Chapter 50: Applying Medicine

"Come in."

With Lu Yanshen's low grunt as he entered, Xie Wantang had just placed her hand on the door handle, hadn't had time to turn it, and the door opened from inside.

Xia Meng stood at the doorway; upon seeing Xie Wantang, her expression turned somewhat subtle.

She turned her head and said to Lu Yanshen, "Yanshen, it's Wantang."

"……Oh."

"Yanshen is in your hands now; Dongdong has no one there, I'm leaving first." Xia Meng said to Xie Wantang, her voice as frail as before.

Xie Wantang stepped back two steps, making way.

Seeing Xia Meng come out, Pei Xiao hurriedly said, "Miss Xia, I'll see you off."

"Okay, thank you, Assistant Pei."

"You're welcome." Afterwards, Pei Xiao said to Xie Wantang, "Madam, the doctor said Mr. Lu cannot be left alone; please wait for me to return before you leave."

"I know."

Xie Wantang replied lightly.

Pei Xiao truly is an all-around assistant; even this awkward scene of the original spouse and the mistress together, he handles it with ease.

Not a hint of awkwardness.

After Xie Wantang entered, the ward's temperature was kept at around 27°C; Lu Yanshen's injuries were all concentrated on his back, so he lay prone.

The reason no one can be absent from his side is that he needs help turning over and pressing his joints, etc.

Lu Yanshen lay prone; half a day passed without hearing any sound from Xie Wantang after she entered. Not knowing what she was doing, Lu Yanshen tilted his head to get a look at her.

However, Xie Wantang stood at a tricky angle; Lu Yanshen couldn't see her even when he tilted his head, and instinctively exerted himself, which ended up pulling at the wound on his back.

The pain made him involuntarily hiss.

Only the two of them were in the ward, and the air-conditioning was silent, so that hiss was very clear.

Xie Wantang walked over; the white bedsheet beside the bed was wrinkled, presumably from where Xia Meng had just sat.

Xie Wantang moved to the other side, dragged a stool over, and then evenly scattered the medicinal powder she had brought onto Lu Yanshen's back.

The medicinal powder landed on Lu Yanshen's back and took effect almost immediately.

Where Lu Yanshen had felt a burning, unbearable pain, suddenly there was an icy cool sensation; that refreshing comfort spread bit by bit across his entire back.

"What are you doing, Xie Wantang?" With the pain lessened, Lu Yanshen's voice became much clearer.

"I'm applying medicine for you."

Xie Wantang couldn't imitate Xia Meng's voice that men like.

All affected and flustered.

"What medicine? Where did you get this medicine?" Lu Yanshen thought this medicine was too miraculous, working so fast.

"What are you doing? Afraid I'll poison you?" Xie Wantang raised her eyebrows slightly and retorted in a hostile tone.

"Of course not; I just wanted to say this medicine works very well—the place that just felt unbearably painful is now much more comfortable, and moreover, this medicine is icy cool, useful for alleviating the burning sensation."

"……"

It turns out he thought her medicine was effective.

But isn't that just nonsense?

This medicine was independently developed by Xie Family Traditional Chinese Medicine; due to insufficient supply, high demand, and cost issues, only this small bottle exists, and it's very expensive.

It's like the ancient court's gold wound medicine, usable only by royalty and nobility.

It is not normally sold externally; when visiting a Chinese medicine clinic, the on-duty doctor decides whether to use it based on the patient's condition.

"Where did you get this medicine? We should stock up on some more." Seeing her silence, Lu Yanshen spoke up.

"Huh? Why stock up more?" Xie Wantang didn't understand.

"Just in case." Lu Yanshen answered seriously.

"Heh——"

Xie Wantang gave a soft hum, finished applying the medicine, capped the bottle, and placed it in Lu Yanshen's drawer, saying, "I've put it here for you; apply once a day, at most three days and it'll be fine."

"???"

Three days?

Xie Wantang might be overconfident about this medicine that doesn't even have a label.

Last night, when he came in, the doctor tended to his wounds overnight, prescribed medicine, and even set up an IV; at that time, Pei Xiao asked how long it would take to recover.

The doctor's reply was at least seven days.

Seeing Lu Yanshen's surprised expression, Xie Wantang frowned slightly.

What expression is that?

Don't you believe it can heal in three days?

Or do you think three days is too slow?

She said three days is a conservative estimate, after all, she's not sure how strong Lu Yanshen's skin repair ability is.

She also didn't know whether these wounds were merely superficially gruesome or just as bad underneath.

If there are scars both inside and out, then three days are needed.

If it's only superficially gruesome and nothing unexpected happens, he could get out of bed tomorrow.

"Want some fruit?" After Xie Wantang remained silent for a long time, Lu Yanshen spoke up.

The fruit was brought by Xia Meng.

Dongdong is still getting an IV in pediatrics; the fever caused by pneumonia requires an IV for seven days.

"No." Xie Wantang answered mechanically, with no intention of chatting.

"Dongdong is still hospitalized; we're in the same hospital."

Lu Yanshen's original intention was to explain why Xia Meng had been here just now.

However, hearing this, Xie Wantang didn't feel he was explaining; instead, she felt he was showing off to her.

"Mm, pretty good." Xie Wantang's tone grew colder, more indifferent.

"... You can leave the hospital?" Lu Yanshen still wasn't used to being with her; the air was too oppressive, so after a few minutes he spoke again, asking a pointless question.

"Otherwise? If I couldn't leave the hospital, do you think I could bring you medicine? Lu Yanshen, do you not want to see me? If you don't want to see me, you should have said so earlier—I should have given the medicine to Xia Meng just now."

"Besides, don't think I want to stay here with you. If I hadn't promised Pei Xiao—who said you shouldn't be alone—I would have left; I'm only staying because of that, otherwise I'd go and not be in your way."

"..."

Lu Yanshen took a deep breath—what did he even mean by that?

How is Xie Wantang still acting like she's eaten gunpowder?

Where does all this spiteful fire come from?

The photo Xia Meng posted on her social feed was just a misunderstanding—hasn't it already been explained clearly?

Lu Yanshen remained silent, and a strange atmosphere drifted in the air.

When Xie Wantang realized it, she instinctively stood up, intending to go to the restroom to calm down.

As soon as she stood up, Lu Yanshen grabbed her wrist firmly: "Where are you going? Sit down—I didn't let you leave."

"Then what exactly do you want? Lu Yanshen—"

"Sorry, Xie Wantang—I shouldn't have argued with you that day, nor doubted you weren't pregnant." Lu Yanshen apologized to her.

"..."

Xie Wantang was a bit dazed.

How did Lu Yanshen suddenly apologize like that?

"There's something I don't know whether I should tell you." That's how Xie Wantang is—whenever Lu Yanshen apologizes, her anger vanishes instantly and her tone softens naturally.

"Say it."

"My foster parents came from Haishi; this medicine was purchased for them by Lady Qin."

"How are you settling them in? Anyway, I can't go back these few days—let them stay with you at Yu Jing Zun Di."

"Mm, they're already staying there."

"Good, then have your parents stay a few more days; once I'm out of bed, I'll properly entertain them." Lu Yanshen looked full of sincerity.

"..."