Accompanying Doctor Hu back to the courtyard, no one hurried to leave. They stayed until the IV was finished and, after hearing him snoring, exchanged smiles.
The autumn night brought cooler temperatures, and the neighbors who usually lingered at the alleyway had long gone back to rest. Fearing to disturb the peaceful dreams of others, May 1st drove away from the other side.
After seeing off Zhu Ling and her seventh senior brother and his wife, the family of three—Zhang Guoqing, Zhou Jiao, and Little Treasure—entered their home only to find Zhou Xiaozheng and Miao Lishan still awake.
Zhou Jiao glanced at the clock again, confirming she hadn't misread the time, and complained, "Dad, Mom, why haven't you rested yet? Didn't I already call to say everything's fine?"
"Alright, alright, I'll go to sleep," Miao Lishan said, stifling a yawn with her hand, "Is the old gentleman all right?"
Zhou Jiao didn't know how to explain, so she shook her head, "Hard to say."
