AHDIBCB Chapter 48

Those words were very clear—Yuan Yi decided to return to the experimental class precisely because Cao Yuran had come to Class 2.

Cao Yuran’s smile almost froze on his face along with Yuan Yi’s words.

If only Yuan Yi had waited a few more days before saying something like that, he wouldn’t have been so shocked. This was clearly saying in front of the entire parallel Class 2 that he didn’t like him, maybe even hated him. And at this moment, he couldn’t immediately say that he would follow him back to the experimental class—then how could he save face?

Cao Yuran lowered his head, his eyes red, struggling hard to keep the tears from flowing.

Seeing this, Luo Qizheng’s expression darkened.

“Yuan, what do you mean by this? If you want to study in the parallel class, then study in the parallel class. If you want to go to the experimental class, then go to the experimental class. Why are you acting like Ji Hua University Medical School belongs to you?”

Yuan Yi said, “Colonel Luo, that’s a bit of a deliberate jab, isn’t it? I already said I was going to apply—if the application isn’t approved, of course I’ll stay in the parallel class. But in that case, it’d be hard to stay in Class 2. I really like the teachers and classmates here; everyone’s been very welcoming. But you both know my situation—as an Omega, pregnant and raising a child alone, it’s already hard enough. I’m often anxious and unsettled. If I stay here, I’ll constantly have to watch the two of you being all lovey-dovey… don’t you think that’s a bit cruel?”

Cao Yuran bit his lip, forcing a strained smile with great effort. He tried to stay composed as he said, “I’m really sorry, Yuan Yi. I didn’t expect that was the reason. But don’t worry, today is just the first day I transferred. Qizheng was just worried and insisted on coming with me because I was carrying a lot of things. It won’t happen again next time.”

Yuan Yi smiled and said, “No, no—then it would be me who’s in the wrong. You two being a sweet, loving couple is a great thing. Don’t make yourselves uncomfortable just because I’m around. If people see that you even have to stop picking up your partner from class because of me, won’t they say I’m being unreasonable? Wouldn’t that make me seem petty? Let’s just keep our distance—it’s better for everyone, really.”

At that moment, Ruan Mingming interrupted, “Some people are just too petty, huh? See a couple together and immediately call it flaunting affection? If that’s how it is, do you also get upset seeing General Li’s parents standing together? Honestly, what a messed-up mindset.”

Yuan Yi let out a short laugh. “Seems like handing out gifts on the first day does work—someone’s already scrambling to cozy up.”

Ruan Mingming was so furious she slammed her notebook shut and stood up, shouting, “Who’s cozying up? Yuan Yi, just because you’re carrying General Li Heng’s child doesn’t mean everyone has to tiptoe around you! Let me tell you—this is a school, not your family estate! And don’t even start with that nonsense about having classmates practice suturing on tofu and jelly—what are you up to with that crap? You’re just wasting everyone’s time! If you’re so capable, why don’t you stitch up a block of tofu? If you can’t, who gave you the right to act like you know it all? Don’t go thinking you’re some big shot.”

Suturing on tofu and jelly?

The classmates who hadn’t heard Yuan Yi say that earlier all looked confused.

Cao Yuran asked, “Tofu and… and jelly are so delicate—how could anyone possibly stitch them? The thread would break them apart before you even finish one pass. Yuan Yi, can you really suture tofu and jelly?”

Ruan Mingming added, “No way he can. He’s just messing with people.”

Yuan Yi said, “If I can, will you apologize to me in front of the entire class? If you dare, I’ll show you today what it means to be truly skilled.”

Ruan Mingming said, “Fine! Whether it’s tofu or jelly—if you can stitch either, I’ll apologize to you right here and now!”

Yuan Yi said, “Then go have someone get some jelly. Or tofu would do. Actually, never mind—you probably don’t need to buy any. I believe those snack packs everyone got should contain some. Anyone willing to lend me one?”

Someone raised their hand and said, “Uh, the gift bag I got has jelly in it… not sure if it’ll work though.”

