand. You all are people I want to protect. No matter who it is, I hope none of you get hurt. So I hope you can trust and rely on me as you did when we fought together before. You're not alone, understand?"

Besides nodding, there's still nodding! Words can no longer express any sentiment.

As soon as Li Jingyi walked into the office, she saw a familiar figure. She was a bit excited, wanting to open her arms to welcome this young man. Ever since his disappearance till now, she had been asked by countless people. Even if they hadn't talked her ears off, her ears were practically calloused. Amid everyone's eager anticipation, Yanjing University's legendary campus hospital figure had finally returned.

"Xiao Xiao?" There was still a hint of uncertainty in her tone as Li Jingyi approached Xiao Lin, putting down the materials she had just brought from a meeting in the dean's office.

"Sister Li!" Xiao Lin turned around, playfully giving Li Jingyi a big hug: "I'm back, did you miss me?"

"I'm not the only one who missed you, the whole school has been thinking about you day and night. You've practically ruined the appetite of those girls." Released from Xiao Lin's embrace, Li Jingyi organized the materials into the cabinet: "My gosh, you've lost weight."

"Hehe!" Xiao Lin chuckled: "Sister Li, could I borrow our university hospital's CT equipment?"

"What's wrong, are you feeling unwell?" Upon hearing Xiao Lin wanted to use the equipment, Li Jingyi immediately stood up from her chair and inspected Xiao Lin from head to toe, almost pulling out a stethoscope to check his heart and lungs.

"It's not for me; it's for a friend. I'd like to do a full body scan. Is that convenient?"

"Hmm, it's doable, but you'll need to make an appointment with people from the hospital department. How about two in the afternoon? You bring your friend over." Li Jingyi thought for a moment, then called the hospital department.

"Thank you, Sister Li. Lunch is on me!"

"Sure, I'll make reservations!" Saying this, she began to search through a pile of takeout menus: "Xiao Xiao, do you know a student named Li Tongtong?"

"Hmm?" Xiao Lin stood by the window, and upon hearing this name, his pupils involuntarily contracted, as if something in his heart had been pricked. "Mm!"

"While you were away, the message came from Xia Xue's home, her parents couldn't be saved due to HTC4 infection!" Li Jingyi pulled out a sheet from a stack of papers and started dialing the number on it: "Let's have Hunan cuisine! How about it?"

Couldn't be saved? Xiao Lin fell into deep thought. Even though he had slowed their time, providing experts with an opportunity, had they still not found a solution?

"Xiao Xiao? Xiao Xiao!" Li Jingyi waved her hands dramatically in front of Xiao Lin, scaring him.

"What?"

"I'm asking if you want Hunan cuisine!"

"Whatever." Xiao Lin blinked his eyes and glanced at the branches outside: "Sister Li, how's Tong Tong doing now?"

"She wants to return for the funeral, but the school won't let her leave due to the situation. You know, that place is a disaster area now; although reports say the virus hasn't expanded further, it's still improper. After all, there are so many students here, and in case anything happens, it will be difficult."

"I just want to know, how is she now?" Xiao Lin asked in a deep voice.

"Very emotionally unstable. Her roommates are helping keep an eye on her." Li Yijing stated honestly.

"How long has she been like this?"

"Almost two weeks, I think!"

"I'll go check on her; you decide the place and send the address to my phone later."

Xiao Lin left the office and ran into Yuan Yuan who had just returned from a walk around the campus.

"Where are you going?"

"To see a student. Come with me!" Xiao Lin thought for a moment, then grabbed Yuan Yuan's hand and headed toward the teaching building.

Usually, the way a person behaves in great joy or sorrow differs, yet the way Li Tongtong kept fluctuating without any more extreme reactions was anomalous. Xiao Lin didn't know Tong Tong very well, but he was clear about the deep love she had for her parents. Her current behavior was completely out of character for Tong Tong. Thinking about this, Xiao Lin quickened his pace.

"Has something happened?" Yuan Yuan followed behind Xiao Lin, slightly out of breath.

"There's a student here whose parents died from the mutated HTC4 virus. It's the place I visited before, Miao Family Village." Xiao Lin provided a brief explanation, already arriving at the dormitory area beside the teaching building. He asked a passing student about Li Tongtong's dorm room, then headed straight there.

Inside the room was only one girl, and after inquiring, Xiao Lin found out Li Tongtong had been out for a long time. Hearing this, he couldn't help but frown and looked at Yuan Yuan.

"Do you know where she usually goes?" Receiving Xiao Lin's gaze, Yuan Yuan asked the girl.

"I don't know, sometimes she goes out for a bit and returns, sometimes she doesn't leave at all, and now she rarely talks to us."

"Does she act strange in any other way?"

"Not really, she still attends classes, just doesn't talk, sometimes sits alone in a daze." The girl thought for a moment, then added: "We all know about her parents and are worried she might do something rash, so we hide anything sharp. She ironically mocks us for doing this!"

"Alright, thank you!" Yuan Yuan stood up, glanced at Xiao Lin, and walked out.

"What do you think?" Xiao Lin asked Yuan Yuan.

"You've guessed it, what more do you want me to say?"

"Yes, this is an abnormal reaction; I'm worried something might happen to her."

Li Tongtong is such a lovable girl, her big round eyes are charming, and she has good relations with others. Her lively and cheerful nature made her quite noticeable in her village, which Xiao Lin adored in her. Regarding her parents' situation, he felt a sense of guilt.

"You're blaming yourself." As they walked out of the dormitory building, Yuan Yuan held Xiao Lin's hand: "I don't think you need to. The virus is beyond anyone's resolution."

"I once received an anonymous email clearly analyzing the virus's molecular formula, and in the end, the sender said the same thing—you can't solve this virus." Xiao Lin said with a slightly choked voice, sounding dry and hoarse: "I know it was a warning; I hoped the experts could save them, wished I could have stayed there, maybe I could have found a way."

"But because you went to the Middle East with me, those experts didn't find a solution, right?" Yuan Yuan embraced Xiao Lin from behind, pressing her face against his back: "This isn't the time for self-blame; what you need to do now is help this child find a way to survive again, not be stuck here feeling guilty, that's useless." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)