Chapter 19 New Day

Chapter 19 New Day

[Patient Huo Lian]

Huo Lian woke to the sound of soft mutterings. The room around her was dimly lit by the morning sun filtering through a small, high window. The scent of herbs and fresh wood filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of a burning fire. She felt the gentle but firm pressure of calloused fingers on her wrist, assessing her pulse with careful attention.

She tried to blinked, her eyes unable to open, but her mind sharp, taking in everything within a foot around her. The ceiling above was made of wooden beams, slightly warped with age, and the walls were lined with shelves filled with jars of various herbs and medicines. The room felt warm and secure, a stark contrast to the harsh, cold memory of the waterfall.

"Ahem." The sound was followed by a light cough, a raspy clearing of the throat. Huo Lian turned her attention to the figure beside her bed.

Her doctor, Zhen Jian, was young, perhaps in his early twenties. He had a slender build, his clothes simple and slightly oversized, indicating his youthful frame. His hair was tied back in a loose ponytail, and his face bore the seriousness of someone far beyond his years. Yet his eyes, sharp and clear, revealed a depth of experience unusual for someone so young. His hands, despite their roughness, moved with precision and care.

"Is my doctor sick?" she wondered silently.

"I do not know if you can hear this, but your pulse has been consistent over the past twenty minutes, so if there is any fluctuation, I will think you can hear me," he said, his voice gentle but firm. He had been holding her wrist for twenty minutes? Was he just a pervert after all?

Her heart beat quicker, anger rising within her. But then he laughed, a light, childish sound that dispelled her fears. "HAHAHA, it worked!" His laugh was innocent, untainted by malice.

Her anger instantly vanished. "My doctor is a child," she thought, somewhat relieved. If he was just a boy, there was no need to worry about him being a pervert. But a new problem emerged: could a child really take care of her?

Oblivious to her internal debate, Zhen Jian continued, his voice calm and measured. "Hello, Mrs. Patient. I am Doctor Zhen Jian. I have been looking after you since yesterday when I found you at the base of the waterfall. I do not know why you were there unconscious and surrounded by blood. But let me assure you, I will care for you until you are fully functional again."

He paused, giving her time to process his words. Huo Lian thought back. She remembered falling off the waterfall. Being at the base of it made sense. The blood must have come from the fall. Her body should have shattered upon impact. Why was she even alive?

"From your consistent heartbeat, it means you probably know your situation better than I thought. That's good; maybe you will wake up earlier than expected." His optimism was reassuring, but she was not so sure.

"I should be dead," she thought. "My bones shouldn't even be intact after falling from such a height, yet here I am." She sighed inwardly, deciding to take it as a blessing from the gods.

"Well, it has been a full night, but I am worried about you being too cold. So I will not give you a shower, but we must practice hygiene; otherwise, it could affect your health and inevitably affect the time it takes you to wake up."

Wait, what did he just say? Hygiene? Her heart rate spiked again. He still hadn't let go of her wrist, so he could feel it. Damn it, let go already, she thought.

He spoke again, his tone soothing as if addressing a spoiled child. "Ahh, your heart rate is raised. You must be a very clean person; your skin reflects that. You must want to shower immediately. Sorry, Mrs. Patient, we have to worry about your body becoming too cold. I cannot give you a shower until at least tomorrow. Ahh, after that, I will help you perform some simple exercises to prevent your body from stiffening up, and then I will feed you. Please try to understand."

Her anger flared again. "You idiot, I don't want to be bathed or showered by you. What the hell, do you not understand the difference between genders?" she mentally cursed at him, feeling her heart rate rise.

"Ahh, sorry, Mrs. Patient. Tomorrow, I promise," he said, completely unaware of her internal turmoil.

[Doctor Zhen Jian]

I had just communicated with my first vegetative patient. The excitement of making contact with her was exhilarating. I wished my master were here to witness this moment; we could learn so much about this condition from her. Despite my eagerness to learn more, my priority was ensuring she woke up as soon as possible.

The clinic room, bathed in the soft morning light, felt serene and warm. The scent of medicinal herbs mingled with the fresh smell of wood and the faint aroma of a nearby fire. I looked around, taking in the rustic charm of the space, with shelves lined with jars and bundles of dried herbs hanging from the beams above.

I noticed her heart rate jumped when I mentioned she couldn't take a shower. She must be very hygienic. As her physician, I appreciated her willingness to cleanse herself, but I couldn't risk exposing her to below-normal temperatures. I didn't know how long she had been in the water. Her small, thin body could lose heat quickly. Sighing, I silently apologized to her.

I finished giving her the most thorough bed bath I could manage, my hands moving gently yet efficiently across her skin. Her heart rate remained high, a clear sign of her discomfort. "Sorry again, dear patient," I whispered softly, feeling a pang of guilt.

[Huo Lian]

"You motherfucker, wait for me to wake up! I will kill you, I will kill you, I will kill you..." My thoughts seethed with rage. I felt the humiliation of being bathed by him, powerless to resist.