Chapter 166: Clues and Traces

Could it be that in the eyes of outsiders, the two of them, Gu Xiujin and herself, really looked like they were in a romantic relationship?

For some unknown reason, Xie Qingtang actually took Zhou Jinfan's words to heart. Lowering her head, her thoughts fluttered and lingered in her mind like a wandering butterfly.

However, remembering that Gu Xiujin had never expressed any such intentions and that his interactions with her were always extremely proper—mostly built on mutual help—she figured she was probably just overthinking. With this thought, Xie Qingtang hurriedly shook those inappropriate notions out of her head.

Lifting her gaze shortly after, she narrowed her eyes and said to Zhou Jinfan, "I see your skin is itching for trouble lately. Do you have too little work on your hands? You actually have time to think about such nonsensical things."

"Ah, Boss, I still have several customer messages on my phone that I haven't replied to. I'll go reply to them right now," Zhou Jinfan quickly blurted out. Then, putting on an act, he hugged his phone and retreated to his resting area.

Watching this scene, Xie Qingtang smiled speechlessly and headed back to the backyard. However, her original room was now occupied by Ah Ben, who had fallen into a coma due to poisoning. Consequently, she went into Zhao Xianglan's room—on one hand to take care of Ah Xiang, whose state of mind was currently unstable, and on the other hand to catch some rest herself.

Early the next morning, Xie Qingtang woke up. As Zhao Xianglan tidied up the room, she sighed and said, "Little Miss, you've only slept for a few hours. Why don't you go back to sleep for a bit longer? I can have Song Qing manage the front hall."

"There's no need, Aunt Lan. There have been quite a few patients coming in lately, and Song Qing wouldn't be able to handle it all by himself. I'll just drink some invigorating herbal tea in a moment." Having just returned from the forbidden zone yesterday, Xie Qingtang was quite exhausted, but with so many things still waiting to be done, she could not afford to rest.

Arriving at the front hall, she first prepared a dose of medicine for Ah Ben and instructed Zhou Jinfan to brew it and administer it to him.

"Doctor Xie, why hasn't Ah Ben woken up yet? He has been unconscious for a whole night," Ah Xiang said anxiously from the side. Truth be told, she hadn't rested well either last night, holding on purely for the sake of the child in her womb.

Xie Qingtang took Ah Ben's pulse, fell silent for a moment, and then said, "Ah Ben needs time to process and wake up. Don't worry, Ah Xiang, his life is no longer in danger."

Fortunately, she had fed Ah Ben one of the three Rejuvenation Pills her master had left her before descending the mountain; saving his life was only to be expected.

Hearing Xie Qingtang's words, Ah Xiang nodded. Though worry and anxiety still lingered on her face, she said no more.

Outside, the Cunsan Hall was bustling with activity. With patients coming in increasing numbers for hair loss and other ailments, Xie Qingtang's reputation had grown, establishing her as a renowned celebrity female doctor of traditional Chinese medicine.

Many patients came specifically drawn by this reputation, meaning most of them were reluctant to let Song Qing treat them and insisted on consulting Xie Qingtang alone.

Consequently, Xie Qingtang found herself dealing with an ever-growing number of patients, and the stack of medical records by her hand grew thicker and thicker. After a busy day that lasted until dusk, she collapsed straight onto the desk and fell asleep.

"The Boss works so hard. It's a pity I can't share her burdens and worries," Zhou Jinfan said, standing behind the counter and sighing as he watched Xie Qingtang sleeping soundly against the desk.

Song Qing walked over carrying a cup of water and sighed as well, "I'd also love to take on a few more patients for the Director, but most of them are here for her reputation alone and refuse to let me treat them. It's truly troublesome."

"You have to admit, if it weren't for the Boss's miraculous hair loss treatment techniques, our Cunsan Hall could never have come back to life. The surprises the Boss gives me just keep increasing day by day. I must stick closely by her side and learn every single skill she has!"

Zhou Jinfan said with determined fists. Song Qing, standing nearby, froze for a moment, his mouth twitching for a long while. Shaking his head in resignation, he retreated to his own consulting room.

After a while, Gu Xiujin arrived at Cunsan Hall. Seeing him, Zhou Jinfan hurried forward and greeted him with a grin, "President Gu, you're here. You're here to see our Director, right? Wait a moment, I'll go call her."

"Hmm." Initially, Gu Xiujin did not notice Xie Qingtang resting with her head down, and he gave a faint nod. But just as Zhou Jinfan turned around, Xie Qingtang, fast asleep with her head pillowed on her arms, came entirely into view.

The very next second, Gu Xiujin hurriedly stopped Zhou Jinfan, who was about to wake her up.

The intercepted Zhou Jinfan blinked in confusion, completely baffled, while Gu Xiujin stood up from his wheelchair—a rare sight indeed—and walked toward Xie Qingtang.

"President Gu, this is...?" Zhou Jinfan scratched his head, asking Li Zhao, who stood nearby. Li Zhao simply shook his head gently and placed a finger over his lips.

Arriving before the sleeping Xie Qingtang, Gu Xiujin gazed at her angelic sleeping face, momentarily lost in thought. Subconsciously, his hand reached out to gently brush aside a mischievous lock of hair that had fallen across her lips.

With her porcelain-white skin and rosy lips, Xie Qingtang in deep sleep shed all the stubbornness and resilience she usually wore. She slept as peacefully and deeply as a carefree infant.

Witnessing this, Zhou Jinfan seemed to understand something. He pressed his lips together in a quiet, knowing smile and tiptoed toward the counter, terrified of disturbing Gu Xiujin and Xie Qingtang.

Perhaps because Gu Xiujin's gaze was far too intense, Xie Qingtang, even in her deep slumber, began to dream of him.

"Are you willing to treat me for the rest of your life? Just staying by my side," the Gu Xiujin in her dream said, extending a hand with deep affection while still seated in his wheelchair, gazing up at the stunned Xie Qingtang.

Struck by this sudden confession in her dream, Xie Qingtang stood frozen on the spot as if struck by lightning. Recovering her senses a moment later, she unexpectedly nodded, "I am willing."

A sweet dream slowly spread to the corners of Xie Qingtang's mouth, forming a faint, tender smile. In reality, Gu Xiujin, standing right across from her, couldn't help but smile upon seeing that very smile.

The two of them thus formed an uncanny yet harmonious picture. Standing at the optimal vantage point, Zhou Jinfan clicked his tongue and marveled at the scene, whispering to himself, "President Gu really is a strange person. He actually likes watching someone else sleep. I wonder what the Boss is dreaming about to be smiling so happily."