"The doctor said that Father’s condition is somewhat special, and they are preparing to convene a seminar to determine a treatment plan. Please don’t stand, have a seat! Xiuyi, why haven’t you poured tea for the Duke yet!"
Xiuyi left the sickroom to prepare the tea, while Huangfu Jue took a seat on the sofa across.
This time he’d come to verify the authenticity of Duke Locke, and he certainly wouldn’t leave just like that.
The moment Gan Yuan sat down, Qian Xueying immediately grabbed the small bowl on the table, scooped up some soup with a small spoon, and brought it to Duke Locke’s lips, "Dad, have a sip. This is your favorite soup, I personally simmered it for you, come on... open up..."
Duke Locke wore no expression on his face, simply swallowing instinctively the soup she brought to him. However, his body coordination was off, and nearly half of the small bowl of soup spilled from his mouth.
Qian Xueying fed him while wiping away the mess, all in the guise of a dutiful daughter.
While Qian Xueying was doing her performance, a nurse was already carrying a tray into the treatment room from outside the window.
Upon seeing Gan Yuan standing in the treatment room, the nurse looked at her with puzzled scrutiny.
"Ah, I’m from the psychiatric ward upstairs, just came down to get something!" Gan Yuan picked up her own tray, nodded to the other nurse, and prepared to leave the room, head lowered.
In the sickroom, Qian Xueying saw the small bowl of soup had been fed and let out a sigh of relief, setting the bowl aside. She reached out to wipe the Duke’s mouth, about to get up, when Duke Locke suddenly coughed, spitting out all the soup he’d just swallowed.
Qian Xueying was completely unprepared; the spit-out soup splattered on the Duke, and a good amount also landed on her hands and clothes.
She instinctively stood up, grabbing a paper towel to wipe her fingers. She extended her hand halfway, then realized the mistake, and hurried to help the Duke clean up again.
Half a bowl of soup, now a complete mess, simply looked disgusting.
She felt nauseous and turned her head away, noticing Gan Yuan walking out from across the room. She immediately called out.
"Nurse, could you come here for a moment!"
Gan Yuan raised her finger, pointing to herself.
"Yes, you. Please come and help."
Gan Yuan inwardly groaned, frightened that Huangfu Jue would recognize her, yet she dared not speak out rashly. While pondering her next move, Qian Xueying urged her urgently.
Seeing Will turning his face towards her, Gan Yuan had to bow her head and stiffly walk over, while Qian Xueying immediately pointed to the Duke on the hospital bed.
"Quick, clean him up!"
Gan Yuan took the paper towel and started wiping Duke Locke. Meanwhile, Qian Xueying quickly approached Huangfu Jue.
"This is quite embarrassing. How about I take you to the resting room first?"
Huangfu Jue frowned and rose to his feet, "No need, we’re leaving."
"Well... that’s fine, I just..." Qian Xueying looked uneasily at her father, "I won’t see you out, I’ll come and thank you another day."
Huangfu Jue responded indifferently and turned to leave the room, while Qian Xueying walked over to bid him farewell.
By the sickbed, Gan Yuan was helping Duke Locke clean the filth off his chest when her eyes caught a slightly melted pill lying there.
Noticing this detail, she halted her actions and delicately picked up the pill with the tissue.
Qian Xueying turned back, thinking she was slacking off, and immediately asked with displeasure, "What are you doing!"
Gan Yuan quickly wrapped the pill in the tissue and squeezed it in her hand. She rose to her feet and walked out of the sickroom.
Qian Xueying watched her leave, stunned and rooted to the spot.