Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

However, what Zhao Nuanyue saw was a bit different from what Liu Wenqiang had described. This Senior Sister Cao Jingya was all smiles, constantly greeting everyone. She seemed so enthusiastic!

”Master, this must be our little Junior Sister, right? I was so busy at the hospital all day yesterday that I didn’t have time to come over. I hope Master and Madam will forgive me, and you too, Junior Sister.” Cao Jingya looked at Zhao Nuanyue and said with a smile, ”Junior Sister, I bought you this scarf. Please accept it as a welcoming gift!”

Zhao Nuanyue was a bit taken aback by the attention. She nodded and said, ”Thank you, Senior Sister Cao.”

”Don’t mention it. We’re fellow apprentices. I work at the Capital Third Hospital now, so if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to find me,” Cao Jingya said warmly. ”Ah, you must study hard under Master. Once you start working like me, there’s no more time to learn. I feel I’ve let Master down.”

”Thank you for the advice, Senior Sister. I’ll be sure to study hard,” Zhao Nuanyue replied politely. ’Even though Senior Sister Cao is so warm,’ she thought, ’I can’t help but feel a little uneasy around her. It’s probably because of what Liu Wenqiang said. It gave me this preconceived notion that she isn’t what she appears to be.’

’Still,’ Zhao Nuanyue reminded herself, ’I shouldn’t judge someone like that. I need to observe and decide for myself.’

When Sun Haoran saw that Cao Jingya had arrived, he stopped talking. His expression remained indifferent.

”Master, I know you enjoy a drink, so please accept this,” Cao Jingya said with a smile. ”If you like it, I’ll buy more for you next time. It’s the least I can do to show my respect.”

”You’re too kind,” Sun Haoran said quietly. ”Alright, it’s time. Let’s all go to the dining hall for dinner.”

Everyone was already gathered in the dining hall.

Little Red Carp was happily eating away, no longer needing Zhao Nuanyue to feed her.

Zhao Nuanyue sat with Liu Wenqiang, Tang Kai Xuan, and the others.

At the table, Cao Jingya was exceptionally attentive toward Sun Haoran and Madam Sun, but the elderly couple’s expressions remained placid. They didn’t refuse her attention, but they weren’t receptive to it either.

Zhao Nuanyue found it strange. ’But since I’ve just arrived and don’t know what’s gone on between them,’ she decided, ’I’ll just pretend not to notice and focus on my food.’

After dinner, Cao Jingya walked ahead with Sun Haoran and Madam Sun, beaming with delight. Zhao Nuanyue, who had been out walking all day, was exhausted. She took her younger brother and sister back to their own Songyin Courtyard.

After Zhao Nuan Yang washed up and returned to his room, he didn’t feel tired. So, he closed the door, slid the bolt, and entered his special space to study his calligraphy and painting!

Zhao Nuanyue took off Little Red Carp’s shoes and socks, washed her feet, and helped her get ready for bed. After changing her into a clean set of cotton pajamas, the two sisters snuggled under the covers.

Zhao Nuanyue was exhausted, and as soon as she was in bed, she quickly began to drift off.

”Sister, Sister!” Zhao Nuanyue had been trying to think something over, but before she could sort it out, she heard Little Red Carp’s voice calling to her.

Still half-asleep, Zhao Nuanyue mumbled, ”What’s wrong, Little Red Carp?”

”Sister, wake up! Wake up! I have something to tell you.” Little Red Carp looked at her sister’s unconcerned expression. ’She’s so worry-free, it’s maddening,’ she thought.

’Back in Nianqiao Village, Sister was so cautious. How did she become so unguarded after coming to Jincheng City?’

’Doesn’t she sense the danger?’

’Doesn’t she feel the hostility?’

Zhao Nuanyue rubbed her eyes. She was so sleepy she just wanted to go back to sleep.

Little Red Carp was not having it. She dove under the covers, plopped down on top of her sister, and said, ”Sister, wake up! Wake up! It’s about Hua Yusen! Don’t you want to hear?”

