"Dear Cousin,
Hello! I'm doing well at the sanatorium, the conditions here are excellent, and my body is recovering quickly. Please don't worry about me! It's been a while since I heard from you, and I've been a bit concerned. How is the restoration work on the S.M.S. Seydlitz going? I'm looking forward to returning to this magnificent warship and seeing you again! I apologize for my right hand still unable to write, and my left-handed writing may be difficult to read, please forgive me!
Yours sincerely, Hainuo von Finkenstein"
On the sickbed of the Naval Hospital Lübeck, Zhang Hainuo diligently wrote with a pen in his right hand. His broken right hand had recently been freed from the cast, although its function had not fully recovered, he could at least hold a pen to write. His speed in reading and taking notes had improved significantly. He had long wanted to write a letter to his cousin, Colonel Laurenz, as he believed that to convey his thoughts to the higher echelons of Germany, his cousin, who served as a naval colonel, would be a good pivot point. However, he was worried that his handwriting might raise suspicions. It wasn't until Edvin sent him "his" diary that he had the opportunity to imitate Hainuo's handwriting properly. Coupled with the excuse of "writing with his left hand," his handwriting was almost flawless.
After finishing this letter, Zhang Hainuo once again picked up the plain black diary. As he turned the first page, he saw a small black and white photo, portraying a young, beautiful woman exuding an aristocratic air. Beside the photo was written in robust handwriting: "My beloved, forever and always!"
Zhang Hainuo guessed that she must be the fiancée Edvin mentioned, Fenna! From the diary's affectionate and somewhat cheesy phrases, Hainuo appeared deeply in love with this fiancée. However, Zhang Hainuo also noticed a hint of resignation in Hainuo's doubts about whether they would ultimately be together, possibly due to Fenna's father's apparent dislike for him, a fallen impoverished noble. However, the diary did not mention Fenna's specific family background, leaving Zhang Hainuo to speculate.
"Today, live torpedo exercises. Our torpedo room performed exceptionally well, hitting the bullseye at 2,000 yards. General Graf praised me by name, but I am more eager to sink an enemy ship with my torpedoes in real combat! I believe one day I will become one of the finest torpedo commanders in the German Navy and command a true torpedo boat (large torpedo boat can also be called a destroyer in World War I), cruising the North Sea, striking fear into every enemy with my name!"
From this passage, Zhang Hainuo saw a young naval officer full of ideals and aspirations. Compared to those fanciful dreams that lacked substance, Hainuo's thoughts seemed more straightforward and grounded. His confident tone also reflected Hainuo von Finkenstein's expertise in torpedo technology.
"Hi, how are you! I...I'm sorry, I haven't noticed you just now!"
Watching the "white-clad angel" standing by his bed, Zhang Hainuo scratched his head, feeling a bit embarrassed. It was apparent that this nurse, wearing a white cap, didn't want to interrupt his thoughts, so she waited quietly.
"Oh, it's okay! I've only been here for a while. Can I change your dressing now?"
The nurse was very polite, although this "excuse" sounded somewhat familiar.
"Uh, sure! It must be troublesome for you to change the dressing every day!"
As he said this, Zhang Hainuo suddenly noticed a small phenomenon: the nurse who changed his dressing did not seem to be fixed. However, in recent times, the frequency of this nurse appearing seemed particularly high.
"No problem, it's our duty!"
The nurse said as she took out the pre-prepared gauze, bandages, and pills from the square medicine tray—although Zhang Hainuo's wound had almost healed, and he didn't need many injections anymore, he still needed to take anti-inflammatory drugs regularly.
"What's your name?"
Zhang Hainuo regretted his words as soon as they left his mouth. Inquiring about a girl's name is usually done delicately and elegantly, such as "May I know your name?" or "May I know your surname?" However, his straightforward question seemed a bit too direct.
"Anna, Anna Tiefert!"
The nurse replied faintly, and Zhang Hainuo noticed a lovely dimple on her left cheek.
"It's a beautiful name, Anna!"
