Chapter 12: Leaving the Hospital
Qin Yongping drifted into a hazy sleep. In the early morning, sunlight streamed into the ward like scattered gold. During the rounds, the doctor gently woke him up. "Does the wound still hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore," Qin Yongping replied.
The doctor carefully examined the wound.
"No inflammation. Once the attending physician confirms it later, if there are no issues, you can be discharged and go home to recuperate." The doctor's words were as gentle as a spring breeze.
Far from having no inflammation, the wound had actually been meticulously stitched together with needle and thread. An ordinary person couldn't see the condition beneath, but if they could, it would surely have dropped the doctor's jaw in astonishment, for the flesh and blood inside had already healed completely as before...
"Alright, thank you!" A brilliant smile, like a spring flower in full bloom, blossomed across Qin Yongping's face.
Not long after, Zhou Qingqing walked into the ward carrying breakfast. "Yongping, you must be starving, right? I specially bought some breakfast, hurry up and eat while it's hot." Zhou Qingqing's voice was as sweet and melodious as an oriole issuing from a valley.
Deep emotion stirred within Qin Yongping's heart, surging endlessly like a vast and mighty ocean. He nodded heavily and said, "Alright, I'm really putting you to trouble. I'll go rinse my mouth first."
Hearing this, Zhou Qingqing hurriedly put down the breakfast. Like an arrow loosed from a bow, she prepared to fly over and support him, only to see that Qin Yongping had already stood up. With a face full of worry and burning anxiety, she said, "How can you be so reckless, getting out of bed by yourself without waiting for me to help you? What if you tear the wound open? That would be a huge mess."
Just at that moment, a police officer walked in with a smile on his face. Seeing Qin Yongping on the hospital bed and Zhou Qingqing by his side, he couldn't help teasing, "Well, well! The moment I come in to check on things this early morning, I get a face full of romance! You two youngsters are certainly affectionate."
Hearing this, the faces of Qin Yongping and Zhou Qingqing instantly turned crimson. They exchanged glances and then spoke almost simultaneously to explain, "You've misunderstood, Officer. We're just classmates." Having said that, both of them lowered their heads with a trace of embarrassment.
However, the police officer clearly didn't believe them. He smiled, shook his head, and pointing at the two of them, said, "Look at you two, even speaking in such perfect unison, and you still dare say you aren't a couple? Haha!" Faced with the officer's teasing, Qin Yongping and Zhou Qingqing appeared even more awkward, having no idea how to explain any further.
At that moment, the officer put away his smile and said to them earnestly, "Alright, jokes aside. Let me tell you some good news: we have successfully caught the suspect who harmed you. After interrogation, he confessed to everything truthfully. Furthermore, he expressed his willingness to voluntarily cover your medical expenses and nutritional compensation. Also, the doctor just examined you and said your body is recovering quite well. You can complete the discharge procedures today and go home to recuperate. Are you satisfied with the compensation, or do you have any other requests?"
Hearing this news, Qin Yongping and Zhou Qingqing were stunned at first, and then delighted expressions appeared on their faces. Zhou Qingqing said excitedly, "That's wonderful! The bad guy has finally been caught, so we can finally have peace of mind. But being able to leave the hospital this quickly is really quite surprising." Qin Yongping also nodded in agreement and said, "Indeed. Thank you, Officers, for your hard work. I'm very satisfied."
"Well, this bright light bulb should make its exit now. I'll take my leave first," the officer said, turning around with a jaunty air and walking away.
Hearing this, the faces of Qin Yongping and Zhou Qingqing turned as red as ripe apples in an instant. They exchanged a glance, then quickly turned their heads in opposite directions as if struck by electricity. Qin Yongping stammered, "Um, Qingqing, I'm really sorry for getting people to misunderstand you..."
"It's nothing, this isn't any big deal..." Zhou Qingqing said, keeping her head down, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzzing.
After finishing breakfast together, the two chatted like old friends who had been reunited after a long separation, as if they wanted to understand everything about each other.
"Ah! That's right, aren't you supposed to go tutor today?" Qin Yongping suddenly remembered something and asked loudly, like a sudden clap of thunder on a flat ground.
"So jumpy, you scared me! I thought your wound started hurting again... I already notified my employer that I have matters to attend to and can't make it today," Zhou Qingqing chided playfully.
"Well, that's just fantastic! Oh my, look at my big mouth—that's not what I meant at all, haha! I just meant it's wonderful as long as everything is properly sorted out! Hehehe..." Qin Yongping said, beaming with smiles while busily pulling his phone out of his pocket to call his master and report the situation here.
He quickly dialed his master's number. As soon as the call connected, he eagerly said, "Hello, Master? It's little Qin! Let me tell you, I ran into a bit of an unexpected situation yesterday, but it's all handled now and nothing serious. I just wanted to ask you for some leave to rest and recover for a bit." With that, he briefly recounted the course of events to his master.
Hearing this on the other end of the line, his master immediately panicked and asked with deep concern, "What? Such a big thing happened? How are you holding up? Is it serious? No, that won't do, I'm coming over to see you!" Hearing his master care for him so deeply, Qin Yongping felt a warm surge in his heart, but he quickly reassured him, "Master, I'm really fine. Don't come over. The doctor here said there's no problem at all, and I can finish the discharge procedures soon to go home and recuperate. Rest assured!"
After much persuasion, his master was finally dissuaded from coming in person. But right before hanging up, his master repeatedly urged Qin Yongping to rest well and not take things lightly. Qin Yongping promised over and over that he would take good care of himself and told his master not to worry too much. After finishing the call, Qin Yongping let out a long sigh of relief, his face still radiating a brilliant smile.
"Yongping, who on earth is this master of yours? Could you tell me the story between you two?" Zhou Qingqing asked with curiosity.
Qin Yongping nodded slightly, then recounted like a murmuring stream his fateful encounter with Elder Guo—much like Bo Le finding a thousand-li horse—along with the process of becoming his apprentice and his master's generous financial support.
After listening to Qin Yongping's experiences, Zhou Qingqing's admiration for Elder Guo was as endless and mighty as a surging river.
After two days of being constantly by each other's side, Zhou Qingqing's favorable impression of Qin Yongping felt like a breached dam, surging ever more violently, while the seeds of love began to sprout wildly in her heart, much like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
Near noon, sunlight streamed through the hospital windows onto the hallway floor, casting mottled patches of light and shadow. Holding a stack of documents and receipts, Qin Yongping walked alongside Zhou Qingqing toward the inpatient service desk to handle the discharge procedures.
When they reached the counter, the staff member skillfully operated the computer system, quickly completing all the paperwork. Just then, Qin Yongping inadvertently noticed that the fees shown on the bill had already been paid. He couldn't help looking at Zhou Qingqing in puzzlement.
Upon asking, he learned that it was actually Zhou Qingqing who had quietly paid the medical expenses in advance. Although the amount wasn't particularly large, Qin Yongping's heart was filled with deep gratitude.
"Thank you, Qingqing. I've put you to expense," Qin Yongping said sincerely, pulling his wallet from his pocket and returning the exact amount Zhou Qingqing had advanced.
Zhou Qingqing smiled as she took the money, waved her hand gently, and said, "Don't be so polite. Friends helping each other out is only natural."
After finishing the discharge procedures, the two walked out of the hospital gates together. Qin Yongping carefully tucked the receipt into his bag, preparing to take it to the police station for registration so he could smoothly claim the corresponding compensation later.