When Spring Burns - Chapter 17

“Her legs can’t walk?” the old Chinese medicine practitioner asked.

Sheng Tingmian recalled He Jianxue’s condition: “No sensation below the knees, but I’m not sure what caused it.”

The old doctor: “Has she been to the hospital?”

Sheng Tingmian: “Yes, but I don’t know the details. It’s an elder sister I know, and I’m not very familiar with her leg condition.”

The old doctor: “Then have her come for a consultation first. I’ve encountered similar cases before.”

Hearing this, Sheng Tingmian felt hopeful. “Alright, I’ll tell my sister later.”

After getting the medicine, Sheng Tingmian followed her aunt back. Sheng Xiaoyun was worried the He family wouldn’t know how to properly brew the herbal medicine and suggested taking it back to prepare herself, then bringing it to the theater for Sheng Tingmian to drink.

But Sheng Tingmian thought this would trouble her aunt too much: “Auntie, I can brew it myself. If you prepare it at home and bring it to the theater, that’s too much trouble. Besides, the medicine loses its effectiveness when cold.”

Sheng Xiaoyun: “Are you sure you can brew it yourself?”

Sheng Tingmian: “Definitely.”

On the bus, Sheng Xiaoyun looked at her grown niece. “Alright then, you take it back to brew. Let me explain how to prepare it properly.”

Clutching the herbal medicine, Sheng Tingmian listened carefully. Soon they reached the intersection where she got off, bid farewell to her aunt, and headed toward the He residence.

Upon entering, she discovered He Jianxue wasn’t home. After asking around, she learned He Jianxue had gone out and wouldn’t return until evening.

Sheng Tingmian proceeded to brew the medicine herself, simmering it slowly over low heat. Soon, the rich aroma of herbs filled the entire kitchen.

When He Jianxue returned from the hospital after completing another treatment session, the doctor said there was almost no change compared to the previous session.

Entering the reception hall, He Jianxue caught the strong scent of herbal medicine. “Who’s in the kitchen?”

The servant replied: “It’s Miss Sheng. She’s brewing Chinese medicine.”

Remembering how Sheng Tingmian had called that afternoon saying she was going with her aunt to see a doctor, He Jianxue grew concerned. “Take me there.”

Arriving at the kitchen doorway, He Jianxue saw a slender, petite figure turning off the gas stove, putting on heat-resistant gloves, carefully grasping the handle of the clay pot, lifting it entirely, and pouring the brown medicinal decoction into a bowl.

Then removing the gloves, she cautiously picked up the bowl, about to turn and place it on the table.

“Sister?” Sheng Tingmian turned and spotted He Jianxue at the doorway. “You’re back?”

“Hmm.” He Jianxue glanced at the medicinal soup on the counter. “What’s the illness? A cold?”

Sheng Tingmian glanced at the assistant. Sensing her discomfort, He Jianxue dismissed the assistant, leaving just the two of them in the kitchen. Only then did Sheng Tingmian speak: “Nothing serious. Just worried about sleepwalking again after drinking.”

He Jianxue frowned: “Did the doctor say it’s serious?”

Sheng Tingmian shook her head: “Not really. He said it’s probably because of the alcohol, it won’t happen if I don’t drink. The doctor advised me not to drink too much in the future.”

He Jianxue thought of Sheng Tingmian’s drunken opera singing voice, wondering if these herbal doses might make it disappear…

“If it’s because of alcohol, that means there’s nothing wrong with your body. Why are you still taking medicine?”

Sheng Tingmian blew on the surface of the liquid: “The doctor said if I drink too much and start acting drunk, it’s actually a kind of mental disorder.”

“You don’t drink that much.”

“Better to prevent problems before they happen.”

“But…”

Seeing the medicine wasn’t too hot anymore, Sheng Tingmian took a sip and grimaced at the bitterness. “It’s so bitter, sister.”

He Jianxue pressed her red lips together: “Maybe you shouldn’t drink it then.”

Sheng Tingmian shook her head and refused, “No, I have to finish it. It took a lot of effort to brew.”

He Jianxue watched as she drank the entire bowl of medicinal soup.

