Chapter 481: The Surprising Truth

Chapter 481 The Surprising Truth

"You're pregnant?"

Li Mingxiang encountered Ye Xiaoxiao in the compound. She now worked and lived nearby.

Ye Xiaoxiao didn’t answer the question, since her condition was evident. Instead, she nodded politely and said, "Long time no see, Comrade Mingxiang."

Li Mingxiang studied Ye Xiaoxiao. She had noticed how beautiful Ye Xiaoxiao was the last time they met.

To be honest, she had seen many beautiful women, but this was the first time she’d seen someone who still looked so glowing while pregnant.

"Where are you off to?"

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "To my workplace."

Li Mingxiang didn’t pay much attention to Ye Xiaoxiao’s job, figuring it was just a standard posting the organization made for military personnel’s families.

"And where are you going, Comrade Mingxiang?"

Li Mingxiang was lost. "I’m here to visit an elder, but I’m not sure where the place is. I’m not familiar with the island, and I haven’t seen any clinic around."

Ye Xiaoxiao understood—she must be here to visit a patient.

No wonder she couldn’t find the clinic. The place was just a ramshackle little compound.

It was oddly enough that so many people came here, staying for months at a time.

"If you’re looking for the clinic, come along with me. It’s on the way."

Hearing this, Li Mingxiang smiled. "Then I’d appreciate your help showing me the way."

Ye Xiaoxiao replied, "Don’t mention it."

As they walked, Ye Xiaoxiao walked slowly, so Li Mingxiang chattered as they walked.

"I came to the island for a project, and Hanchuan’s been a huge help. I should thank him properly when I have the time."

"Pregnancy must be tough. Working in such cold weather—Hanchuan should look after you better."

Li Mingxiang talked a lot, but Ye Xiaoxiao, bundled up in her scarf and unwilling to speak much, replied curtly.

"It’s not tough."

"Work’s not something he can help with."

Besides, Ye Xiaoxiao thought it strange—Lu Hanchuan wasn’t her supervisor, so how could he decide whether she took time off?

Many people came to the island specifically for her medical expertise. If she really went on leave to rest, a lot of people would be anxious.

And her work wasn’t physically demanding—she wasn’t made of glass.

Li Mingxiang, however, just smiled without saying anything, thinking to herself that Lu Hanchuan didn’t care much about his wife.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Li Mingxiang’s thought processes were on completely different wavelengths—their perspectives were worlds apart.

When they finally arrived at the clinic’s entrance, Li Mingxiang was stunned by the rundown state.

Although a lot of equipment had been brought in, the courtyard was still old and dilapidated—nowhere near as good as a major hospital.

"Is this the convalescent home?"

Li Mingxiang could hardly believe it.

Her father had told her that the elder in question held a very distinguished status—even in the capital, he would have been admitted to a special care ward. How could he end up in such a shabby place?

Moreover, it was the middle of winter, and the heating facilities here weren't great.

Li Mingxiang had only been on the island for a few days, but she already felt winter wasn't the best time to visit.

Just then, Xiao Xiao asked, "Who are you here to see? We just need to check in and make sure they’re up for visitors."

Li Mingxiang replied, "Xiao Xiao, so you work here?"

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded.

Li Mingxiang's smile dropped. "I'm here to visit Mr. Yan Yuqin."

Ye Xiaoxiao remembered him. The elderly gentleman had come to the island due to years of headaches that pills couldn’t fix—only acupuncture could help.

After Ye Xiaoxiao treated him with acupuncture, his condition had improved significantly. At least he could sleep now.

He hardly had flare-ups during the day anymore.

By now, Mr. Yan was already very satisfied. If a complete cure were possible, that would be even better.

Ye Xiaoxiao took Li Mingxiang to the office to check in, after which a nurse went to ask Mr. Yan if he was willing to meet her.

Once the nurse gave the okay, Li Mingxiang proceeded to the ward.

At first, Li Mingxiang thought Ye Xiaoxiao was just an assistant, but the staff at the sanatorium treated her with great respect—she wasn’t just some helper.

But right now, that didn’t matter. Li Mingxiang had more pressing matters to attend to.

Honestly, Li Mingxiang hadn’t met Mr. Yan many times before. Their families went way back, and Mr. Yan had seen her as a child.

"Grandpa Yan."

Li Mingxiang called him Grandpa Yan, as was proper.

"You're Mingxiang? You’ve grown so much. I haven’t seen you since your grandfather passed away."

Mr. Yan and Li Mingxiang’s grandfather had been old army buddies. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have seen her.

"Yes, Grandpa Yan. I’m here for work on Changjing Island and will be staying for a while. My father mentioned you were staying here to recover, so I came to visit."

Li Mingxiang had been carrying a fruit basket all this way and finally set it down.

It wasn’t much, just a small gift.

Besides, the elderly man wasn’t one for fancy presents anyway.

"Working here? Perfect—you can drop by more!"

Mr. Yan was quite fond of Li Mingxiang. The island was pretty boring, and he liked having company.

Li Mingxiang smiled. "Hope I’m not bothering you, Grandpa Yan."

Mr. Yan chuckled. "Of course not. I always love company."

After becoming acquainted with Yan Yuqin, Li Mingxiang began to ask why he had come here for recuperation.

Yan Yuqin shook his head helplessly, "Although the conditions in the capital are good, there are no doctors suitable for me. Changjing Island's environment might not be ideal, but it helps me sleep, makes me laugh, and gives me peace of mind."

Li Mingxiang was here more for making connections, but seeing Yan Yuqin inevitably reminded her of her own grandfather. At least at this moment, her concern was genuine.

"Is it that serious?"

Yan Yuqin smiled, "It was serious before, but now it's better. Thanks to Dr. Ye's medical acupuncture. Don’t let her young age fool you—her medical skills are extraordinary..."

As Li Mingxiang listened to the old man’s praise, she grew increasingly uneasy.

"Grandpa Yan, are you talking about Dr. Ye Xiaoxiao?"

Yan Yuqin nodded happily, "Yes, it’s her. The young woman is pregnant now, and I see her looking after us patients here. It’s tough work, but she’s such a sweet young woman."

By the end, Yan Yuqin’s expression was full of affection, as if he regarded Xiaoxiao as his own granddaughter.

Li Mingxiang, however, her smile faded, unable to force even a hint of amusement.

Because she realized her earlier assumption was wrong—Ye Xiaoxiao wasn’t some fragile flower dependent on the Lu family and Lu Hanchuan. She had genuine medical expertise.

"Why haven’t I heard of this Dr. Ye before?"

Yan Yuqin had learned quite a bit about Ye Xiaoxiao these days. "She’s a Jing University graduate. Though she only graduated a couple of years ago, she’s been studying medicine since childhood and is Mr. Song's last student."

"Before, she wasn’t well-known, but now it’s different. People have to wait in line to see her on the island."

Li Mingxiang would never have imagined that Lu Hanchuan would end up marrying a Jing University graduate. Wasn't he supposed to dislike top students?