Epilogue

He is as strong as iron, and even when surrounded on the battlefield, with ammunition and supplies exhausted, he never felt fear. However, just now, when she turned to leave, he felt a profound terror, fearing that she would, like four years ago, resolutely decide to depart, leaving him to wander through a long and endless life, with nights as haunting as nightmares, all alone.

The door was half open, and from her perspective, she could see a young lady sitting by the hospital bed. She appeared to be around twenty-one or twenty-two years old, wearing a modified and very well-fitted qipao. Her long hair was slightly curled, and her lips were a rosy red as she gazed at Ye Kaizheng, saying something with a light laugh. Ye Kaizheng was already able to sit up and was also earnestly looking into her eyes, letting out a soft laugh.

The commander specifically asked to see you to express gratitude

Due to the severity of the injuries, the surgery did not conclude until three hours later. Xing Yi completed the suturing before signaling to the nurse to take him out of the ward

The young woman smiled and extended her hand: "Kong Ai, Amy Kong, American Postal Correspondent, thank you very much for agreeing to the interview"

The guard smiled wryly and said, "The commander has always led by example, refusing to retreat, and we have no choice in the matter"

Early the next morning, Xing Yixin arrived at the hospital with a heavy heart, only to be surrounded by a group of colleagues. Since they were all girls, they chattered excitedly, asking: "Dr. Liao, did you perform surgery on Ye Kaizheng?"

Four years of time, are obstacles, are fears, are hesitations

But when he held himself close, she suddenly understood that for him... it was merely longing, waiting, and deep love

Am I going crazy?" He chuckled softly, pulling her, who was sobbing uncontrollably, into his embrace. "This madness... will you cure me?"

Liao Xingyi finished tidying up the dormitory where she had lived for three years, just as she had arrived, only organizing a simple small suitcase, and left the tranquil campus

- "The American Post", Amy Kong, 1940, in China

The lips still carried that refreshing sweetness that only comes with the midnight dreams, yet the door to the ward had already been closed

He pretended to be foolish: "What do you mean on purpose?" However, before she could say anything, he had already leaned down and kissed her passionately

Four years have passed, China is so vast, and the battlefield is so extensive... She chose to return, but meeting him in this manner was something she could never have anticipated

Ye Kaizheng said lightly: "It is not my acceptance, but an order from above"

By the time she truly arrived in the Southwest, it had already been three months. She drifted on the ship for two months and then made her way from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. At this time in China, due to the spread of war, many roads had already been cut off. After enduring countless hardships, she finally reached the Southwest wartime hospital.

Ye Kaizheng did not respond, his eyes slightly lowered, lost in thought. This soldier, who had always been composed and valiant, in this moment, appeared to be filled with melancholy

She glanced over and found it somewhat familiar, prompting her to bend down and pick it up

The entire third floor of the hospital has been designated as exclusive patient rooms, and security will conduct checks upon entry and exit. When Xingyi arrived at the entrance, a nurse made eye contact with her and whispered, "Not awake yet"

The guards quickly bowed, and Kong Ai slightly parted her lips, wanting to say something, but she was also taken out by the guards

The guard saluted and said, "Yes."

Ye Kaizheng was walking back to the room: "Let's begin."

"That's fine, you can go back and take a rest." The director sighed with relief, "He will stay in the hospital for a while, thank you for your hard work."

Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania

Kong Ai curiously asked, "Mr. Ye carries old newspapers and photographs with him? They must be of great importance."

The heartbeat of the star missed a beat, and I instinctively shook my head

Has the situation with Ye Kaizheng become repetitive

Ye Kaizheng slowly opened his eyes

The words "Zhao Qingyu, Liao Xingyi" are vividly etched in my memory, while in the photograph, I am seen with two braids, smiling with a childlike innocence. In the lower left corner, there are traces of blood, which have been wiped clean, leaving only a rust-like red stain.

That night, upon returning to the dormitory, Xingyi tossed and turned, managing only a light sleep of two to three hours.

Xing Yi took off the mask and softly asked, "Have you heard anything?"

The guard did not respond, only leading her to the entrance and saying, "Please come in."

Is he more attractive than in the newspaper

Kong Ai listened with great curiosity: "What happened next?"

Doctor, doctor? The guard looked very worried, how is the commander's injury?

Xing Yi lowered her head and listened quietly, walked to the door of the changing room to bid farewell to Dr. Chen, changed her clothes, and then went to the ward

How could he ... ? ... end up in such a state ?

