Volume 1, Chapter 60: Giving It to Her in Person

"Su Wan, what did Chief Huo want you for? Has it got anything to do with Young Huo?"

Principal Song was rather puzzled when he received the call from Chief Huo, but recalling that Su Wan had previously cooked at the Huo residence, and that Huo Xiaohan had just undergone surgery yesterday, he wondered if there was some connection between the two.

As soon as he hung up the phone, Principal Song walked out to ask.

Seeing Principal Song's reaction, Su Wan figured he still didn't know about her relationship with the Huo family, so she replied directly, "Uncle, Regiment Commander Huo is hospitalized. Chief Huo called hoping I could go cook for him."

"I knew it! A patient's diet is different from ordinary times and requires special care. I suppose Chief Huo remembers Su Wan cooking at their house before, and thinking her culinary skills are quite good, wants her to prepare nutritional meals specifically for Young Huo to help his wounds heal as quickly as possible."

Secretary Yang was holding a sheet of red paper, seemingly in the middle of drafting wedding banquet guest lists with Principal Song for Song Wenbo.

"Isn't that just wonderful? Su Wan's employment is settled now too. Young Huo will need at least a month to recover from this surgery, and by the time he's better, it'll almost be time for Su Wan to start school." Secretary Yang was genuinely happy for her.

"Right, I'll go visit Young Huo at the hospital in a bit; it's just not quite convenient right now." Principal Song nodded. "Did Chief Huo mention when he wants you to start?"

"Tomorrow," Su Wan replied.

"Then you should head over bright and early tomorrow morning, Su Wan. Young Huo doesn't have a wife yet, and his mother doesn't seem to have returned to Beiping. He really does need someone by his side to take care of him."

Su Wan, however, hesitated slightly. If not for that matchmaking event earlier, going to take care of Huo Xiaohan wouldn't be a problem at all.

Yet her left foot injury hadn't healed yet. What if she slipped up and Huo Xiaohan noticed?

Back in her small room, Su Wan had no heart left to read. Lying on the straw mat on the floor, she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

If she went out of her way to tell Uncle Huo about this, wouldn't it make him think she was unwilling?

Moreover, Uncle Huo had even specially had Aunt Wu tidy up a room for her.

A thought suddenly struck Su Wan.

At four-thirty the next morning, Su Wan went to the vegetable market to buy fresh lean pork, made lean pork congee for Huo Xiaohan, and boiled an egg.

Having just undergone surgery, Huo Xiaohan needed food that was easy to digest and nutritious.

She packed it into a thermal food jar and headed to the hospital.

Huo Xiaohan had rested for a day after his surgery yesterday, and today he immediately resumed work.

Lying on his hospital bed, he gave operational instructions to the deputy regiment commander, battalion commander, and the clerk.

He mapped out plans for the upcoming military training tasks.

Although the country had been liberated, armed conflicts constantly flared up in the border regions of Western Province, so military training and logistical equipment work could not pause for even a single moment.

When Su Wan entered the ward, she saw several servicemen wearing summer beige short-sleeved military uniforms standing before Huo Xiaohan's bed, radiating a resolute and upright aura.

They were reporting on their work to Huo Xiaohan.

Each of them wore a solemn expression. A clerk sat nearby, holding a thick work ledger and taking notes.

The sentry outside the door had only let Su Wan enter after receiving Huo Xiaohan's instructions.

The moment she stepped inside, she felt an atmosphere of solemn pressure.

Though lying in bed with an IV drip in his hand, Huo Xiaohan's expression was full of the calm and composed demeanor of a commander leading thousands of troops.

His high, stern brows revealed an unspoken majesty, and his gaze was sharp and piercing.

Su Wan had never seen Huo Xiaohan like this; at work, he possessed an extraordinary, compelling charm.

"Regiment Commander Huo, you should eat something and rest for a bit. Your health comes first," the battalion commander said after finishing his report, noticing Su Wan walking in.

"Mhm," Huo Xiaohan hummed softly. He looked at Su Wan with mild surprise, having assumed it was his mother bringing him breakfast, his dark eyes narrowing slightly.

"Regiment Commander Huo, Uncle Huo asked me to make breakfast and bring it over. I made you lean pork congee and boiled an egg."

Su Wan carried the thermal jar to the bedside, intentionally emphasizing the words "Uncle Huo asked me."

Unable to refuse Uncle Huo, she had no choice but to let Huo Xiaohan take the matter up with him.

"Regiment Commander Huo, who is this female comrade? How come we've never heard you mention her?" Deputy Regiment Commander Lao Zhang asked with a smile, his hands clasped behind his back as his gaze fell on Su Wan.

"Could she be the rural prospective partner Chief Huo introduced to you earlier?" The battalion commander, taking in Su Wan's rural attire and the way she addressed Chief Huo, guessed the truth with a soldier's acute intuition.

"Right! Regiment Commander Huo, you even went out of your way to personally bring her into the military compound. The female comrade looks quite refined, and her cooking smells wonderful too," the deputy regiment commander chimed in. Seeing Su Wan pour out the lean pork congee from the thermal jar, the aroma alone was exceptionally enticing.