The student pulled out a cup of jelly, about a finger high and a finger wide.

Someone else added, “I have one too.”

Yuan Yi smiled and said, “One is enough, thank you. I’ll buy you a new one after I’m done.”

The classmate quickly waved their hands. “No need, no need.”

As for the suture thread and needle—those were never in short supply at the medical school. Students often had their own for practice, and Yuan Yi quickly borrowed a set.

He returned to his seat. Class hadn’t started yet, and everyone was watching.

Some students were so curious that they even got up from their seats and crowded around him. This was jelly, after all! It was so soft—wouldn’t it just fall apart at the first touch of the needle?

Many people were holding their breath for Yuan Yi, especially when he was about to insert the first stitch. Even Cao Yuran, Luo Qizheng, and Ruan Mingming all stopped breathing.

But Yuan Yi was calmer than anyone else. There wasn’t a trace of nervousness on him. He moved with such composure, as if what he was doing was nothing more than sewing on a button or stitching up a child’s soft toy.

He even made a deliberate incision in the jelly with the needle before starting to suture it.

One stitch at a time, his long, fair hands remained incredibly steady—quick when they needed to be, slow when required—serious and patient. It was clear he wasn’t the least bit anxious.

In no time, the opening in the jelly had been sewn shut, complete with a perfect knot. It was neat and precise—just like it had been done by a machine.

Class 2 students: “……” Is he even human???!!

Luo Qizheng and Cao Yuran: “……”

Just then, someone in the crowd suddenly began clapping and said, “Beautiful! That technique—absolutely incredible!”

It turned out to be the teacher who was about to begin the lecture.

Yuan Yi stood up. “Sorry, Professor Hu, I’ve taken up your class time.”

Professor Hu replied, “Not at all, not at all. It’s good to have a demonstration for them. When it comes to suturing, the most important things are correct placement, secure stitching, and aesthetic quality. And where does that sense of beauty come from? It comes from flexible hand control and precise visual judgment. Very good. And this is?”

Professor Hu looked at Luo Qizheng—dressed in military uniform, tall and imposing, exuding a strong Alpha presence. But his eyes were somewhat gloomy, with a crease between his brows that suggested he often found fault with the world.

Even when he smiled, there was a strange air of scrutiny about him that didn’t leave a good impression.

In just a short moment, Cao Yuran looked like he’d already been flustered several times. A trace of unease showed on his face as he introduced, “Sorry, Professor Hu, this is my husband, Luo Qizheng. He’s a senior officer of the Vajra Mecha Corps. He was worried I might have trouble adjusting since I just transferred here, so he came to drop me off.”

Luo Qizheng said, “Hello, Professor Hu.”

Professor Hu replied, “Ah, so it’s Commander Luo. A pleasure to meet you.”

Luo Qizheng said, “Likewise. Apologies for interrupting your class. But now that I’ve personally seen he’s settled in safely, I can rest easy. Yuran’s health is a bit fragile these days—I’d appreciate it if you could look out for him.”

Professor Hu smiled and said, “Alright.”

Luo Qizheng gently patted Cao Yuran on the back. “Take care of yourself, and call me if anything comes up.”

Cao Yuran nodded and found a seat.

Luo Qizheng gave Yuan Yi a thoughtful glance before turning to leave.

Yuan Yi, however, couldn’t just walk out like that, so he returned to his seat.

During the lecture, his attention was highly focused, unaffected by what had just happened. But some of the students were still deeply impressed by his skill—how steady must his hands be! Wouldn’t that steadiness make him amazing with a scalpel one day?

After class, Yuan Yi reviewed his notes. The things he had fully grasped he left alone; for anything he felt might need review, he marked them with a special symbol using his pen.

Pan Ranwu came over excitedly. “Yuan Yi, you’re incredible! Can you tell me if there are any tricks to picking the right kind of meat or fruit? Which types work best? I’ve decided—I’m going to start practicing tonight!”

