Gu Yitong's emotions came and went quickly.
She soon extricated herself from her sadness and returned to her usual cheerful demeanor.
The two chatted until dinner time, with Gu Yitong doing most of the talking while Lu Yu listened and occasionally responded.
Shen Xuan, with Afu, brought the dishes to the table. Afu kept his head down, occasionally sneaking glances at Gu Yitong.
This time, Gu Yitong was much calmer. While Lu Yu and Shen Xuan weren't paying attention, she winked at Afu. Seeing Afu blush from her teasing, she felt secretly pleased.
Lu Yu did not stop Shen Xuan from entering the house for dinner this time. He was not familiar with Gu Yitong. Although he didn't mind such things, he felt more relaxed avoiding her. There was no need to be constantly on edge.
When it was time to leave, Gu Yitong repeatedly urged Lu Yu to come to the clinic early the next day. Her lingering, backward glances made Lu Yu both amused and exasperated.
Inside the house, Shen Xuan had already prepared the bedding and was sitting obediently by the bed, waiting for Lu Yu to return.
Upon seeing Lu Yu enter, he hurried forward to help her undress, diligently and perfectly fulfilling all the duties of a husband. He was exceedingly well-behaved.
"I can do it myself. You don't need to worry about such small matters. If you're tired, you can lie down first. You don't have to wait for me."
Lu Yu gently took his hand, which was reaching for her collar, and felt the slight coolness of his fingertips. She sighed inwardly. His body was so frail. If in the future... *cough cough*, why was she thinking such things?
Looking at her husband's clean and pure eyes, Lu Yu shook her head, casting aside those unruly thoughts. She turned away, concealing the unnatural expression on her face, and slowly removed her outer clothing.
His cool hand leaving the source of warmth felt slightly uncomfortable. For the past three days, he had grown accustomed to Lu Yu constantly holding his hand. Her hand's warmth was very comforting and always helped to dispel the chill.
Suppressing his disappointment, he obediently and quietly got into bed as his wife had instructed.
When Lu Yu regained her senses, she saw Shen Xuan lying on the bed, covered with a thin quilt. His eyes flickered, wanting to look at her but also showing a hint of shyness. He was truly pure and alluring, making her unable to resist.
The thoughts she had just dismissed suddenly surged back, making him incredibly tempting.
She quickly went to the table, poured a cup of cold tea, and drank it down, wanting to extinguish the fire in her heart.
Although she drank tea, it felt like a bucket of oil entering her stomach, and the fire in her heart burned even hotter, leaving her parched.
It was indeed a female-dominated society; women's desires in this regard were too strong.
Did her wife feel hot in the room?
No, she absolutely couldn't let her wife be uncomfortable.
Lu Yu stood by the table, still calming herself. She looked up and saw her little husband toddling over to the window. He reached out and pushed the window open. After shivering from the cool breeze outside, he scurried back to bed, pulling the quilt around himself.
???????
"What are you doing?" Lu Yu, with a head full of question marks, looked at her husband's series of actions and felt like laughing.
"Didn't wife feel hot?"
Shen Xuan was also confused. Her wife's face was so red, and she even drank cold tea. Wasn't she hot?
"Uh... yes, yes, I was a little hot, ah, yes, a little hot." What else could she say? Should she admit she was aroused by his appearance? No, no! How could she say that? It might scare him.
Saying this, she went to the window, took a few deep breaths of cold air, and closed the window.
"Why did you close the window? Weren't you hot?" Shen Xuan asked, confused.
Seeing her little husband shivering from the cold but still thinking of her, Lu Yu's heart warmed.
"Aren't you cold? You have poor health, don't catch a cold. I'm not hot anymore."
With that, she extinguished the candle and got into bed. Seeing Shen Xuan still sitting blankly on the bed, she reached out and patted the quilt beside her, signaling him to lie down.
"Stop standing there foolishly, come to bed."
Feeling the movement beside her, Shen Xuan nodded subconsciously. Then he realized the candle was out and she couldn't see him. He softly said "Mm" and lay down beside her with as little movement as possible.
Slowly turning to face the wall, he pulled the quilt over his cheeks, burying his face in the quilt, and soon fell asleep.
Listening to his steady breathing, Lu Yu got up, moved the quilt away from his face, and saw his profile in the moonlight.
His thick eyebrows, high nose, and small, pouting lips due to sleep. His delicate profile was flawless. He was so well-behaved.
At the hour of Chen the next day, the area in front of the clinic was crowded with people. Amidst the clamor, Gu Yitong's voice could be heard organizing the crowd.
Lu Yu was stunned by the scene. So many people? Was she that famous?
"Everyone, please be quiet! Our clinic's doctor will be here soon. Please don't rush!"
Seeing Lu Yu appear in front of the clinic, Gu Yitong seemed to have found a savior. "Excuse me, excuse me."
Pushing through the crowd to Lu Yu's side, she ignored Lu Yu's shocked gaze and dragged her back into the throng.
Passing through the crowd to the clinic entrance, Lu Yu was still trying to process the sight of these people.
Gu Yitong clapped her hands and gestured to the crowd.
"Everyone, quiet down, quiet down! Our clinic's doctor has arrived, she is - Lu Yu, Doctor Lu."
"I personally witnessed her treat a critically ill patient with lung disease. Her medical skills are absolutely top-notch. My humble little pharmacy has received everyone's support for so many years. Today, to thank everyone, all consultation fees are free, and the medicine prescribed is also free!"
This announcement caused a stir in the crowd. Some had heard of Lu Yu's previous reputation and didn't trust her. Upon hearing she was a doctor, they hesitated.
However, Gu Yitong had a good reputation over the years. Some people, out of respect for her, decided to try first. Others, whose family members were seriously ill, thought they might as well try their luck. But most people still didn't believe Lu Yu truly knew medicine and were hesitant.
Zhao Ran's clinic had already received this news. Gu Yitong had released the information the day before, stating that the pharmacy would be converted into a clinic and would be staffed by a highly skilled doctor capable of treating lung disease. Furthermore, the first day would be free of charge, attracting so many customers who came early to wait at the shop's entrance.
"Someone sent by Zhao Ran saw this situation and shouted into the crowd, 'Don't trust Lu Yu! Have you all forgotten what Lu Yu was like before? She never claimed to know medicine.'"
"'If there are any problems with the medicine she prescribes, can Lu Yu be responsible?'"
She deliberately misinterpreted Gu Yitong's intentions, aiming to disperse the crowd. If Lu Yu truly possessed the ability to treat lung disease, then the reputation their clinic had accumulated over the years would be given to Lu Yu for nothing.
"Yes, yes, it's better not to take the risk. Our illnesses aren't that serious."
"Let's go, sigh..."