Work Text:
The sun is rising on Liyue, after two weeks of rain on the harbour. Qiqi is slowly waking up. She doesn't really remembers, but those last days were hard for her, after she was sick. The zombie, as an habit, looks at her notebook to work on her memory. As she was reading, something she practiced a lot during her sickness, she noticed that she wrote and drew what Baizhu did to help her to recover. Then, a small knock on the door take Qiqi put of her exploration of memories :
-Oh... Who is it ?
-It's me, Qiqi, says the calm voice of Doctor Baizhu, you have woken up
-Yes... Qiqi was reading what happened the last days... Qiqi feels extremely stiff
-We will do some stretchings if you feel the strength to do it. But if you still feel sick, stay in bed
-Qiqi doesn't think that she is sick... Can you check?
Baizhu opens the door, with some material for examination. He sits in front of her, with already a warm smile when he notices that Qiqi seems to be more colourful, unlike Baizhu that seems more pale than usual...
The doctor is taking her fever, touching her neck, and looking at her throat. And with a smile, he exclaims to Qiqi :
-You are officially better !
-Qiqi is... Not sick?
-Exactly ! But please, be careful for now. It will maybe take some time for you to fully recover
-Got it. Taking care of myself
-I think that going outside will help you. You have stayed indoors for an entire week, it will help you
-Qiqi and Baizhu will walk outside? She looks at him with a small spark in her eyes
-Yes. Get ready, I will prepare some Mora Meat, some cocomilk, and we will eat in the city, smiles Baizhu
-Got it. Preparing myself
Qiqi gets in her room, get her everyday clothes and braids her hair like she can... But as forgetful as she is, she almost immediately read in her notebook to see what she has to do in her routine... Until, suddenly, a violent noise resonates in the kitchen. Qiqi jumps out of surprise, and runs towards the kitchen. Gui also arrives from the shop, he seems worried and gasps :
-Doctor Baizhu !
-What... What is happening, asks Qiqi, running to the room
Gui doesn't hears her. He kneels, trying to detect life signs from Baizhu. Qiqi sees the doctor, lying on the ground, with pale complexion, his eyes barely open, and the light of his vision wavering like the flame of a candle fighting to burn more. The zombie feels weird. Like those scary visions she gets when sleeping, but even scarier. She comes closer to Baizhu, trying to wake him up :
-Doctor Baizhu... Doctor Baizhu...
-Qiqi, asks Gui worriedly, do you think you can help me to put him in his bedroom?
-Got it... Before that... Changsheng ? The snake seems to wake up, being stunned by the shock of Baizhu falling
-I am sssssorry. I thought he would make it. I insssisssted that he had to ressssst
-Do you think it is serious, Changsheng?
-Baizzzzhu will have to resssst sssseriousssly, Gui, but I want to sssstay confident
Qiqi is lifting Baizhu like it was almost nothing, her strength as a zombie helps her. Qiqi brings the doctor to his bed, helped by Gui. A weaken Baizhu slowly wakes up, coughing some blood out of his mouth :
-Gnnn... W... What happened?
-You collapssssssed on the ground, hiss an unamused Changsheng
-Qiqi... I am sorry, our stroll will be... Coughs, coughs... A bit later
-Qiqi and Baizhu... Had to walk together today? Asks the zombie
-Yes. I was preparing some... Coughs... Meals for the lunch but... Everything went black in a second
-I will search for Jiangli, Baizhu. Rest yourself
-Coughs... Al... Alright
-Qiqi will take care of you, says the zombie while trying to pat his head. It is my turn, doctor Baizhu
-Thank you... Changsheng... Would you mind if you stay around Qiqi for a moment?
