Chapter 1: The Closest Yet Farthest Person (Part 2)
Mei Yanchun stood at the window on the corridor, looking out: the fog had thinned considerably, faintly revealing two black sedans stopping on the driveway in the backyard. Soldiers in gray uniforms jumped off the military jeep at the rear and immediately began dispersing to guard the area. Seeing this display, Mei Yanchun wondered who could have arrived? Not long ago, Ci Ji Hospital had refused to provide support with five hundred beds, leading to friction with the military. As a result, everyone in the hospital remained extra vigilant toward anyone in uniform… After a while longer, a soldier of medium height, stout and sturdy, stepped out of the second sedan. His dark gray uniform indicated his high military rank. He wasted no further time, striding briskly toward the inpatient building.

“Who could it be?” Mei Yanchun murmured to herself. She still couldn’t make out the markings on the vehicles. But judging by the uniform color, it should be someone from the Central Army.

“If I’m not mistaken, that should be the commander of the 35th Army, Pang Dunhuang,” said a young doctor standing behind her.

Mei Yanchun didn’t expect anyone behind her and was genuinely startled.

“Good morning, Miss Mei,” the young doctor said softly.

Mei Yanchun could only smile slightly and say, “Good morning, Dr. Li.” She thought to herself, so that’s the renowned General Pang Dunhuang—but looking at his back, there’s nothing particularly special about him… “What’s he here for?” she couldn’t help but ask another question.

“I heard his daughter is hospitalized here,” Dr. Li replied. Mei Yanchun gazed out the window while he observed her graceful profile.

“Is he married?” Mei Yanchun asked. Recently, Fang Dunhuang had been frequently dominating the front pages of newspapers. Alongside his direct superior, Tao Zhen, and several other pro-war generals, he had become a prominent figure in the Central Army… Yet, in her memory, this man seemed to have no wife.

“I’m not sure about that. According to the nurses, she is his daughter. Perhaps she is an orphan he has taken in? General Fang is a kind man. Many orphans of his deceased subordinates are supported by the orphan school he established,” Dr. Li said with a smile.

“I see,” Mei Yanchun murmured, glancing at her watch. She politely bid farewell to Dr. Li.

She glanced once more at the backyard: those several cars had already quietly moved away, and even the soldiers who had just been standing guard were nowhere to be seen.

Pang Dunhuang, the legendary General Pang Dunhuang, so that’s what he looks like…

“Commander!”

Peng Dunhuang had just approached the hospital room door when the soldiers guarding the entrance snapped to attention with their rifles, their movements sharp and precise.

He returned their salute and chided softly, “Keep your voices down.” Unable to stop them in time, he felt a tinge of annoyance. Glancing inside the room, he lowered his voice and asked, “How is it going?”

“Reporting, Commander, the doctor says…”

Peng Dunhuang’s face darkened.

“Reporting to the commander, the doctor said…” the guard also lowered his voice.

The door to the ward swung open with a whoosh, and a sleepy-eyed little girl standing barefoot in the doorway yawned and said, “The doctor said I can go back to school anytime.”

Upon seeing the little girl, Pang Dunhuang exclaimed, “Oh my!” and scooped her up around the waist, saying, “You little troublemaker, why are you already out of bed? What if you catch a cold?”

“Uncle Pang, will you take me to be discharged from the hospital? The doctor already said I’m fine. I just need to keep taking medicine and resting at home,” the little girl said, sitting on the bed with a smile. Her hair was soft and thick, covering her head, and her large eyes sparkled brightly.