Zhang Hainuo offered his praise without any embellishment. At this moment, Anna's face was close to his, and it was the first time he had earnestly scrutinized that face at such close range.
Her skin was fair, though slightly rough like most European women's; her Hepburn-esque eyebrows were not too arched but beautifully complemented her delicate face; her petite nose and naturally colored lips contrasted elegantly; a strand of hair from her temples lightly scattered in the air, while her shiny brown hair was neatly pinned up behind her head.
Not of Eastern descent, yet possessing the tranquility of an Eastern lady, Zhang Hainuo's heart couldn't help but beat faster.
"My father is also a soldier, serving in the army!"
Anna spoke, and Zhang Hainuo stealthily glanced at her lips, then quickly averted his gaze elsewhere.
"Oh, the army, that's great! Is he on the French front now?"
"No, he's gone to Russia. He wrote saying the weather there is terrible—very cold in winter, lots of rain in summer. The Russians are barbaric, but their equipment isn't great, so their casualties aren't high!"
After finishing with the abdominal wound, Anna dipped some liquid on a few pieces of gauze from a small bottle and gently applied it to the laceration on Zhang Hainuo's abdomen.
"Does it hurt a lot?"
"No, not at all, it's almost healed now!"
Zhang Hainuo said nonchalantly.
Anna smiled sweetly again, her smile giving the impression of plum blossoms quietly blooming in early spring. At this moment, Zhang Hainuo noticed her beautiful dimple on her left cheek.
"You're very brave!"
Anna's hands continued to deftly and quickly busy themselves.
Zhang Hainuo watched as Anna redressed the wound on his abdomen. He remembered that in the beginning, every dressing change would be very painful, but he persevered nonetheless. Looking back, he realized he had been quite brave.
"Thank you! I think your father and most German soldiers are very brave too!"
Anna smiled once more, and Zhang Hainuo's heart skipped a beat.
"I think your hand hurts a lot when you get injured!"
"I don't remember, it was just like that at the time!"
Zhang Hainuo scratched his head again; he really didn't know the situation at the time.
"Let me see your right hand! Try to make a fist... relax... make a fist again..."
After finishing with the abdominal wound, Anna began to examine Zhang Hainuo's other wounds. The wounds on his forehead and feet had already healed, evident at a glance. As for his fractured right hand, since the plaster cast had been removed not long ago, it was currently in a phase of intensive care and recovery. When clenching his fist, Zhang Hainuo's five fingers could fully close, but he still felt a lack of strength. Fortunately, the doctor assured him that such fractures usually wouldn't leave any lasting effects. Once his right hand was mostly recovered and the abdominal wound completely healed, Zhang Hainuo would be able to leave the hospital.
Next, Anna lightly pressed on Zhang Hainuo's fractured hand. "Does it hurt?"
"No, it doesn't hurt! It's just... I still find it uncomfortable when writing," replied Zhang Hainuo, watching as Anna's pristine, slender fingers moved gently and soothingly over his arm.
"Oh, it'll get better soon. Eating, writing, and even bathing won't be a problem!" After saying this, Anna collected the used gauze and cotton from the square medicine tray. Her examination was thorough, but it didn't take much time. Then, she silently tidied up the books and notes on Zhang Hainuo's bedside table.
"Reading for too long can strain your eyes, Lieutenant! Take good care of yourself. You need to get your body back to its best condition!"
"Um... Miss Anna, will you still be the one to check and change my bandages tomorrow?" Zhang Hainuo asked, feeling a strange mix of nervousness and anticipation.
"It's not certain yet. It depends on how the head nurse arranges it!" replied the fair-faced nurse with a smile, her eyes seemingly holding a hidden expectation.
Zhang Hainuo felt like he should say something more before Anna left, but ultimately, he just watched the beautiful nurse leave, as there were too many uncertainties in his mind. Watching the sunlight pouring in through the window, he chuckled and neatly placed Hainuo's diary back, then picked up another book from the neatly stacked pile to continue reading.