For eight years, Qin Yi believed that time would eventually erase everything.
The pain.
The regrets.
The memories.
He was wrong.
Because when he saw Kang Mu again in that military hospital, he realized something far more painful.
Time had not erased her.
It had changed her.
The girl who once followed him everywhere.
The girl who stayed awake preparing meals when he returned from missions.
The girl who smiled even when he forgot important dates.
Was gone.
In her place was Dr. Kang Mu.
Calm.
Professional.
Untouchable.
After the surgery consultation ended, Qin Yi did not leave immediately.
He stood outside the office.
The same place where countless soldiers and families passed every day.
But for him, everything felt strangely quiet.
His assistant approached.
—Deputy Director Qin, the car is ready.
Qin Yi didn’t move.
—Wait.
The assistant followed his gaze.
Then understood.
Everyone in the military hospital knew the story.
The famous officer.
The talented surgeon.
The marriage that ended eight years ago.
But nobody knew the truth behind it.
Nobody knew how deeply Qin Yi regretted losing her.
Eight years earlier.
The divorce papers were placed on the table.
Kang Mu remembered that day clearly.
There was no screaming.
No argument.
No tears.
Because she had cried too much before that day.
She had cried when Qin Yi missed another appointment.
She had cried when another mission became more important than their family.
She had cried when the doctor told her that another pregnancy had failed.
But Qin Yi was always the same.
Silent.
Responsible.
A hero outside.
A stranger at home.
He loved his country.
He loved his soldiers.
He respected his responsibilities.
But somewhere along the way…
He forgot that his wife was also waiting for him.
After the divorce, everyone thought Kang Mu would collapse.
They were wrong.
She entered the operating room.
She worked harder than anyone.
She turned every night of loneliness into another medical achievement.
The woman who once waited for someone to come home…
Became the person everyone waited for in the hospital.
Dr. Kang Mu.
A surgeon whose name represented precision and calm.
But Qin Yi didn’t know any of that.
Because after the divorce, Kang Mu disappeared from his world.
No messages.
No calls.
No mutual friends.
Nothing.
At first, he was angry.
He thought she was being stubborn.
Then months passed.
The anger became confusion.
Then years passed.
The confusion became regret.
He searched.
He asked old classmates.
He contacted her colleagues.
But every answer was the same.
“Dr. Kang is busy.”
“She is doing well.”
“She doesn’t want to talk about the past.”
And Qin Yi finally understood.
He had not lost her because someone took her away.
He lost her because he kept choosing everything else before her.
After the hospital rounds ended, Qin Yi finally found Kang Mu again.
She was reviewing patient files.
He stood at the door.
—Kang Mu.
She didn’t look up.
—Deputy Director Qin.
The title hurt more than he expected.
Because eight years ago, she used to call him Qin Yi.
Not formally.
Not distantly.
Just his name.
—Can we talk?
She continued writing.
—About what?
He was silent.
Because there were too many things.
The marriage.
The divorce.
The children they never had.
The years they lost.
Finally, he said:
—About us.
The pen stopped.
Only for a second.
Then continued.
—There is no “us” anymore.
Those words were calm.
But they hurt more than anger.
Qin Yi looked at her.
—Do you really hate me?
Kang Mu finally raised her eyes.
There was no hatred.
That was somehow worse.
—No.
He was surprised.
—Then why?
She closed the file.
—Because hate means you still care.
Silence.
—Qin Yi, I spent years trying to understand why I wasn’t enough.
His expression changed.
—That’s not true.
She smiled faintly.
—You don’t understand.
Her voice remained calm.
—You never made me feel like I wasn’t important because you didn’t love me.
A pause.
—You made me feel that way because you always believed I would wait.
Qin Yi couldn’t answer.
Because she was right.
That night, Qin Yi couldn’t sleep.
For years, he had faced dangerous missions without hesitation.
But one sentence from Kang Mu destroyed his peace.
“You always believed I would wait.”
Because he did.
He believed she would always be there.
Like a home.
Like a place he could return to after every battle.
He forgot something important.
Even homes can close their doors.
The next morning, Qin Yi returned to the hospital.
Not as a Deputy Director.
Not as a powerful officer.
Just Qin Yi.
He brought breakfast.
Kang Mu looked at the bag.
—What is this?
—Breakfast.
—I don’t need it.
—I know.
He placed it on the table.
—But I wanted to bring it.
She looked at him.
The old Qin Yi would never have said that.
He was always certain.
Always controlled.
Now he looked like someone learning how to apologize.
Days passed.
Qin Yi didn’t force her.
He didn’t ask for forgiveness.
He didn’t demand another chance.
He simply appeared when he was needed.
He helped injured soldiers.
He respected her work.
He waited.
The same way she had waited for him years ago.
Except now…
He finally understood how painful waiting could be.
One evening, Kang Mu found an old notebook in the hospital storage room.
It belonged to Qin Yi.
Inside were years of notes.
Military schedules.
Mission records.
And one sentence written repeatedly.
“Kang Mu.”
She froze.
On every important day.
Before every dangerous mission.
After every achievement.
Her name was there.
She closed the notebook.
For the first time in eight years…
Her heart moved.
Not because she forgot the pain.
Because she finally understood.
Qin Yi had loved her.
But he had loved her too late.
The next day, Qin Yi found her waiting outside the hospital.
—You left this.
She handed him the notebook.
He looked embarrassed.
—I thought I lost it.
Kang Mu looked at him.
—You wrote my name everywhere.
He was silent.
Then said:
—Because I was afraid one day I would forget.
Her eyes lowered.
—But you did forget.
Qin Yi’s expression broke.
—Yes.
A pause.
—I forgot to protect the person who protected me the most.
Eight years ago, Kang Mu lost her husband.
Eight years later, Qin Yi finally found his wife again.
But this time, he knew one thing.
He couldn’t ask her to return to the past.
Because the woman standing in front of him was not the girl who waited.
She was the woman who survived.
And if he wanted a place in her future…
He would have to prove he deserved it.
