Work Text:
It's been a few days since Liyue got a sunny day. It's been raining almost without any interruption, like in the Sumeru's jungle. Anyone going outside is guaranteed to get wet. And Qiqi is about to learn it. After sorting the herbs collected the previous days, she noticed that the pharmacy needed some Glaze Lilies. From what Qiqi can read from her notebook, those aren't far away. So, she takes a small piece of paper and write like she can "Qiqi is coming back soon. Need Glaze Lilies"
"Perfect", she says quietly, before putting it on the table of the living room. Then, with nothing but a small bag and her notebook where are noted the usual spots for every flowers, noted by Qiqi despite Baizhu asking for her not to go, as it can be dangerous, and she could get lost. But Baizhu is probably busy, and Qiqi wants to help
The zombie gets down, not noticing the heavy rain that is falling on her. For Qiqi, rain is just an inconvenience for her clothes because they become sticky, but that's not urgent for now. What matters most is finding those Glaze Lilies.
Qiqi runs in the city, finding at usual spots the flowers, starting to collect them and put them in the bag. They needs to be dried out later, but for now, let's at least collect the herbs
"I've got... Um... 10 Glaze Lilies... I have to continue". The zombie is walking further and further away from the Bubu pharmacy, still in her quest of finding herbs to refill the stock. Some Milelliths, curious about this, asks to Qiqi why is she outside by this weather, she simply answers every time that she needs something really quick
With her small hands, she was collecting herbs near the southern entrance of the city, until she hears a familiar voice far away:
-Qiqi... I finally found you, says Baizhu, exhausted but reassured
-Oh. Doctor Baizhu. Why are you outside?
Her caretaker is at a few meters, with an umbrella in his hand. He is catching his breath for a second, and walks towards the zombie :
-I... I have read your note and...
-Baizzzzhu insssisssted to sssearch you by himsssself inssstead of asssking to Gui or the ssssoldierss, hiss Changsheng, while looking at Baizhu with an exasperated look
-But... Qiqi was just gathering Glaze Lilies. Glaze Lilies are not far
-Yes, but I don't want you to gather herbs alone. You could get lost, or be injured. And I don't want you to be hurt... Especially when it rains
-Qiqi is sorry...
-It's alright, smiles Baizhu, taking her in his arms, Are you ready to go back home ?
-Yes, doctor Baizhu
Baizhu holds Qiqi's hand while they walks to the pharmacy. The rain continues, but under the umbrella, the rain doesn't seem to be a problem. They walk peacefully, Qiqi makes sure to not lost any herbs on the road. Once they go back home, Baizhu folds the umbrella, and looks at Qiqi :
-Put your bag in the back shop, and put the herbs on the dryer with Gui. I'll bring you dry clothes after my consultation
-Got it. Drying herbs with Gui
Baizhu kisses Qiqi on her head before he goes to the examination room. The zombie goes in the back shop, asking to Herbalist Gui with a shy voice :
-Herbalist Gui...
-Oh, hi Qiqi, waves the pharmacist, Do you need anything?
-Qiqi needs to put Glaze Lilies on the dryer, and Baizhu wondered if you could help Qiqi
-Of course ! I'm joining you
Qiqi puts a container at the bottom of the dryer, while Gui puts the herbs on the top of it, letting the Lilies slowly drain out. However, as Qiqi continues, her head starts to feel heavier and heavier. She feels unusually tired, and her nose starts to tingle more and more... Until one high-pitched sound takes both of Qiqi and Gui by surprise
"Atchoo"
Gui looks at Qiqi. The zombie doesn't realize, but she sneezed. She asked to Gui :
-What was that sound ?
-Qiqi... Are you alright?
-Qiqi... Feels tired... And... Heavy head
-You have sneezed, says calmly Gui, before taking her hand, we need to see Baizhu
Gui knocks at the door of the examination room. Baizhu opens it, looking at Gui and Qiqi :
-Is everything alright?
-I think that Qiqi is sick, tells Gui, she sneezed and feels extremely tired
-I'll take a look. Come here, Qiqi
-Got it. Coming here, nods Qiqi, walking to the examination room, feeling her head spinning a bit
Baizhu starts to do first examination. He takes her temperature at first. If Qiqi is usually extremely cold because of her zombie nature, this time, she seems to have a fever. He then palpates her neck, and looks at her throat, more red than usual. Finally, he looks at Qiqi, putting back his material :
-It seems you have a cold
-A... Cold ?
