“Take it slow,” Yun Shu thought. She knew that children with autism needed encouragement and patient companionship. Perhaps the parents had already tried every method and understood this as well as doctors.
Just like her—after being ill for so long, she had become knowledgeable about heart disease, understanding its conditions and causes thoroughly.
The woman held Yun Shu’s hand, deeply grateful once again. This frail little girl was not only beautiful but also kind-hearted, which made her affection for Yun Shu grow even more.
Ding! “Affection +1.”
Yun Shu smiled and told her not to mention it—helping even a little was enough.
After the woman left with her son, Yun Shu patted the system’s fur and said, “System, you did a good thing today.”
“Meow~ Hehe~” The system felt happy at her praise.
Outside the hospital, Yun Shu saw a convenience store and went inside to pick up some snacks, then carried them upstairs.
At the nurse station, she placed the bag of snacks on the counter and smiled. “Thank you for taking care of me. Please enjoy some snacks.”
“Oh my, that’s too kind. You should keep them for yourself,” the nurses said, genuinely happy to receive the treats. Seeing such a frail little girl with no one to care for her, they insisted she take them back.
“Dear nurses, you eat them. I brought them especially for you,” Yun Shu said, and in a flash, she ran back to her ward.
“Slow down! Don’t run!” a nurse called behind her.
Yun Shu slowed her pace, waved at them, and cheerfully returned to her room.
The nurses watched her go and said:
“Take care of her—she’s alone, it’s not easy for her.”
“Why would heaven let such a beautiful girl have this disease?”
Back in her ward, Yun Shu sat down, her mind filled with the constant ding sounds.
“System, check how many affection points I have.”
“Master, 50 affection points.”
“Fifty? I still need 450 more for the first drop of pure essence. That’s so far away.”
“No worries, Master. Look, there are so many people in the hospital. If you work hard, you’ll definitely get more affection points.”
Yun Shu adjusted her mindset. “You’re right. I have to work hard, get more people to like me, get the pure essence, and cure my illness.”
“Master, you’re the best!”
“I think you’re not really a medical system. You’re more like an encouragement system!” Yun Shu teased.
“Meow~”
When Shi Muchuan and his medical team returned from rounds, they passed by Yun Shu’s ward and saw the little girl talking to a tiny cat in her hand.
The little cat seemed to understand her. Every time she said something, it would meow, which made them instinctively shake their heads in amusement.
Those following him also looked over and saw the scene.
Sensing that someone was watching, Yun Shu lifted her head toward the doorway and saw a group of doctors in white coats looking at her with playful expressions.
Her pale face flushed slightly, becoming rosy.
She stood shyly by her bed, looking at them. Her gaze met Shi Muchuan’s, who was at the front of the group, and she quickly looked away.
Seeing the girl shy, Shi Muchuan didn’t linger and walked on with his team.
Yun Shu exhaled in relief. Being watched by so many doctors made her feel immense pressure.
At that moment, a middle-aged woman walked in. “Excuse me, is this Yun Shu’s ward?”
“Yes.”
“That’s right. I’m a hospital caregiver. The nurses told me you needed someone, so I came.”
The caregiver seemed cheerful and spoke with a local accent.
“Yes, Auntie. I can take care of myself, but I’ll be here for a while. I haven’t brought my personal items, so I just need your help to buy some necessities.”
“That’s easy. Write me a list of what you need, and I’ll get them for you.”
“Okay, thank you, Auntie!”
“Hey, no need to thank me!”
Yun Shu looked around her ward for paper and pen. Seeing this, the aunt said, “Wait a moment, I’ll get them for you.”
Soon, she returned briskly with paper and pen and handed them to Yun Shu.
Yun Shu placed the paper on the bedside table and started writing her shopping list.
After finishing, she gave it to the aunt, added her contact information, and the aunt left with the list.
Yun Shu lay back in bed to rest and opened WeChat on her phone. The messages from her foster parents were still from a week ago, with nothing new. Her brother’s messages were the same—no words of concern. She felt truly abandoned.
Outside the doctor’s office, patients waiting in line frequently glanced at Shi Muchuan’s consultation room.
They had come specifically because of his reputation for treating heart disease effectively. Surgeries he personally performed had never failed, making him a legend in Yunhai City Hospital.
Even if they had to wait, they were willing to see him.
“How have you been feeling recently?” Shi Muchuan asked, looking at a medical record.
“I feel chest tightness and shortness of breath. It’s a bit hard to breathe,” a young girl across from him replied.
“From the ultrasound, your heart shows no issues. It may just be caused by everyday stress,” he said.
“Director Shi, please check again. Are you sure my heart is fine? Maybe you should listen with your stethoscope,” she said, starting to unbutton her shirt.
Shi Muchuan frowned. “I said there’s nothing wrong. Do you doubt my medical skills?”
He spoke bluntly. Girls like her came in several times a day, taking up slots meant for genuinely sick patients. He found it frustrating and exhausting.
“Go back. Next patient.”
“Doctor Shi, can I add you on WeChat? I really like you. I even spent money on all these tests just to see you. Please let me add you—I won’t bother you.”
Shi Muchuan’s assistant quickly stood, went to the girl, and firmly took her by the arm, leading her out of the office. The movements were practiced, showing this happened often.
When Yun Shu had come earlier, she had witnessed this scene and stopped out of curiosity.
She had only intended to ask how many days she needed to stay in the hospital and maybe figure out a way to gain more affection points.
The girl refused to leave and stood in the corridor, with several people pointing at her. She seemed unbothered.
Curious, Yun Shu looked up at the electronic display on the wall to see whose office it was:
Chief Physician, Shi Muchuan.
Next to it was his photo, wearing a white coat over a white shirt with a tie.