She furrowed her brow and cut open all the bandages on his shoulder. Suddenly, she saw the scar on the injured man's right shoulder, in such a familiar place... Her scissors hovered above his shoulder, her gaze slightly lowered, landing on the small part of the man's face that was exposed because he was lying down.

The patient lay on her back, wrapped in bandages, and was in a deep sleep. Two vigilant guards stood by the bed. She entered wearing a mask, walked briskly to the patient's side, reached for a pair of scissors, and slowly began to cut the bandages.

His gaze swept over Xing Yi, and suddenly, with a blank expression, he said: "Then you might have to ask her if she is willing to take off her mask and show you."

She rushed over, snatched the gun from his hand, and threw it away with force, only to realize that she was already in tears: "Second Brother... are you out of your mind?"

It is rare to see the director so anxious, prompting Xing Yi to ask, "What is it, sir?"

Dr. Chen sighed and said, "Indeed. I had only heard about it before, but now seeing him covered in injuries, I realize it is true"

The work at the hospital began almost on the first day of arrival. Wounded soldiers were continuously transported here by train from the front lines. Whenever a carriage of soldiers arrived at the station, the platform was stained with blood. The doctors would briefly assess the injuries and send the severely wounded soldiers to the operating room. Many of them were very young, waking up after surgery to find that they had lost a leg or an arm. The wards were filled with wails and cries. However, the doctors had become accustomed to such scenes; they operated like machines, sending one patient after another out of the wards, without even a shred of extra emotion to reflect upon the situation. Many of them were very young, waking up after surgery to find that they had lost a leg or an arm. The wards were filled with wails and cries. However, the doctors had become accustomed to such scenes; they operated like machines, sending one patient after another out of the wards, without even a shred of extra emotion to reflect upon the situation.

On July 7, 1937, the Marco Polo Bridge Incident broke out, marking the beginning of the all-out resistance of the Chinese nation against aggression

She nodded

The ward suddenly fell silent; the guards, well-trained, could not help but cast curious glances at Xing Yi. Meanwhile, Kong Ai was taken aback, exclaiming "Ah" as she looked up and down at the female doctor before her

Ye Kaizheng replied with a soft "Hmm": "The person in the photo is my wife"

"Everyone go out for a moment," Ye Kai said softly

"Since this is an important task, why not consult Dr. Xu?" Dr. Chen hesitated to ask, "After all, both Xiao Liao and I have limited experience."

Four years have passed, and she has almost forgotten her married status, while he has surprisingly kept this declaration intact with him... Memories of the past surged forth, and she stood there, as if enchanted, leaning down to his lips and kissing him.

The content of this report is based on the observations of our reporter in Chongqing, China, as well as interviews conducted with Chinese generals

Is he fierce or not

The door to the ward closed, and the silhouettes of the two people were elongated by the sunlight outside the window. He slowly stood up, walked to her side, and reached out to remove her mask.

"You did it on purpose, didn't you?" Her tears finally fell onto his clothes, quickly transforming into a transparent blooming flower

After being evacuated from the front line due to serious injuries, compared to the pain endured in defiance of all the doctors' advice to insist on flying here for surgery, at this moment, sealed with a kiss, the cool and sweet sensation on his lips made him feel that everything ... was worth it

Their dinner typically consists of plain rice porridge and a type of salted egg that Chinese people enjoy. According to the quota, each person is allowed only one egg per meal. I was invited to dine with them and asked Mrs. Ye, as the wife of the commander, whether she enjoyed any special privileges in her daily life. General Ye is usually taciturn, yet he scooped out the yolk of his egg and placed it in his wife's bowl so that she could enjoy a double portion of her favorite yolk. Mrs. Ye glanced at me and smiled, saying, "I wonder if this is what you imagined as the special treatment for a lady." General Ye is usually taciturn, yet he scooped out the yolk of his egg and placed it in his wife's bowl so that she could enjoy a double portion of her favorite yolk. Mrs. Ye glanced at me and smiled, saying, "I wonder if this is what you imagined as the special treatment for a lady."

The courage of youth, worn away by the passage of time, has become increasingly difficult to find

Dr. Chen walked out of the ward with her and casually remarked, "Xiao Liao, you seem particularly nervous this time."

He did not hold her back, only watching her silhouette, and coldly smiled: "You once said that as long as I was hurt, as long as I was not dead, you would heal me."

