Lin Xiaoxiao froze. Zhou Huai'an was awake—and clearly aware that she had lowered his pants to examine him.

Their eyes met. A cold thought flashed through her mind: If he finds out later that I exposed the misdiagnosis, will he suspect me?

These damn medical instincts—always making me forget to hide what I know.

She quickly composed herself. If he asks, I'll just say it was a lucky guess. It's not like anyone raised on Marxist doctrine believes in supernatural stuff anyway.

Putting on a concerned tone, she hurried to his bedside. "You're awake! Are you in pain? Feeling dizzy?"

Zhou Huai'an's ears turned bright red. He avoided her eyes, his voice hoarse. "I'm fine."

She sat down beside him. "Thank goodness. You gave us quite a scare. Are you hungry? I can get you something to eat."

Strange, Zhou Huai'an thought. Even through the haze of anesthesia, he'd heard her challenging the doctors—"It's internal bleeding, not a spinal injury!"—with a tone of unsettling certainty. Yet here she was, offering food right after surgery. Wouldn't someone with medical knowledge know better?

Lin Xiaoxiao noticed his flicker of doubt. So he did hear me. Smoothly, she backpedaled, "I'll check with the doctor first." Then, trying another approach: "Do you need to use the restroom? I can help—"

"No." His blush deepened. Lying in bed with a catheter, the question alone was humiliating.

Out in the corridor, Dr. Lu Yuanda reviewed post-op instructions and handed Lin Xiaoxiao two ration coupons. "Get him some bone broth. He's lucky—another hour and we might have lost him."

She gently declined. "We have coupons. Thank you."

Lu frowned. "Black market meat costs three times more. Zhou can't aff—"

"But his salary is thirty-seven yuan a month!" she muttered later, pacing the hallway. With free uniforms and meals at the mess hall, why did everyone act like he was destitute?

Her thoughts were cut short when she returned to the ward: Xiao Yan was at Zhou's bedside, crying and clutching his hand. "I never meant—the misdiagnosis—please forgive me!"

Lin Xiaoxiao had no interest in watching Xiao Yan's emotional display. She turned and walked out, deciding to take a walk and see if she could find some meat to make soup on the hospital canteen's stove.

The marketplace was nearly empty, stalls closed or deserted. An older woman in an apron nudged her. "Looking for chicken, dear? Try the riverbank." She pointed west. "No coupons needed there, but the prices are high."

Private trade was technically allowed by then, but after years of restrictions, people were still cautious—especially in this remote northwestern town. Everyone was tentatively testing the waters, too afraid to go all out.

Lin Xiaoxiao knew the riverbank the woman meant. It wasn't far, tucked behind a row of cottages. By evening, it turned lively with vendors selling homemade snacks, sewing supplies, vegetables, and meat.

Still, the makeshift market was sparse—sellers simply claimed whatever space they could by the road.

Lin Xiaoxiao scanned the stalls. Though meat was only a few cents per pound, it felt expensive with how little money she had. One scrawny chicken cost a whole yuan—out of the question. Defeated, she wandered along the riverbank, brainstorming what to do... when a chorus of quacks caught her attention. A flock of ducks skimmed the water, disappearing into reeds in the distance.

Her eyes lit up. "Who do those ducks belong to?" she asked a nearby vegetable seller.

The old man chuckled. "They're wild. Nobody keeps 'em. Can't catch 'em, either."

Lin Xiaoxiao felt a wave of relief. Then whoever catches them gets to keep them! Dawn would be the best time. She'd need tools.

Nearby, a bicycle repair shop caught her eye. An old inner tube hung on the door—perfectly elastic. A slingshot... I just need a sturdy branch. She bought a valve core for ten fen.

Dusk settled over the city, staining the weathered buildings in shades of purple. A wave of homesickness tightened her throat. Do my parents know I'm gone? Did the original Lin Xiaoxiao take my place back home?

Lost in thought, she nearly walked straight into someone blocking the path. She sidestepped; he mirrored her.

Annoyed, Lin Xiaoxiao looked up—and almost groaned aloud. Chen Wei.

The original owner's ex-boyfriend was leaning against a wall, his long hair slicked back. He might have been handsome in a greasy, unreliable kind of way. His eyes lingered on her: the red scarf around her pale neck, the new steeliness in her posture.

"Xiaoxiao, how have you been these past three months? On your wedding day, my father locked me up at home. Otherwise, I would've come to take you back."

Lin Xiaoxiao's lip curled. This is who she was hung up on? A guy who hides behind his dad? "I'm married," she stated, her voice icy. "We have nothing to say to each other. Move."

Chen Wei grew anxious. "Xiaoxiao, are you mad because I didn't agree to run away with you? What if we leave now? Catch the train tonight and just go?"

"Lin Xiaoxiao, what are you doing?!" Xiao Yan's sharp voice cut through the evening air.