Having polished off her al, Yu Xiao spontaneously decided to browse through the mall, figuring she might as well utilise her points on sothing worthwhile. Glancing at her wrist for the ti, she widened her eyes and burst out, “Quick, check this out!”
Zhou Xiao Zhen, still grappling with post-al grogginess, and Zhao Lan, currently caught in the shower, inquired, “What’s up?”
“Look at the ti.” Yu Xiao extended her wrist. “I distinctly rember having more than 29 days left on the clock before we kicked off the treatnt. But we wasted so days at St. Elizabeth. Yet now, I still have over 29 days left.”
“No way…” Zhou Xiao Zhen quickly looked at her own wrist. “ too. Ti has stopped. What gives?”
After a mont of pondering, Yu Xiao proposed, “Maybe during the treatnt, our clock pauses, or ti works differently in the treatnt zone.”
“That’s nuts!” Zhou Xiao Zhen was pumped. “So, if we keep getting treated non-stop, does that an we’ll live forever?”
Pausing for effect, Yu Xiao shot back, “Do you really want to live forever in a place like that?”
Reflecting on their stay at St. Elizabeth, Zhou Xiao Zhen responded earnestly, “I’d rather die.”
Yu Xiao tugged at her collar, fatigue setting in. Night was creeping in, and all she wanted was a nice shower and a comfy bed.
“Well, that’s good news, right?” Yu Xiao leaned against the bedside, talking nonchalantly. “No worries about the clock running out while we’re locked out of the store during treatnt, and then we’re toast.”
“True,” Zhou Xiao Zhen perked up instantly, brimming with enthusiasm. “So, when do we sign up for the next round?”
“…Let’s chill for a couple of days,” Yu Xiao smiled, amused. They were all fighting cancer, but she was so lively. “I really need so ti to rest,” she moved a bit. “And I haven’t made the talismans we need for the next session.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen felt sorry for Yu Xiao’s trouble.. Smiley had indeed gone all out this ti. Successfully breaking free from St. Elizabeth, she could be deed a trendsetter. As the follower, Zhou Xiao Zhen decided to be nice and not push for the next session.
Feeling remorseful, she decided to share her favourite spicy snacks with Smiley.
While rummaging through her bag, Zhao Lan erged from the bathroom, enveloped in fragrant steam. “Precious, what are you searching for?”
“Spicy snacks for Smiley,” Zhou Xiao Zhen replied, her focus on the quest.
“But…” Zhao Lan appeared perplexed, casting a glance toward the innermost bed. “Smiley is already out like a light.”
Zhou Xiao Zhen turned her head in disbelief, emitting a soft “Hmm?”.
In the farthest bed, Yu Xiao lay quietly, with a high pillow under her head. Her face was calm, her breath was even, and she was in sync with the gentle sound of birds singing outside the window – a picture of perfect peace.
“…”
Zhou Xiao Zhen put her right hand on her flat chest. “I really need to get used to it.”
*
*
Having surrendered to the early embrace of sleep, Yu Xiao stirred in the velvety embrace of the night’s profound darkness. In the room, Zhou Xiao Zhen and Zhao Lan slumbered peacefully, their rhythmic breaths a testant to their deep sleep.
Peering at her phone, Yu Xiao noted the ti – a re two in the morning. A sudden thirst overca her, and she silently slipped out of bed, a pang of discomfort lingering for having skipped a shower before the sweet descent into slumber.
As she treaded toward the water dispenser, a peculiar sound disrupted the room’s silence.
The silence of the room was interrupted by an eerie sound, like nails scratching at the door. Her spine stiffened, and with attentive ears, she tried to figure out the source of the noise.
“Drip, drip…”
The disconcerting rhythm persisted, weaving through the room. Could it be the ghost nurse, diligently executing her nocturnal rounds?
Ever since the night the ghost caught a lightning bolt, the place had settled into an eerie calm. A talisman against the supernatural dangled from the doorknob, ensuring peace and quiet. Yu Xiao had figured the roaming ghost had simply given up, passing by their ward like it was old news.