A female student from China has submitted her graduation materials and is in the process of handling her return procedures. Just a moment ago, her advisor, Prof. Graham, was earnestly persuading her to stay and pursue a doctor's degree. However, the young female student firmly declined the professor's invitation: "My homeland is experiencing war. Fortunately, what I have learned is precisely what my country urgently needs now. I believe that, rather than staying here to obtain a doctor's degree, I would prefer to return home and apply what I have learned."

Xing Yi was hesitating to talk to the director when suddenly a commotion was heard ahead. It turned out that the latest batch of wounded had just arrived. Since they were withdrawn from the fierce battle in Xuzhou, many were severely injured, and quite a few required immediate surgery

Kong Ai could sense Ye Kai's indifference and displeasure, but he did not mind and smiled as he said, "Then let's begin"

She couldn't help but feel a bit hesitant, caught in a dilemma, and could only ask the guard in a low voice: "Is Commander Ye receiving guests?"

"Director, the operating room must be overwhelmed with work," Xing Yi seized the opportunity to say, "Commander Ye's surgery was very successful, and the remaining rehabilitation work is more suited for Dr. Wang. Why not let him take over?"

The nurses then dispersed

"Working side by side in a battlefield hospital is quite romantic," a female voice interjected, "General Ye, what do you think?"

With a high nose bridge and slanted sword-like eyebrows, he seemed to have no time to shave due to the busy wartime, with his beard nearly covering his jaw—yet even so, how could she possibly fail to recognize him

This remark was quite playful, and Ye Kaizheng burst into laughter. The atmosphere in the ward was very pleasant. Ye Kaizheng seemed to recall something and said softly: "There are many brave girls. I once met a girl who, when I was injured and being hunted... fearlessly helped to stop my bleeding"

Dr. Chen hurried over as well; he is two years older than Xing Yi and works as an anesthesiologist. Among the younger generation, the two of them are a highly coordinated pair and are also greatly valued and nurtured.

"Liao Xingyi, from now on, do you intend to pretend to be strangers with me?" His voice was slightly hoarse

Ye Kaizheng smiled faintly and replied with a question, "Miss Kong, are you afraid of me?"

As the layers of bandages were unwrapped, a horrifying wound was revealed beneath. Xing Yi could not help but exclaim: "This gunshot wound has clearly been here for more than two days. Why was there not an earlier withdrawal or an earlier surgery?"

Xing Yi heard the sound of a firearm and instinctively turned around, only to see him pressing the gun barrel against her left shoulder. He slightly pursed his lips, his gaze deep and serious. She had seen him wear such an expression before; he never tried to intimidate her. He was serious. Her mind went blank, fearing that Ye Kaizheng might actually pull the trigger, and she instinctively screamed, "Are you crazy, Ye Kaizheng!"

She stood by the bedside watching him. More than three years had passed, and due to the trials of war, his complexion was darker and he was thinner than before. Yet, this handsome face, even in sleep, appeared so resolute. His lips, due to blood loss and dehydration, were cracked and had formed scabs. She went to the bedside, took a cotton swab, dipped it in some water, and gently applied it. The cotton quickly turned pink as it absorbed the water, and she paused her movements, her eyes slightly reddening. It seemed that he was no longer the refined and handsome young commander she remembered. She went to the bedside, took a cotton swab, dipped it in some water, and gently applied it. The cotton quickly turned pink as it absorbed the water, and she paused her movements, her eyes slightly reddening. It seemed that he was no longer the refined and handsome young commander she remembered.

She woke up suddenly, took a deep breath, and forced herself to hide all her weak emotions. She bit her lower lip hard, using the pain to remind herself to calm down: "The surgery is about to begin"

The director has not left yet, and has been waiting for her to come downstairs, before asking with concern: "How is the situation?"

In this moment, Xing Yi forgot that he was a physician, and his heart ached so painfully that he was on the verge of tears

It was quite good. Xing Yi's cheeks were still burning hot, but fortunately, the corridor was dim, so nothing could be seen. It was only then that she remembered she had casually taken the newspaper and the photo out, and she hurriedly stuffed them back into her pocket.

Xing Yi stood in the corner of the ward, frozen by what he said. She was unsure if he was speaking to her, but at that moment, she just wanted to sneak out while no one was paying attention. Unfortunately, Ye Kai had already raised his head and looked at her, asking: "After the surgery that day, the photos and newspapers I brought with me were placed on the table, but I can't find them now. Did you see them?"

Xing Yi forced himself to withdraw all his melancholic thoughts. After completing the entries on the record sheet, he was about to leave quietly when he suddenly noticed the neatly folded military uniform of Ye Kai Zheng beside the hospital bed. The uniform was accompanied by some miscellaneous items, likely taken from his pockets before the surgery.

