TSWPF -Chapter 60 Anxious

Tears welled up in Liu Zhimou’s eyes, but a smile tugged at his lips. “It’s good that you woke up.” As long as she woke up, it was fine.

He had truly been terrified she wouldn’t open her eyes again. Thank goodness she had.

“Wait here for a bit.” Liu Zhimou released Li Qingling’s hand and hurriedly ran out. “Doctor Xu! Doctor Xu! Xiaoling’s awake—come quickly and take a look!”

His loud shouting woke Doctor Xu from sleep. The old man quickly slipped on his shoes and, without even washing his face, rushed out of his room. “She’s awake?” he asked while running straight toward Li Qingling’s ward.

When he entered and saw her open eyes staring back at him, his face broke into a relieved smile. He stepped forward, took her pulse, and finally let out a long breath.

“Just rest well, and you’ll be fine. Miss Xiaoling, you truly have a blessed life! If luck hadn’t been on your side, that collapsing house could’ve crushed you to death.”

She really was lucky to be alive.

Hearing Doctor Xu’s words, Liu Zhimou—who’d been tense this whole time—finally relaxed. As long as she was fine, everything was fine.

Doctor Xu gave a few more instructions to Li Qingling, then went out to have his apprentice brew some medicine for her.

Now that she was awake, she could take something to help her recover.

Liu Zhimou quickly returned to her side, sat at the edge of the bed, and smiled. “You really scared me this time. Promise me, don’t ever do that again, alright?” Even now, thinking back to it sent shivers through him. He had never been so frightened in his life. If it happened again, he didn’t know if he could take it.

Li Qingling looked at him apologetically. “I’m really sorry for scaring you.” She hadn’t thought much at the time—just that she couldn’t let her younger siblings get hurt. On instinct, she’d pushed them out of the way. “How are Xiaofeng and the others? I pushed them pretty hard—did they get hurt?”

“They’re fine,” Liu Zhimou reassured her. “Just very worried about you. Xiaofeng wanted to come along, but the snow made the road too difficult for the ox cart. I told him to stay home and look after his sister.”

Hearing that, Li Qingling finally relaxed. As long as her siblings were safe, her own injuries were worth it.

She couldn’t help but feel a wave of gratitude. If she hadn’t sensed something bad coming and rushed in to pull her siblings out, the three of them would’ve been buried alive. By the time anyone found them, they’d already be gone.

The thought made her shiver.

Seeing her face suddenly pale, Liu Zhimou panicked. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling sick again? Does your head hurt?”

She gently shook her head, squeezing his hand to reassure him. She was fine—just remembering the collapsed house.

“It’s alright,” he said softly. “We lost the house, but we’ll rebuild after the New Year.” If it hadn’t been for that heavy snowfall, none of this would’ve happened.

Still, he thought, she was lucky—truly lucky—to have survived.

Li Qingling nodded slightly. “Once we’re home, we should visit my parents’ graves. If not for their blessing, the three of us might not be here.” She hadn’t believed in spirits before. But now, after being reborn and going through something like this, she couldn’t help but believe a little.

She truly felt her parents had protected them.

Liu Zhimou nodded. “When you’re better, we’ll go.”

Just then, the apprentice came in with a steaming bowl of medicine. “This is for Miss Xiaoling. Drink it while it’s hot,” he said, handing the bowl to Liu Zhimou along with a preserved fruit, then turned and hurried out again—there were too many injured patients from other collapsed houses that night.

Liu Zhimou gently blew on the hot medicine, testing the temperature, and then offered it to her with a coaxing tone, “Good medicine is always bitter, but it’ll make you recover faster.”

He helped her sit up against his chest and held the bowl to her lips.

Li Qingling smiled faintly at his careful expression, took the bowl, and drank it all in a few gulps.

Seeing her so obedient, Liu Zhimou chuckled. He took the empty bowl and popped the preserved fruit into her mouth. “Sweeten the bitterness,” he said, laying her back down gently.

Li Qingling smiled again. At that moment, he really did seem like a dependable man.

This whole ordeal must’ve scared him half to death. The thought filled her with guilt.

She tugged at his hand. “You should rest too. You haven’t slept properly these past few days.”

