Chapter 57: The Night Watch

Once the nurse left, he truly could no longer hold it in. Hearing his daughter ask such a question, he had no choice but to give a reluctant "Mhm."

Liu Chuxue found it somewhat amusing. "Humans eat the five grains, so the cycle of life is natural. There is nothing to be ashamed of. I'll help you up. I checked earlier; there is a wooden frame inside that allows you to sit while you go. Just make do with it."

She helped him up and carried him to the wheelchair. Since no one used the restroom at night, it was convenient for Liu Chuxue. Only after settling him in did she step outside. "I'll wait for you out here. No rush, take your time. Call me when you're done; don't try to force yourself."

Fortunately, Liu's other leg was merely swollen, so he could stand temporarily. There was a wooden frame placed in the stall, and he could sit on it perfectly.

With the wheelchair, Liu's embarrassment was lessened; at least he didn't have to be carried back and forth by his daughter.

After all, there was no extra space in the ward. Some family members were still sitting on chairs in the corridor; although they were strangers, it would have been quite awkward if he had to be carried past them.

Though his injured leg still throbbed faintly from the surgery, his heavy heart had finally been eased. Now that he had also taken care of his bodily needs, Liu could finally sleep a peaceful sleep.

After settling her father, Liu Chuxue did not stay in the ward. Instead, she took a coarse porcelain bowl and headed toward the boiler room on the first floor.

She first filled half a bowl with boiling water, then went to a secluded spot behind the building. After ensuring she was safe, she entered her space directly.

When she had gone to wash dishes that evening, she had found an apple core in the sink and had tucked it into her space while her mother wasn't looking.

It was already April, and in the north, fruit was a rare sight, so her eyes had lit up upon seeing the core.

However, she had been so busy that she hadn't had the chance to enter her space to plant it.

Upon entering the space, she first went to the freshwater area to check on the fish, shrimp, and crabs she had collected.

It was strange; these freshwater species truly never crossed a single step into the seawater. She really didn't know how they managed it.

Bringing the collected core over, she went directly to the mountain behind the house. She extracted the seeds from the core and planted them one by one, then watered them with some pond water, waiting for them to take root and sprout.

Having finished her tasks, she thought of returning to check on her father and exited the space.

Fortunately, she had returned in time; Liu had been fighting off sleep just to wait for her. "Dad, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"I'm going to sleep now."

Chuxue felt a warmth in her heart. "Since you're still awake, you might as well get up and have a few sips of water. Just treat it like rinsing your mouth, then get a good sleep."

Liu instinctively wanted to refuse; after all, having spent the afternoon on an IV, he wasn't thirsty, nor did he want to cause his daughter trouble in the middle of the night.

But hearing his daughter say to treat it as a mouth rinse, he agreed.

She helped him sit up and held the bowl, which was diluted with pond water, to his lips.

Perhaps fearing he would have to get up during the night, Liu did not drink much.

Chuxue did not force him.

Whether it was because of the water mixed with pond water or because he was truly exhausted from the past few days of turmoil, Liu fell asleep in no time.

This time, Chuxue did not go looking for a place to enter her space again. Instead, she pushed the wheelchair against the wall and fell asleep right there.

The next day, Liu's mother arrived at the hospital before dawn. Seeing her daughter asleep in the wheelchair with her head tilted to one side, she hurriedly woke her. "Xue, wake up. Take your keys and go back to the guesthouse to catch up on sleep. I'll watch over your father."

Knowing her mother wouldn't leave once she arrived, Liu Chuxue did not argue. She took her keys and left the hospital.

Upon returning to the guesthouse, she entered her space directly. The time ratio between the space and the outside world was four to one, making it perfect for catching up on sleep.

On the other side, Chen Weiping avoided his family to pick up Hu Liru. They hitched a ride on a delivery truck from the textile factory and headed toward the city early in the morning.

(End of Chapter)