CHAPTER 110: CHAPTER 110 - WHAT’S THERE TO FEAR IN A CHALLENGE (1)_1

Ruby Bluen stayed in the Military District hospital for a total of one week.

She could have been discharged the next day, but Marcel Horne insisted she continue her hospital stay. He had the doctors give her a thorough checkup. Despite not finding anything wrong, he still wouldn’t let her leave. He said she should stay a few more days to rest well and recover her strength before being discharged.

Ruby had no choice but to stay in the hospital.

As the company commander, Marcel couldn’t possibly stay in the hospital every day to keep Ruby company. Even though she wished he would stay with her daily, the thought of his current status made her bury that desire deep in her heart. She even generously urged Marcel not to worry about her. Her fever had subsided, and she could take care of herself. She reassured him to return to the Military Camp to take charge.

And Marcel really did leave, leaving only Andrew Carter to keep her company.

Once Marcel left, Ruby’s heart felt heavy and constricted.

You big ice block, you dead ice block! Telling him to go was like granting him a pardon; he ran off faster than a rabbit.

In his heart, did he not even want to spend another day with me?

But whenever she thought about how she had always been chasing him, with the goal of marrying him and becoming an army wife, the words "army wife" reminded her that she couldn’t be as willful and unreasonable as a pampered young lady.

She consoled herself and dispelled the gloominess in her heart.

During her hospital stay, Andrew was very good to her, always bustling around and addressing her affectionately as "sister-in-law."

Today, she was finally discharged from the hospital. She was extremely happy. She couldn’t wait to get into the car and return to the Military Camp. She had only lived there for a few days but already felt deeply integrated, because he was there. Despite the poor living conditions, as long as he was there, she felt it was the best place in the world.

"Sister-in-law, how about I take you shopping?" Andrew seemed to have something on his mind. After they left the hospital, he suggested this to Ruby.

The environment here was better than at their Military Camp. There was a street right outside the hospital. Although the chilly weather made it seem somewhat desolate, quite a few shops lined it.

"No, thanks. When I was in my city, I used to shop all the time. The streets there are much more bustling than here. What else is there to do on a shopping trip besides shopping?" Ruby’s heart, like a little bird, had already flown towards the Military Camp.

She wished she could become a little bird and fly back to Marcel’s side sooner; she was unwilling to delay any longer.

"Sister-in-law, you’ve been in Tibet for over half a month now, spending every day in the Military Camp helping us wash our outer coats. It’s cold, and there are no streets to stroll around outside the Courtyard. Don’t you feel bored? With so few women around, you don’t even have anyone for a heart-to-heart talk. Why not take this opportunity now that you’re out? Walk around a bit; consider it a way to relax. After all, our company commander won’t forcibly put you on a plane and send you away. It doesn’t matter if you return early or late. Didn’t you say shopping is all about buying things? Let’s go shopping then. Our company commander hasn’t gotten any new clothes recently, and winter is approaching. It gets very cold here, sister-in-law. You could buy some new winter clothes for both yourself and the commander," Andrew chuckled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes, which seemed to hold a trace of worry. If he didn’t voice it, that worry would become apparent, making him seem heavily preoccupied.

He was trying hard to stop Ruby from returning to the Military Camp.

Hearing his words, Ruby thought maybe he was right. The clothes she brought from home weren’t thick, at least not by local standards. It was still autumn, but the temperature difference between day and night here was significant. What would she do when winter truly hit? Stay burrowed in bed all day? If so, Marcel would have an even bigger reason to send her back to T City.

"Andrew, if we go shopping, can we make it back to the camp before dark?" Ruby decided to buy new clothes for herself and Marcel, but before setting out, she was still concerned about the time. She had been unconscious during the journey here, so she didn’t know how far it was. Over the past few days, she had sometimes chatted with other patients. During their conversations, they had inadvertently discussed the Military Camp, and she learned it was a good half-day’s drive from there to the hospital.

It was already ten o’clock in the morning.

She was a bit afraid that shopping would delay their return.

"Sister-in-law, don’t worry, we’ll definitely make it back," Andrew immediately assured, thumping his chest as he saw her interest piqued.

"Then, let’s go," Ruby said playfully, flashing a mischievous smile at Andrew before taking the lead toward the rather old military vehicle Andrew had driven from the camp. Andrew paused for a moment where he stood, watching her cheerful expression. His heart felt a little unsettled. Although he had been with Ruby in the hospital, his comrades had kept him informed of the happenings in the camp.

When the company commander returned from the hospital, he went to the Military District. He requested the transfer of an additional military doctor, specifically a young female one. The Military District leadership had long wanted to play matchmaker for the company commander. After all, he was already thirty and not getting any younger. Usually, when they attempted to place promising candidates close to the commander, he rejected them. But now that the commander was actively asking for someone, how could they refuse? They immediately assigned a young female military doctor, about Ruby’s age, to the camp with the commander. A young nurse went with them as well. Whether it was the female military doctor or the nurse, both were said to be attractive and charming. In their uniforms, they looked dashing. In their white doctor’s coats, they were like angels—beautiful from every angle.

The whole camp knew that Ruby had traveled thousands of miles from a major city in the south to find their company commander. Her love for him was so deep it was immeasurable. But when the commander brought the female military doctor back to the camp, he was extremely friendly to the two new colleagues. His comrades said they had never seen the commander treat anyone so gently. They worried for Ruby, thinking that if she saw such a scene, she would surely be heartbroken.

That’s why Andrew wanted to delay their return to the camp. He also hoped Ruby would buy some gifts to please Marcel.

In their eyes, their company commander did care for Ruby; otherwise, he wouldn’t have shown such concern. Yet, he also displayed an indifference and detachment that utterly confused them.

What was it that kept their usually stern commander, known as the ’devil,’ from taking the next step?