"I asked the doctor, she said you should be able to drink this," Nana explained.
Aside from the doctor, the people looking after Shiratori Midori's side included many researchers, but Nana couldn't really tell them apart, so she simply called them all doctors.
For Shiratori Midori, her sleep and awakening lasted only a few short days; however, in reality, it was a full ten-plus years.
Even with the help of the System, Shiratori Midori's digestive system had been heavily affected; previously, she had relied entirely on intravenous fluids to maintain her daily needs. Even after waking up, to be safe, she had truly consumed neither water nor rice.
A few days ago, the Researcher finally gave her permission to have something to eat.
However, looking at the watery white congee before her, Shiratori Midori had no appetite at all. She shifted her gaze toward the delicious-smelling corn and pork ribs soup beside it, only then did she feel a slight lift in her spirits.
She teased, "Nana's cooking has improved.. This soup smells delicious."
Nana pouted, "Sister.. it's been over ten years, of course I've improved."
“But this soup isn't my doing,” Nana said sincerely. “I recently met someone who is a great cook, I learned a few tricks from her! So, how is it? Pretty good, right?”
“Mm.” Although she didn't quite understand, Shiratori Midori still acted like her sister.
After all, the soup really was delicious.
It was just that..
Thinking about the fact that she could only have liquids for the next few days, Shiratori Midori felt a bit depressed.
The brown-haired girl sighed, rubbing her shriveled stomach. "And I was actually planning to lose weight.. Now I don't even have to bother with a weight loss plan."
She was raising her hands, planning to reach for the Pork ribs soup, but Nana interrupted her: "You can't drink it yet."
The little girl, who used to be so babyish, now acted quite authoritative when managing her sister's diet: "The soup is still very hot; you have to wait for it to cool down first."
Okay.. Midori pouted in frustration, looking somewhat aggrieved.
Nana couldn't hold her expression, seeing her sister's distressed appearance, for a moment, she actually felt like laughing.
She cleared her throat with a cough, just as she was about to speak, when she heard a somewhat familiar female voice from the doorway.
With a few polite knocks on the door, a female voice drifted from the doorway, neither loud nor soft—
Are you all preparing for lunch?
This Voice was pleasant to hear, clear and sweet, like a pure stream flowing through the mountains, with the occasional tinkling of spring water, bringing a sense of refreshment to the ears at first listen.
This Voice did not necessarily contain much True feelings, yet it seemed to hold a wonderful rhythm, as if nightingales were singing from between the lips, making the tone that entered the ears seem even more intoxicating.
Shiratori Midori couldn't help but feel a flicker of Curiosity.
What kind of person would the Voice belong to?
As she was speculating, the Ward door was pushed open.
Shiratori Midori felt her eyes light up.
..
She was truly a girl who could make one's eyes light up.
On a sunny afternoon, the drawn curtains allowed the sunlight to penetrate the house, bringing a brilliant warmth throughout the room.
The girl pushed the door open and entered.
She looked to be about twenty-three or twenty-four, tall and slender, with a narrow waist and long legs. Simply leaning against the door, she possessed an air of grace and beauty. Her movements were light and elegant, like a fawn in the forest or a swan upon a lake.
Her thick black hair was loosely tied into a semi-finished product of a bun, appearing as if she had carelessly pinned a golden leaf-shaped hairclip, with a Green diamond shimmering upon it.
Her blue eyes were as clear as autumn waters, shimmering like a startled swan, carrying an unconscious brightness, as if they were earthly gems or celestial stars; her bridge of the nose was high and delicate; her features possessed the depth of a mixed-race person, yet still retained some of the softness of an Asian beauty; her lip color was pale and her cheeks were translucent, as if she had just recovered from a serious illness, however, the way her eyes drifted carried a faint, lingering trace of a smile, which was enough to make one feel dizzy.
She curled her lips, revealing two small fangs that appeared like white pearls; the curve of her smile was like a falling feather, making one's heart itch with longing.
The Black-haired woman smiled, the whole House lit up.
“I am Sheila,” she said. “You are Shiratori Midori, right?”
Midori smiled at her, "Yes, I am."
Why is it 'Sheila'?" the girl on the hospital bed said softly, adding a gentle compliment, "You should be called 'Artemis' instead.
Sheila's eyes widened slightly.
She is so beautiful. Shiratori Midori thought: Even her surprised expression is beautiful.
So, the Artemis in Shiratori Midori's words flashed an even more beautiful smile.
The temperature today was slightly chilly. Sheila wore a plain black cashmere knit sweater of an unidentifiable brand; its fine stitching and subtle patterns traced her slender waist. The high collar accentuated her long, elegant neck, while the dark hue made the fair skin of the girl's neck appear even more radiant. Over it, she wore a khaki Max Mara trench coat, which tempered her striking beauty into something more composed and sophisticated.
However, in such an outfit, it was a bit too warm for the indoor constant temperature.
Sheila reached out to take off her coat, hung it casually on the coat rack, then walked toward the girl on the hospital bed.
She tilted her head slightly, her black hair cascading down her fair side profile, making her beauty even more captivating.
Sheila removed the gold palm leaf ornament from her hair, her slender fingers pinching a corner of the gold piece as she pinned it into Midori's hair.
The brown-haired girl showed a look of surprise.
Sheila took a step back, satisfied, said to her with a light smile, "I came empty-handed, without a Gift for seeing patients, so—"
“Nice to meet you.” The Black-haired woman tilted her head. “You are very beautiful too.”
