I Can Bathe Myself!

Tang Qiao pocketed the cash and approached the bed, carrying the iodophor and gauze with her.

Jiang You contorted his expression but remained silent.

Upon setting down the supplies, Tang Qiao was about to extend her hand when Jiang You suddenly raised his head abruptly.

"Take off your clothes so I can bandage your wound," Tang Qiao instructed.

"No need," Jiang You replied coldly.

Tang Qiao's patience wore thin as she pinched her fingers, adopting an even colder tone. "If you don't cooperate, I'll tie you up."

Jiang You's forehead veins pulsed as he tried to buy time. "I'll take a shower first, and then you can bandage it."

Tang Qiao wasn't fooled. "You'll have your shower after I've bandaged your wound. No bandaging, no shower."

Jiang You understood her implication after a brief hesitation and reluctantly nodded. He began to remove his clothes. His shoulders were slender, but his skin was exceptionally pale, accentuating the severity of the bruises and injuries on his body.

Tang Qiao furrowed her brow and gently wiped Jiang You's wounds with a cotton swab soaked in iodophor. 

Jiang You cast his gaze downward, his tense jaw loosening slightly, though his demeanor remained chilly.

Upon completing the wound care, Tang Qiao inspected his legs and inquired, "How's your leg?"

"It's fine," Jiang You responded in a frigid tone.

Tang Qiao felt somewhat helpless as she glanced at his deformed and fractured leg. She couldn't deal with it at the moment as she lacked the necessary tools at home. She set aside the iodophor and gauze, fetched a clean bathrobe, and gestured toward Jiang You.

Jiang You's expression darkened at the prospect. "I can bathe myself."

When it came to showering, Jiang You proved to be exceptionally stubborn. He adamantly refused to let Tang Qiao help him despite her coaxing. Unable to persuade him, Tang Qiao reluctantly relented. "Fine, go ahead on your own. Just be cautious not to let the wound get wet. I'll wait outside." After saying that, she changed the bed sheets and found two loaves of bread, pouring a cup of hot water before leaving them there.

Tang Qiao then approached the mirror to inspect herself. Her dark green hair was haphazardly tied up, and her bangs were pushed aside, revealing her fair forehead. Her eyes were striking, and her lips held a faint curve. Perhaps due to prolonged absence from the sun, her skin retained fair. The once somber expression had dissipated, replaced by a calm and composed demeanor.

Tang Qiao's lips twitched, and the girl in the mirror mirrored the movement. Her clear, almond-shaped eyes sparkled like springwater—exquisite and vibrant. However, this wasn't her face. In her previous life, she had been the only daughter of the Tang Family. Despite her ailing health and numerous hardships, her neutral appearance commanded respect. When she didn't smile, she exuded an air of authority.

When she did, her smile was radiant and didn't diminish the Tang Family's heroic lineage. But now, this face was as beautiful as a porcelain vase when not smiling, and when she did, she exuded charm and allure.

Tang Qiao gazed at the reflection in the mirror, recalling the memories etched into her mind.

How could this face be deemed ugly by the people in Beijing? They even accused her of shamelessly seducing men. In her previous life, she had endured countless trials to survive, but the previous host, who had good health, was driven to suicide by these accusations. Tang Qiao was determined to settle this matter on behalf of the previous host!

The bathroom door creaked open, prompting Tang Qiao to turn around. She spotted Jiang You, clad in a bathrobe, leaning against the door, his face tense. The bathrobe was slightly oversized for him, given his petite stature, rendering him looking somewhat vulnerable.

Tang Qiao assisted him to sit on the bed and fetched a hairdryer. As she switched it on, Jiang You extended his hand and said, "I can do it myself." He had never used a hair dryer before, but circumstances had forced him to adapt. He knew that refusing would only lead to more nagging from this woman, so he decided to do it himself.

Tang Qiao observed Jiang You as he dried his hair and then put away the hairdryer. "The bed sheets have just been changed; they're clean. You can sleep here tonight. I'll take you to the hospital tomorrow."

"No," Jiang You began to refuse once more.

Tang Qiao's patience was wearing thin. She had an overwhelming urge to teach this stubborn kid a lesson. In her previous life, as a highly respected medical expert, Tang Qiao had always received deference from others. No one had ever dared to retort like Jiang You! If it weren't for her professional ethics as a doctor, she would have seriously considered tossing him out!

After a moment of contemplation, Tang Qiao decided to resort to appeasement. After all, children needed to be cajoled. "Please be good. You'll only recover if you go to the hospital," she softly implored.

Jiang You looked up and suddenly sneered.

"How do you know I've never been to a hospital?" He had been blind for two years and disabled for one. He had consulted numerous renowned doctors and visited hospitals both at home and abroad, but the results had been uniformly discouraging.

Tang Qiao pondered Jiang You's words and grew increasingly puzzled. "What do you mean? You went to the hospital, but your illness couldn't be cured?"