"Lao Zhang, if you all have nothing else to do, head back to the unit early. Don't forget your daily work reports and summaries," Huo Xiaohan said in a deep, cool voice.

The deputy regiment commander and the battalion commander exchanged a knowing smile.

Since he didn't directly deny it, that meant it was true.

"Understood, Regiment Commander comrade. We'll head back to the unit first and won't disturb you and the female comrade any longer," Lao Zhang said teasingly.

Shortly after, they left the ward one after another.

The battalion commander was the last to leave. Before stepping out, he couldn't resist saying to Su Wan, "Female comrade, Regiment Commander Huo is in your hands. Do your best to persuade him to get some rest instead of burying himself in work all day. He needs to relax properly."

This left Su Wan quite embarrassed, not knowing how to respond.

Seeing that the white enamel mug was empty, she picked up the thermos on the floor to refill it.

"Shouldn't you be cooking at Principal Song's house at this hour?" Huo Xiaohan asked in a cool tone, his brows slightly furrowed, as soon as the ward door closed.

"Principal Song's original domestic helper has returned, so they don't need me anymore. When Uncle Huo found out, he asked me to take charge of your daily meals and bring them over. I'll be moving into the military compound to live starting today."

As soon as the lean pork congee was ready, Su Wan had poured it into the thermal jar, and it was still quite hot. She gently stirred it with a spoon.

Then she waited for Huo Xiaohan's reaction.

Biting her lip, she added candidly, "Regiment Commander Huo, if you don't wish for me to be here, you can speak with Uncle Huo about it."

Su Wan's original intention was for Huo Xiaohan to communicate this to Chief Huo, assuming Huo Xiaohan wouldn't want her here.

However, to Huo Xiaohan's ears, this indicated that Su Wan harbored no hidden agendas or ulterior motives.

He had been looking down at his reports, but now he raised his gaze to look at Su Wan.

He looked at her smooth, vividly pretty brows and eyes, which bore a resemblance to Comrade Tingting.

Thinking that if it weren't Su Wan, it would likely be Su Xiaohui, he spoke in a calm tone: "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Su Wan was slightly stunned; she had expected Huo Xiaohan to object.

Since that was the case, she would simply have to do her best to protect her disguise, making sure he never noticed her injured left foot.

She walked over to the foot of the bed and cranked the bed higher to make it easier to feed Huo Xiaohan the congee, then pulled up a stool and sat beside the bed.

Lifting the bowl, she scooped up a spoonful of the lean pork congee, blew on it gently a few times, and brought it to Huo Xiaohan's lips.

Catching the fragrant aroma of meat in the congee, Huo Xiaohan found it a bit strange how lean pork could be cooked together with rice, figuring it probably wouldn't taste good.

Yet after taking a bite, he found it possessed both the savory richness of meat and the refreshing lightness of congee. Consumed in the scorching heat of summer, it felt exceptionally soothing.

It was a flavor he had never experienced before.

His otherwise unaroused appetite was instantly awakened, and as soon as he swallowed the first bite, he lightly licked his lips.

He already seemed somewhat impatient for the second bite.

However, the congee was still very hot, and Su Wan had to blow on it several times to cool it down, leaving Huo Xiaohan to wait.

Sensing that Huo Xiaohan was somewhat hungry, Su Wan pursed her moist, full lips and blew on the spoon rapidly.

Her main goal was to prevent Huo Xiaohan's gaze from lingering too long on her face.

Her blowing made a fine layer of sweat bead on her forehead.

Her slender, dark eyelashes drooped down, fluttering gently like a hand fan.

They set off her skin, which was as tender and translucent as jade, and her delicate, proud nose.

Only then did Huo Xiaohan notice a tiny, reddish beauty mark just beneath her fair, dainty earlobe.

A single dab of red, adding a touch of delicate allure to her gentle softness.

He quickly withdrew his gaze and ate the lean pork congee expressionlessly.

"Regiment Commander, Party Secretary Jiang of the military hospital is here to see you about something," the sentry outside announced, walking into the room at that moment.

Su Wan and Huo Xiaohan raised their heads almost simultaneously.

A flash of panic and astonishment quickly crossed Su Wan's face.

Why was Party Secretary Jiang here at a time like this?

If Party Secretary Jiang saw her together with Huo Xiaohan, and even recognized her, would her secret identity be blown right then and there?

Huo Xiaohan's dark eyes stirred with a hint of surprise. "Show Party Secretary Jiang in."

"Understood." The sentry walked back out.

Su Wan took a deep breath, her entire back tensing up as her palm holding the spoon broke out in a layer of nervous sweat.

She silently prayed that Party Secretary Jiang wouldn't expose her.

Carrying a string net bag filled with biscuits, canned goods, and milk candies, Party Secretary Jiang walked into the ward and immediately saw a female comrade in rural attire sitting by Regiment Commander Huo's bed, her back slender and graceful.

She was currently feeding congee to Huo Xiaohan with a bowl in hand.

