Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

Guo Dongmei had many ways to deal with Zhao Nuanyue.

”Zhao Nuanyue’s stepfather works at the Du Xi Unit. Find a way to have him transferred here, and his whole family will follow. They’ll inevitably track down Zhao Nuanyue and move into her house. When that happens, we won’t even have to lift a finger. Her stepfather’s family alone will be enough to make her life a living hell.” Guo Dongmei sneered. In Nianqiao Village, she might not have been able to touch Zhao Nuanyue, but Jincheng City was her turf. There was no way she would let Zhao Nuanyue live a carefree life.

Guo Qingqing nodded. ”Alright, I’ll get right on it.”

Thinking about the chaotic life Zhao Nuanyue would soon lead, Guo Dongmei’s previously gloomy mood inexplicably lifted.

Zhao Nuanyue took Little Red Carp to the room that housed Qingya Lake.

While Little Red Carp cultivated, Zhao Nuanyue took the small Dragon Wisdom Grass saplings she had given her and personally planted them in the shallows along the lake’s edge. There were just over a dozen in all. Because it was winter, they could only survive, not yet flourish. They would have to wait until spring to grow in abundance.

Zhao Nuanyue fished, cleaned the fish, and then waited for Little Red Carp to finish cultivating so they could go back to Immortal Grass Hall together.

Back at Immortal Grass Hall, Zhao Nuanyang and Sun Haoran still hadn’t returned, which made Zhao Nuanyue a little worried. Even though she had made braised pork for lunch, Zhao Nuanyue found she had no appetite.

In the afternoon, Zhao Nuanyue started helping Tang Kaixuan with work in the pharmacy, but her mind kept drifting to her brother.

Sun Haoran finally returned with Zhao Nuanyang a little after ten that night.

”Master, Nuanyang, how did it go?” Zhao Nuanyue asked anxiously, hoping for a good outcome.

’If it were me, I wouldn’t mind being rejected; I’m resilient. But Nuanyang has only just recovered his health. I don’t want my brother to face rejection and be discouraged so soon!’

”Haha, Nuanyue, I told you not to worry. You should have seen it! When Nuanyang showed him the painting, Master Hu was instantly captivated. He felt like the artwork had transported him to a paradise. The moment he snapped out of it, he accepted Nuanyang as his disciple—and as his very last one, too,” Sun Haoran replied. ”From now on, he’ll go to Master Hu’s house every weekend with his paintings for critique and to ask questions. Master Hu promised to hold nothing back and to do everything he can to nurture Nuanyang, hoping he’ll become a famous painter.”

Hearing Sun Haoran’s explanation, Zhao Nuanyue was so moved her eyes turned red.

’In my past life, my brother died such a suffocating, tragic death. Now, his talent for painting has been discovered, and he has the chance to become a great painter of his generation.

The two outcomes were worlds apart.

This was the result of my hard work, the fruit of my struggles.

I changed my brother’s entire life; of course I can change my own.’

At that moment, Zhao Nuanyue felt even more confident about her own future.

Seeing his sister crying, Zhao Nuanyang’s eyes reddened as well.

’For the past two years, my sister has worried herself sick over me. Thank goodness I’m healthy now. I can finally become a useful person and stop making her worry all the time.’

”Sister, don’t cry. I’ll work even harder from now on.” Zhao Nuanyang took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away his sister’s tears. ”You don’t have to worry about my future anymore. You should take good care of yourself and cherish yourself.”

”Okay!” Zhao Nuanyue was very gratified. ”I’ll work hard, and you’ll work hard too.”

Little Red Carp ran over, tilted her little head up at her sister and brother, and said, ”Little Red Carp will work hard, too!”

Hearing his younger sister’s voice, Zhao Nuanyang picked her up and laughed. ”Alright, Little Red Carp will work hard too. Our future will be even brighter.”

”Mhm, for sure!” Little Red Carp chimed in. ”Because we’re all good people, and good people are rewarded!”

Tang Kaixuan watched the deep bond between Zhao Nuanyue, Zhao Nuanyang, and Little Red Carp, and felt a pang of envy. ’Even though Nuanyue’s stepfather’s family is despicable, at least she still has her mother, a brother, and a sister. It must feel wonderful to have family.’ He quickly dismissed the thought. ’I shouldn’t be envious. At least I have Master, Madam Sun, and my fellow apprentices.’

To celebrate Zhao Nuanyang’s successful apprenticeship, Madam Sun even prepared a special dumpling filling and made meat dumplings.

On a cold day with heavy snow falling outside, eating steaming hot dumplings filled with fish and pork felt especially blissful and heartwarming.

When they woke up the next day, a thick layer of snow already covered the ground.

The apprentices of Immortal Grass Hall were up early, starting to shovel the snow.

Zhao Nuanyue tried to come out and help shovel, but Liu Wenqiang shooed her back inside.

But Little Red Carp absolutely loved the snow, so she bundled up warmly and built snowmen with her sister. They made two of them, even giving them brooms to hold and straw hats to wear!

Because of the snow, Zhao Nuanyue left Little Red Carp at home in Madam Sun’s care and walked to the hospital.

However, just as she was approaching the hospital, Li Gongming spotted her from inside his car. He had his guard slow down, pulling up alongside Zhao Nuanyue, and said softly, ”Nuanyue, get in. I’ll give you a ride to the hospital!”

Zhao Nuanyue pretended not to hear and kept jogging forward. But the ground was covered in snow and very slippery. She was moving too fast and nearly slipped, only saving herself by grabbing a nearby tree.

’That was close!

Why is this Li Gongming so persistent?

I barely know him, so why is he acting so familiar?’

Li Gongming got out of the car, reached out to grab Zhao Nuanyue’s arm, and said gently, ”The road is slippery. Be careful!”

Zhao Nuanyue shook off his hand and snapped, ”Who do you think you are? Keep your hands to yourself! Are you acting like a hooligan?”

”I’m Li Gongming,” he said with a smile, looking down at Zhao Nuanyue, who was more than a head shorter than him. He found her quite petite. ”I was remiss not to introduce myself earlier. Now that I know your name and you know mine, we’re friends.”

”Li Gongming?” Zhao Nuanyue sneered. ”Heh. Since you’ve already investigated me, you must know why I go to the hospital every day. You also know that the Li family and the Hua family have a tense relationship, so you’d better stay far away from me.”

”Hehe, the Hua family?” Li Gongming chuckled. ”The Li family has never considered the Hua family an opponent. They aren’t worthy. You go to the hospital for no other reason than to use your ’virtuous’ act to move the Hua family, marry a man in a vegetative state, and climb the social ladder. Am I right?”

Uh... Zhao Nuanyue was stunned.

’What Li Gongming said was both right and wrong.

It wasn’t just about climbing the social ladder; she also truly wanted to spend the rest of her life with Hua Yusen.’

Seeing Zhao Nuanyue’s stunned silence, Li Gongming felt he had hit the mark. He grew smug and continued, ”Instead of waiting on the Hua family’s charity with that vegetable, you’d be better off with me. Not only can I make you a woman of high status, but I can also give you the pleasures of being a woman—pleasures that the vegetative Hua Yusen can no longer provide.”