Chapter 37: Wen Ran, from now on, I will be responsible for your lunch.

Jin Baoli felt a bit awkward, but she had no objections to learning from Wen Ran. On the contrary, she felt that following Wen Ran might actually be easier. Still, she muttered, "I have always been very open-minded."

The head nurse sighed. "Wen Ran, starting tomorrow, you will work in the inpatient department. Is it all right if you teach Ruan Ling and Baoli in your spare time?"

"No problem." Wen Ran was someone who knew how to return kindness. Through this incident, she realized that while Jin Baoli could be haughty, her heart was not bad. There was no harm in teaching her; having more friends was better than having more enemies.

Ruan Ling, thanks to Jin Baoli’s help, had changed her opinion of her quite a bit, though she couldn't yet consider her a close friend like Wen Ran.

They were about to enter the next phase of training, which involved practical operations. It wasn't just about learning to prepare medication according to doctors' orders; they also had to master intramuscular injections and intravenous punctures. Just thinking about it gave her a headache.

As lunchtime approached, her stomach began to protest. Once the head nurse left, she collapsed onto the desk in exhaustion.

Jin Baoli was even more anxious, having no idea how to approach Wen Ran. After agonizing for a while, she heard Ruan Ling’s stomach rumble. An idea struck her. "Wen Ran, I’ll be responsible for your lunch from now on. I’m going to get your meal."

Wen Ran: "..."

Before Wen Ran could react, Jin Baoli had already grabbed her lunchbox and left, leaving no room for refusal.

Ruan Ling chuckled, "Jin Baoli has finally dropped the act!"

*Gurgle—*

"Go eat; your stomach is growling again," Wen Ran urged. "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." One had to keep up both physical and mental strength, otherwise, they couldn't handle the job of a nurse.

Ruan Ling grabbed her lunchbox and linked arms with her, and they headed out.

In the cafeteria, Jin Baoli was arguably the first in line. A nurse from the pharmacy saw her and teased, "You aren't very diligent at work, but you're certainly diligent about eating."

"Of course. If I'm not diligent about eating, I'd be doing a disservice to my stomach," Jin Baoli rolled her eyes. Rolling her eyes had become her signature move; those who knew her didn't take it to heart anymore.

She carried two lunchboxes to the table where Wen Ran and Ruan Ling usually sat. As soon as they arrived, she pushed a box toward Wen Ran.

Wen Ran opened the lid to find a chicken leg inside. Even the stir-fried vegetable dish had meat in it. She quickly tried to move the chicken leg to Jin Baoli’s bowl. "This is enough for me."

Jin Baoli put the chicken leg back into her bowl. "I bought it for you. Eat it."

Wen Ran frowned. "Jin Baoli, just this once. I promised the head nurse I would teach you, so I will, but you don't need to get my meals anymore."

"No way. I said I’d take care of your lunch, so I will." Jin Baoli’s tone had a "I'm rich and I do what I want" air about it, but mostly, it was about saving face. Since she wanted Wen Ran to teach her, she didn't want to accept the help for free.

Ruan Ling bit into a meat bun and laughed. "Why are you so stubborn? Do you have so much money you don't know what to do with it?"

Jin Baoli glared at her. "Let's just say I have too much money to spend." Her parents were people of status, and her family was well-off. However, because her parents were rarely around, she had developed an arrogant temperament.

Ruan Ling couldn't be bothered with her. "You’ve got issues!"

Jin Baoli rolled her eyes again. "You’re the one with issues! Why do you care if I spend my money?"

"Stop it, eat!" Wen Ran put an end to their bickering. After all, she was the subject of their argument. Eating the meal Jin Baoli bought didn't feel quite right—not because the food wasn't good, but because it was too expensive. One feels indebted when one eats another's food.

No matter how busy the afternoon was, she still taught Jin Baoli the ropes. With one-on-one guidance, Jin Baoli gradually began to take it seriously.

The next day, she brought lunch for Wen Ran as usual, though the chicken leg was replaced by meat buns. She didn't know what Wen Ran liked, but she felt that having meat was always good.

After Ruan Ling moved to the next phase of training, she began assisting formal nurses and was busy off her feet every day, sometimes not even having time to eat.

Wen Ran spent more time with Jin Baoli than with Ruan Ling these days, but their interactions were strictly professional, involving no private matters. Jin Baoli was like a little sidekick; she felt that as long as she followed Wen Ran, she could learn things. Sometimes, she would even tag along when Wen Ran administered IVs to patients. In just a few days, she learned more than she had in the month before the monthly exam, benefiting immensely.

This wasn't a trade where teaching the apprentice meant starving the master, so Wen Ran didn't hold anything back. Immersed in work and study, every day was fulfilling. However, since her life was just a straight line between home and the hospital, she didn't run into Shen Nanzheng again.

Shen Nanzheng had burst into her world, intense and brilliant, only to vanish as if he had evaporated into thin air, leaving no trace. Only Teacher Liu remained the same, occasionally visiting to chat with her mother. Now and then, she would bring some snacks to share and would intentionally or unintentionally bring up Shen Nanzheng.

Shen Nanzheng held a special position and couldn't just come and go like an ordinary person. Wen Ran understood this even without Teacher Liu explaining it, but she still felt an emptiness in her heart. Whenever she saw a military-green uniform, she would subconsciously think of him. She knew she still couldn't let him go. But this affection could only be buried deep in her heart; meeting him would only add to her troubles.

She didn't know that after Shen Nanzheng had suffered through a night of vomiting and diarrhea from that braised pork, he had immediately gone off to perform a mission the next day, just as he was starting to feel better. He had lost a significant amount of weight. To keep her from worrying, he was trying his best to get back into shape. As a regiment commander, he didn't have to train every day, but he had more matters to attend to.

On this day, just as he finished his work and intended to go out, he was delayed by an emergency. By the time he finished, it was already late at night. Lying on the *kang*, he thought of Wen Ran again. The young Song Wenran of today had a clarity and openness that her past-life self lacked; it was exactly what he had hoped to see. The first step of getting to know his future wife was complete; the next step was to win her heart and convince her to marry him sooner.

He pondered and decided he needed more contact with her. As it happened, Xiao Zhi was being discharged the next day, so he finished his tasks early and set out.

Xiao Zhi had grown close to Wen Ran; he didn't cry, fuss, or dodge when she administered his IV. After she finished the procedure, he asked, "Sister, I'm being discharged today. Can I come back to the hospital to see you?"

"You can come to see me, but I hope you stay healthy and never get sick again." After saying this, Wen Ran produced a fruit candy as if by magic. Fruit candies were relatively cheap, and she could afford to buy a few; she didn't even dare think about White Rabbit creamy candies.

Xiao Zhi wasn't picky; he was happy with anything she gave him. He added, "Then, can you come to my house when you have time? My mom is a great cook. I'll have her make you noodles."

Wen Ran’s eyes curved into crescents. "I’ve already memorized your address. When I'm off work, I'll come visit you, okay?"

"Okay." Xiao Zhi held out his finger. "Sister, let's pinky swear."

Wen Ran had no resistance toward children and decisively held out her small finger. But before her finger could touch Xiao Zhi's, Xiao Zhi spotted the late-arriving Shen Nanzheng and excitedly pulled back his hand to wave at him. "Uncle Shen—"