“Finally finished.” Sheng Tingmian relaxed, and thinking of He Jianxue’s legs, she tentatively asked, “Sister, what did the doctor say about your legs?”

He Jianxue was still recalling the image of her drinking the medicinal soup with her head held high. “Same as before, no improvement.”

Sheng Tingmian mustered her courage and asked again, “Sister, would you like to try traditional Chinese medicine? The old Chinese medicine practitioner I visited today said he has treated leg ailments before. Should we find a day to go see him?”

He Jianxue stared at her intently. Although He Xiu and Sheng Tingmian looked different and had different personalities, they were surprisingly similar in their concern for her legs.

One suggested she undergo a course of treatment, while the other proposed seeing an old Chinese medicine practitioner.

Even their tones were equally cautious, filled with worry and a hint of hesitation, as if afraid of displeasing her.

“Will it be effective?”

Hearing this, Sheng Tingmian put down the bowl, visibly delighted, but suppressed her excitement the next second. “Sister, are you agreeing to go see him? I feel that doctor is very skilled. His whole family are doctors, and he has many certificates displayed. Let’s go check it out first. If it doesn’t work, we can always find another doctor.”

“Mm, let’s find a day to go.”

Sheng Tingmian immediately called her aunt to get the address of the old Chinese medicine practitioner and wrote it down. “Sister, do you want me to go with you, or will you go alone?”

He Jianxue said, “You come with me.”

Sheng Tingmian felt a heavy responsibility fall on her shoulders. She was going to take on her aunt’s role, caring for her sister just as her aunt had cared for her. “Okay, then let’s pick a day? When are you free next, sister? Let’s coordinate.”

As the young girl wrote down the address on the table, she tucked a strand of her sleek, dark hair behind her ear. Her earnest expression made it seem as if He Jianxue were truly her family. He Jianxue suddenly realized that being cared for like this felt even more precious than when she was healthy.

“The day after tomorrow.”

Sheng Tingmian recalled her schedule. “Perfect, I don’t have any scenes to shoot the day after tomorrow. Let’s make it then. Sister, please get ready that day. Shall we go at 9 a.m.?”

“Mm.”

…

On the day of the appointment with the old Chinese medicine practitioner, Sheng Tingmian woke up early, applied light makeup, and got into the car to accompany He Jianxue.

As she fastened her seatbelt, she glanced at the woman beside her, hoping this time would bring a turnaround.

“Sister, don’t be nervous,” Sheng Tingmian reassured her.

“…” He Jianxue noticed the crumpled address note in her hand. “It seems you’re the one who’s nervous.”

She had already come to terms with her condition. She had tried both Western and Chinese medicine, but after so many disappointments, she no longer held out hope.

If it weren’t for Sheng Tingmian’s suggestion, she would likely have given up treatment altogether after finishing her Western medicine course.

Sometimes, she believed she had to accept fate. She had gained too much, and heaven needed to take something back, like her legs, and like He Xiu…

Sheng Tingmian pretended to be calm. “Sister, I’m not nervous.”

He Jianxue didn’t call her out on it.

When they arrived at the old Chinese medicine practitioner’s clinic, Sheng Tingmian’s anxiety peaked. Soon, she would have to describe her sister’s condition to the doctor.

The three of them entered the clinic, but as soon as Sheng Tingmian stepped inside, she noticed the desk was empty. Puzzled, she walked further in and saw only the auntie who dispensed medicine.

“Auntie, is the old doctor not here?”

The woman looked at her. “The old doctor went on a business trip yesterday.”

Sheng Tingmian was taken aback. “He’s on a business trip? Did he say when he’ll be back?”

The woman replied, “It’ll be a month.”

“A… a month…” Hearing this, Sheng Tingmian was filled with regret. She had forgotten to make an appointment with the old doctor in advance, assuming he would always be at the clinic.

She never expected he would be away on business and wouldn’t return for a month.

Squatting down, Sheng Tingmian looked at He Jianxue with a face full of guilt. “Sister, I’m sorry. I forgot to make an appointment with the doctor in advance. He’s away on business and won’t be back for a month.”

“Sister, it’s all my fault. I didn’t handle this properly.”