’Hua Yusen?’

Hearing that name through her sleepy haze, Zhao Nuanyue was suddenly wide awake. Her eyes shot open. She quickly hugged Little Red Carp, rolled onto her side, and kissed her sister’s cheek. ”Little Red Carp, what do you know? What’s wrong with Hua Yusen?”

Seeing her sister’s reaction, Little Red Carp simply rolled her adorable little eyes.

”Sister, I called you so many times and you wouldn’t wake up, but the moment I mention Hua Yusen, you’re wide awake,” Little Red Carp grumbled. ”You told me that Little Red Carp is the most important person to you. You lied!”

”Er...” Faced with Little Red Carp’s accusation, Zhao Nuanyue was at a loss for words. ’Is she really staying up this late just to argue about who’s more important to me, her or Hua Yusen?’

”If you don’t say I’m the most important, I’m not telling you anything.” Seeing that Zhao Nuanyue didn’t apologize immediately, Little Red Carp huffed, rolled over, and turned her back to her sister, leaving Zhao Nuanyue with a view of nothing but the back of her head.

She was huffing indignantly, and even through her cotton pajamas, you could see her little body trembling with indignation.

’Wow, Little Red Carp has quite a temper!’

’Little Red Carp isn’t the type to cause trouble for no reason. If she woke me up, it must be for something important.’

In order to get her to talk, Zhao Nuanyue had no choice but to pull Little Red Carp into a hug against her chest. She leaned in close to her ear, kissed her cheek, and said with a laugh, ”The most important person in my heart is my Little Red Carp! Not even a hundred Hua Yusens could ever compare!”

”Hmph, I don’t believe you!” Little Red Carp retorted, sniffing dismissively.

”My Little Red Carp is the cutest! How could I ever not like my Little Red Carp? In my heart, Little Red Carp is the most beautiful person in the world,” Zhao Nuanyue cooed sweetly. ”I was wrong just now, and I’m sorry. My Little Red Carp is so big-hearted, surely you can forgive your sister just this once, right?”

”Hmph. I don’t forgive you.” The double huff became a single one. Little Red Carp’s anger had lessened, but it wasn’t completely gone.

’If even compliments won’t make her happy, then I’ll have to use my last resort.’

Zhao Nuanyue reached out with both hands, aimed for Little Red Carp’s ticklish spots, and started to tickle her gently.

”HAHAHA...” Little Red Carp immediately burst into peals of bright laughter. ”HAHAHA...”

”Still angry?” Zhao Nuanyue asked with a grin. ”If you are, that’s fine. I’ll just have to keep making you laugh.”

”I’m not angry anymore! HAHA, not angry! Little Red Carp really isn’t angry anymore!” Little Red Carp squirmed under the covers, quickly turning over and burrowing into Zhao Nuanyue’s arms. ”I give up! Little Red Carp isn’t angry! I don’t dare be angry anymore!”

Only then did Zhao Nuanyue stop.

”Little Red Carp, so can you tell me now? What did you see about Hua Yusen’s situation at the hospital today?” Zhao Nuanyue asked, her expression anxious. ”I don’t think it’s a simple coma for Hua, and it’s not as straightforward as him being in a vegetative state. It seems like he’s been cursed or something. Do you know what I mean?”

Seeing her sister’s eagerness, Little Red Carp looked smug, her face practically screaming, ’Now you have to beg me.’

Zhao Nuanyue’s expression soured. She raised her hands, threatening to tickle Little Red Carp again.

”Okay, okay, I’ll talk!” Little Red Carp pleaded. ”Hua Yusen isn’t cursed, and he’s not in a vegetative state. It’s because of the shell I gave you.”

”What?” Zhao Nuanyue froze, finding it hard to believe. She pulled the necklace with the shell pendant out from under her collar. ”You’re saying the shell caused this? That can’t be right. Didn’t you say this shell could save someone’s life?”