-Yes. Don't worry, Qiqi, Baizhu smiles gently, it's benign. I'll close the consultation for today, and I'll take care of you
-Got it, doctor Baizhu
-Thank you for noticing me, Gui. I'll maybe close the pharmacy a bit sooner too, except if you need something
-Don't worry Baizhu. I'll stay at the counter for a moment, in case some patients come
-Thank you, Gui
Baizhu smiles, and lift Qiqi, that almost fall asleep in Baizhu's arms. He puts her in her bed and starts to tuck Qiqi in. Then, he searches for a small piece of fabric, soak it in water, and go put it on Qiqi's head to reduce a bit the fever, and gives the Cocogoat plushie to her. Qiqi takes the plushie in her arms, before looking in its eyes :
-Cocogoat... Qiqi can be sick ?
-...
-Will Qiqi be alright?
-... Yeeeees, bleat the Cocogoat with a high pitched voice
-Oh ? Cocogoat can speak? exclaims Qiqi
-I caaaan sometimes, Qiqiiiiii
Baizhu have a playful smile, hiding his mouth coincidentally every time the plushie speaks. Changsheng holds her laughs like she can, while Qiqi continues to ask to the Cocogoat:
-What is a "cold" ? I thought it was a feeling
-It's alsoooo the common naaame of a sickness that is here when it's cold outside
-A sickness? Like what Doctor Baizhu cures every time with people?
-Yeeeeees, exclaims the goat, moving a bit her head, there are hundreeeds of diseases, and a cold is one of the least harmful ones
-So... Doctor Baizhu will give me herbs and... Qiqi will get better ? Asks Qiqi to Cocogoat
-It will aaaaaalso need some reeeest. Cocogoat will keep an eeeeeye on you, and I will... I mean, Doctor Baizhu will prepare yourself something
-Thank you, cocogoat
-Tryyyyy to sleep a bit, continue to bleat the cocogoat - curiously without moving its lips at all
-Qiqi will try
The zombie takes it in her arms, and Baizhu gets up. He gently puts the blanket on her, and starts to go to the kitchen, preparing a warm stew for Qiqi. While he cuts some vegetables and boil some water, Changsheng finally laughs uproariously, looking at Baizhu, and gently teasing him :
-Were you a goat in a previoussssss life ?
-I just know that she likes to talk to her cocogoat. I know that some parents often do something similar to their children when they are tired, I just did my best to reassure her
-I bet that if she wasn't a zombie, she would have laughed like I did. It wasss ssssso preciousssss to ssssee you doing sssssso
-Hehe, I was a child too, Changsheng, smirks Baizhu as he puts the vegetables in the boiling water, and covers it, before serving some coco milk
-With parentssssss that alssssso bleated every time you had a fever ? Jokes Changsheng
-Haha, not that I know, Changsheng
Baizhu brings the cup to Qiqi's room, where she is sleeping like she can, sweating a bit from the fever. Baizhu wipes the sweat from her temples with the fabric, and soaks it in water again. She is sneezing sometimes, but tries to continue her rest. The doctor continues to prepare the stew, compassionate about her :
-I hope that Qiqi will get well soon
-It'ssssss weird that zombiesss can alsssso fall sssssick
-I imagine it is the way of life. One is never truly alive until it gets the unpleasant experience of a cold, sighs Baizhu as he stirs the boiling meal, tasting it
-You know that one day you'll alssssso have to resssst too
-I know, but I don't feel any symptoms for now, and Qiqi is more important, the doctor looks in the direction of Qiqi's room
-I am alsssso worried about her, but it'ssssss a cold. You've sssssseen far worse casssssses, Qiqi will be fine
-I will rest myself one Qiqi will be completely asleep, and once I will give her some medications to help her
Baizhu adds a pinch of salt to the preparation. She will probably not even taste it, but it's worth trying. He stews, and soon enough, the stew is ready, warm and for Baizhu's palate, tasty. But before that, the doctor goes in his back shop, searching for some plants... Until he notices the Glaze Lilies that are drying. He takes one, and starts to cut the petals in small pieces, adding it to Qiqi's bowl. He goes back toward her room, where he can see Qiqi drinking her milk slowly :
-It's me, Qiqi
-Oh... What is Doctor Baizhu holding ?