Yuan Yi replied, “No special tricks—that’s the best approach. After all, patients don’t come to doctors with neatly chosen, ideal wounds. The key is diversified training and patience.”

Guan Qizhou, who was already nearby, chimed in, “So it all comes down to muscle memory, right?”

Yuan Yi nodded. “Exactly. If you can suture a piece of meat well, you’ll pass your practical exams without a problem. But if you want to reach a truly high level, you just need to practice more.”

To many people, slicing tofu as thin as a hair might seem impossible—but some people really can do it. And that kind of skill definitely isn’t built in a day.

Someone asked, “Yuan Yi, are you really transferring back to the experimental class?”

Yuan Yi said, “It depends on whether the teacher approves or not.”

He didn’t think it would be much of an issue—after all, the department head had already spoken in his favor. Worst-case scenario, even just for Principal Li’s sake, the school wouldn’t make things difficult for him. Not to mention, he hadn’t even brought up the Aminanka incident to demand any kind of explanation from the school.

It was just that he hadn’t expected things to happen so soon. He had considered that Cao Yuran would most likely transfer into his class—after all, the man had repeatedly approached Ji Lan to ask about him. He must’ve been curious about the matter with Li Heng for quite some time, so naturally, he wouldn’t pass up the opportunity.

Besides, Cao Yuran was pregnant. Following a normal curriculum, the pressure in the experimental class would be much greater. Unlike Yuan Yi, who—thanks to experiences from his past life—had a certain advantage, and could manage it.

It could only be said that Senior Colonel Luo was truly anxious, and maybe Cao Yuran… really wanted to find out about Li Heng’s whereabouts.

Pan Ranwu said, “It’d be great if you didn’t leave. I wanted to ask you more about suturing. And your notes were really interesting. Why did you mark certain points? Sorry, I just happened to see them. And that little figure you drew next to them—does it mean something special?”

Yuan Yi replied, “Those marks are just to help with review, nothing special. It’s hard to memorize long paragraphs all at once, so picking out a few key words and building connections from them helps. As for the little figure… it’s just something to liven up the study process a bit, nothing worth mentioning.”

Pan Ranwu: “……”

A few sharp-eyed students couldn’t help glancing at Cao Yuran.

Sure, it made sense that Senior Colonel Luo had come early in the morning bringing food to encourage the other students to look after Cao Yuran—he was pregnant, after all, and omegas were naturally more fragile, so it was understandable. But the fact that everyone’s snack bag had a cup of jelly in it… was that really just a coincidence, or was there more to the story?

After all, Yuan Yi had just mentioned suturing tofu and jelly the day before.

Cao Yuran sat with his head down, looking at the notes he had taken during class. On the surface, it seemed like he wasn’t paying attention to what was happening on Yuan Yi’s side. But those who were observing him closely noticed that his fingers kept fiddling with the edge of his textbook—he looked quite uneasy.

There’s an old saying: ‘It’s hard to scold someone after accepting their kindness.’ His deskmate, who had also accepted snacks and a pen from Cao Yuran, asked with concern, “Cao Yuran, are you okay?”

Cao Yuran smiled and shook his head, his voice a bit hoarse. “Thank you for your concern. I’m fine.”

He just hadn’t expected Yuan Yi—someone who always appeared so polite—to actually embarrass him so directly in front of everyone.

He didn’t understand this person at all.

But Yuan Yi still left.

That very afternoon, Yuan Yi submitted his transfer application to the department. It was approved in less than five minutes. So, starting the next day, he showed up in the second-year Clinical Experimental Class with his backpack on.

Before heading over, he made a point to stop by Parallel Class 2 and returned a bag of jelly to the classmate who had lent him one. “Thanks for lending me the jelly last time.”

The classmate said, “Oh no, there’s really no need. You’re too kind—buying a whole bag like this. Why don’t we split it? Honestly, I feel kind of bad about what happened. I shouldn’t have spoken up and offered the jelly like that. If you hadn’t managed to stitch it, that would’ve been super awkward. I’m really sorry.”