..
While Shiratori Midori was sizing up Sheila, Sheila was also observing the girl before her with curiosity.
She looked to be under twenty, with delicate features and a pair of clear, bright Green eyes. Her eyebrows were black and fine, curving like a crescent moon at the horizon. The only flaw was that her complexion was a deathly pale, a deep sense of exhaustion was etched between her eyes.
With just one glance, one could clearly realize her weakness.
However, the girl's expression was bright, the smile on her lips carried a profound sense of vitality; even though her complexion was so pale and her lip color was so light, it was not enough to hide the vibrant aura about her.
Her eyes, when looking at Sheila, were filled with admiration and envy, yet without a trace of jealousy; her bright eyes held no shadow, merely expressing sincere wonder at another girl's beauty.
This was a girl who looked comfortable to be around.
Sheila remarked to herself, giving her a high score.
So, the Little Fairy responded with a beaming smile, "You are very beautiful too."
Nana: …………
Honestly, are you really mocking me?
To be fair, although Shiratori Midori is quite good-looking, she is merely pretty, falls far short of Sheila, whose beauty is as stunning as a celestial maiden.
As soon as the Little Fairy stood there, the entire room instantly brightened, the light falling upon her made it seem as if she had been adorned with a soft-focus filter. When Midori met her gaze, the difference between them was truly as vast as the difference between clouds and mud.
When these words came from Sheila's mouth, they couldn't help but carry a hint of sarcasm.
However, by heaven as my witness, Sheila really did not mean it sarcastically.
This Public Security elite possessed a face that could stun all living things, yet she was not a person driven by looks; she was not even particularly sensitive to the appearance of others—after all, nothing could compare to her own face.
When she praised Shiratori Midori, she was truly sincere.
..
Ten minutes later, the two were engaged in a pleasant conversation, as if they had known each other for a long time, leaving Little Nani sitting to the side looking completely bewildered.
The Black-haired female detective cleared her throat softly, but found that she was being completely ignored, so she could only pick up a cup of hot tea and watch the two of them conversing with longing eyes.
I've heard of you for a long time." Sheila tilted her head, leaning back in her Chair, appearing completely innocent: "Gin thinks very highly of you.
Her words were concise and clear, yet she got straight to the point.
This was, of course, within Shiratori Midori's expectations.
After all—
For a person like her, who had been "dead" for many years, what was worth Sheila's attention certainly wasn't her herself.
But rather, it was Gin.
She remained composed, responding simply, "Mm."
As she spoke, Shiratori Midori's hands were folded over her abdomen, she leaned against the headboard. Her smile was gentle and her tone was soft, making her look truly harmless.
This sensation of powerlessness, as if punching into cotton, caused Sheila to frown slightly, but the IC. PO elite did not reveal any unusual expression; instead, she said with a beaming smile, "How is your recovery going?"
She did not dwell too much on Gin's question, because this seemingly gentle girl before her was not someone who could be easily tricked into revealing information.
So Sheila simply couldn't be bothered to waste any more effort and instead turned her attention to Shiratori Midori's situation.
This undoubtedly greatly eased the atmosphere between the two.
The Brown-haired girl's reply was also much more sincere: "I'm doing okay.. the doctor said my recovery is going well."
Midori glanced vaguely at the various liquids on the bedside table and complained, "But now I can only have liquid food."
Sheila felt a sense of resonance: "I was the same way before! There was a period where I was on continuous IV drips, I could only have liquid food."
After a pause, the beautiful woman revealed a hint of playfulness, winking her right eye at Shiratori Midori, a shimmering light dancing within her cobalt blue eyes: "However, in a little while, I'll be able to eat normally again."
Once I recover from my illness, I'll make sure to visit several famous restaurants specifically.
Midori sighed: "I hope this 'period of time' is as short as possible."
“Don't worry too much.” Sheila raised her eyes, her tone half-comforting and half-inviting, “Once you've recovered from your illness, I'll treat you to a meal, how about that?”
Shiratori Midori was slightly taken aback, then said calmly, "Alright. I'll have to get well quickly then."
It had better be quick." Looking at the girl's listless appearance on the hospital bed, Sheila comforted her, "Even though you can only have liquids, it shouldn't be too unbearable—I think this pork ribs soup is made quite well.
This was made by Nana." Midori looked at her sister teasingly. "She has taken on a very powerful master lately.
“No, no, no!” Nana hurriedly waved her hands in denial, “I only learned a few little tricks from Amuro-san; I wouldn't call myself his disciple.”
The moment she heard a certain name, Sheila froze slightly, a flicker of surprise and confusion flashing through her eyes.
This change was fleeting; in just two or three seconds, she reined in her unusual reaction, acting as if nothing had happened.
However, none of this escaped Shiratori Midori's eyes. She remained composed, merely noting the abnormality to herself while maintaining a calm smile on her face.
"I should be heading out soon as well." Amidst the conversation, Sheila raised her hand to check her watch and took her leave.
“Ms. Shiratori—" She stood up and took a small step back, showing a hint of harmless politeness. "There is something I would like to ask a favor for."
Please tell Gin that Heine has something to discuss with her next week, ask her to meet at Poirot Cafe.
Actually, you can just tell him directly. I assume you have Zhenjun's contact information?" Shiratori Midori said slowly, but she still agreed to the request: "I will tell him.