A patient is about to be delivered, it is an emergency task! You and Dr. Chen will perform a surgery. The director led her outside, "It is a commander who was injured on the front line and has just been shot. He has just been brought to the hospital"

Ye Kaizheng finally withdrew his gaze, yet it seemed he did not hear this statement. He said to the guard, "Go and ask the doctor who will perform the surgery to come over."

His expression, initially sharp, gradually softened until it became gentle

Her footsteps paused for a moment, yet she did not stop, with half of her body already outside the door

Seeing her so reserved, Kong Ai couldn't help but laugh and interjected, "Mr. Ye, it seems that many people are still afraid of you. Even the doctors who have performed surgery on you."

She lifted her head from his embrace, a tear hanging on her long eyelashes, poised to fall yet not falling.

He had long known that he was here and also knew who had performed the surgery on him. Xing Yi's entire body, even her fingertips, had stiffened; how could she be so foolish as to think he wouldn't recognize her? With his status, how could he accept a physician who had not been investigated to perform surgery on him?

Kong Ai raised her meticulously groomed eyebrows slightly and said, "You are a great hero. Heroes are to be respected, so why should I be afraid of you"

The director cast her a sidelong glance and said, "Don't ask too many questions, just focus on performing the surgery well"

At this moment, in the ward on the third floor, Ye Kai was already able to get out of bed. He stood by the bedside, gazing at the young men and women in the courtyard, his eyes dark and heavy. They were all wearing white coats, and their heights seemed to match well. Even from such a distance, he could see the subtle smile on Xing Yi's face, sweet and warm. He watched them chatting for a long time, his chest surging with emotions, his expression grim.

The nurse has already cleaned him up, shaved his beard, and wiped his cheeks, leaving his features clear.

I met with General Ye Kaizheng, the commander of the Sixth District, who had been withdrawn from the front lines due to serious injuries, in Chongqing. His wife—a remarkable young female surgeon—was by his side, caring for him while also working at the Southwest wartime hospital. Contrary to my expectations, as a distinguished senior general with outstanding military achievements, he was not living a life of luxury and indulgence during his recovery, despite having every condition to do so. On the contrary, due to the scarcity of supplies, they lived like ordinary citizens, with the husband recuperating at home, waiting for his wife to return from work so they could have dinner together.

The captain smiled and said, "Come in with me."

There was no one in the ward, and Ye Kai was lying on the bed, with only a small part of his face exposed.

Watches, pens ... . ... Crumpled pieces of newspaper and photographs

Seeing his body covered in scars, she felt a deep sadness, almost as if she were experiencing it herself

A civilization that has lasted for a thousand years, a territory of one million square kilometers, every inch has been swept away by the ravages of war. The history of the Chinese nation being bullied by foreign powers for nearly a century reached its climax in this war of national defense. Yet, before the war, the joys and sorrows of each individual seemed to have already merged into the overwhelming torrent of national will that is now difficult to distinguish.

He pressed his lips together, his gaze returning to the courtyard: "She is not here. Go find her now."

In the brief time it took to visit the cafeteria, the hospital was already filled with heavily armed soldiers, and security was tight. Xing Yi and Dr. Chen exchanged a glance; to this day, no one had disclosed the identity of the injured, indicating that those brought in were indeed high-ranking military officials and dignitaries

She was wearing a mask tightly and had a pair of glasses on, standing in the shadows without making a sound. Ye Kai merely glanced at her casually, seemingly not recognizing her: "Was it you who performed the surgery on me?"

I would like to apply to the director to take a shift in his ward

Kong Ai expressed great regret: "I still want to see what Lady Ye looks like."

She had no choice but to brace herself and walk in, hearing the captain say: "Commander, the physician has arrived"

... ...

"... or are you saying that you will only be willing to look back at me once I am close to death?" He turned around, took a handgun from the bedside table, smoothly chambered a bullet, and aimed it at his shoulder.

Is it now? The guard was taken aback and said, The female doctor may be on the operating table

Postscript

She had no choice but to say, "I am."

At that time, she left him a letter, stating that she did not hate him

Xing Yi returned to the third floor, put on a mask, and inquired: "Has Commander Ye's injury relapsed? Is Doctor Wang not here?"