Cup in hand, she lingered in the shadows, the stillness undisturbed by any spectral spectacles. The talisman seed effective, holding the ghostly patrols at bay.
Embracing newfound comfort, she savoured a sip of water and plucked a fresh set of clothes from the cabinet, wending her way to the bathroom.
Warm water cascaded from head to toe, and Yu Xiao sighed in bliss. Post a heavenly hot bath, as she geared up for a hair-drying session, a realisation struck – Misty and Precious were deep in dreamland, and the whirr of a hairdryer wasn’t exactly a lullaby, making it a big no-no.
Thus, she bundled her wet locks in a towel, a task more vexing than expected. Fumbling in the dimness, the towel refused to cooperate. If only she had eyes on her back; the hair-wrangling wouldn’t be such a struggle.
Just as this thought crossed her mind, a hand appeared, grabbing the edge of the towel and deftly securing her unruly hair.
“Thanks…” Yu Xiao exhaled, a burden lifted from her shoulders.
Yet, in the next heartbeat, her entire body tensed. Whirling around, she confronted a long hand extending from the showerhead, reaching out behind her.
“Bloody hell! (卧槽)” Yu Xiao shuddered. A sneaky ghost had managed to sneak into the bathroom, attempting to peek at her mid-bath!
Yu Xiao hurriedly dashed out of the bathroom, grabbing the protective charm from under her pillow before rushing back in. But to her surprise, the bathroom was empty, with only steam slowly dissipating in the air. The mysterious hand that had reached out seed to have vanished.
“Gone so soon?” Yu Xiao pondered, sensing sothing off. Redirecting her gaze to the mirror, she made a startling discovery!
Facing the mirror, talisman in hand, Yu Xiao discovered a set of twisted characters freshly written on the reflective surface.
Na: Er Ya (二丫: “Second Girl/Branch”).
Gender: Female.
Forr Position: Third Hospital’s inpatient departnt; Current Position: Sixth Hospital’s water room.
Yu Xiao stood in confusion, a question mark forming above her head. What did all of this an? Why would a ghost’s hand appear in the dead of night just to write this information on the mirror?
The na Er Ya only brought about more questions. What was her story? Was it loneliness that drove her to co here in the middle of the night?
Exiting the bathroom, her mind was filled with unsolved mysteries. Thankfully, she wasn’t one to get stuck in trivialities; when she couldn’t find a solution, she gracefully let go. After leaving the bathroom, she attached a talisman to the door to prevent any accidents while sleeping.
Outside, in the vastness, she heard the sound of rustling once again.
Crouching by the entrance, the light from her phone cut through the darkness through the gap under the door, uncertain of the ghostly custodian’s persistence. Would it continue to cause disturbances all night long?
Were there no other areas it could disturb?
Pondering this, she heard the scratching sound cease.
She breathed a sigh of relief, believing that the ghostly presence had finally left. Perhaps, she thought, the wandering ghost had so rationale. But just as she started to feel a sense of calm, a faint rustling echoed from beyond the door.
There was a pause, and then a white object, either cloth or paper, appeared through the gap.
“…” Unable to speak, Yu Xiao stood there with her mouth open, her mind filled with confusion.
After the object was delivered, the outside fell into a tense silence. After hesitating, curiosity compelled Yu Xiao to take the mysterious offering.
Upon examination, she unfolded the fabric to reveal a white surface, its texture reminding her of a stiff lab coat. Flipping it over, she saw a blood-red stain.
Yu Xiao scrutinised the paper carefully, its surface marred by blood stains resembling an unholy symbol.
Na: Can’t rember.
Gender: F
Previous Position: Guardian of the n’s restroom at the Fifth Hospital, Currently working in the inpatient departnt at the Sixth Hospital.
“…”
Yu Xiao was montarily speechless. She felt that sothing must have gone wrong sowhere. That’s why the ghosts tonight were all so strange, each one eagerly introducing themselves to her.
Perplexed, she hesitated, and from the crack in the door, a strange sound echoed. It sounded like sothing pushing against the door, but whatever was trying to pass through was too large for the narrow gap.
Crouched in thought, Yu Xiao issued a threat, “Keep trying, and I will unleash a lightning storm upon you!”
