Chapter 111

"You'll understand when you're older."

"Okay."

The kitchen was filled with the aroma of food. Evelyn was about to press further when Prof. Cloud suddenly pushed the door open, his expression dark and foreboding.

"Where's the food?!" He slammed his hand on the stove. "The pot's about to burn through, and you're still chatting!"

Evelyn suppressed a smile. The old man was clearly venting his frustration. Ever since her return, he'd been finding fault with everything she did.

The firelight flickered across half her face. These peaceful days were numbered.

Once Lily could handle things on her own, the old man would return to the capital.

Seeing them both silently tending to the cooking, Prof. Cloud snorted and stormed out, his sleeves flaring dramatically.

As the door curtain swayed, Evelyn and Lily exchanged a knowing smile.

From the next day onward, Prof. Cloud pushed all incoming patients onto the two of them.

"Testing whether your skills have rusted," he said, pacing with his hands behind his back—though his eyes kept darting toward the aged liquor hidden in the medicine cabinet.

They treated over a hundred patients daily, leaving Lily's wrists sore from preparing prescriptions. On the eve of their departure, Prof. Cloud finally granted them a reprieve.

Flipping through their case records, his beard twitched. "At least you haven't completely disgraced me."

"Master, do you usually see this many patients?"

Prof. Cloud narrowed his eyes. "Of course not. These were two months' worth of backlog. Now that you've cleared them, I can relax for a while."

Evelyn's fingers stilled. Rumors painted the Ghost Doctor as eccentric, but in private, he was just a mischievous old man.

"Should we... visit more often?"

"No!" Prof. Cloud waved his hands dismissively. "Once in a while is enough. Seeing you every day would drive me mad."

Dr. Evan chuckled, earning himself a glare.

"Go pack!" Prof. Cloud shooed them away. "You leave at dawn."

As Evelyn folded her clothes, Lily entered carrying an ornate box.

"Grandfather gave this to you."

Inside lay a Blood Snow Lotus, its crimson petals vivid as sunset. Lily's expression was solemn. "Remember, Sister, this is the last one."

Evelyn traced the petals with her fingertips and exhaled deeply. Ethan's legs could finally be healed.

At the farewell dinner, Prof. Cloud personally cooked. After three rounds of drinks, he excused himself abruptly.

"Grandfather's hiding in his room crying," Lily said, her eyes red. "These past few days, he's been staying up late, rereading your old case records."

At daybreak, the three of them bowed in farewell outside his closed door.

In the airport terminal, a black-suited bodyguard blocked their path.

"Miss Sullivan, Mr. Sullivan requests your presence."