Keeping Watch

Xiao He had just stepped outside when he saw Cui Man chatting with a medical worker.

Upon seeing Xiao He, she asked curiously, "Wanqing?"

"Yes, I'll heat up some porridge for her." Xiao He nodded, then remembered Xie Haining who had helped earlier, and asked, "Sister Man, how much blood do I need to donate to completely remove the tumor in Candle Dragon's brain?"

Cui Man nodded to the medical staff behind her, and after they left, she explained, "Although it's cruel, your production of Miracle Factor is insufficient to cure him. In other words, the growth rate of the tumor in his brain is much faster than the regeneration rate of the Miracle Factor in your blood."

"Can't you draw more blood?" Xiao He asked, frowning.

Cui Man shook her head. "There are requirements for blood draws. You know that ordinary people are usually required to donate blood every six months? This is because it takes time for the white blood cells, electrolytes, and other substances in the blood to return to normal levels. So, drawing 400 milliliters every three months is already the limit. If you have your blood drawn every month, it will only lower the concentration of the Miracle Factor in your blood, and may even cause health problems."

Xiao He frowned upon hearing this.

"You'd better get used to this sooner rather than later." Cui Man cupped his cheeks and reminded him seriously, "You're the only one in the world with the Miracle Factor, but there are countless people who need Miracle Factor. It's impossible for you to save everyone by yourself. Even if you can save Old Xie, there will be a second, a third person like him. Do you understand?"

"Hmm..." Xiao He's heart sank, and he nodded.

"That's precisely why," Cui Man said with a smile, "We need to figure out how the Miracle Factor is generated and where it comes from. Once we can synthesize it artificially, we can save many people."

"Hmm..." Xiao He nodded and said firmly, "I will cooperate with you."

"You silly boy." Cui Man put her arm around his shoulder and ruffled his hair, laughing, "You've become more motivated, haven't you? When you first joined, you had this 'I just want to coast' attitude, but now you can even show this kind of expression."

This woman must have mind-reading abilities; she must be Mutant. Xiao He thought to himself.

"It's okay." Cui Man's tone suddenly softened. "No one can grow up all at once. Take it slow. Just like this, you mature little by little, and one day you will become a true 'Yinglong'."

As she spoke, Cui Man affectionately cupped his face and rubbed it. "Alright, don't keep Wanqing waiting."

"Hey! You woman!" Xiao He said, annoyed and embarrassed, "Watch your manners! You're going to fail at your next blind date!"

"Kids are so dishonest; they're clearly happy inside," Cui Man said with a smile, then gracefully followed the medical staff member.

Inside the infirmary, Ye Wanqing was still lost in thought.

"Ugh, I hope I didn't say anything strange when I had a fever?" Ye Wanqing said anxiously, biting her nails on the bed.

Then she looked down at her hands. She vaguely remembered holding someone's hand when she fell asleep; it was big and warm. The answer was obvious: there was no one else there but Xiao He, and it wasn't the first time they had held hands. She remembered the feeling.

"What should I do? What should I say when he comes back?" Ye Wanqing covered her face and groaned.

But Xiao He soon returned with the warmed porridge, by which time Ye Wanqing had regained her composure.

Xiao He sat down next to Ye Wanqing, holding a bowl of porridge. "Here, let me feed you."

"Hmm..." Ye Wanqing nodded gently and sat up with Xiao He's help.

Xiao He felt a refreshing fragrance waft towards him, the unique scent of Ye Wanqing —a blend of freshly mowed lawn and mint, like a gentle breeze that soothed his soul.

"Eat up, be careful it's hot." Xiao He scooped up a spoonful of porridge, blew on it, and personally tested the temperature before feeding it to Ye Wanqing.

Ye Wanqing took a sip of porridge, and some soup dripped down her chin. Xiao He quickly caught the drop with a spoon and gently scraped it away.

This small detail reminded Ye Wanqing of the times her parents fed her when she was a child. She suddenly felt warm inside and relaxed.

"Isn't it too cold?" Xiao He asked tentatively.

Ye Wanqing shook her head. "It's fine..."

"Eat some more," Xiao He said, feeding him another spoonful. "You were running earlier, so you need to replenish your energy so your body has the strength to fight off the cold."

"Hmm..." Ye Wanqing was very obedient and ate most of the bowl of porridge spoonful by spoonful.

"I can't eat anymore..." Ye Wanqing said, turning her face away, then tried to sit up. Xiao He stepped forward, supported her shoulders, and scolded, "What are you doing? Tell me! You're sick, why are you forcing yourself..."

"I need to use the restroom..." Ye Wanqing whispered, Xiao He readily picked her up in a princess carry.

Ye Wanqing looked somewhat ashamed and indignant, but she was too weak to struggle, so she had no choice but to give in.

"Do I smell very sweaty...?" Ye Wanqing murmured softly, nestled in his arms.