-It's a warm stew, that will help you to feel a bit better, and to recover some strength. Did you slept a bit ?
-Qiqi didn't slept a lot... Too difficult. Headaches
-It's because the fever is making you sweat. It's good to drink a lot when you have a fever
-Got it... Can Qiqi note it in her notebook ?
-But of course, gently smiles Baizhu, giving it to Qiqi, You need me to take some water ?
-Qiqi would like... Um... More cocomilk
-Alright, alright, but remember to not drink too much of cocomilk. It's not good for the stomach
-Okay... Not drinking too much cocomilk
-Eat the stew. I'm coming back in a minute
Qiqi looks at the plate. It's hot, extremely hot. She starts to eat it with the wooden spoon Baizhu put it in. Sadly for her, it's bland. It makes her feel a bit warmer, and gives ger some strength, but the lack of taste makes her a bit sad about it, because she knows that Baizhu did this for her to get better. She looks for a second at the Cocogoat:
-Do you think Qiqi will finally feel the taste of food ?
-...
-Oh ? Cocogoat cannot talk again?
-...
-Weird. Qiqi wonder why did you talked... Maybe Cocogoat is hungry too
-Qiqi ? asks Baizhu, from the other side of the door, May I come in ?
-Oh... Um... Yes ! Nods Qiqi
-I have your milk, with a little something to help you a bit more, says Baizhu, before looking at Qiqi, a softened smile on his face, What are you doing ?
-I am feeding Cocogoat too... Maybe it will talk again
-Don't worry, Qiqi. I will feed it
Baizhu takes out of one of his pockets some herbs, and moves the plushie to make it look like it's eating the herbs. Qiqi looks at it, fascinated by what the plushie can do when Baizhu is here. Then, the cocogoat starts to bleat :
-Thaaaaank you, Qiqi
-Oh, exclaims a surprised zombie, um... You're, um...
-You waaaant to saaay "You're welcome" ?
-Yes. You are welcome
-Now, eaaaaat. It will help you
-Got it. Eating... Doctor Baizhu, are you disappointed if Qiqi cannot feel the taste ?
-Of course not, Qiqi, he smiles gently, knowing that as many times she will ask him, he will still keep his smile
-And... Do tou think Qiqi will... Feel taste?
-It's impossible to know. I hope that one day you'll enjoy eating. But I will not find you weird if you don't feel the taste
-Got it... Qiqi will maybe not feel taste, but Baizhu will still love Qiqi
-Of course. But for now, smiles Baizhu, eats the stew. Remember, health comes first
Qiqi eats the stew, and drinks the cup of cocomilk. Baizhu takes both of them, and smiles :
-I'm coming back in a few minutes. I'll look again at you, and you will get some sleep. Alright ?
-Yes... What must Qiqi do in the meantime?
-Write a bit in your notebook, and play with your plushie and other toys. Even if Cocogoat will not talk for now, it still likes you very much
-Got it... See you soon, Doctor Baizhu
Baizhu goes to the kitchen, keeping his softened smile...
----------
-Now say "aaaaaah"
--Aaaaaaaaah...
-It ssssseemsss lessss inflamed, hiss Changsheng, looking in Qiqi's mouth
-And your fever is lower, exclaims Baizhu
-So... Is Qiqi cured ?
-Not completely, answers the doctor, but you're on a good path to. Now, you lay back in your bed. I will search for something
Qiqi nods, and is slowly lying in the bed, while Baizhu stands up, taking a small book, with a colourful cover. He puts Qiqi's sheet to her shoulders, and starts to clear his throat before reading
"Um um... Once, there was a glorious kingdom established amongst the heavens..."
Baizhu slowly reads one of the stories in the book he was holding. It wouldn't take long before Qiqi's eyes are almost completely shut. Baizhu smiles and kisses her head, before blowing off the candle. Qiqi is sleeping, exhausted by her cold, and Baizhu, going into his room, can't help but to smile. He puts Changsheng in her vivarium, the snake do some small hissing:
-I wonder if ssssshe isss doing ssssimilar dreamssss than humansss do when they have fever
-Haha, I don't know if she will remember. But as long as she dreams and doesn't feel terrified by her dreams, I would be glad
Baizhu changes himself before going to bed. He coughs a bit, spitting some small blood droplets out of his mouth. It's exhausting to take care of a sick child. But if it must be done again, he would do it without hesitation