"Oh? And who might this female comrade be, Regiment Commander Huo?" Party Secretary Jiang thought to herself, *It hasn't even been two days, and Regiment Commander Huo already has a partner?*

And here she had felt rather sorry for him earlier, thinking he valued Su Wan greatly and was entirely sincere.

Turns out, besides Su Wan, there were other candidates after all.

Seeing the net bag in Party Secretary Jiang's hand, Huo Xiaohan's gaze darkened, and he opened his mouth to speak.

Su Wan sprang to her feet, turned to face Party Secretary Jiang, and introduced herself with a smile: "Party Secretary Jiang, hello, my name is Su Wan. My father and Uncle Huo are old friends. Uncle Huo brought me to Beiping to study, and since Regiment Commander Huo is hospitalized, I've come to bring him some food."

As she spoke, she blinked at her and gave a subtle shake of her head, signaling Party Secretary Jiang not to mention that she had taken Ruan Tingting's place.

Party Secretary Jiang froze at the sight of Su Wan standing before her, then glanced over at Regiment Commander Huo on the hospital bed.

Could it be that they had known each other all along?

It seemed Regiment Commander Huo hadn't even realized that Su Wan was the one who had taken Ruan Tingting's place.

This completely baffled Party Secretary Jiang. Su Wan had never mentioned knowing Regiment Commander Huo beforehand.

Moreover, she had such a connection to the Huo family.

"Party Secretary Jiang, is something wrong?" Huo Xiaohan noticed the strange look in Party Secretary Jiang's eyes as she gazed at Su Wan, and his own gaze shifted to Su Wan.

Su Wan frantically signaled Party Secretary Jiang with her eyes, then turned back around with deliberate casualness and composure.

"Oh... I just thought this comrade Su Wan looks somewhat like Tingting," Party Secretary Jiang said, her mind struggling to process the twists and turns of the situation.

Even if Su Wan had someone she fancied, why couldn't she let Regiment Commander Huo know her true identity?

And back at the matchmaking event, why hadn't Su Wan just told Regiment Commander Huo directly?

Was there some hidden reason?

Still, catching Su Wan's meaning, she chose not to expose her on the spot.

So they really were just two people who looked alike. Judging by Party Secretary Jiang's reaction, the two must bear a strong resemblance.

"I haven't yet seen what Comrade Tingting looks like," Huo Xiaohan remarked involuntarily.

Indeed, if Su Wan hadn't proactively stepped forward to introduce herself, it would have taken him a long time to recognize her.

With her clothes being different, the impression she gave off was completely transformed.

Not to mention that during their two previous meetings, she had worn a mask both times.

"So this Comrade Su Wan is here just to bring you food, Regiment Commander Huo?" Party Secretary Jiang asked, curious about the nature of their relationship.

"Yes." Hearing the underlying implication in Party Secretary Jiang's tone—clearly probing into the relationship between him and Su Wan—Huo Xiaohan replied, "Her father was a benefactor to my father, so my father brought her and her younger sister to Beiping together to study so he could look after them."

So there was a younger sister here as well.

Party Secretary Jiang nodded. Judging by the detached attitude Huo Xiaohan held toward Su Wan, the two didn't seem close at all.

Or perhaps they rarely saw each other before, otherwise how could Regiment Commander Huo possibly fail to recognize Su Wan?

With that, Party Secretary Jiang pulled the money for the tetanus shot that Su Wan had given her out of her pocket and handed it to Regiment Commander Huo. "Regiment Commander Huo, I'm here today because Tingting asked me to return the medical expenses you advanced for her."

Looking at the money in Party Secretary Jiang's hand, Huo Xiaohan knew the other party was rejecting him completely, wanting nothing to do with any sense of indebtedness and striving to avoid any entanglement with him.

His thin lips pressed into a tight, firm line.

Su Wan lowered her head, feeling the sudden dead silence in the air, and anxiously stirred the lean pork congee in the bowl with her spoon.

"There's no need, Party Secretary Jiang," Huo Xiaohan said after a moment. "If she hadn't bumped into me that day, her foot might not have gotten injured. It's only right that I take responsibility. Please take the money and items back and return them to Comrade Tingting."

Party Secretary Jiang smiled helplessly. "Regiment Commander Huo, I'm merely a middleman. Since Tingting won't accept it, I have no choice but to return the items and money to you."

"Party Secretary Jiang, please help me tell Comrade Tingting something. Also, that pair of sandals should be considered compensation from me." After saying this, Huo Xiaohan turned to Su Wan. "Comrade Su Wan, there is a pair of sandals in the top drawer of my cabinet. Please help me get them out for Party Secretary Jiang."

A troubled look appeared in Su Wan's eyes.

Even if she accepted them, she would never have the chance to wear them, nor would she dare bring them back to the Huo residence.

"Alright," Su Wan agreed verbally while keeping her hands pressed against her front, frantically waving them at Party Secretary Jiang.

Hearing this, Party Secretary Jiang instinctively looked at Su Wan's reaction, then said, "Regiment Commander Huo, let's just drop this matter."

"In that case, I suppose I'll have to wait until I'm discharged and return the items to her in person." Huo Xiaohan fell silent for a brief moment before speaking again.