"Yes," Xiao He nodded, "But it smells quite nice, so it doesn't matter."

"Why are you comforting me..." Ye Wanqing muttered with her head down, secretly glancing at Xiao He. Seeing that his expression seemed to be serious, her face immediately flushed.

Xiao He carried her to the bathroom door. Before closing the door, Ye Wanqing frowned and said, "Don't come in, okay?"

"What's so interesting about peeing? I'm not that perverted," Xiao He said irritably.

"You're a pervert!" Ye Wanqing glared at him fiercely, then closed the bathroom door.

After some fuss, Xiao He carried her back to bed and laid her down, then changed the towel and applied it to her wound.

"Phew..." After letting out a sigh of relief, Xiao He said, "Alright, you've eaten, drunk, and relieved yourself. Get some sleep now."

"Are you really staying here tonight?" Ye Wanqing asked, huddled under the blanket, looking at him timidly, like a little puppy being scolded by its owner. "If you're too tired, you can go home. I'm fine here alone..."

"Who told me not to leave you here alone?" Xiao He wondered to himself, then smiled maliciously, "How could I? I was planning to ambush you after you fell asleep, since everyone thinks I'm your boyfriend anyway."

"You scoundrel..." Ye Wanqing muttered under her breath, turning her back to him.

Whew... Ye Wanqing breathed a soft sigh of relief and closed her eyes again. Although she didn't turn around, she knew Xiao He was right behind her, and the thought reassured her a lot.

Ye Wanqing quickly quieted down. Xiao He guessed she had fallen asleep, so he didn't disturb her and played on his phone beside her.

But Ye Wanqing slept for a while and then turned over.

After a while, it turned over again.

"Why are you tossing and turning... Do you want some water?" Xiao He clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction.

"Yes..." Ye Wanqing nodded. Xiao He went to the water dispenser, filled a cup with warm water, and then took a sip to test the temperature. Ye Wanqing watched this, feeling both happy and shy.

What made her happy was Xiao He's thoughtfulness; he would test the temperature of her food and drink before eating or drinking to make sure it wasn't too hot. What made her shy was...

"We kissed indirectly, you idiot." Ye Wanqing thought to herself, biting the back of her hand, but dared not say it aloud. Xiao He had already brought the cup to her and fed her.

"Just tell me what you need, don't be shy," Xiao He said, frowning. "Next time I catch a cold, that's when you'll repay me."

"Hmm..." Ye Wanqing pursed her lips and responded, then gulped down half a glass of water, leaning against the headboard with her eyes wide open and looking drowsy. Xiao He, playing on his phone, frowned and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping?"

"I've been sleeping too long, I can't fall back asleep..." Ye Wanqing said pitifully, and Xiao He couldn't help but laugh at her appearance.

"Do you want me to give you my phone?" Xiao He's lips curled up slightly, and Ye Wanqing nodded expectantly.

But Xiao He simply reached out and touched her forehead. Her body temperature seemed to have returned to normal, and probably because she had eaten something, her complexion had also improved a lot.

After hesitating for a moment, Xiao He still helped her get the phone.

"You can only play for one hour." Xiao He glanced at the time and said in a commanding tone, "It's 9:28 PM now. Play until 10:28 PM sharp, and be mindful of that. Do you understand?"

"What about you? Where are you going?" Ye Wanqing asked, her delicate brows slightly furrowed.

"Take a nap in the bed next to yours, you're not sleeping anyway," Xiao He said with a yawn. "If I don't rest now, how am I going to take care of you tonight... how am I going to sneak up on you?"

Ye Wanqing blushed slightly and muttered softly, "You've already said it, why are you still changing your mind..."

Xiao He was a little embarrassed but didn't retort. He lay down on the hospital bed next to Ye Wanqing. He wasn't very tired; he just planned to take a nap. But perhaps because his nerves had been on edge, he finally relaxed and actually fell asleep after a while.

He didn't know how long he had slept, but in his hazy state, he felt warm all over and didn't want to get up.

But then he suddenly remembered that he was there to keep Ye Wanqing was running a fever. He sat up in shock as Ye Wanqing's coat slipped off him. He didn't know when she had put it on him.

He turned his head and looked to the side; Ye Wanqing was fast asleep with her back to him.

Xiao He breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed his phone, and checked the time: 2 a. m.

"Oh dear, why didn't this girl even call me..." Xiao He sighed, then sat down again next to Ye Wanqing.

Ye Wanqing's expression was serene, and her breathing was steady; she seemed to be alright.

Xiao He carefully reached out and touched her forehead. Her temperature was normal, and he breathed a sigh of relief, but he still stayed by her side, not daring to leave. He felt much more refreshed after his nap and could focus on taking care of her.

"It'll just be you and me tonight..." Xiao He sighed, then picked up his phone and started playing with it.