Old Mrs. Wang had been watching the comings and goings next door all morning. She saw Lin Xiaoxiao and Zhou Xiaoling leave arm-in-arm, and couldn't help curling her lip at the sight of Lin Xiaoxiao in a pale yellow dress—curves on full display, waist cinched small.

Her husband's away, and she dresses like that? Who's she trying to impress?

She settled on a small stool in her yard, listening for the hens. When both finally clucked proudly, she stood up, pretended to putter around for a bit, then took a short walk down the lane to make sure the coast was clear. Quickly, she slipped into the neighboring yard.

Crouching low by the chicken coop in the corner, she reached inside, her fingers closing around two warm, fresh eggs.

Just then, the door swung open.

Zhou Xiaoling stood leaning against the frame, arms crossed, a sharp smile on her face.

Mrs. Wang's expression shifted through several shades of shock. How was this possible? She'd watched them leave!

Still clutching the eggs, she had no excuse. Forcing an awkward smile, she placed them back. "You raise such fine chickens. I was just... admiring them."

Xiaoling raised an eyebrow. "What, you've never seen a chicken before? And what were you doing holding those eggs? Checking if they're male or female?"

The old woman stood, brushing dust off her clothes—though there was none. "Now, is that any way to talk? I haven't done anything wrong. I just thought since you weren't home, the eggs might be taken by a cat or a weasel. I was trying to help!"

Xiaoling nearly spat. "So I should thank you for stealing my eggs?"

"Stealing? That's a nasty word—"

"Enough. Bring back the eggs you took yesterday, or I'll knock your teeth out."

She took a step forward, her presence so intimidating that Mrs. Wang stumbled backward.

It was her own bad luck. Her heel caught on a stool behind her. With no time to react, she fell backward, her head striking the corner of a small table.

She cried out, then lay motionless. Blood began to seep from the back of her head, spreading across the ground.

Xiaoling was startled. She hadn't even touched her! If the old woman died right here, how would she explain it? "Zhang Yimei!" she yelled toward the other yard. "Come quick! It's your mother-in-law!"

She checked that the woman was still breathing and told a panicked Zhang Yimei, "Go get a doctor. I'll stay with her."

She didn't know much about medicine, but she knew better than to move an injured person.Zhang Yimei, legs shaking, ran for help.

Xiaoling paced anxiously. What horrible luck!

Fortunately, Lin Xiaoxiao and Xiao Yan arrived quickly.

Hearing that Mrs. Wang was injured in their yard, Lin Xiaoxiao didn't hesitate—pregnancy forgotten, she sprinted home.

She knew perfectly well: if something happened to the old woman here, Zhou Xiaoling would be blamed. If she died, it would ruin Xiaoling's life.

She rushed into the yard and went straight to Mrs. Wang. The external injury didn't look severe, but she suspected a cerebral hemorrhage. She needed surgery—now.

She turned to the two male doctors who had followed. "Possible brain bleed. Get her to the clinic and prepped for surgery."

Xiao Yan objected immediately. "Lin Xiaoxiao, don't be reckless! Our clinic isn't equipped for surgery."

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't have time to argue. "Then take her to the Second Institute's hospital. Now! Stop wasting time!"

She helped the doctors carefully lift Mrs. Wang onto a stretcher, keeping her head stable as they hurried toward the institute's medical facility.

Lin Xiaoxiao stayed bent beside her, supporting her head as they half-ran.

Xiao Yan kept pace, insisting, "Even the institute hospital can't handle cranial surgery! You're wasting time. We need a vehicle to take her to the city."

Lin Xiaoxiao ignored her. The trip to the city would take four or five hours on bumpy mountain roads. In this condition, Mrs. Wang wouldn't survive the journey.

She felt a tightening pain in her own abdomen but pushed the fear aside. Not now, baby. Be good. Don't make this harder...

Zhou Xiaoling ran behind them, terrified. She hadn't been scared before, but seeing Lin Xiaoxiao pale and sweating made her panic—for Mrs. Wang, but even more for Lin Xiaoxiao.

She watched as Lin Xiaoxiao followed the stretler into the operating room. Then she saw it: blood on the back of Lin Xiaoxiao's white coat.

Xiaoling broke down. Tears streaming, her legs gave way and she sank to the floor.

She didn't know much, but she knew bleeding during pregnancy was dangerous. If Lin Xiaoxiao lost the baby, how could she ever face her again?

She'd rather die herself.

She crouched, wiping uselessly at her tears.

Inside the operating room, Lin Xiaoxiao felt a warm flow between her legs. Her heart sank. She called to the anesthetist she'd worked with before. "Sedate the patient. I'll operate."

She knew no one else here could do this surgery. It had to be her.

The anesthetist hesitated, but Lin Xiaoxiao's calm authority and the patient's critical condition left no choice.

Lin Xiaoxiao sat down briefly, taking a deep breath. The pain had eased; it was probably just bleeding. She didn't know if she could last through the operation.

She leaned her head against the wall, gathering strength, swallowing back tears. Then she took another breath and stepped toward the table.

The surgery took five and a half hours. Zhou Xiaoling stayed crouched outside the operating room the entire time, not moving.

She never used to cry much, but now her face was wet with tears.

For Lin Xiaoxiao, a cerebral hemorrhage was routine. She located the bleed on the scans and began without delay—there was no time to brief the other doctors.

She was still in her white coat, and her sharp, professional commands left no room for doubt. No one questioned her.

Once again, they witnessed something close to a perfect craniotomy.

When it was over, Lin Xiaoxiao felt utterly drained. She grabbed the arm of a nurse nearby. "Help me lie down..."