Xiang Family Clinic
Song Qingchao had not slept all night.
The patient she was taking care of had been vomiting and purging for almost the entire night before finally calming down.
She stumbled out of the ward, leaning against the doorframe of room Jia, and slid down, sitting directly on the threshold.
Xiang Yunling had divided the rooms in the manor into ten: Jia, Yi, Bing, Ding, Wu, Ji, Geng, Xin, Ren, and Gui.
Each room housed five people, starting with Jia, with illnesses progressively worsening.
Besides the two doctors, Bai You'an and Xiang Yunling, the clinic also had a young medicine boy, Xiang Duoruo, and her along with her seven guards.
Song Qingchao had taken on the three rooms for severe cases: Jia, Yi, and Bing.
She could feel pulses and was thus able to monitor the condition of the patients there at any time.
Furthermore, after Xiang Duoruo finished assisting Bai You'an and Xiang Yunling, he would help her care for the patients in these three rooms.
"Don't sleep here."
"Hm?" Song Qingchao responded groggily, then felt someone tugging at her arm.
She was too tired to even open her eyes, shaking her arm away and trying to pull it back.
"Song Qingchao, you'll catch a cold sleeping here."
"It's fine," she mumbled, still clinging to the doorframe. "If they're too far away, I won't hear them call me."
She then leaned against the doorframe again.
Bai You'an looked down at her helplessly, then bent down and picked her up.
Song Qingchao was startled awake.
She shivered, opened her eyes, and saw Bai You'an. "What are you doing?"
Bai You'an glanced at her. "Taking you to get some proper sleep. The hot water is ready, you smell."
Song Qingchao skeptically pulled up her sleeve and sniffed it. "No, I smell fine."
"If I say you smell, you smell," Bai You'an retorted without any politeness.
Song Qingchao immediately understood what he was trying to do and began kicking her feet restlessly. "Put me down. There’s a little girl who’s been restless all night; I can’t leave her."
Bai You'an glared at her. "Do you really think you're Superman? You told me yourself how long it's been since you last rested. Three rooms, fifteen people, and you've been busy as a spinning top, yet you don't rest. I'm really worried the next patient will be you."
Song Qingchao muttered, "I'm perfectly healthy!"
"I hope so. Don't cause me any trouble." Song Qingchao's grip tightened, leaving Song Qingchao only able to kick at the air with her small feet, wriggling like a caterpillar.
Bai You'an directly carried Song Qingchao into her bedroom and unceremoniously tossed her onto the bed. "Wash up and sleep."
Song Qingchao looked up at him, then suddenly stood up and tried to dart to his left.
She was fast, but Bai You'an was faster.
He directly caught her in a full embrace.
"What's this? Throwing yourself into my arms?"
His voice was still as languid, carrying a hint of teasing.
Song Qingchao hurriedly broke free from his embrace, exasperated. "Bai You'an, what exactly do you want? I told you I'm not sleeping!"
Bai You'an didn't yield at all; he stood squarely in front of Song Qingchao.
If she went left, he went left.
If she went right, he went right.
Finally, Song Qingchao, exhausted, sat down on the bed and glared at him. "Are you not done yet?"
Bai You'an slowly nodded, his "Mm" sounding particularly heavy. "Not done."
He stepped forward, his tone softening. "Don't worry about that side; Xiang Yunling and I will take turns watching. Your rooms are also covered. Now, what you need to do is take a good bath and get some sleep. After you wake up, you can let them rest."
Song Qingchao looked at him, half-believing. "Are you not lying to me?"
Bai You'an couldn't help but chuckle. "Why would I lie to you?"
He gestured to the prepared bath barrel. "Hurry up, it'll get cold soon. What, do you still need me to help you change?"
Song Qingchao immediately pulled her clothes tighter and, turning her face away, said, "Get out!"
Bai You'an shook his head and smiled. "Alright, I'll get out."
As he reached the door, he turned back, tossed something towards Song Qingchao, and left.
Song Qingchao instinctively caught what he threw.
She even swayed a little by accident.
Upon seeing the object in her hand, she couldn't help but purse her lips and smile.
What Bai You'an had thrown was a small bag filled with many Ziziphus jujuba seeds.
Song Qingchao picked one up, put it in her mouth, and then slowly chewed as she walked towards the bathroom.
Bai You'an had a point.
She couldn't stay on guard forever; it would be useless and only wear her down.
She slowly took off her clothes and finally sank into the warm water, letting out a sigh of contentment.
To have hot water for a bath in such an environment was truly a blessing.
Not long after, with her head resting on the wooden tub, she felt drowsy.
The urge to sleep became overwhelming. Her eyes were fighting to stay open, but she couldn't hold on and finally closed them.
"Song Qingchao!"
Song Qingchao jolted awake, then covered herself and sat up straight.
Why was Bai You'an calling her?
She looked around, and Bai You'an's voice came again. "Stop looking. I'm outside. Hurry up and get out of the tub, don't make me come in to get you."
Hearing this, Song Qingchao's face immediately flushed red.
She quickly pulled down the clothes draped to the side, her voice stammering slightly. "Don't come in!"
Bai You'an sat by the window, looking up at the soft moonlight, but he couldn't hide the smile on his lips.
He didn't look directly at her, but he teased Song Qingchao verbally.
Startled, Song Qingchao hurriedly put on her clothes and burrowed under the covers.
She pouted on the bed, wrapping herself tightly in the quilt. "Okay, I'm done bathing. I'm going to sleep now. Can you leave?"
After a moment, a figure suddenly appeared at the window, almost making Song Qingchao fall over.
In the blink of an eye, Bai You'an walked in, holding a towel. "You're going to sleep without drying your hair? Do you want a headache?"
"I'll dry it!" Song Qingchao snatched the towel from his hand and rubbed it over her head. "You can go now."
Bai You'an looked at her helplessly, then took the towel from her, which had turned her hair into a bird's nest.
"Lie down, I'll dry it for you."
Without waiting for Song Qingchao's consent, he tilted her head down.
Song Qingchao tried to struggle, but he threatened her. "Don't move. If you move again, I won't treat you anymore."
Song Qingchao felt annoyed. What kind of person was he?
But then she thought, why shouldn't she enjoy this free service?
With this realization, Song Qingchao began to luxuriate in Bai You'an drying her hair.
She even let out a few hums of comfort.
However, as her hair was almost dry, Song Qingchao still hadn't closed her eyes, her round eyes staring at Bai You'an.
Bai You'an raised an eyebrow. "Song Qingchao, are you going to sleep or not?"
"How can I sleep with you here?" She shot Bai You'an a glare and then angrily closed her eyes.
Though she was grumbling internally, her hair inadvertently brushed against Bai You'an's hand.