Chapter 26: Brother-in-law, I've come to see my sister.

Qiao Luo frowned. "That is not what I meant. I just feel that I cannot manage the cleaning of two entire floors all by myself..."

"You haven't even tried, and you already know you can't do it?" Director Zhou immediately put on a stern face and reprimanded her. "If you think you can't do it, then work harder! Our hospital is not a place for retirement!"

He crossed his arms and stared at Qiao Luo. "If you don't want to do it, go find Director Shao and ask for a transfer. In our logistics department, this is how everyone works!"

Qiao Luo took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and forced a smile. "Alright, I understand."

Director Zhou gave a cold snort and turned to leave.

Looking at the cluttered mess of tools in the storage room, Qiao Luo sighed. Resigned to her fate, she grabbed a mop and a bucket and set off to clean.

By the time Qiao Luo finished her shift, her eyes were glazed and her body ached all over; she looked like a spirit whose essence had been drained by a succubus.

Knowing it was her first day on the job, Qin Yanzhou had specifically gone to the military canteen to get two meat dishes and one vegetable, keeping them warm on the stove, waiting for her return.

Hearing the door open, he immediately went to greet her. Seeing Qiao Luo drifting in like a wandering ghost, Qin Yanzhou was stunned. "Luo Luo, what happened to you?"

Qiao Luo threw herself into his arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, and nuzzled into his collarbone. "Qin Yanzhou... I’m so tired!"

Qin Yanzhou felt a pang of heartache. He pulled her onto his lap with a gentle tug. "If you're this tired, you don't have to go back. It’s not like I can’t support you!"

Qiao Luo was slightly tempted, but only slightly, so she quickly firmed her resolve. "No! I have to go! I asked around today; there are several patients on that floor with leg issues. I need to go and gain some experience..."

Hearing that she was doing this for his sake, Qin Yanzhou felt both warmed and guilty. He gently stroked Qiao Luo's hair. "Luo Luo, you really don't need to exhaust yourself like this. My legs... many doctors have been unable to do anything, even those in the capital... I have already accepted my fate..."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Luo immediately sat up straight, her round eyes glaring at him. "How can you accept your fate! I won't allow it! Even if there is a one-in-a-million chance, I must try!"

Qin Yanzhou’s heart softened. He knew his legs would never recover, but he couldn't crush her confidence, so he spoke gently, "Let's eat first. You've worked so hard; you need to replenish your strength."

To be honest, Qiao Luo was too tired to have much of an appetite, but she was starving, so she picked at her food listlessly.

Just as they finished eating and Qin Yanzhou cleared away the lunch boxes, there was a knock at the door.

Qiao Luo was puzzled. "Who would be here at this hour?"

Just as she started to rise, Qin Yanzhou pressed her back down. "You eat. I'll get the door."

Qiao Luo, not wanting to move, let him handle it. Qin Yanzhou turned his wheelchair and headed for the door. At the courtyard entrance, he saw a young woman standing outside.

"Who are you?"

The moment Chen Zhi'an saw Qin Yanzhou, she was stunned. This man possessed an extraordinary temperament and a handsome face, especially those deep, piercing eyes that seemed to pull anyone who looked into them into an inescapable abyss.

Countless thoughts raced through Chen Zhi'an's mind. The fact that this man was at Qiao Luo’s home at this hour could only mean one thing: he was the high-ranking official Qiao Luo had latched onto.

The official Qiao Luo had snagged was actually this young! And this handsome!

How could Qiao Luo deserve this? That bitch only deserved to marry some old, ugly man!

Since he was young, held a high rank, and was so good-looking, could she steal this man away? If she did, she could become an official's wife!

However, when Chen Zhi'an’s gaze fell upon Qin Yanzhou’s wheelchair, her jealousy and impulse instantly vanished, and her expression shifted slightly.

No wonder a man like this would settle for Qiao Luo—it was because he was a cripple!

Collecting herself, Chen Zhi'an put on a soft smile. "Hello, I’m here to see my sister."

She and Lin Xiuzhi had come by earlier that day, but since no one was home, they had left in a huff. After discussing it at the guesthouse, they decided Chen Zhi'an would be the one to probe the "official" and gauge his attitude.

Although Qiao Luo’s behavior yesterday had shocked them, they still believed she had only just hooked a big fish and was getting carried away; deep down, she was still the same cowardly, weak-willed person she had been for the past twenty years. How could she have changed in just a few days?

They decided to start with a soft approach. If that didn't work, they would resort to force. Regardless, since they had come to the military base, they wouldn't leave without securing enough benefits.

Qin Yanzhou noticed the shift in Chen Zhi'an's expression, but he didn't care; since his injury, he had seen this kind of reaction far too often. But she said she was looking for her sister...

"Who are you?" Qin Yanzhou asked, observing her calmly. This must be the sister Qiao Luo had mentioned before.

Although Chen Zhi'an had already mentally dismissed Qin Yanzhou, she didn't mind making him fall for her, so her tone grew even more gentle. "You must be my brother-in-law! I am Qiao Luo’s sister, Chen Zhi'an."

Seeing that Qin Yanzhou remained unmoved, she put on a look of helplessness. "Actually, my sister had some misunderstandings about my mother and me yesterday, so I came here today to apologize."

Her voice became even more coy. "Brother-in-law, please, let me go in and apologize to her. My mother and I came all this way just to see her."

Nearby neighbors, hearing the commotion, began to peek out to watch the spectacle.

Qin Yanzhou frowned. Thinking it looked bad to argue at the gate, he hesitated before opening the courtyard door. "Come in."

Chen Zhi'an immediately gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you, brother-in-law."

Qin Yanzhou ignored her entirely and turned his wheelchair to head inside.

Chen Zhi'an’s expression stiffened; she felt as if she had been throwing flirtatious glances at a blind man. She hurried to follow him, wearing a smile on her face while cursing him to hell in her heart.

Just a cripple, what is he acting so high and mighty for? A cripple looking down on others! With a personality like that, he probably beats his wife, too—Qiao Luo is definitely going to have a miserable life!

After convincing herself of this, Chen Zhi'an felt much better.