Today, there are many students abroad like her, who, after completing their studies, are eager to return to their homeland, attempting to use the knowledge they have acquired to serve their country, which is mired in the quagmire of war. They share various information with each other, and Xingyi has also established contact with domestic hospitals and anti-Japanese rescue organizations through international medical organizations. Without much hesitation, she chose to work at a wartime hospital located in the southwest

"You have just returned from abroad, so you may not be aware," Dr. Chen said with regret. "General Ye is the youngest among the theater commanders and also the most dedicated. Back in the Liangjiang region, he had just come to power for a short time when he dared to engage the enemy in battle. It is a pity that the effort at Waziwan ended in failure. If all our officers were like him, what would there be to fear in the war?"

In recent years, although she has not been by his side, she has always known that amidst the hail of bullets and the chaos of battle, he has never flinched.

As soon as Xing Yi had separated from Dr. Chen, a colleague rushed over and said, "Dr. Liao, there has been an incident on the third floor of the hospital, please go take a look"

Kong Ai was taken aback: "... ... Are you already married?"

However, there are times when love is... more difficult to uphold than hate

After finishing her shift, Xing Yi went straight to the operating table, spending both day and night in the operating room, the break room, and the cafeteria, until three days later when she finally had half a day off. As she walked through the small courtyard of the hospital, she happened to run into Dr. Chen. She greeted him, and Dr. Chen handed her a melon, saying, "I just bought some fruit, take it and eat."

Xing Yi reviewed the summary of the patient's condition. The injured person was evacuated from Xuzhou and had been shot two days ago, suffering from a persistent high fever without any known cause. There was no immediate surgery performed at the front line, which delayed the treatment until now. She inquired about the patient's allergy history from the nurse who had been withdrawn from the front line, and then examined the patient's injuries.

The director thought for a moment and agreed, then reminded, "Make sure to hand over properly to Dr. Wang."

Unable to refuse the warm invitation, she accepted it and said, "Thank you"

Ye Kaizheng smiled and said, "Later, she became my wife"

Early 1938

She stood up reflexively and asked, "Director, is something wrong?"

Xing Yi found herself in a rather awkward situation, unsure of how to respond. Fortunately, the director came over to her rescue: "Alright, alright, the officials all have their personal attendants and guards with them. The third floor is under strict control, so please refrain from going up unless necessary"

Xing Yi suddenly woke up, retreating two steps in a panic, her heart nearly jumping out of her mouth. She didn't even have time to confirm whether he was awake, and hurriedly ran outside.

Before the words had left his mouth, someone walked out of the ward. Judging by the shoulder insignia, he was the captain of the guard. He asked in a low voice, "Has the surgeon who performed the operation that day arrived?"

Xing Yi was still wearing a mask, her eyes slightly lowered, and she forced a smile as she said: "How could I not be nervous? He is Ye Kaizheng. If something goes wrong during the surgery, who will take responsibility?"

From spring to summer, due to the disparity in national strength and military power, the territory was lost, and the front lines continued to retreat. The atmosphere in the southwestern wartime hospital also grew increasingly tense. One day, after finishing her surgery, Xing Yi hurried to the cafeteria for a meal. During this period, supplies were quite insufficient, and the available food consisted only of thin rice porridge, steamed buns, and some vegetables. She arrived late and found that there were no steamed buns left, so she had to casually scoop some porridge. Just as she was about to find a seat to sit down, the director of the hospital's logistics department rushed in: "Doctor Liao! Hurry! Back to the operating room!"

Dr. Xu was just sent to Wuhan this morning to participate in the consultation The director sighed and said There is no other way, you two go

The professor is quite fond of this diligent and intelligent student, but also understands her eagerness to return to her home country. He signed her documents and sighed, saying, "I hope your country can soon be free from the ravages of war. When that time comes, you will always be welcome back."

The corners of his lips curled slightly; if it were not for her excessive panic... she should have been able to hear her own heartbeat, which was far more intense than hers

She turned her head in panic, avoiding his deep black eyes, and remained silent, only choking back a sob as her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her nails digging into her flesh. She did not know how to respond to him; in that moment, all she could think of was to escape, and she turned to leave.

Commander of the Sixth War Zone, Ye Kaizheng

Her heart skipped several beats in an instant. She was the most professional physician; for the sake of a patient's life, she could sever a mangled limb at any moment, with no time to consider the so-called feelings of the patient. Yet the rotting wound on his back was as grotesque as a curse, so glaring that she could almost feel the same pain as he did

Just a fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, and a faint scent of blood began to spread. Her tears rolled onto his lips, perhaps because they carried a hint of saltiness, touching the wound on Ye Kai's lips. He unconsciously stirred, as if instinctively, to suck on her lips