Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Although Zhao Nuanyue was a little worried, deep down, she was even happier.

Zhao Nuanyue rode her bicycle to the hospital with the Little Red Carp to keep Hua Yusen company.

On the way, the Little Red Carp could tell her sister was nervous. ”Don’t worry, Sister,” she said, trying to comfort her. ”We’ll both be there, and we both have Mana. I’ve already added some vitality to the painting, so it will look even more vivid and lifelike. It’s sure to impress that Master Hu.”

”Huh?” Zhao Nuanyue was taken aback. They had just arrived at the hospital, so she stopped the bike. ”Little Red Carp, you... You shouldn’t have done that...”

The Little Red Carp was dumbfounded by her sister’s words. She scratched her head, confused, and asked, ”Sister, what’s wrong with that? Making the painting better so Master Hu will appreciate it—isn’t that a good thing?”

”Little Red Carp, what’s done is done, and I can’t stop it now,” Zhao Nuanyue said seriously. ”But you must remember this: you can help Nuanyang once, but you can’t help him for the rest of his life. If he doesn’t have the skill or the talent, then doing things like this will only make him more reliant on outside help. Everyone needs their own skills to survive. Nuanyang’s greatest strength is his painting, and that path is never an easy one. Helping him like this might actually hinder his growth in the long run.”

The Little Red Carp seemed lost in thought. After a moment, she said slowly, ”I understand, Sister. You’re worried that if we help my brother this time, his future paintings won’t be as good without our help. Then Master Hu might think he’s not working hard or putting his heart into it anymore.”

”That’s a good way to put it.” Zhao Nuanyue nodded. ”I know you mean well, Little Red Carp. You want Nuanyang to achieve his dream, but this is the kind of thing you can help with once, not for a lifetime.”

”Okay, I’ll remember, Sister.” The Little Red Carp nodded. ”I won’t do it again. Oh, by the way, Sister, let’s plant some Dragon Wisdom Grass by Qingya Lake! That way, we can improve my brother’s abilities and spirituality. We can help him at a fundamental level.”

Zhao Nuanyue was very surprised to hear this. ”Can Dragon Wisdom Grass really grow by Qingya Lake?” she asked.

’If it can, that would be amazing.’

”Yes, of course it can!” The Little Red Carp nodded eagerly. ”It might not work in other places, but Jincheng City was once the site of a Dragon Vein. Even though the dragon is gone, there’s still residual Dragon Energy, which makes it the perfect place to grow Dragon Wisdom Grass.”

Zhao Nuanyue was overjoyed. ’It’s not just a tasty aquatic plant; it’s something that can improve the human body. For my brother, a future artist, the benefits would be immense—it would grant him greater spirituality!’

”Okay, let’s plant it as soon as we get back,” Zhao Nuanyue nodded. She was ecstatic; she had never expected to find something so wonderful in Jincheng City.

The Little Red Carp was also thrilled that she could help her brother and sister.

Just as they entered the hospital, a car passed by them.

After Zhao Nuanyue parked her bicycle and took the Little Red Carp by the hand, they started down the main hospital path. That was when she saw a man standing up ahead.

It was Li Gongming, dressed in a gray Yixian Suit. When he saw Zhao Nuanyue approach, a gentle, refined smile graced his lips.

Zhao Nuanyue pretended not to see him and started to walk around him. ’That kind of man is a total scumbag, a complete womanizer,’ she thought. ’I don’t want to know him, and I certainly don’t want to talk to him.’

When the Little Red Carp saw the man grinning at her sister with ill intent, she made a face at Li Gongming.

”Heh, the Little Red Carp is very cute,” Li Gongming chuckled. He then produced a small, redwood-carved horse from behind his back and held it out to her. ”Do you like it?”

The Little Red Carp’s eyes lit up at the sight of the little wooden horse. It was beautiful, and she loved it, but her sister had told her never to accept gifts from strangers.

”Mm, it’s really pretty, but I can’t take it.” The Little Red Carp shook her head and buried her face against her sister, thinking, ’But I really, really want that little wooden horse! What do I do?’

Zhao Nuanyue held the Little Red Carp and continued walking, picking up her pace to try and shake Li Gongming.

But Li Gongming was tall and long-legged. Even though Zhao Nuanyue had broken into a jog while carrying the Little Red Carp, he still caught up easily, drawing the attention of passing doctors and patients.

Zhao Nuanyue was annoyed. ’I’m here to see Hua Yusen,’ she thought. ’Is Li Gongming seriously planning to follow me into his room?’

’We’re clearly from opposing camps; he should be avoiding suspicion!’

”Sir, I don’t know you. Please stop following me,” Zhao Nuanyue said with a frown. ”If you continue to follow me, I’m going to scream for help and call you a pervert.”

”Huh?” Li Gongming was taken aback. He had assumed his gentle smile would earn him a few more glances and that chasing after her would make her heart flutter. Reality, it seemed, was proving him wrong.

Seeing Li Gongming’s hesitation, Zhao Nuanyue turned and, still holding the Little Red Carp, continued toward Hua Yusen’s room.

When Li Gongming saw Zhao Nuanyue walk away, he started following her again.

With no other choice, Zhao Nuanyue stopped again.

”What on earth do you want?” Zhao Nuanyue snapped. ”Are you planning to abduct a woman in broad daylight?”

”Heh!” Li Gongming looked at the exasperated Zhao Nuanyue and found her expression quite vivid. ’So many women I’ve met before always maintain a perfect facade in front of me,’ he thought. ’They never get angry, lose their temper, or even curse. But this Zhao Nuanyue actually does.’

Strangely, he didn’t find it annoying in the slightest.

”Don’t come near me, and stop following me, or I’ll really start screaming,” Zhao Nuanyue warned. This was a hospital, and a very prominent one at that.

With that, Zhao Nuanyue started walking again.

”Nuanyue, wait!” Li Gongming called out gently from behind her. ”I’d like to get to know you. Let’s be friends.”

’Nuanyue?’

’The nerve of this guy!’ she thought. ’He’s so quick to get familiar, calling me by my given name as if he knows me.’

’Since when are Li Gongming and I on such familiar terms?’

”Please have some self-respect,” Zhao Nuanyue said hurriedly. ”We don’t know each other, and we certainly aren’t close, so there’s really no need for you to call me by my given name.”

”I thought that since we met the other day, we could consider ourselves acquainted, maybe even friends,” Li Gongming said with a smile. ”Besides, you’re a very special woman. I find you interesting, so I want to get to know you.”

’You find me interesting?’

’Yeah, right!’

’He only has one goal: to sleep with me!’

”I have my issues with Guo Dongmei, and you’re her boyfriend. I have nothing to say to you,” Zhao Nuanyue said. ”Besides, birds of a feather flock together. Anyone who’s friends with a person like Guo Dongmei must be just like her, and I would never befriend someone like that. So, in the future, please don’t be so familiar as to use my given name, let alone claim we’re friends.”