If it had been her aunt, she would have called ahead to make an appointment. But Sheng Tingmian kept overlooking things, failing at everything she did.

“Sister… I’m sorry.” The more she spoke, the more she felt like crying.

He Jianxue found it somewhat amusing to see her eyes reddening. She reached out and held Sheng Tingmian’s hand, which was resting on her knee. “It’s fine. It’s just an unnecessary trip. Get up now. Let’s treat today as a chance to relax.”

Sheng Tingmian stood up in a daze. “You’re not angry?”

He Jianxue replied, “It’s not a big deal. Why would I be angry?”

Sheng Tingmian’s guilt eased slightly. She turned to the woman to schedule an appointment for after the old doctor’s return. Only after confirming the exact date did she feel more at ease.

Back in the car after leaving the clinic, Sheng Tingmian still felt bad about making He Jianxue take a pointless trip. An idea came to her. “Sister, as an apology, would you let me take you to a particularly beautiful place?”

He Jianxue was curious. “A beautiful place?”

Sheng Tingmian nodded. “Yes, it’s very beautiful. It’ll lift your spirits.”

Seeing the hope and apology in Sheng Tingmian’s beautiful eyes, He Jianxue couldn’t bring herself to refuse. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Alright.”

Sheng Tingmian gave directions to the assistant. About half an hour later, the car stopped in front of a sea of flowers.

Vast stretches of colorful wild poppies stretched from the foot of the mountain to its slopes, with a lake shimmering in the distance. They had left the city behind.

“Sister, these are wild poppies. Aren’t they beautiful?” Sheng Tingmian couldn’t resist spreading her arms and walking into the flower field.

The assistant pushed He Jianxue along a small path until they reached Sheng Tingmian. Gazing at the expanse of flowers, He Jianxue said, “They really are beautiful.”

Sheng Tingmian turned and saw He Jianxue gesture for the assistant to step back. With just the two of them in the vast sea of flowers, a thought crossed her mind. “Sister, would you like to hear a song?”

He Jianxue’s gaze settled on her. “An opera piece?”

“No,” Sheng Tingmian replied. She wanted to sing one of the songs she usually recorded.

“Then I’ll listen attentively,” He Jianxue said.

Accustomed to performing for audiences, Sheng Tingmian stood confidently in front of her, cleared her throat, and chose a particularly lovely song.

Her melodious voice rose, accompanied by the gentle breeze and the chirping of birds in the woods. He Jianxue watched the distant lake shimmer with ripples, the water swaying gently.

The person before her sang with the freedom and grace of a lark.

He Jianxue couldn’t help but think of He Xiu. If only He Xiu could be as confident and free as Sheng Tingmian.

Sheng Tingmian sang several songs in a row, picking flowers as she sang. By the time she finished, she held a bouquet of wild poppies in her hands.

She presented it to He Jianxue. “Sister, these are for you. I hope your leg recovers quickly.”

He Jianxue stared at the flowers held out to her, momentarily stunned. It had been a long, long time since she had received flowers. In the past, the only flowers she ever received were at celebratory banquets for successful projects, bought by subordinates to congratulate her.

Now, suddenly being given a bouquet, she felt a bit dazed.

But she couldn’t deny that receiving flowers from the young girl at this moment made her happy.

He Jianxue reached out to take them: “Is this the song you sang on social media?”

Sheng Tingmian widened her eyes: “How did you know?”

He Jianxue smiled without answering. How could she not know? When Sheng Tingmian had come to seek investment earlier, her assistant had already handed over all the girl’s personal information.

“I followed you and have listened to almost all of them. They’re very nice.”

Sheng Tingmian grew even more flustered, “Sister, you actually followed me?” Then she felt a bit shy and secretly pleased, “Actually, I just recorded them casually.”

“Even a casual recording sounds this good.” He Jianxue tried to move her wheelchair a bit, but unexpectedly, it rolled forward and tipped over.

Seeing this, Sheng Tingmian panicked and rushed over. She missed the wheelchair handles and instead ended up knocking over the person who had fallen. Lifting her head, her first concern was, “Sister, are you okay?”