"What's going on?"
Hearing Hu Tao's boisterous shout, Baizhu emerged from behind the curtain. His eyes immediately landed on the human-shaped bundle tossed over Hu Tao's shoulder.
At the sight of Jiang Bai stubbornly covering his face, Baizhu struggled to suppress a smile, while the white snake on his shoulder didn't hold back at all, laughing openly.
"Hahaha! This is hilarious! How is he shameless enough to be carried around on Hu Tao's shoulder like that? Covering his face too—what good will that do?"
Jiang Bai dropped his hands, glaring murderously at the snake.
Did you think I wanted this? I couldn't exactly fight back!
"Director, put me down already!"
Hu Tao finally set Jiang Bai onto a chair, rolling her shoulders afterward.
He was actually pretty heavy.
She pointed at Jiang Bai's legs. "Baizhu, check out this guy's legs—he says they're broken."
"Let me see."
Jiang Bai dispelled the layer of Geo around his legs. Baizhu gently placed one of Jiang Bai's legs onto his knee, his pale fingers glowing faintly green as he carefully examined and pressed along the bones.
"They're fractured, but it looks like you've already received healing. Keep them stabilized with your Geo element and avoid moving around too much, and they'll heal with time. Still, with both legs fractured, you won't be walking normally anytime soon."
Baizhu carefully set Jiang Bai's leg back down and turned to Hu Tao, smiling pleasantly. "I recently received a shipment of the latest model wheelchairs. Perhaps Director Hu would be interested? I can give you a special friendship discount."
"How much?" Hu Tao instantly grew wary.
"Oh, not much, just 100,000 Mora." Baizhu's smile widened as an assistant wheeled out the item.
"We ordered these from Fontaine, custom-built for adults. The wheels use a special rubber—soft yet sturdy—providing a smooth ride even on rough terrain. This ensures maximum patient comfort, and better comfort promotes quicker recovery. The armrests have an innovative design, allowing patients to propel themselves easily, granting maximum freedom of movement."
Baizhu was like a seasoned salesman, enthusiastically listing off the wheelchair's virtues.
He stopped just short of claiming the wheelchair would grant immortality.
Hu Tao glanced over at Jiang Bai. "You want it?"
Jiang Bai nodded fervently, eyes pleading desperately.
Yes! Of course, yes! His stone wheelchair was murder on his backside!
"If you want it, then you pay for it yourself!" Hu Tao placed her hands on her hips, clearly unwilling to foot the bill.
Jiang Bai gaped in disbelief, his eyes wide with shock.
"What are you staring at? Injuries you sustained on a personal trip don't count as work-related!" Hu Tao justified herself confidently.
He'd been out playing around without returning for ages, barely even sending messages. She'd already been generous enough not to smack him upside the head for making her worry, and now he expected her to pay?
"Fine…" Jiang Bai pitifully pulled out his wallet.
She wouldn't hesitate to spend lavishly for Zhongli, yet wouldn't even buy a wheelchair for her injured subordinate.
I'm so jealous…
A small head peeked out from behind the door. Qiqi spotted Hu Tao and nearly bolted on instinct. Even though Hu Tao no longer wanted to send her off, the deeply ingrained fear wasn't easy to shake.
She stared at Jiang Bai blankly.
He looks familiar… but I don't remember…
Flipping open her notebook, Qiqi skimmed through the pages and quickly recognized him. She hurried over to Jiang Bai, tilting her head upward.
"You're injured. Qiqi will heal you."
Jiang Bai gently patted her head. "Thank you, Qiqi, but I've already been healed."
Healing wasn't omnipotent. Barbara had already treated him as best as possible—the rest required rest and time.
"Oh."
Qiqi looked up at his dirty face, then quietly ran into the back room, returning with a clean, damp towel.
"Here. For your face."
Jiang Bai accepted the towel gratefully, wiping away the dirt and dust. After cleaning himself up, he looked far less pathetic.
"Oh Qiqi, I'm injured too! Heal me!" Hu Tao cheerfully leaned over, pointing at a tiny pimple on her chin and blinking innocently.
Qiqi promptly turned her head away. "No."
"Come on, heal me~" Hu Tao popped her head in front of Qiqi from another angle, practically shoving it into her face.
Qiqi hid behind Baizhu, clinging tightly to his leg.
Baizhu chuckled gently. "If Director Hu needs treatment, I can provide it. However, there will be a fee—"
"Never mind, we're leaving! See you next time!"
Hu Tao quickly dumped Jiang Bai into the wheelchair and pushed him out the door at top speed.
When a long flight of stairs suddenly appeared before them, Jiang Bai clung desperately to the armrests, panic clear on his face. "Slow down, Director!"
Hu Tao stopped just short of the stairs, effortlessly lifting the wheelchair and sprinting down, wheels rattling rapidly against each step.
Jiang Bai's heart pounded furiously until they reached solid ground. Finally safe, he collapsed limply into the wheelchair.
He needed to heal up fast—otherwise, daily wheelchair rides from Hu Tao would end up killing him before his injuries did.
He slumped weakly. "Director, let's go back to Wangsheng Funeral Parlor. I miss my sweet flower garden…"
A sharp smack landed on the back of his head. Hu Tao grabbed his ear, smiling dangerously. "You miss your sweet flowers, huh? So you don't miss your director at all?"
"Ahhh—of course not! You're the one I missed most of all!" Jiang Bai quickly pleaded innocence.
"Liar!" Hu Tao crossed her arms, looking at the ghostly spirit hovering nearby. "Yuyu, do you believe him?"
The little ghost shook its head solemnly.
"See? Even a ghost doesn't believe you!" Hu Tao mocked, smugly victorious.
Jiang Bai spun his wheelchair frantically, fleeing as fast as he could.
Childe stood outside a jade gambling shop, attentively listening as Zhongli explained its intricacies. He suddenly spotted a familiar figure.
"Isn't that Director Hu?"
Zhongli turned, and sure enough, Hu Tao appeared—along with Jiang Bai, frantically spinning his wheelchair as if chased by ghosts.
Seeing Jiang Bai in a wheelchair, Zhongli's lips curved into an amused smile. "Interesting."
Childe waved cheerfully. "Director Hu!"
Spotting Zhongli and Childe, Hu Tao approached eagerly. "Oh! What a coincidence. Even our consultant is here. Are you two gambling stones? I'm feeling pretty lucky today—let me join in!"
Noticing Hu Tao suddenly shift her attention from him to a strikingly handsome stranger, even chatting familiarly, Jiang Bai instantly halted his wheelchair.
Sizing up Childe warily, he quickly assessed the stranger's threat level, then decisively rolled between them, blocking Childe's view of Hu Tao.
Pretending innocence, he turned curiously toward Zhongli. "Mr. Zhongli, what are you two doing here?"
Zhongli's eyes lingered briefly on Jiang Bai's rock-encased legs. "When did you return? What happened to your legs?"
"I just got back. Had a bit of an accident."
Jiang Bai glanced suspiciously at Childe. "And who might this gentleman be?"
---
T/N: OH?? IS HE JEALOUUUUUUUUUS
Um, hello everyone! The translator wanted me to let you know that they're really sorry for focusing too much on one translation and neglecting the others lately. To make up for it, they're giving you two extra chapters today and tomorrow! They hope you'll accept this as their sincere apology.
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