CHAPTER 62: CHAPTER 62: NICOTINE ADDICTION

Actually, setting up the Soul Summoning Array doesn’t require that much time.

It can be done in two hours.

Bai Su concealed this truth.

He wanted to spend more time with the youth. Before now, he could only see her once a weekend, which was too short, not even enough time for a lengthy conversation.

Rong Zhi lowered her eyes, turning the Buddha Hand Bracelet on her wrist. She had worn this bracelet for a long time, often polishing it, and now its color was much better than when He Songzhi first gave it to her.

The bracelet emanated a faint scent of wood and dense fragrance, subtle and serene.

"Alright," she spoke softly after a long while, "but I want to be present."

Bai Su chuckled lightly, "No problem."

While waiting for the tools to arrive, Rong Zhi kept staring at the space above the sickbed, rubbing the Star Stone. Even though it had already lost its effectiveness, she persisted in focusing on it.

Bai Su kept watching her for as long as she held this posture.

Until Rong Zhi’s long eyelashes quivered slightly, he asked, "Tired? Do you want to take a nap?"

Rong Zhi moved her stiff neck and countered, "How high are your chances?"

She was actually quite scared.

Concerning He Songzhi’s matter, no matter how confident she was, deep down, she was anxious.

Afraid of the other getting hurt, even more afraid that the other might just never wake up.

She dared not imagine that scenario.

Suddenly feeling a bit agitated, Rong Zhi reached into her pocket, only to find it empty, remembering the last candy she had given to Rong Fengmian.

Pressing her lips together, she turned her eyes to Bai Su, "Do you have cigarettes with you?"

Bai Su was startled, "Huh?"

The little brother smokes?

Seeing Rong Zhi impatiently pulling at her collar, with the sweatshirt loose, exposing cold white skin and a delicate collarbone unintentionally, Bai Su’s eyes darkened. He pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed her the lighter as well.

Rong Zhi caught it precisely, "Nice lighter."

She casually praised it, then expertly snapped open the cigarette pack, shook out a cigarette, and lit it with a ’click’.

Her actions were clean and efficient, so skilled that it seemed she smoked often.

Rong Zhi stood up and walked to the balcony.

Bai Su followed her.

The balcony door closed, and the cold wind of autumn blew against both, messing up their hair.

Bai Su squinted, saying meaningfully, "Isn’t your hair a bit long?"

"Oh," Rong Zhi’s voice was vague, taking a drag of the cigarette, exhaling slowly, the smoke dispersed by the wind. She tousled her hair haphazardly, "Yeah, I’ll get it cut when I have time."

She was quite lazy regarding these trivial matters. Before, Fu Yaoyao would remind her; otherwise, she wouldn’t remember.

Bai Su responded with a hum.

The cigarette finished quickly, and Rong Zhi lit another one.

She smoked vigorously, typically finishing a cigarette every two or three minutes, aggressive and relentless, yet her expression remained calm with no sign of discomfort.

In no time, the pack was left with only two cigarettes. Rong Zhi crushed the cigarette butt, intending to smoke more when a cool hand pressed onto her wrist.

"Stop smoking, it’s bad for your health." Bai Su withdraws his hand, frowning, "I’ll go buy you something to eat, hang in there for now."

The youth might have originally wanted to borrow cigarettes to dispel her woes, but afterward, she craved more and smoked increasingly hard.

She smoked harsher than he did.

Judging by this, her smoking history was definitely not short.

"Sorry," Rong Zhi closed the cigarette pack and returned the lighter, "I’ll buy you a new pack another day."

Bai Su put away the lighter still warm from the youth’s grip, asking, "Have you smoked before?"

Rong Zhi: "Mm, quit."

Forced to quit.

Her voice was a bit dry and hoarse, usually quite pleasant, now as rough as sandpaper scraping against glass, unsettling to hear.

Bai Su pursed his lips silently, cleaned up the cigarette butts from the balcony, and then turned back into the ward to pour water.

"Wet your throat first," he said.

Rong Zhi accepted the cup with thanks and took a sip, the water was warm, relieving her dry throat.

