Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

These were exactly the things Zhao Nuanyue lacked.

She didn’t have exceptionally capable parents, nor did she have a lofty family background. Even if she wanted to climb the social ladder and gain more power, it wasn’t something that could be achieved overnight.

”I don’t have any of that!” Zhao Nuanyue shook her head. Although she had special abilities, her treasures were of little use in the face of true power.

The Little Red Carp’s words snapped her out of her worries for Hua Yusen, forcing her to see the chasm that lay between them.

It was like an insurmountable abyss.

”Exactly. So, we have to use what we’re good at to take control of the situation,” the Little Red Carp said with a serious air. ”We’ll just keep Hua Yusen from waking up. You, in the meantime, will continue to be good to him, never leaving his side. That way, you can win over his elders. With Grandpa Sun and Grandpa Gu also speaking up for you, your marriage to Hua Yusen will likely be approved. Once you’re engaged, or even married, I’ll wake him up.”

”This... this...” Zhao Nuanyue was dumbfounded that the Little Red Carp could think of all this. ”But... but using such methods is dishonest!”

”Oh, you silly girl!” The Little Red Carp mimicked Zhao Nuanyue’s usual mannerisms, reaching out to tap her on the forehead. ”We don’t have influence or family status. The only thing we can use is this little bit of power we have. Don’t call it dishonest—this is just a strategic arrangement. We aren’t actually harming Hua Yusen. In fact, by channeling this Spiritual Power for him to absorb, I’m helping him, and this process will take a year or two anyway. Besides, Hua Yusen likes you. Helping your marriage along is also helping him. When you think about it that way, doesn’t it make you feel less conflicted?”

Zhao Nuanyue nodded. She felt the Little Red Carp made a lot of sense. Her judgment had been clouded by worry, and she hadn’t understood the Little Red Carp’s point. ”Yes, it really does feel less conflicted,” she said. ”I don’t want to be with Hua Yusen in some ambiguous relationship. This time, I’ll listen to the Little Red Carp. It doesn’t matter if the methods are a bit underhanded. I’ll just be twice as good to him in the future.”

Seeing that its sister understood, the Little Red Carp was very happy. It nodded and said, ”Yes, that’s right. The means don’t matter; the outcome is what’s important. Our methods benefit both you and Hua Yusen, so why not use them?”

”Right!” Zhao Nuanyue nodded emphatically. ”Yes, why shouldn’t I? ’I want to be with Hua Yusen, so I have to find a way. I can’t just wait for handouts from others. I have to fight for it myself and take control.’”

Once she knew Hua Yusen wasn’t going to die and would eventually wake up, Zhao Nuanyue stopped worrying.

And with the Little Red Carp’s explanation, she realized she could also use this situation to achieve her own desire. ’Isn’t this killing two birds with one stone?’

”That’s the right way to think about it,” the Little Red Carp said with a laugh. ”My old master once told me that as long as you don’t hurt others, you can use any means necessary to achieve your goals. We aren’t hurting anyone, so you don’t need to feel burdened.”

Zhao Nuanyue felt like she had just been fed a big, warm bowl of ”chicken soup for the soul” by the Little Red Carp. She kissed its cheek and said, ”Little Red Carp, you’re so adorable. You’re too good to me.”

”Hehe, of course. You’re my sister,” the Little Red Carp said matter-of-factly. ”I want you to get married in style, not be all aggrieved and wronged. If it comes to that, it’s better not to marry at all. We could have a great time on our own, free and easy.”

The Little Red Carp’s words made a lot of sense.

”Mhm, you’re right.” Zhao Nuanyue nodded. ”But I still have to thank you.”

”No need for thanks. Oh, it’s getting late. I’m a little sleepy; I’m going to bed now,” the Little Red Carp said with a soft laugh. ”By the way, don’t forget to buy me tanghulu tomorrow. I want a big, seedless skewer.”

”Okay, I’ll definitely buy it for you.” Zhao Nuanyue was so fond of the Little Red Carp that she gave it another kiss on the cheek.

Beside her, the Little Red Carp’s long, even breaths soon indicated it was asleep, but Zhao Nuanyue felt wide awake.

This time, it was all thanks to the Little Red Carp.

Not only could it save Hua Yusen, but it could also help her plan for her marriage.

「The next morning」, after breakfast, Zhao Nuanyue went to the hospital, bringing a shaving razor, nail clippers, and hair clippers with her.

Because Sun Haoran had made arrangements beforehand, no one stopped Zhao Nuanyue.

Hua Yusen’s hospital room was a private suite with its own bathroom and a simple kitchenette. Zhao Nuanyue boiled some water, mixed it into a warm basin, and then washed Hua Yusen’s face, shaved his stubble, and even applied some vanishing cream.

Hua Yusen’s hair was long and messy, making him look disheveled. Zhao Nuanyue took out the clippers and began to cut his hair. She was quite skilled, having often cut her brother’s and other people’s hair back in Nianqiao Village.

After she was done tidying him up, the previously disheveled Hua Yusen looked much more refreshed.

After cleaning up the stray hairs, Zhao Nuanyue began to clip his nails.

”Hua, my house is all tidied up now,” Zhao Nuanyue murmured, telling him about all the little things that had happened since she returned to the city. ”It’s winter, so the plants in the yard have withered, but I’ll plant lots of flowers and herbs next spring.”

When Feng Wanru came to visit Hua Yusen, she saw Zhao Nuanyue clipping her son’s nails while chattering to him nonstop.

’You wouldn’t stay here with such patience for someone in a vegetative state, unable to speak or wake up, unless you truly cared for them.’

Feng Wanru was a mother and a woman; she understood the feelings a woman would have in this kind of situation. Even if Zhao Nuanyue was intentionally deceiving her or her son, Feng Wanru was still grateful to her in her heart.

It was simply because she was someone willing to speak patiently with her son.

’Even I, his own mother, can only come every day when I’m not busy with work. If something comes up, I might only be able to visit every few days, or sometimes even less often.’

”You... why are you here again?” Feng Wanru asked with a frown. Zhao Nuanyue was so pretty and young, with a bright future ahead of her. Although she felt it was a tragedy that her son was in this state, she didn’t want to hold back a kind young woman.

’Zhao Nuanyue isn’t cut from the same cloth as Guo Dongmei, so I could have calmly accepted her departure.’

Zhao Nuanyue didn’t stop clipping Hua’s nails. She smiled softly and said, ”I came to keep Hua company. He must be so lonely lying here all by himself. If he doesn’t even have anyone to talk to, I’m worried he’ll forget us and not want to wake up from his dreams.”

Hearing Zhao Nuanyue’s words, Feng Wanru felt a sting in her nose. ’She’s right. Even with all the nurses and doctors in the hospital, no one just chats with my son.’