Yuan Yi thought for a moment, then smiled and said, “It’s alright. Even if you hadn’t said anything, someone else would have. Just share a jelly with me and let’s call it even.”

The classmate was momentarily stunned, then quickly understood what Yuan Yi meant. He tore open the package and casually picked one out to hand to Yuan Yi, since they were all the same flavor anyway.

Yuan Yi took it, opened it on the spot, and ate a few bites. “Sorry to make a scene. I’ve just been having a huge appetite lately—always hungry.”

The classmate said, “That’s totally normal—you’re pregnant. Want a couple more?”

Yuan Yi waved his hand. “No need, thanks. See you.”

The classmate nodded. “See you.”

He looked down at the opened jelly pack in his hand, then at Yuan Yi’s departing figure. He pulled one out for himself and gave it a try—surprisingly tasty.

What a pity. In comparison, he felt Yuan Yi was actually easier to get along with and much more capable. Unlike Cao Yuran, who seemed easygoing on the surface, but made such a big production when he arrived, as if he was afraid no one would notice he was married to a regiment commander.

Yuan Yi also had guards assigned to him, yet he never let them interfere with his classmates. Unlike Cao Yuran’s husband, who had guards posted at the entrance to the teaching building like they owned the place.

And to think they had the nerve to accuse Yuan Yi of acting like the school was his own home. If you asked him, it was clearly Commander Luo who thought the school belonged to him.

Many people didn’t look kindly on Cao Yuran bringing his husband over, handing out snacks and pens like they were campaign gifts.

How could anyone with even a shred of decency do something like that? Everyone knew Yuan Yi’s husband had passed away. They’re both pregnant, due around the same time, both married to military officers—and yet only you, Cao Yuran, get to be doted on by your husband? Asking people to take extra care of you, personally escorting you right into the classroom?

Maybe there wasn’t anything inherently wrong with it. Everyone has the right to choose how they live. But sometimes, one incident is enough to reveal a person’s true character.

At least judging by the “jelly suture” episode, Cao Yuran was definitely not someone worth getting close to.

From that day on, quite a few people quietly began to keep a safe distance from Cao Yuran.

As for Yuan Yi, he’d always been a bit reserved, came off as somewhat distant. But people in the experimental class had been around him longer and already knew what kind of person he was. He simply didn’t talk much—not because he was hard to get along with. If anyone ever needed help, he’d always do what he could without hesitation.

By comparison, the students in the experimental class didn’t think it was a bad thing that Cao Yuran left and Yuan Yi came in.

Only Ji Lan, when he came to see Yuan Yi, was still full of anger. “If you ask me, I should’ve torn his mouth apart! What kind of shameless jerk does that? Stealing a design draft I made for a friend, then wearing the clothes himself like nothing happened! It drives me crazy! Thank goodness you trust me—otherwise, what would that make me, stuck in the middle like that?”

Yuan Yi replied calmly, “Even so, don’t go confront him.”

Ji Lan asked, “Why not? I have backup copies of the draft, with timestamps and design dates. It’s original work. There’s no way he can turn black into white on this one, right?”

Yuan Yi said, “You never showed him your drafts, and yet he has something exactly the same. There’s no other explanation but theft. But I don’t think he has the skill to replicate it himself—so it was probably his husband. And since Luo Qizheng was able to pull this off, he definitely has some backup plan. If you go confront Cao Yuran, Luo Qizheng could easily turn the blame onto you.”

Ji Lan was so furious he could barely think straight. He was hot-tempered to begin with, and now he was itching to drag Cao Yuran over and slap him. “So I just have to swallow this injustice?!”

Yuan Yi replied, “He just doesn’t want you and Pei She to get together. If your two families unite, it’s bad news for him. He wants to drive a wedge between us and keep you away from Pei She—why give him what he wants?”

Ji Lan grumbled, “But then the clothes I made for you would’ve been for nothing.”

Yuan Yi said, “How could it be? You’re going to be a top fashion designer. A few alterations won’t stump you, right?”

