Bai Chi looked up in confusion. The next second, the girl cupped his face and planted a loud, firm kiss on the corner of his lips with a resounding smack.
Bai Chi froze.
Xia Miao covered her face and dashed out of the office.
A long time passed before the stiffened young man finally raised a hand to touch the spot where she had kissed him. Slowly, a glimmer of light surfaced in his dazed eyes.
She had kissed him so briefly and left so quickly—he hadn’t even had time to feel the warmth of her lips.
Bai Chi slowly buried his face in his hands.
He wanted to kiss her again.
Xia Miao was in high spirits today. Even when she felt Patient No. 05 glaring at her back multiple times while working, she remained cheerful.
After all, Miss Xia was flawless and naturally charming—it was only normal for petty clowns to envy her.
Truthfully, it wasn’t just No. 05 watching Xia Miao; many others were observing her curiously.
Xia Miao was the first person "the doctor" had called in for "treatment." At the time, everyone assumed she wouldn’t return. Yet not only did she come back, she seemed exhilarated, as if she had gained some advantage.
Someone couldn’t resist approaching her with a smile. "No. 09, you’ve been working for so long—aren’t you tired? Let’s take a break and chat."
Xia Miao glanced at her. "What do you want?"
The girl labeled No. 10 beamed. "Well, I just wanted to ask… what happened after you followed that strange Dr. Bai to his office?"
Xia Miao: "Oh, nothing much. He just examined me and mentioned where he’d make the incision to treat me more effectively."
No. 10’s eyes widened. "What? An incision!?"
Xia Miao nodded gravely. "He even proposed several surgical options—craniotomy, thoracotomy, or even amputation!"
No. 10 shuddered, her words stumbling. "B-b-but you look perfectly fine! You don’t need surgery!"
"Do I look fine?" Xia Miao blinked, puzzled. "But the doctor said my condition is very serious. I think I should trust his judgment."
No. 10: "You’re actually considering surgery!?"
"If the doctor says it’ll help me, of course I will." Xia Miao cupped her cheeks, radiating bliss. "Thank goodness I met Dr. Bai. Without him, my illness would surely be incurable."
She must be insane!
No. 10 quickly distanced herself from Xia Miao and relayed the intel to the others.
Gasps of disbelief rippled through the group. "From now on, stay far away from that doctor!"
Humming a tune, Xia Miao picked up her rag and resumed cleaning the windows.
At dinner in the cafeteria, the patients wore uneasy expressions. None could be sure they wouldn’t be the next to undergo the doctor’s "treatment." Unlike Xia Miao—a madwoman—they were normal people, and their dread only grew.
Seated at the table, Xia Miao glanced up and noticed Duan Shou’s ashen face. "What’s wrong with you?" she asked.
Duan Shou snapped out of his daze and gulped nervously. "I… I was suddenly assigned a task today—to take inventory of the medicine stock tonight."
Xia Miao: "Can’t you count?"
Duan Shou nearly choked.
Was that the point!?
After a long pause, he muttered, "I’m scared!"
Xia Miao nodded. "Ah, I get it—you’re afraid of the dark. But honestly, I don’t see why. Tell you what, I’ll help you count."
Duan Shou was taken aback. "You’d help me?"
Xia Miao sipped her soup leisurely. "I’ve got nothing better to do. Might as well keep busy."
Her casual tone sent shockwaves through Duan Shou’s heart.
Xia Miao offering to accompany him to the storage room was no different from walking to death with him!
How many times had they even met? How long had they known each other?
Yet she was willing to face life and death by his side!
Why?
What else could it be?
Duan Shou’s face flushed crimson, his entire body resembling a boiled crab—only missing the word "shy" stamped on his forehead.
Unable to resist, he stole a glance at Xia Miao.
He’d always mentally referred to her as "that lunatic," but only now did he realize how stunning she was.
Sensing his gaze, Xia Miao looked up.
Duan Shou hastily averted his eyes, clutching his chest as if to conceal his wildly pounding heart.
This woman… she must be in love with him!
Night fell, and most people retreated to their rooms, too afraid to venture out.
Duan Shou trembled as he walked toward the storage room, hesitating. "Y-you really don’t have to come if you’re scared."
Xia Miao scanned the surroundings, seemingly searching for someone, and replied absentmindedly, "It’s fine. I just felt like a walk."
Her relaxed demeanor, utterly indifferent to danger, spoke volumes—what force in this world could drive two unrelated people to defy death together?
It could only be love!
Duan Shou wiped his eyes, moved to tears.
The storage room door was unlocked, and the dim lighting did little to ease his nerves. Fearful of shadowy creatures lurking in the dark hallway, he quickly shut the door behind them.
Facing the chaotic mess inside, he clutched his head, on the verge of screaming. "There’s so much stuff!"
They’d be lucky to finish by midnight.
Duan Shou nearly cursed aloud, but one look at Xia Miao’s delicate beauty stifled the words. Swallowing his frustration, he resigned himself to sorting through the clutter.
Xia Miao had only tagged along tonight in hopes of running into Bai Chi. Disappointed by his absence, she crouched and idly sifted through the pile of junk. A wooden figurine clattered to the floor, stirring dust and catching her attention.
Picking it up, she mused, "What’s this?"
Duan Shou glanced over. "That’s a mountain god statue. We locals worship them."
The black wooden carving resembled a human figure, though its facial features were indistinct. Its flowing robes, however, gave it an ethereal aura.
Seeing Xia Miao’s interest, Duan Shou added, "Small statues like these are usually enshrined in roadside shrines. This one looks pretty old—you can find them all over the mountains here."
Xia Miao joked, "So if I pray at one of these shrines, will it grant my wishes?"
"Absolutely not!" Duan Shou hurriedly explained. "Roadside shrines lack strong spiritual energy. The true deity might have already left, leaving the space open to wandering ghosts. If you pray carelessly, you might worship the wrong entity… or worse, invite trouble!"
On the ceiling, a grotesque figure crawled in the shadows with a twisted posture, its crimson eyes fixed unblinkingly on the space below, glowing like eerie embers of terror.
