Chapter 5: A Brief Respite, Interrupted

Lin Qing lay in his hospital room, his mind remarkably at peace. Even amidst the pungent scent of disinfectant, his mood remained exceptionally pleasant.

Despite a less-than-pleasant past experience, this did not mean Lin Qing possessed peculiar tastes.

His contentment stemmed from the simple fact that, while in the hospital, he wouldn’t have to encounter Su Yao from his class.

Naturally, this meant he wouldn’t be plagued by the sight of ten white skulls constantly swaying before him, contorting into a myriad of expressions.

Beyond merely seeing the white skulls above everyone’s heads, Lin Qing could also discern their shifting expressions. This was despite the common understanding that skulls were incapable of expression.

Yet, for Lin Qing, the sight was undeniably real.

Joy, elation, agony, sorrow—all were visible.

These changes in the skulls’ expressions were not random; they only manifested when the individual’s emotions fluctuated intensely.

However, most people’s skulls remained impassive, betraying no other feelings.

Su Yao, though, was an anomaly, entirely beyond comparison with ordinary individuals.

The ten skulls above her head, each bearing a distinct expression, defied Lin Qing’s every comprehension.

Therefore, he resolved to keep a wide berth from this perilous woman.

He was no chivalrous hero, nor a Buddha concerned with all sentient beings; he was merely a timid, ordinary man.

His desire to evade danger mirrored that of most people, simply wishing to avoid entanglement in perilous individuals or situations.

“Oh, young man, you gave us quite a fright when you were brought in!” a voice boomed. “What happened? The doctor mentioned something about post-traumatic… whatchamacallit.”

Just as Lin Qing was happily savoring his quiet, peaceful moments alone, the middle-aged man in the adjacent bed, hospitalized for a fractured shin, suddenly reached out and drew back the curtain separating them.

It seemed he was utterly bored, with no one to keep him company.

In this standard ward, besides Lin Qing and the middle-aged man, there was only one other occupant: an elderly man deeply engrossed in slumber.

With only a few channels on the ward’s television, the middle-aged man had grown weary of watching the same programs repeatedly, prompting him to seek someone for a chat.

Alas, he had encountered Lin Qing.

Perhaps the old man, upon waking, might engage the middle-aged man in conversation. Lin Qing, however, was a silent individual, unlikely to speak.

He was not adept at socializing.

“Ah, you young folks just have poor psychological resilience,” the man continued, undeterred. “Not like us older people who’ve weathered great storms. Don’t mind that my leg is injured, young man, it’s a symbol of honor! I single-handedly rescued a child who was almost hit by a car…”

Even with Lin Qing’s continued silence, the middle-aged man showed no signs of stopping.

He spoke with relish, entirely unfazed by the lack of response.

In a way, he was quite formidable.

Lin Qing, for his part, did not find it bothersome; he simply listened in silence.

For a time, the middle-aged man’s incessant chatter was the only sound in the room, effectively dispelling the ward’s usual quiet.

“Patient Wu Gang in bed two, it’s time for your injection.”

Just as the middle-aged man had spoken himself hoarse, embellishing his heroic deeds with dramatic flair, a young female nurse suddenly entered the ward from outside.

A small rectangular card pinned to her chest clearly bore the name ‘Li Mei’.

After stating her purpose, Li Mei promptly retrieved a dose of medicine from her trolley, using a syringe to draw the clear liquid from a small vial in preparation for the injection.

Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and a white nurse’s cap adorned her head. Her gaze was focused and professional as she performed the procedure.

“Nurse Li, you’re looking even prettier today!” Wu Gang chuckled, praising her. “When you just walked in, it was like sparkles were trailing behind you!”

Li Mei, far from being shy, accepted the compliment gracefully. She then smiled, raised the syringe in her hand, and swiftly, precisely, administered and withdrew the needle.

Her movements were perfectly standardized, clearly the result of extensive practice.

“Hmph, Nurse Li, you’ve been giving me injections for a week now, why don’t you ever chat with me more?”

“With so many patients in the hospital, I’m constantly on my feet,” Li Mei explained, hearing Wu Gang’s slight complaint. “If you all can just behave yourselves, that’s a huge help.”

Having offered her explanation, Li Mei then shifted her gaze to Lin Qing, who lay nearby.

She had already thoroughly reviewed this young patient’s information and understood the importance of not agitating him.

“Also, the patient next to you needs quiet,” she added. “It’s best if the ward isn’t too noisy.”

After giving her instructions, Li Mei sighed helplessly, observing Wu Gang’s evasive gaze. She knew she would have to check in more frequently.

If this young patient were to be agitated, there was a high chance his symptoms of incessant body trembling would recur.

Such a condition typically warranted transfer to a special care ward. Unfortunately, due to the patient’s financial circumstances, he could only be temporarily admitted to a regular ward.

“Oh, don’t worry, Nurse Li,” Wu Gang quickly interjected, his face flushing slightly. “I’ll keep a good eye on my little brother here, absolutely nothing will happen to him.”

Perhaps Li Mei’s sigh had been too obvious, causing Wu Gang to feel a loss of face. He quickly thumped his chest in reassurance, asserting that he was certainly no troublemaker.

His injured leg was almost fully recovered; he was likely to be discharged in about two days, finally free from the hospital’s pervasive smell of disinfectant.

To leave a good final impression, he certainly couldn’t let the nurse misunderstand him!

“Then I’ll leave him in your care. Please look after him.”

The entire conversation between Li Mei and Wu Gang reached Lin Qing’s ears, yet his reaction remained utterly indifferent.

His previously open eyes now closed, not even sparing the nurse a glance.

His uncooperative demeanor was reminiscent of a rebellious teenager. Wu Gang, witnessing this, thought to himself that if the young man weren’t confined to a hospital bed, he would certainly give him a good talking-to.

Li Mei herself, however, was unconcerned. Having encountered countless peculiar patients, Lin Qing’s aloofness was hardly noteworthy.

After confirming that both Wu Gang and Lin Qing were in good condition, Li Mei once again moved towards the bed by the window. Observing the still-sleeping elderly man, a flicker of concern immediately crossed her eyes.

‘If he continues to sleep like this, it will be disastrous!’

“Hey, hey, young man, don’t be so rude!” Wu Gang whispered to Lin Qing while Li Mei checked on the old man. “Nurse Li is such a kind person. Even if you don’t like to talk, surely a smile wouldn’t hurt!”

Lin Qing, however, remained with his eyes closed, offering no response.

This infuriated Wu Gang, who thought that if Lin Qing were his own nephew, he would have dragged him over for a beating long ago.

“Alright, I’ll go check on the other wards now. If you need anything, you can press the call bell.”

Li Mei did not linger in the ward for long. As she pushed her trolley out, she thoughtfully closed the door behind her.

She then continued pushing her trolley towards the next ward. However, after walking only a dozen meters, her shoulder was suddenly bumped.

“Sorry.”

As a clear voice spoke, Li Mei looked up at the girl who had bumped into her. She wore a striking school uniform and possessed remarkable beauty.

Her dark eyes, when they met Li Mei’s, seemed capable of piercing through everything.

“It’s alright.”

“Excuse me, do you know which ward Lin Qing is in?”