Ji Lan broke into a smile. “You always know how to say the right thing. Fine, Designer Ji will make the changes for you. This time I won’t even draw it out on a tablet—I’ll alter it directly on your clothes.”

So that same day, after class, Ji Lan and Yuan Yi went together to pick up the two outfits Ji Lan had designed.

Not long after they left with the garments, Li Heng found out about the incident—Pei She had told him.

Pei She was a large, burly man—about as tall as Li Heng, but noticeably more muscular. Sitting down, he was like a small mountain. He held a glass of strong liquor in one hand, and though his voice was rough, his tone was gentle.

“I’m guessing they just split up. The little guy was furious.”

“Weren’t you the one who said he was too young at first?”

“I did. But the more I got to know him, the more I realized he’s a fascinating person. Very sincere—like a little sun. What’s rare is that he’s also just and loyal. I think people in our line of work are always moved by those two qualities.”

“I don’t even know who it is. At first, when he heard the matched partner was still a college student, he was pretty disappointed.”

“Sorry, that was me not knowing how good he was,” Pei She laughed. “I didn’t expect him to be so adorable. Yuan Yi doesn’t seem like that type?”

“Yeah. My Yuan Yi… I can only tell from his appearance that he’s still quite young, but in behavior, not really immature. He’s more mature and intellectual.” Li Heng thought of Yuan Yi and unconsciously touched the small pack of beef jerky in his pocket.

When he left home, he took a big pack, very proper. But after he came out, it was all divided among his subordinates and brothers. He only kept two packs, reluctantly ate one, and the other one he still touches sometimes when he thinks of it.

Anyone who didn’t know would think he was touching a cigarette or a gun, but who would’ve guessed he was touching his wife’s love token?

Pei She said, “Indeed. When my little Lan Hua¹Little blue flower, maybe a nickname for Ji Lan? told me about it, I could tell Yuan Yi was thinking more deeply and far ahead.”

Li Heng asked, “Did your little Lan Hua say whether that Cao Yuran wore one of the outfits he designed or both?”

Pei She said, “He said just one for now. The short-sleeved shirt and the overalls — perfect for daytime wear. Lan Hua said they originally planned to have Yuan Yi wear a jacket with it after school started, but it ended up being worn by Cao Yuran instead. He even asked me if Yuan Yi should hurry and wear the other outfit that Cao Yuran hasn’t worn yet to school. I told him that might be more awkward if they accidentally matched, so I didn’t let him say that. Why?”

Li Heng stood up and looked at the entire wall of energy bars opposite him, took one out and fiddled with it as he said, “My wife’s best friend designed clothes for him alone. He was so happy to get them but couldn’t wear them outside. As his husband, I can’t just stand by and watch. Maybe it’s time to change the slogan for Qifu Donkey Meat Sandwiches?”

Pei She: “Huh?”

How did this suddenly turn into donkey meat sandwiches and their advertising slogan?

Pei She was momentarily baffled.

That night, Ji Lan took the clothes Yuan Yi had brought and put them back into the dyeing box. All the dyes were natural and healthy. After changing the color, he dyed them again, then dried them, swapped out the accessories, and added some new design elements.

The original style looked delicate, but after the redo, it turned out a bit cute. He designed two little tigers, sketched them on paper first, then used a machine to embroider them onto the pants. And if you looked closely, the little tigers were actually the character “袁” (Yuan).

Let’s see who dares to steal now!

Two days later, Yuan Yi wore his uniquely redesigned jumpsuit to school.

He had really liked the original design, and now with the new changes, he thought it was great — the little tigers looked adorable.

In a good mood, he didn’t expect someone to be waiting for him right at the entrance of the teaching building.

Cao Yuran was wearing Ji Lan’s second design, the other jumpsuit. It was light blue, giving a fresh look. He was naturally a bit shorter than Yuan Yi. Now standing opposite Yuan Yi, with a guilty expression, he appeared very weak and pitiful, as if Yuan Yi was bullying him.

