Not a Loss
Zhan Aiping had been working at the military hospital for almost six months now, recently assisting Director Xu with surgeries. With the post-holiday staff shortage, she was assigned to handle emergency cases. Unexpectedly, she ran into a familiar face—both as a patient and as her husband, Gu Sheng.
Gu Sheng: “…”
Wang Youli, wincing in pain, said, “Could I get a different doctor?”
Zhan Aiping replied, “It’s just me. Since we know each other, your family can be rest assured.”
Wang Youli thought to himself that it was precisely because it was her that he *wasn’t* reassured.
But there was no choice, so he ended up being wheeled into surgery by someone he knew. Luckily, appendicitis is a minor procedure, and after a few days of rest, he’d be able to go home.
Still shaken, Wang Youli told Gu Sheng, who was sitting beside his hospital bed, “It’s better not to marry a doctor.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
“Now, whenever I see your wife, I get dizzy. Just thinking about her cutting into me gives me chills.”
Gu Sheng: “Are you really that scared?”
“You don’t understand. You should try lying on the operating table and see for yourself.”
“A stranger doctor just feels more secure.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
Despite his lingering fear about the surgery, Gu Sheng found himself a bit envious. He followed closely behind Zhan Aiping, saying, “Honey, it’d be nice to be your patient since you’re always so attentive.”
Zhan Aiping replied, “Patients need to be checked on regularly.”
“Don’t even think about faking an illness again.”
“If you’re sick, I’m definitely not treating you!” Zhan Aiping warned him.
Gu Sheng: “…”
Restoring authority in the household was tough.
He couldn’t assert himself around his wife; he could only stand firm in certain ways, but not in most.
Shen Liqing arrived at the hospital with her two kids to care for Wang Youli, while Gu Sheng had taken a few days off. He originally planned to get together with his old comrade to reclaim some authority at home, but with Wang in the hospital, Gu Sheng ended up spending his time with his wife at the hospital instead.
The kids, Guobaorou and Xiaotangyuan, tagged along with their dad; they’d been familiar with hospitals since they were young.
Watching Guobaorou and Xiaotangyuan, Wang Youli suddenly made a surprising observation.
He called Gu Sheng over, “Have you noticed? Your daughter is taller than your son.”
It was subtle, but on closer inspection, Xiaotangyuan was clearly taller than her older brother.
Gu Sheng said, “My daughter ties her hair up, so she looks taller.”
Wang chuckled, “I looked closely—your son is just short.”
Gu Sheng crossed his arms, “Kids develop at different rates.”
Wang laughed, despite his discomfort, nudging Gu Sheng with his elbow, “A boy shorter than his sister? And he’s supposed to be the older one.”
“Your son is a lot like you.”
Gu Sheng replied, “Want me to remind you of something? I’ve noticed for a while now that your daughter is also taller than your son.”
In fact, his daughter, Sweet and Sour Fish, was noticeably taller than his son, Pickled Fish.
Wang said, “Well, that’s understandable; mine are an older sister and a younger brother, so of course, the sister is taller.”
Gu Sheng laughed, “Our sets of twins, a brother and sister each, were only minutes apart.”
“Your two fish were born so fast, there were barely a few seconds between them.”
“Old Wang, seems like your son’s just not keeping up.”
Wang: “…”
Wang sighed, “This is strange.”
“Our family is all girls over boys now.”
Gu Sheng thought to himself that asserting authority at home was also a lost cause for him.
With a sly tone, Gu Sheng added, “Having regrets, are you? I told you before you got married—ignoring old advice leads to present trouble.”
Wang looked at Gu Sheng with a puzzled expression, “…Do you seriously have the nerve to say that to me?”
Gu Sheng, bluntly, said, “Before marriage, I used to talk big.”
Wang Youli: “Ridiculous. I don’t want to see either of you.”
Why do this couple stick to him like glue, impossible to get rid of?
Gu Sheng retorted, “If you’d listened to me back then instead of me trusting you, we wouldn’t be in this situation.”
“If you hadn’t fed me all that lofty talk—like helping each other out and how army wives are incredible—I wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Wang Youli bristled, “Oh, so now the ‘model husband’ of the family compound is blaming me?”
“I hadn’t even planned to quit smoking! But because you did, I had to give it up too. And your wife gives you ten bucks for spending money while I only get five.”
Gu Sheng: “…”
The more Wang Youli thought about it, the angrier he got, “At least your wife still cooks for you. Tell me honestly, we got married around the same time—how many meals of hers have you eaten, and how many has my wife made for me?”
Wang Youli ‘s wife, Shen Liqing, made a lovely meal early on, but she’d since gotten lazier and rarely cooked.
As for Gu Sheng, he usually did the cooking, but Zhan Aiping occasionally pitched in and even made snacks for their kids.
“Your wife even makes clothes for you, sewing by hand. In my house, I have to work the sewing machine—no, no, I meant my wife does it,” Wang Youli hastily corrected himself, realizing he’d just confessed something embarrassing.
Wang Youli felt bitter, wondering why he’d let that slip out.