"Ring, ring, ring—"

The phone’s ringing broke the silence in the room.

Bai Su pulled out his phone and answered, "Are you here? Come straight up; we’re in the ward."

Rong Zhi: "Jiang Gujun?"

"Yeah, he’s here. It’s too cold here, let’s go inside and wait." Bai Su glanced at the youth still in a thin sweatshirt and reminded her.

Rong Zhi responded blandly.

Jiang Gujun arrived quickly, carrying a black backpack. After entering, he rummaged through his pocket and pulled out a handful of candy, "Mr. Su, here’s the candy you asked me to bring."

Bai Su pointed to Rong Zhi, "Give it to her."

He took the backpack and walked to the side to prepare the array.

Jiang Gujun handed the candy to Rong Zhi, "Mr. Rong likes candy. By the way, this candy is the one you gave me. I tried a few pieces, they’re pretty delicious. Where did you buy them, Mr. Rong? I want to buy some to give to friends."

Rong Zhi picked a mint-flavored one, tore off the packaging, and bit into it, clearing her mind. She mumbled, "I made them myself, they’re not sold outside."

Jiang Gujun: "Huh? Mr. Rong can make candy too? Can I buy them from you? How much per pound?"

"Sure," Rong Zhi raised her brow, "What flavor do you want? I’ll send you a price list."

Then the two exchanged WeChat contacts, and Jiang Gujun received the price list and opened it.

Then he reacted, puzzled: "Wait, what kind of candy is this? Selling for 888 each?! Are you sure you didn’t set the wrong price?"

Rong Zhi drawled slowly, "The grape-flavored one? It contains Wisteria Root, which is good for health."

Jiang Gujun didn’t understand Chinese herbs, and upon hearing this, he was completely baffled.

Bai Su raised his head from arranging the Star Stone, glanced at the pile of candy, and asked with a raised eyebrow, "Is it medicine?"

Rong Zhi: "Yes, it can be used for emergency relief when dissolved."

Bai Su was somewhat surprised, "You understand medicine?"

Rong Zhi still nodded, her voice faint, "A little bit."

That would explain it.

Sometimes he would indulge in a couple and feel some changes in his body, although subtle, he could still perceive them.

Jiang Gujun listened to their exchanges, becoming even more baffled.

Bai Su gave him a somewhat disdainful look, "Don’t you remember? Last year, your uncle spent fifty thousand to buy a plant called Wisteria Root."

Uncle Jiang studied Chinese medicine, always loved researching new prescriptions and herbs, and his passion for Chinese medicine was deep enough to disregard meals and sleep. Last year, he spent a high price on a plant said to have remarkable efficacy, which often became a topic of conversation at the Jiang Family meals.

Jiang Gujun patted his forehead, "Was it really that expensive? Turns out I’m not knowledgeable enough."

Then he remembered something, exclaiming, "In that case, Mr. Rong giving you a box of candy was quite generous."

Jiang Gujun previously thought Rong Zhi didn’t have money to buy gifts and just shoved something at them randomly, not expecting she’d give out candy that could be used as medicine.

Although he was somewhat skeptical, but judging by Rong Zhi’s appearance, not likely to lie, Jiang Gujun chose to somewhat believe it.

Setting up the Soul Summoning Array needed time, Rong Zhi was already feeling sleepy, and now in such a quiet atmosphere, she felt like napping.

Lazily supporting her chin, her eyes half-closed, her expression filled with weariness.

Bai Su raised his starry eyes, deep and enchanting, blinked and said gently, "If you’re sleepy, go ahead and rest, the array is already set up. Now all that’s left is to wait. I’ll wake you when there’s any movement."

On hearing this, Rong Zhi mumbled from her throat, then folded her arms, curled up in the plush chair, and fell asleep.

It wasn’t that her alertness was low, if Bai Su genuinely wanted to cause trouble, he would’ve done so already. Furthermore, though asleep, her senses remained highly sensitive.

Seeing the youth asleep, Jiang Gujun murmured, "Mr. Su, if he sleeps like this, won’t he catch a cold?"