It was just before the morning class, and many teachers and students were entering the teaching building. Seeing them, several people turned to look back.

Cao Yuran grabbed Yuan Yi’s hand, lowering his head as he said, “Yuan Yi, I’m sorry. About what happened before, I really didn’t think it through. After thinking it over again and again, I still wanted to come apologize to you.”

Yuan Yi looked at the pants Cao Yuran was wearing and felt annoyed, but for some reason, he couldn’t bring himself to get angry. After a moment, he said, “It’s okay, you didn’t really do anything wrong. My transfer is just because I can’t handle it mentally, it’s not your fault. So please don’t feel sorry, that would just put a lot of pressure on me. I’m also pregnant, and my husband isn’t here with me, unlike you, who has someone to love and take care of you. So don’t try to provoke me. Just keep your distance, and let’s both be fine. Really, thank you.”

Yuan Yi tried to pull his hand away from Cao Yuran.

But Cao Yuran didn’t let go right away. For someone so small and thin, he surprisingly had a strong grip. After a moment, he suddenly looked up and said, “Why do you seem to hate me so much? When I invited you to dinner before, you weren’t like this.”

Yuan Yi said, “Just because a couple gets married doesn’t mean they won’t divorce. It’s not that if one person likes the other, the liked one has to respond. You know this better than anyone, right?”

Then he turned and went up the stairs without looking back, leaving Cao Yuran standing there with a blank expression.

At that moment, someone suddenly shouted, “Hey, look up there!”

The voice was loud, causing everyone to instinctively look up to see what was above. Not far off, a group of street-cleaning robots was flying by…

With the rapid advancement of technology, the streets were now filled with light-powered street-cleaning robots serving everywhere — including inside the campus.

They all looked the same: medium height, slightly chubby body, round face with a smile, clearly friendly-looking and completely non-threatening.

But this wasn’t anything special, since everyone had seen them before — quite often, in fact. What was new was that today, all these robots were wearing new clothes. They used to wear orange work uniforms, but today they had switched to sky blue.

They wore jumpsuits that looked almost exactly like the ones Cao Yuran was wearing.

I say “almost,” because the cleaning robots had “XX District Cleaning Robot No. XXXX” printed on their backs. The sleeves and pant cuffs were slightly different, but it was negligible.

From the front, they looked basically identical.

The onlookers glanced between the robots and Cao Yuran: “…”

That was pretty awkward.

Cao Yuran was indeed embarrassed. But beyond embarrassment, there was more pain. His face flushed and paled repeatedly, like a dye shop in full operation.

A classmate asked him curiously, “Cao Yuran, did you donate those clothes?”

Cao Yuran’s smile was even more painful than losing his parents. With reddened eyes, he said, “No.”

After saying that, he hurried into the teaching building.

The others glanced at the time and also quickened their pace to enter.

But Yuan Yi didn’t leave. Yet he wasn’t watching the cleaning robots either.

He only saw someone changing the content of the medical school’s advertisement board.

— “Qifu Donkey Meat Sandwich: Thin crust, generous filling, solid ingredients, a bite full of sincerity, our love for you only grows stronger!”

“Come buy Qifu Donkey Meat Sandwich! We promise, the only thing between you and happiness is this one bite!”

Yuan Yi: “…………”

A classmate suddenly heard him let out a soft chuckle and asked, “Yuan Yi, what are you laughing at?”

Yuan Yi withdrew his gaze, his tone unexpectedly light, “Nothing, just suddenly craving a donkey meat sandwich.”

The classmate was surprised, “Class is about to start, and you haven’t eaten breakfast?”

Yuan Yi climbed the stairs while saying, “I ate. But I’m still hungry.”

After all, he was still missing that “one bite.”

Damn it, who’s this reminding?

His anxious hand subconsciously touched his lips, and suddenly he recalled that someone’s first kiss seemed to start with a bite.

At that moment, his communicator vibrated. When no one was around, Yuan Yi glanced down and saw just one message:

“My wife can’t wear it, no one else can.”