Zheng Qing opened his eyes.
Before him was a vast expanse of white.
Just like the image in his mind.
He sniffed. The mingled scents of disinfectant, Herbal Preparations, and free-floating magic filled his nostrils, instantly awakening memories buried deep within him.
Ah, he was back again.
The School Hospital.
Like coming home, it felt so familiar and reassuring—
"You're awake?"
A crisp voice sounded beside his ear, interrupting his inward grumbling.
Zheng Qing turned his head and saw a young witch in a white robe standing beside the bed, clutching a clipboard and looking at him with delighted surprise. "—The Healers just left. I forgot to record your skin color, so I came back! I didn't expect you to be awake already! Merlin be praised... Miss Bella had been considering whether to put a catheter in you... Wait here, don't worry. I'll go get Madam Bella right away... Don't worry, it's not to put in a catheter."
The young nurse chattered away, giving the wizard no chance to speak.
Only after the ward door slammed shut, leaving Zheng Qing alone in the room and restoring complete silence,
did he rub his ear and mutter to himself:
"—I just wanted to ask what time it is."
"It's eleven thirty at night."
The Horse-faced Healer skillfully examined Zheng Qing as he casually answered the student's question. "—May 13. In theory, Quankelai Market hasn't ended yet... Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"In theory?"
Zheng Qing stretched his arms and legs, shook his head, then rubbed his ear and muttered, "I don't feel uncomfortable anywhere. It's just my ear—I mean, my left ear seems a little hard of hearing?"
His left ear felt as though water had gotten into it while swimming. Although no gurgling sounded when he shook his head,