Liu Zhimou shook his head, tucking in her blanket instead. “Go back to sleep. Don’t mind me—I’m not tired.”

Besides, this was a medical hall, with people coming and going. For her reputation’s sake, he couldn’t share the bed with her.

“Zhimou, why don’t you sleep on another bed?” Li Qingling said softly. “I’m awake now—you don’t have to worry. If you get sick from exhaustion, who’ll take care of me?”

He looked pale, his eyes bloodshot—it pained her to see him like that.

But no matter what she said, Liu Zhimou stubbornly refused to rest elsewhere. Her body hadn’t fully recovered; he needed to watch over her.

Seeing him so insistent, she could only sigh and give up.

“Then you just stay nearby. I’ll sleep again, alright?”

Liu Zhimou smiled gently, brushing a hand against her cheek. “Good girl. Sleep a bit more. I’ll be right here.”

Li Qingling nodded, closed her eyes, and soon drifted back to sleep.

Listening to her steady breathing, Liu Zhimou finally felt at peace.

She slept for four full hours before waking again. When she opened her eyes, she met his gentle gaze and couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re awake?” he asked softly. “Are you hungry? How about some porridge?”

He had borrowed the kitchen earlier to make a pot of rice porridge, waiting for her to wake up.

After sleeping so long, she was indeed hungry, and she nodded.

“Just a moment,” he said, quickly leaving the room. Soon he returned with the porridge, helping her sit up against the headboard.

“Doctor Xu said you should start with plain porridge to settle your stomach. Once you’re stronger, we’ll add more nutrition.” He scooped a spoonful, blew on it, and held it to her lips.

She felt shy being fed like a child. “Zhimou, I can do it myself,” she said, reaching for the bowl.

But he avoided her hand. “Don’t move around—you’re still injured.”

“…It’s not like my hands are hurt,” she muttered inwardly. Still, seeing how firm he was, she had no choice but to give in.

She was the patient here—she didn’t get to argue.

Once she stopped resisting, Liu Zhimou smiled faintly and continued feeding her with gentle patience. When she finished the bowl, he asked if she wanted more.

She rubbed her full stomach and shook her head. “No, I’m full.”

She hadn’t eaten properly in days—her stomach couldn’t hold much.

He nodded, took the bowl away, and after returning, urged her to rest again.

But this time, Li Qingling shook her head. “Zhimou, I feel much better now. Why don’t we go home? The children must be worried sick.” Her tone was almost pleading. “Especially Xiaofeng—he worries too much. If I don’t go back soon, he might come to town looking for us.”

Liu Zhimou hesitated. He was worried about the children too, but… “I’ll ask Doctor Xu. If he says it’s okay, we’ll go home. Alright?”

If the doctor disagreed, no matter how anxious she was, he wouldn’t let her leave yet. Her health came first—everything else could wait.

“Alright…” Li Qingling agreed meekly. She knew she wasn’t in a position to argue.

Liu Zhimou soon returned with Doctor Xu, who checked her pulse again. Finding nothing serious, he said, “You can go home now, but make sure to rest well and keep taking your medicine.”

“Thank you, Doctor Xu,” Li Qingling said with a grateful smile.

The old doctor waved it off. “Just take care of yourself.”

Liu Zhimou collected the remaining medicine and paid all the fees before fetching a carriage. He carried Li Qingling out carefully and helped her inside before climbing up beside her.

They headed straight home.

When they arrived, the first thing Liu Zhimou saw after stepping down was Li Qingfeng and Liu Zhiyan—each carrying one of their younger sisters on their backs—clearly about to leave the house.

His face darkened. “And where do you think you’re going?”

Good thing Xiaoling had insisted on coming back; otherwise, these children really might’ve gone to town searching for them. They were so small—and bringing two even smaller ones along—what if they’d been snatched away by kidnappers before reaching the town?

Hearing his voice, Li Qingfeng ran over anxiously. “Brother Zhimou, you’re back! Where’s my sister? Is she alright?” He had been waiting at home, worried sick, until he couldn’t stand it anymore and decided to go find her.

“You were going to the town to find us?” Liu Zhimou asked, his tone stern.

“Didn’t I tell Madam Huang to tell you to stay home and look after your sisters? Hmm?”

These kids really needed a lesson about how dangerous the world could be.