Sweet Rebirth: The Little Healer

When the Little Red Carp heard Zhao Nuanyue say that, it thought for a moment and said, ”That Hua Yufen might be a bit proud, but she’s not a bad person. She was a little standoffish with you at first, but that’s gone now. She’s actually very grateful to you deep down.”

Zhao Nuanyue had sensed that. At first, even when Hua Yusen was in a coma and she was diligently taking care of him, Hua Yufen was merely polite to her. But now, Hua Yufen had changed a great deal.

’Perhaps Hua Yufen has realized the drawbacks of her own engagement and is gradually coming to understand that marriage isn’t just about family alliances, but also about love and affection.’

”Yes, I’ve sensed that too,” Zhao Nuanyue nodded. ”But as her future sister-in-law, with my little nun leaving, I feel like I should give her something. The Hua family doesn’t want for anything, so I don’t know what to give her.”

’If Hua Yufen had remained so proud, I wouldn’t have bothered getting her a gift,’ Zhao Nuanyue thought. ’But since she’s changed so much, I can’t just do nothing.’

The Little Red Carp thought for a moment, then said, ”It’s true that Hua Yufen doesn’t want for anything, but as a young woman working away from home, she’ll definitely be concerned about her looks. Why don’t you make a beauty mask for her? You know, that stuff you smeared on your face last time. Using it makes your skin look great.”

”Hmm, is that really a good idea?” Zhao Nuanyue was taken aback. ”Wouldn’t that be a little too simple?”

”It’s the thought that counts, so stop being so picky,” the Little Red Carp snapped. ”Are you richer than Hua Yufen? More powerful?”

Zhao Nuanyue shook her head, admitting she couldn’t compare.

”Well, there you go,” the Little Red Carp said, rolling its eyes. ”This is the perfect thing. Your skin is already soft and dewy, but after using this, it’s as smooth as a peeled egg—almost as good as my skin.”

’Okay, my skin really has gotten much better,’ she thought. ’It’s silky smooth and especially dewy.’

’The Little Red Carp is just too vain. Then again, it has every right to be. The Little Red Carp’s skin really is amazing.’

”Sis, just give her the mask you make. It’s really good. Our master’s wife used your mask, and the wrinkles on her face have faded. Just yesterday she was telling me to ask you to make some more for her,” Zhao Nuan Yang said with a light laugh, clearly confident in the mask his sister made.

Since both her brother and the Little Red Carp thought the mask was a good idea, Zhao Nuanyue decided she would make it now and give it as a gift tomorrow.

’This is actually for the best,’ she reasoned. ’It’s the thought that counts. Giving something expensive wouldn’t be appropriate, anyway.’

’For one, they might question where I got it. For another, it could look like I’m trying to curry favor with them.’

Following the Little Red Carp’s advice, Zhao Nuanyue mashed the Dragon Wisdom Grass into a paste, squeezed out its juice, and mixed in some Seven White Powder. She ended up with a large jar of moisturizing and whitening face mask.

Meanwhile, while Zhao Nuanyue was at home making the mask, Hua Yusen had already returned to his family’s house.

Hua Zhiqiang and Feng Wanru were stunned. They had thought their son wouldn’t be discharged for a while longer and were pleasantly surprised to see he was already home.

”Yu Sen, you’re discharged already? Are you completely better?” Feng Wanru looked her son up and down, terrified that something would go wrong and he would fall back into a vegetative state. She couldn’t bear to experience that kind of pain a second time. ”Son, if you feel uncomfortable at all, you have to tell us. You can’t just tough it out.”

”Mom, I’m completely better, really,” Hua Yusen said, quickly reassuring his anxious mother. ’I made my family worry far too much while I was in a coma.’ ”Doctor Sun and Doctor Wu both examined me and said there are no problems. And because Nuanyue has been massaging my limbs this whole time, I don’t even need physical therapy. My muscle tone is excellent.”

Feng Wanru was overjoyed and deeply moved to hear this. She nodded and said, ”That’s right. Ever since Nuanyue returned to Jincheng City, she hasn’t missed a single day of massaging you. I was so touched by her devotion.”

Hua Zhiqiang didn’t deny it. In that respect, Zhao Nuanyue’s conduct had been impeccable.

’After seeing so many couples ”fly their separate ways when disaster strikes,” Zhao Nuanyue’s unwavering loyalty is exceptionally rare,’ he thought.

’His daughter’s words had also made him realize that these so-called marriage alliances between powerful families weren’t all that reliable. Sometimes, they couldn’t hold a candle to the sincerity of a simple young woman.’

’Take the Guo Family, for instance, kicking them when they were down and calling off the engagement.’

’Or the Zheng Family, who just stood by and watched coldly, unwilling to help.’

All of this had deeply disappointed Hua Zhiqiang, causing him to slowly change his views. He had come to accept Zhao Nuanyue, and he had also accepted his daughter’s decision to call off her engagement with the Zheng Family.

He decided to give his children more freedom to carve out their own paths, hoping they could achieve even greater things.

Just then, Hua Yufen and Hua Yulin came in together from outside. They were overjoyed to see their eldest brother, and another round of enthusiastic greetings erupted.

”Yu Fen, you’re leaving the day after tomorrow. Is there anything you need to tell us before you go?” Hua Yusen asked, his voice deep as he looked at his younger sister, who was now all grown up.

Hua Yufen thought for a moment before replying, ”There’s nothing in particular. I just hope Mom and Dad stay healthy, and that you and Second Brother stay safe. I’m just sorry that I won’t be able to attend your wedding to Sister-in-law.”

”Heh, don’t worry about it. Your blessings are what matter,” Hua Yusen said with a smile. ”You don’t have work tomorrow, do you? Your sister-in-law is coming over to see you off.”

”No work,” Hua Yufen nodded. ”I’m not going anywhere. I’m just going to stay home and spend time with my family.”

Feng Wanru nodded. ”Your father and I cleared our schedules for tomorrow too. We’ll stay home and make you some of your favorite dishes. Once you’re away, you won’t be able to have them anymore.”

”Thank you, Mom and Dad.” Hua Yufen was touched, feeling a pang of reluctance to leave.

’Still, my future career is out there, so I can’t hesitate,’ she thought. ’Besides, Xiao Si is abroad and needs his big sister.’

The family sat in the living room, chatting together in a warm and pleasant atmosphere.

Early the next morning, Zhao Nuan Yang had to go to work, so he didn’t accompany his sister to the Hua family’s home.

Zhao Nuanyue and the Little Red Carp were just getting ready when Hua Yusen arrived to pick them up.

Zhao Nuanyue was delighted to see him. Hua Yusen took the chubby Little Red Carp from her arms and held it himself, giving her a chance to rest.

”How is Yu Fen holding up?” Zhao Nuanyue asked. ’She must be sad to be leaving home.’

”She’s holding up well. Though she’s sad to go, it was a carefully considered decision. Besides, Xiao Si is abroad all by himself and can’t manage everything on his own. Yu Fen is going over to help our fourth brother,” Hua Yusen said softly. ”The family is very supportive of her decision, so even though we’re sad to see her go, we all approve.”

”That’s good,” Zhao Nuanyue nodded. ’Everyone has their own responsibilities, and it’s enough to just focus on doing your part.’ ”Look, I got a gift for Yu Fen.”

Hua Yusen paused, looking at the large glass jar.

”Is it canned food?” Hua Yusen asked. ”We have plenty of that at home. Besides, that jar is huge. It must be heavy. She probably won’t be able to take it with her.”