The head nurse led Ning Wei downstairs.
"I noticed you always liked this bench, so I specifically saved it for you."
Ning Wei sat down, her hands tracing the surface of the bench. She lowered her gaze, "Thank you, head nurse."
The head nurse felt at ease with Ning Wei now. After making sure she was settled, she went off to attend to other matters. Before leaving, she asked a nearby nurse to keep an eye on her.
All the patients had been brought downstairs today, including Tang Tang, who had injured someone before. Ning Wei and Tang Tang exchanged a glance but did not walk together. All the passengers tacitly divided themselves into different areas. Although it was permissible to move around while sunbathing, they did not interact with other patients. Instead, they took advantage of the nurses' inattention to gather information from other patients. This was the only opportunity they had to contact them. So, up to this point, Ning Wei had not been the only one fighting. While the other passengers' contributions were small, their efforts could not be denied.
Ning Wei closed her eyes slightly, leaning back against the bench, appearing to be thoroughly enjoying herself. Not long after the head nurse left, she sensed a burning gaze fixed upon her. Ning Wei was highly sensitive to such things. She shifted on the bench, seemingly seeking a more comfortable position, but in reality, she was scanning her surroundings with her peripheral vision. However, this gaze did not come from the surrounding patients, but from upstairs. Several people in white coats stood by the office window on the second floor, affording them a clear view of all the patients. Initially, it was only the head nurse, but later, more people gathered by the window, and their gazes became increasingly uncomfortable for Ning Wei. She casually raised her hand to shield her eyes, pretending to look at the sun, but in fact, she was observing the people on the second floor. This group comprised both men and women, with the head nurse obscured behind them. Two of them were even pointing at Ning Wei, while others were looking at different patients. This did not look like doctors discussing a patient's condition. Ning Wei's expression turned cold as she looked at the bright sun. The outdoor time was unusually long today, and people on the second floor came and went in waves. Eventually, the stares directed at Ning Wei ceased. The head nurse reappeared, guiding the other nurses to escort the patients back to their rooms.
The head nurse clearly held Ning Wei in high regard. She came directly to Ning Wei's side and walked slowly back to the ward with her. Along the way, her gaze lingered on Ning Wei, from head to toe. Finally, she couldn't help but exclaim, "Your eyes are so beautiful."
Ning Wei looked at her blankly and reached up to touch her own eyes. The head nurse was startled by this action and quickly took her hand, "No need to touch them, your eyes are very good." Ning Wei nodded obediently. Fearing she might do something dangerous, the head nurse held her hand and brought her back to the ward, only feeling reassured after watching her lie down in bed. She gently tidied Ning Wei's hair and said kindly, "Rest for a while, I'll call you when it's time for dinner."
Ning Wei held the head nurse's hand and looked at her with a hint of grievance, "You must call me, starving is too uncomfortable." The head nurse nodded, "Don't worry." After the head nurse left, Ning Wei went to the bathroom and vigorously washed her hands with water. She disliked physical contact, and even more, she detested anyone touching her hand! Returning to bed, she genuinely began to sleep. She had other matters to attend to that evening, and this was the perfect opportunity to catch up on sleep. Ning Wei was certain that their outing for sunbathing today was a plan concocted by these medical staff. The unfamiliar faces by the window were also not good people.
When the head nurse brought dinner that evening, Ning Wei noticed that there was no medicinal powder in the food. Her sensitivity to such drugs had been honed in the Taoist temple. Her master, an old-fashioned man, was always wary of people administering drugs in food. At that time, Ning Wei had laughed at him for watching too much television, especially when he would test the food with a silver needle, his earnestness making her laugh until her stomach ached. However, despite the laughter, under her master's tutelage, everyone in the temple learned to distinguish whether food had been tampered with. Ning Wei once again felt grateful to her master in her heart. Had it not been for his insistence back then, she would likely have been drugged into foolishness long ago. Previously, the presence of the drug in her food had made Ning Wei aware that she was being watched. Now, the absence of the drug in her food heightened her vigilance. They must be preparing to make a move against her, but she couldn't fathom the hospital's intentions, alternating between giving and withholding the drug. The meal tonight was not only free of any medication but also exceptionally abundant, better than any meal she had eaten before. Ning Wei glanced at the food, feeling a sense of foreboding, as if it were a last meal. The head nurse was still in the room, watching Ning Wei eat. Ning Wei ate slowly, but the head nurse did not rush her. Instead, she would occasionally remind Ning Wei to eat more meat and vegetables. She appeared like an ordinary elder doting on a junior, but behind that hypocritical facade, an immeasurably twisted face was hidden. Since there was no drug in the food, Ning Wei ate with relish. The more compliant she appeared, the happier the head nurse became. This time, she waited until Ning Wei finished her meal before leaving, even reminding her to get plenty of rest and take care of herself. Ning Wei could only respond with "Yes," but inwardly, she cursed the head nurse countless times.
As the head nurse walked towards the door with the tray, her vision suddenly turned gray, her limbs trembled uncontrollably, and the tray fell to the floor with a loud clatter. The other nurses had already finished their shifts. Only Ning Wei struggled to help her up. "Are you alright?" The head nurse waved her hand, picked up the tray, and rubbed her head, "Perhaps I've been too tired lately. I'll be fine after drinking some hot water." She suddenly mentioned water, making Ning Wei suspect a covert operation. However, after observing the head nurse for a moment, her demeanor did not seem feigned, suggesting she was unaware. The head nurse only made this remark and then left with the tray. The last time she felt unwell in the stairwell, she had recovered after a night's rest in her dormitory.
Lying in bed, Ning Wei pondered whether the powdered drug had been consumed by one person or a group of nurses. The head nurse did not exclusively work on the fifth floor; she had to move between floors to ensure everyone's work was in order. Therefore, she might not have ingested the largest amount of the drug. However, her reaction just now struck Ning Wei as a post-medication symptom, not merely the result of exhaustion. Lost in these thoughts, she waited until the patrol officers had completed their rounds of the entire building and left. She immediately opened her door and went out. She had not paid much attention to the head nurse before, but now, it was time to investigate her.