The snake nods, she can survive for a few days without being in contact with her host. She slowly runs down his arm, while Gui leaves the pharmacy, closing it to patients for the day. Baizhu tries to sleep again, saving his energy
Qiqi goes towards her notebook, looking at what to do if Baizhu is sick... Nothing was noted, but thankfully, Qiqi noted everything he has done when she had her cold
"When Qiqi was sick"
"Doctor Baizhu did examination. Then put cold fabric on Qiqi's head to "reduce fever". Qiqi always felt head being less heavy. She ate stews and fruits to "help having strength". Then, he reads to Qiqi stories. Cocogoat was talking to Qiqi. Qiqi liked it"
-Got it. Must do stews... But... Qiqi doesn't know how to cook
-I will try to give you tipsssss about the anccccient art of Marcochiusssss
-Thank you... Changsheng
Qiqi goes to the kitchen, even if slow down in front of the entrance, remembering what she saw minutes before. But this time, no Baizhu lying on the floor. The zombie takes random ingredients from the shelves that were easy to access, before Changsheng tells to Qiqi :
-I know that cooking isssss often asssosssciated with trying new thingssss, but I never heard about a good recipe with cheesssse, applesssss ans radishesssss
-It is Qiqi's first time... I am sorry
-Follow my insssssstructionsssss. Take sssssome fissssh, and thessse ingredientssss...
Under the supervision of Changsheng, Qiqi is trying as hard as she can to do a small meal. But because she cannot feel any taste, it is extremely difficult. It is like asking to someone blind to draw a landscape with only a description of how its hand should go
But the zombie us resolved to help Baizhu. She manages to do a vegetable soup with some fish parts inside it, but Qiqi has no idea if it is bland, or on the opposite, too salty...
Around the same time, Gui was here with a young woman, a doctor that studied medecine with Baizhu, doctor Jiangli. Qiqi quietly follows them, looking behind the door, wanting to know what does Baizhu have. He seems weaker than ever, his mouth covered in blood, and his breathing being even more difficult:
-I hope that Qiqi will not be sad...
-Baizhu, sighs Gui, I am worried about you and don't lie to yourself, you know that Qiqi is also worried
-I just wanted to go outside with her, after her cold. She would have been so happy... Coughs
-For how long do you feel like this, Baizhu? Asks Jiangli
-One or... Two days. I coughed some blood before I had to sleep
-Did you took some rest at least ?
-Qiqi... Coughs... Had a cold, I had to take care of her
-So for an entire week, not only you took consultations, but also gather herbs, prepared them, all while you took care of Qiqi and Changsheng... By the way, where is she ?
-Qiqi keeps her...
-I hope you'll finally rest, orders Gui to his friend, Qiqi has barely recovered from her first ever sickness, and now she saw you unconscious on the floor. She was scared...
Qiqi hears it, and feels a bit sad. Even if she doesn't remember about the planned stroll, the memory of Baizhu on the ground stats intact. She tries to focus back on the conversation:
-You have a violent hypotension due to blood loss, probably around your lungs or your throats
-What will you give me ?
-The best would be Slime essences mixed with mint, three times a day for two weeks. Avoid at all cost food and drinks that would be too hot or too cold. Rest yourself
-And... And Qiqi ?
-I can keep an eye on her, or Changsheng can. But you, rest yourself. You will have other opportunities to walk with Qiqi if you take time, says Gui with a calm voice
-Alright... Sighs Baizhu
Qiqi looks at Changsheng, the zombie whispers :
-Should I bring the stew ?
-I think sssssso. It will help him
-Do you think so ?
-I have rarely seen Baizzzzzhu being thisssss sssssad. He wassss pretty excccited to go outsssside with you. But wait until they leavesss go not dissssturb them
-Got it...
As Qiqi waits, Jiangli and Gui leaves the room. The doctor looks at the zombie and goes to her level, trying to stay calm with her :
-Hello... You are this famous Qiqi, right ?
-Yes. I am Qiqi. I am... A zombie, and I... Um... Don't know what comes next
-Tell me... What do you think of Doctor Baizhu?
-Qiqi... Feels... Good. Qiqi wants to be useful for him. Will he be okay ?
-You are worried?