Gu Sheng glanced at him in surprise, thinking, *Old Wang really has it tough.*
” Wang Youli, you don’t know how lucky you are.”
Gu Sheng blinked, “How much more are you keeping from me?”
Little did Gu Sheng realize that while he thought he had it tough, his comrade Wang Youli had it even harder.
“Why not go tell Director Li that you’re the real ‘model husband’ around here?”
Wang Youli: “…”
If there were a way to undo the past, he’d tell his three-years-younger self not to bother being the “model husband” or writing any pledges.
“Take the title. I don’t want it. Focus on pampering your wife—maybe she’ll give you two more kids,” Wang Youli said firmly. He had no intention of being the good guy anymore.
Gu Sheng shook his head, “No more kids. Two are enough.”
” Wang Youli, I originally wanted to brainstorm with you about how to handle our wives. But thinking it over, my wife’s actually pretty good—I’ll just surrender.”
Compared to Wang Youli’s situation, Gu Sheng realized he wasn’t doing too badly.
Wang Youli gaped, jolted, “You came to discuss handling your wife? I thought you were the lovesick one, marrying your childhood sweetheart against all odds?”
Gu Sheng replied, “Remember what I said before the wedding? My wife promised to handle all the housework, cooking, and childcare…”
Wang Youli suddenly burst into laughter, covering his mouth.
It struck Wang Youli that Gu Sheng might actually be worse off than him.
“At least I signed a pledge; you, on the other hand, got tricked by your wife and still seem happy about it.” Wang Youli suddenly felt a wave of satisfaction, as if the sun had come out and the future looked brighter.
Gu Sheng: “My wife just gave me an extra five for pocket money.”
Wang Youli: “…”
“And she said she’s cooking dinner for me tonight, and she’s even planning to make clothes for me.”
Ever since Gu Sheng hinted at “rebelling,” Zhan Aiping had been treating him with more care, using gentle tactics.
Gu Sheng continued, “She’s been speaking more sweetly to me and wearing her flashiest dresses that she used to dislike. She even mentioned getting a nurse’s uniform to wear for me at home. I didn’t even know that was a thing.”
“And she’s started styling her hair in braids and buns again. Haven’t you noticed she’s looking prettier, more feminine lately?”
Wang Youli was getting irritated, nearly snapping, “Did you really come here to discuss dealing with wives, or are you just bragging about yours?”
Gu Sheng smiled, “My wife’s great; I’ve decided not to rebel.”
No matter how rough things were, at least Wang Youli had it worse.
Wang Youli reminded him, “Don’t forget your wife tricked you.”
Gu Sheng replied proudly, “Marrying such a beautiful wife? I have no regrets.”
Just then, Zhan Aiping came in with a team to do rounds and change Wang Youli’s bandages.
Wang Youli said, “Dr. Zhan, please take your husband away.”
Gu Sheng cheerfully replied, “Honey, I’ll cook dinner for you tonight.”
Zhan Aiping: “…?”
“Alright.” She thought to herself that her old Gu was truly easy to appease.
“Thanks, Old Wang.”
After all, he had helped her solve a major issue.
Gu Sheng, with no lingering reluctance, followed his wife out of the room, while Wang Youli watched them leave with a hint of satisfaction.
He had learned the art of patience. He even managed not to reveal that his younger son, Pickled Fish, was actually a naturally gifted child.
Their little Pickled Fish might be lazy, but he was truly “smart,” picking up on adult cues with ease.
Could he be a prodigy?
If his son could outshine Gu’s twins, that would be wonderful.
Wang Youli’s son was quiet and reserved, keeping his intelligence hidden from everyone except his parents. Wang Youli intended to let his son develop in silence, eventually making a stunning entrance to surprise everyone.
That was his fine son.
Not long after Wang Youli was discharged, Gu Sheng was rushed into the hospital.
Seeing Gu Sheng covered in blood, a bullet wound in his body, Zhan Aiping’s mind buzzed with one thought: You never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first.
She performed the surgery on Gu Sheng herself, and afterward, she felt completely drained, unable to snap out of it. She couldn’t sleep that night.
Gu Sheng had never experienced anything like this before, but since her rebirth, many events had changed. Their lives were no longer on the same path.
Before, she’d felt sure they would grow old together to seventy. Now, that certainty had vanished.
Sitting by his bedside, she looked at Gu Sheng’s sleeping face. She reached out to touch him; he was warm. His lips were pale, but his expression was calm, sleeping peacefully.
She rarely looked at him like this. Although they were married, Gu Sheng always stayed up later than her and woke up before she did. By the time she got up, he was already gone.
She’d never paid attention to his sleeping face during the night.
She used to think they had plenty of time to spend together, that they would eventually grow tired of each other… but how much time was left was anyone’s guess.
When she believed they had decades together, she’d felt like a wealthy person with endless resources, carelessly spending their time without appreciating it.
When Gu Sheng used to cling to her, she’d dismiss him. Now, looking back, she regretted it.
“Next time we visit my parents, I’ll let you show off a little.”
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