"Life has to go on."
Xia Xue smiled with relief, "We'll be just like before. You run your clinic, and I'll farm and manage the household."
"It's not the same!" Lin Fan exclaimed, flustered.
His emotions erupted like a volcano as he threw himself into his sister-in-law's arms.
All his admiration and yearning, finally unable to be contained, burst forth.
Xia Xue let out a sigh of helplessness, then repeatedly pounded his back with her small fists, telling him to get up.
But he remained unmoved.
His mind was consumed by one thought: "This woman is mine, and I want to be with her forever!"
Xia Xue's weak resistance gradually faded, as if something had suddenly broken through the gates of her heart.
Lin Fan, in his own way, made her realize that the person holding her now was no longer the little boy who used to dote on her.
"Hiss~"
Xia Xue took a deep breath and struggled, "Xiao Fan, don't do this..."
Lin Fan raised his head, his neck stiff, and declared with conviction, "I want you, and there's no room for negotiation!"
He looked at Xia Xue's exquisite face, his tone calm but conveying an undeniable assertiveness.
"You..."
Xia Xue was a little angry, but she couldn't do anything about him.
Lin Fan smiled triumphantly.
Some things, especially love, will never come to fruition if you don't actively try.
While trying doesn't guarantee success, it at least offers a chance.
"I'm going back. Sister Xiao Yue is waiting for me at home. I'm afraid she'll worry if I'm late."
After speaking, Xia Xue got out of bed and walked towards the door.
Lin Fan felt a surge of impulse, wanting to force the issue and consummate their relationship.
But he wasn't shameless enough to do something so utterly despicable.
"Then I'll see you out."
Lin Fan gave an awkward smile and followed her.
"No need."
Xia Xue slammed the door shut with a "clang," "You should get some sleep."
"Then you go back, and have Sister Yue call me!"
Lin Fan called out, unable to hide his concern.
Xia Xue didn't respond, her footsteps quickening as she left.
"We will be together sooner or later, I swear!"
Lin Fan muttered, then went to sleep without even changing his clothes.
With a blink of an eye, the night passed.
Early morning.
Xia Xue and Song Yue brought their meals as usual.
The three of them sat together, chatting about everyday matters, everything as it used to be.
"I'm going back. I'm needed at the construction site."
Xia Xue put down her chopsticks, looked at Song Yue, and added, "Sister, tidy up after you finish eating."
"Mmm," Song Yue nodded, "I know, Sister Xue'er."
After Xia Xue left, Song Yue eagerly asked, "Xiao Fan, what did you do last night?"
"Your sister-in-law was tossing and turning all night."
Lin Fan reacted quickly, "Did nothing!"
"Bullshit!"
Song Yue's expression was full of disbelief, "With your impatient nature, could you have stayed honest?"
Lin Fan waved his hand, "We're eating, don't bring up all that nonsense."
"Hmph!" Song Yue pouted with a mournful look, "If you consider me an outsider, then stay away from me from now on!"
"Fine," Lin Fan grinned smugly, "Then don't ask me for help either."
Song Yue shot him a fierce glare, "Lin Fan, you're getting more and more annoying!"
Lin Fan chuckled, "Am I such an unfeeling person?"
He paused, then added, "Sister Yueyue, the steamed buns are too hard, and my mouth is very dry."
"Get lost, get lost, don't even think about it!"
"A little opening would be nice!"
"Dream on!"
As the two were bickering, a commotion suddenly arose from outside.
Hearing the noise, they immediately stopped, separated, and feigned busyness with serious expressions.
Lin Fan sighed inwardly, "I can't even handle the elder one, and now the younger one is jealous. Life is going to be difficult from now on!"
They spent the entire morning seeing patients.
The clinic's reputation grew, becoming the villagers' first choice for medical treatment.
Lin Fan was so busy he could barely leave his chair, and Song Yue was also running around, being directed by him.
As a result, any intimate intentions they might have harbored had no time to manifest.
Noon.
After taking the pulse of an old man from a neighboring village and prescribing some medicine, Lin Fan finally got a break.
"Ah~"
Lin Fan stood on the doorstep, stretching his arms towards the bright sunshine, "Finally done."
Song Yue rolled her eyes at him, "It's good to be busy, at least it keeps you from overthinking."
"Sister Yueyue."
Lin Fan glanced at the wall clock and grinned wickedly, "There's still time."
"What are you up to?" Song Yue glared at him, "Sister Xue'er will be back soon."
"She won't be back that quickly."
Lin Fan, impatient, pressed himself against her back.
"Don't you find it tiring?"
Song Yue turned her face away, looking disgusted.
"Precisely because I'm tired, I need to replenish!"
Lin Fan's mind was filled with all sorts of twisted logic when he thought about such things.
The two were dawdling, and were just about to go into the inner room when suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard from outside.
"Xiao Fan, Xiao Fan, are you in there?"
Wu Lei rushed in, his face a mask of panic.
"Village Chief, what's wrong?"
Lin Fan instinctively guessed that something major must have happened in the village.
Wu Lei, out of breath, panted, "Secretary Tian and a few classmates, who are supposedly scholars, went to Luofeng Mountain for an inspection and haven't returned."
"Ah?" Lin Fan was taken aback and asked, "What was she doing at Luofeng Mountain?"
Wu Lei waved his hand, "How would I know? She said something about surveying geological and natural resources."
Lin Fan gave an "oh," and asked, "Then why didn't you send anyone to follow them?"
"Should we call and ask?"
Lin Fan felt a sense of unease upon hearing about geological surveys.
"The phone isn't working. I would have followed if I could have."
Wu Lei slapped his thigh and continued, "There was a young person with them who said that they could make a round trip on a small hill like Luofeng Mountain in a day, and I wasn't needed."
"Then call the police!" Lin Fan scratched his head, "Why are you looking for me?"
"Xiao Fan, you have no political awareness."
Wu Lei took a breath and explained, "If we call the police, it'll become a big deal."
"If any rumors spread, it won't be good for Secretary Tian."
"Xiao Fan, you're a doctor. I'm afraid they might have encountered some danger in the mountains, so I came to find you, hoping you'd go into the mountains with me to search for them."
Lin Fan hesitated.
According to his plans, he never wanted to set foot in Luofeng Mountain again.
After all, Luofeng Mountain was a bit eerie. If there was no necessity, why would he go looking for trouble?
"Xiao Fan, don't just stand there!"
"Lives are at stake, that's six lives!"
Wu Lei was anxious, trembling with panic.
Song Yue also chimed in, "Xiao Fan, please help them find them. After all, lives are at stake, it's not a small matter."
"Besides, you know medicine. If they really are in the mountains..."
Song Yue stopped there, afraid of upsetting Wu Lei.