Ling Shi Valley Front, The Pharmacy
Bai Youan was sitting in the backyard, researching herbs.
Winter had passed, and he was no longer as busy.
He stared blankly at the herbs.
How long had it been since he last saw Song Qingchao?
Approximately forty-two days, nine hours, and one quarter.
His longing for her was like the herbs in his hands, impossible to sort out.
If he told Song Qingchao the truth, how would she react?
Would she resent him?
He had asked himself this question countless times, simulating every possible scenario tens of thousands of times in his mind.
But none of them gave him the right answer.
He thought that, given Chaochao's personality, she probably wouldn't forgive him.
Thinking this, Bai Youan sighed with a smile.
Zhong Chun, who was passing by, asked him, "Master, why do you always sigh these days?"
He was thick-skinned, but not blind.
When he was transferred here, he was still confused.
Hadn't Ying Zhong always been with his master?
Why would they call him?
Later, he learned that Ying Zhong had caused trouble and was sent away by his master.
He had said that boy was too mischievous; keeping him around would only lead to trouble, yet his master had always indulged him.
"What are you holding?"
Zhong Chun only then turned around.
He smiled brightly, "Winter jasmine."
He brought the flower closer to Bai Youan, inviting him to examine it closely, "Bring it out to bask in the sun."
"Winter jasmine?" Bai Youan frowned. "It's cold here; this flower won't survive."
"Will it?"
This time, it was Zhong Chun who questioned him.
"How will you know if you don't try?"
How will you know if you don't try?
Bai Youan repeated the words in his mind. He lacked Zhong Chun's courage.
"What if it dies after I try?"
"It depends on human effort. I will care for it meticulously. If it feels cold, I will raise the room temperature. If it gets sick, I will find a way to cure it. I won't just bring it here and abandon it. It will definitely survive."
Bai Youan was taken aback. "What if it doesn't want to live?"
"Why wouldn't it?" Zhong Chun frowned and thought seriously. "There's nothing that doesn't want to live. If it doesn't want to live, then find out the reason why it doesn't want to live, and then solve it. There's no problem that can't be solved. You can't just say it's impossible without even trying. You always have to try."
He seemed to have figured it out and then hugged the flower. "Besides, with such a good owner as me, it must feel very happy."
Bai Youan watched Zhong Chun, whose happiness seemed to bubble over.
"Alright, you can go now."
He watched Zhong Chun's retreating back. He was a rough man, with an arm as thick as a water bucket.
The winter jasmine flower, clutched in his embrace, looked like a hostage, yet Zhong Chun cherished it so.
Zhong Chun was the most considerate.
If Ying Zhong had been by his side these days, he might not have felt anything.
But Zhong Chun had still noticed his unease and was trying to persuade him in such a subtle way.
For a moment, Bai Youan didn't know whether to cry or laugh.
He, the master, was causing his subordinate to worry.
But Zhong Chun was right.
How would you know if it's possible if you don't try?
If there's a problem, go solve it. You can't keep hiding.
I wonder how Chaochao is...
She must be blaming him.
Realizing his mistake, Bai Youan immediately stood up and hurried out.
Behind him, Zhong Chun placed the winter jasmine in the most conspicuous spot.
"Grow well, and bloom beautifully."
Meanwhile, Bai Youan, who had just made up his mind, encountered Zuo Suiran as he stepped out.
"Hey, Mr. Bai, where are you rushing off to?"
Seeing Zuo Suiran, Bai Youan was already in a bad mood. If it weren't for him, how could he have been separated from Song Qingchao for so long?
Although he was blamed later.
But he had already recognized his mistake and was now rushing to rectify it, only for this stumbling block to appear again!
"General Zuo, what brings you here these past few days?"
He replied with annoyance.
Zuo Suiran was unperturbed. "Why haven't I seen the young man you brought with you recently?"
"He finished his work and went home," Bai Youan blurted out.
Speaking of which, he hadn't seen Zhou Zhengxi in quite some time.
The two of them had always been at odds, constantly bickering when together. After winter passed and they were no longer busy, he stopped paying attention to Zhou Zhengxi.
Zhou Zhengxi also didn't want to return.
It was better for them to be apart than to always be fighting.
But they would usually see each other. Where was he today?
Zuo Suiran didn't press further. "What about the person who paid the fee? Miss Song in Ling Shi Valley has fallen ill, and they say it's quite serious. What will you do without a随从 (suí cóng - attendant/follower)..."
Before he could finish, Bai Youan rushed into the pharmacy, grabbed his medicine chest, and left.
As he passed Zuo Suiran, he grabbed him along. "Talk as we walk."
"What's the rush!"
But Zuo Suiran also quickened his pace.
He wanted to keep Bai Youan here for a while longer. If the person inside were to die, would he still be able to keep Bai Youan?
"The attendant who reported said she is just ill, and Miss Song herself said she would be fine with proper rest. They are calling for Mr. Bai today just to be safe."
He actually meant this to tell Bai Youan not to be so anxious.
But how could Bai Youan not be anxious?
If he had thought of this earlier, Chaochao wouldn't have had to suffer this.
If he had gone to her earlier and examined her pulse more often, Chaochao wouldn't have fallen ill. It was all his fault!
"Hurry up!"
Zuo Suiran had no choice but to run along, shooing away the surrounding soldiers as he ran, telling them to get out of the way.
Thus, they reached the northwest of Ling Shi Valley without any obstruction.
However, they were unexpectedly stopped by Zhou Yi.
"What are you here for?"
Zhou Yi only knew of Bai Youan. He hadn't seen him for a month and didn't know what had happened between him and his master. But his master had instructed that no one was to enter, so even if this person was Bai Youan, it was still not allowed!
"I heard Miss Song is ill and was worried, so I came to take a look."
He spoke tactfully, but if it weren't for Zuo Suiran being there, he would have told Zhou Yi to get lost.
"No, Master said she doesn't want to see anyone!"
"Not even me?"
Zhou Yi looked Bai Youan up and down, mimicking Zhou Ri, and stubbornly said, "Master said, especially Bai Youan, she will not see!"