-Will Doctor Baizhu be okay, miss... Um... Doctor ? Asks Qiqi with her pink eyes looking at the doctor's ones
-He will need a lot of rest, medication, and care, but he can heal...
That news seems to bring joy in Qiqi's heart. She nods, and hugs a bit Jiangli's legs, before saying with her monotone voice "Thank you... Changsheng, let's bring the meal"
The snake nods, and after quickly saying goodbye to the doctor, she runs towards the kitchen, take a bowl of stew, and runs back towards the room, with Changsheng holding her hat. The zombie tries to push the door, before bringing the stew on the nightstand. Baizhu, weak, tries to get up seeing Qiqi. He smiles, acting like nothing bad is happening, even if his entire body is acting otherwise. With a warmth in his voice, the doctor gently talks to Qiqi :
-Is there a problem? He asks, not noticing the stew
-Qiqi and I lade a deliccccciousssss meal fir you, Baizzzzzhu
-R... Really ? Coughs coughs...
-Yes, nods Qiqi, we made it for you like you've made for Qiqi...
-That's adorable, smiles Baizhu, taking the bowl, but you didn't had to
-Qiqi had noted that what Baizhu had done made Qiqi feel good. So... Qiqi wants to heal Doctor Baizhu
-Haha, he laughs warmly, Qiqi, thank you. But rest yourself too.
-Got it. Resting
The zombie nods, and goes towards her room. Changsheng looks at Qiqi, with a playful smile, and asks to Qiqi as they go toward her room :
-You will continue to ssssssee how to help him, issss that correct ?
-Yes...
-You can be asssss ssssssstuborn about him assss he issssss about you...
-Qiqi wants doctor Baizhu to be good...
She looks at ger notebook, searching in her sick days to see what was happening, and what cured her... She reads about Cocogoat, and an illumination seems to happen in her zombie mind. Of course ! Cocogoat is the cure ! She takes the plushie and runs towards his room, holding the blue plushie, while Changsheng looks at Qiqi, smiling. To Baizhu's surprise, he looks at her going towards him, giving Cocogoat:
-Doctor Baizhu... It will cure you
-C... Cocogoat ? He looks at Changsheng, holding a silly smile
-Yes. Cocogoat... Helped me, so maybe will help you too
The doctor smiles gently and slowly takes the plushie in his hand, moving it like the goat was doing little jumps. The zombie looks at it fascinated, being sure that it helps him. Baizhu continues, feeling glad to see Qiqi not being worried, and Changsheng is holding a laugh, as seeing Baizhu having his inner child being free is adorable and funny for her. Then, the plushie looks at Qiqi, and talks as Baizhu covers his mouth :
-Heeeeeeee will be okaaaaaaaay
-Is that true, Cocogoat?
-Yeeeeeeeees. He seems to feeeeeel a bit better. But he seeeeeems to need some sleep
-Sleeping, sleeping... Oh, Qiqi knows what to do... Well... Qiqi thinks
She runs back outside hus room. Baizhu feels the fatigue slowly becoming heavier and heavier, he lies on his bed, until Qiqi comes back with a book after several minutes. She opens it, and even if she seels completely lost for a while, before he can asks if she needs gelp, the zombie slowly reads "Once... There was a... Glorious kingdom..."
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As the story is about to end, Baizhu's sickness is finally taking a toll, and he closes his eyes. The zombie looks at him, and walks toward her notebook, taking notes of this entire day. The white snake starts to hiss :
-Why wouldn't you go to sssssleeem witthhhh him ? He sssssseemsss to be extremely tired and it will help
-Got it...
The zombie walks back to his room, anx climb to gis bed. Changsheng goes on his nightstand, and Qiqi closes her eyes... She tries to forget one memory of this day : Baizhu being unconscious. But it's difficult. But being with the doctor helps her to calm the fear of seeing it again. This day exhausted Qiqi, but she feels deep inside proud of her to helping with Baizhu's sickness