Profound silence descended outside, leaving nothing but quietness behind.
*
*
The sun cast its golden hues across the room, gently rousing Zhou Xiao Zhen from her slumber. With a lazy stretch, she turned her gaze towards Yu Xiao. However, as her eyes t Yu Xiao’s, she was taken aback and exclaid, “What on earth did I just witness?”
The sudden outburst startled Zhao Lan awake, and she sat up with an air of alertness, asking, “What’s going on? What’s the matter?!”
Still surprised, Zhou Xiao Zhen gestured towards the already awake Yu Xiao. “Look at Smiley, up and about so early—it’s quite astounding.”
“…”
Unfazed by the comnt, Yu Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, her brow furrowed, clutching a piece of cloth in her hands.
Zhou Xiao Zhen couldn’t contain her curiosity. “What’s that red ghost symbol on there?” she asked, her eyes filled with interest. “Is it a new talisman you’ve created?”
Lost in thought, Yu Xiao took a mont before responding, “Last night, a ghost visited our ward.”
“Damn!” Zhou Xiao Zhen exclaid, jumping up. “Where’s the ghost? Why didn’t you wake us?”
Sensing that there was more to the story than just a ghost’s visit, Zhao Lan asked, “Smiley, what’s going on? We have talismans on the door. Ghosts shouldn’t be able to co in during the rounds.”
“The ghost didn’t get in,” Yu Xiao explained, raising the cloth, “but she slipped this in…”
As the story unfolded, Yu Xiao expressed her confusion, pondering, “What does this an? Is it a hidden threat, a ssage like ‘I will murder you, know my na’?”
“I think so too,” Zhou Xiao Zhen added, her tone filled with agreent. “It’s too audacious. Smiley, they’re underestimating you, not taking you seriously at all.”
Yu Xiao was seething with anger. “Fine, I’ll dedicate my entire day to inscribing talismans. I’ll smother the entire ward with these charms. Let’s see how those troublemakers react then!”
Zhao Lan hesitated briefly before offering a different perspective. “Um, I have an alternative point of view.”
“What?” snapped Yu Xiao.
Unfurling a piece of cloth, Zhao Lan began to explain, “The content on this cloth, as well as the content on the mirror, bears an uncanny resemblance to sothing I used to do frequently.”
“What?” Yu Xiao scratched her head in confusion.
Zhao Lan elaborated, “Job hunting, sending out resus.”
…
Yu Xiao’s mind buzzed. “Ghosts sending out resus on my behalf?”
Zhou Xiao Zhen’s mind echoed with the sa astonishnt. “Ghosts sending out resus for Smiley?”
“Yes,” Zhao Lan reminded them. “Don’t forget, you’re now the Dean of St. Elizabeth’s.”
…
Unable to resist, Yu Xiao found herself scratching her head. No wonder Ghost Er Ya had assisted her in tying her hair last night…
“Wow,” Zhou Xiao Zhen remarked with envy, gazing at Yu Xiao. “Smiley is now a property owner, no longer in the sa class as .”
Zhao Lan wore a puzzled expression. “Which class do you belong to?”
Zhou Xiao Zhe responded casually, rubbing her eyes and glancing at Yu Xiao. “I’m part of the working class. Smiley here, on the other hand, is pure bourgeoisie.”
“…”
Yu Xiao’s eye twitched as she threw a white cloth into the trash. Dealing with ghosts was not what she had planned for.
“Ding dong!”
At exactly eight in the morning, soft music filled the air, and the curtains in the ward gracefully opened. Outside the windows, birds chirped happily, flying around in joyful patterns, purposefully avoiding the ward.
The familiar voice of a woman echoed once again.
“A beautiful day begins now~ Here’s the morning news from the hospital.”
“Yesterday, a patient nad ‘Nickna Hassle’ at the Sixth Hospital raised concerns that the rounds-checking ghost had violated hospital regulations.. After investigation, it was confird that the rounds-checking ghost, Cui Lan (翠兰: Green jade Orchid), had indeed engaged in improper conduct and has been referred to the Sixth Hospital’s dical dispute office for resolution…”
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