"Wan Yunting, the medicine is ready."
As the door opened, Niu Qiuling entered with a bowl of dark, medicinal-smelling broth. Wan Dongming, Wang Chulin, and Wan'er also followed to see Wan Yunting. Propped up against the headboard with Niu Qiuling's assistance, Wan Dongming asked with concern, "Third Brother, are you feeling any better?"
"Mhm."
Wan Yunting nodded weakly. Wan'er, resting by the bed, looked at him with her big eyes and said sweetly, "Third Uncle, get better soon so you can play with Wan'er."
"Okay, Third Uncle will be all better soon." Wan Yunting struggled to reach out his left hand and gently caressed the girl's plump, cute cheek, a tender smile on his face.
"Drink the medicine first."
Niu Qiuling raised the bowl and offered it to him with a spoon. Wan Yunting gestured for her to bring it directly to his lips, and he drank the bitter, unpalatable medicine. Niu Qiuling quickly handed him a cup of water to rinse his mouth. Wan Yunting raised an eyebrow and asked, "How long did you boil this medicine?"
"An hour and a half, just like you said. Eight bowls of water boiled down to one," Niu Qiuling replied.
Wan Yunting nodded. "Next time, add another bowl of water. Boil it for an hour and a half, then the medicinal effects will come out."
"Got it."
Niu Qiuling didn't retort but instead tidied up the bowls and spoons and took them out, acting the part of a dutiful wife.
This scene was witnessed by Wan Dongming and Wang Chulin, who smiled and said, "Third Brother, this Officer Niu is a good person. She's been taking care of you these past few days."
Wan Yunting gave his second brother a speechless glance and chuckled, "Second Brother, don't get the wrong idea. There's really nothing between her and me."
"Alright, alright. You're not short of excellent girls around you anyway."
Wan Dongming and Wang Chulin both smiled, telling Wan'er to stay with Wan Yunting for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, they left.
Wan Yunting leaned against the headboard and tried again, but the action aggravated his Dantian, causing intense pain that made cold sweat break out on his forehead. He couldn't help but sigh. He suddenly recalled Li Shuyun's suggestion of dual cultivation that afternoon, and he shook his head helplessly. "Forget it. I'll wait until I find Chang Wude back there and then find a way to recover my Dantian…"
At this moment, Niu Qiuling walked in. Seeing him lost in thought, leaning against the headboard, she said nothing and turned into the bathroom. The sound of running water followed, and soon Niu Qiuling emerged with a basin of water. Seeing Wan Yunting still in a daze, she asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Wan Yunting, snapping back to attention, saw Niu Qiuling wringing out a hot towel and smiled. "Nothing much. Just thinking about how to catch Leng Shao…"
"With you like this, you still want to catch Leng Shao? Better give up."
Niu Qiuling wrung out the towel and opened it. She placed one hand on it and used the other to lift the blanket covering Wan Yunting. "You should focus on recuperating. Once Director Pang arrives tomorrow, we'll go arrest Leng Shao."
Wan Yunting rolled his eyes in frustration. The next second, his eyes widened as he watched Niu Qiuling pulling at his pants. "Hey, what are you doing? Aren't you supposed to wipe my face? Why are you taking off my pants…"
Seeing him shouting, Niu Qiuling looked up and glared at him, her right hand not stopping. She skillfully pulled off his pants and said irritably, "Do you think I want to? If you weren't injured and couldn't move, I wouldn't be wiping you."
"No, stop…"
Wan Yunting's face flushed with embarrassment. He struggled to use his injured hand to stop Niu Qiuling, but she angrily scolded him, "Wan Yunting, you're going too far. Don't take advantage and then act innocent. Should I call your second sister-in-law in to wipe you?"
Wan Yunting's expression faltered. Realizing he had overreacted, he forced a wry smile. "Then please continue."
"Behave yourself."
Niu Qiuling glanced at him with a cold snort and then began to wipe his legs with the towel…
Of course, she didn't remove his underwear…
Wan Yunting, leaning against the headboard, felt his face gradually grow redder. Watching Niu Qiuling bend down to wipe his legs, he was deeply moved and said with a smile, "Thank you. You've worked hard taking care of me all these days."
"Tch. If it weren't for the tiny bit of acquaintance between us, I wouldn't be helping you."
Niu Qiuling looked up and gave him a sideways glance, continuing to wipe him with the towel. She even spread his legs further to continue…
Wan Yunting smiled. This girl had a sharp tongue but a kind heart. He had to admit she was very good at taking care of people. Well…
The next second, Wan Yunting's eyes went blank as he looked at Niu Qiuling, who was bent over and wiping his legs, her collar gaping open…
As Niu Qiuling wiped, she noticed the man's unusual gaze, and her pretty face instantly flushed red. She straightened up and scolded him in embarrassment, "Wan Yunting, what are you thinking about?"
"Ahem…"
Wan Yunting was so embarrassed he felt like exploding. Shaking his head in shame, he said, "Forget it, forget it. You can go out. I'll just sleep like this…"
Niu Qiuling flicked the towel and glared at him, huffing, "If you continue like this, I'll really get angry."
Wan Yunting's face was awkward, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Niu Qiuling cast a disdainful glance at him, pouting and muttering to herself, which made Wan Yunting roll his eyes. He tilted his head up to stare at the ceiling, daring not to look any further…
Niu Qiuling, however, suppressed the frantic thumping of her heart and insisted on finishing wiping Wan Yunting's body…
"All done."
After wiping him, Niu Qiuling took the water to the bathroom to empty it. She returned to tidy up for Wan Yunting, who couldn't move, and then stood up. "I'm going out now. Call me if you need anything."
"Thanks." Wan Yunting grinned.
Niu Qiuling gave him an arrogant sideways glance, turned, and left the room, then patted her chest, letting out a sigh of relief…
At this moment, Li Shuyun came up. Niu Qiuling, seeing her, asked curiously, "Shuyun, why are you here?"
Li Shuyun, wearing a white dress, nodded and said, "I came to see Brother Wan."
"He's not asleep yet. You can go in and see him. I'm going to take a shower." Niu Qiuling didn't think much of it, pointed to the room, and prepared to head downstairs.
"Wait a moment. I have something to tell you."
Immediately, Li Shuyun stopped her. Niu Qiuling turned around, looking at her curiously, and asked, "What is it?"
Li Shuyun took her arm and led her to sit on a chair in the living room. She looked at Niu Qiuling seriously and asked, "Are you and Brother Wan boyfriend and girlfriend?"
Niu Qiuling's pretty face froze, and she then burst into laughter. "Shuyun, what are you talking about? Of course, he and I are not boyfriend and girlfriend."
Li Shuyun nodded and asked, "So, you like him, right?"
Niu Qiuling's heart skipped a beat, and she was stunned.
Li Shuyun said calmly, "A person's eyes don't lie. Your care for him these past few days shows it."
"Alright."
Her thoughts exposed, Niu Qiuling pouted and smiled. "Okay, I admit I have feelings for him. But Shuyun, you don't know, he already has a girlfriend, and his relationships with several other women are quite ambiguous."
Li Shuyun's expression showed a slight surprise, but after a moment's thought, she wasn't surprised. For a man like Wan Yunting, it was normal to have women who liked him.