Kong Hou was indeed tired. She felt her eyelids were heavy and wanted to sleep. With Li Jiali gently patting her back, she felt even more drowsy. Gradually, Kong Hou closed her eyes and fell asleep on Li Jiali’s shoulder.
When Kong Hou woke up, she found herself lying on a simple bed. Li Jiali was sitting on the other side, doing some handicrafts.
"You’re awake? Hungry?" When Li Jiali saw Kong Hou wake up, she put down what she was holding and brought over a bag. Inside the bag was a piece of bread.
Kong Hou was about to speak, but her stomach spoke before her, making a rumbling sound.
"Eat this first, I’ll get you some water." Li Jiali couldn’t help but let out a gentle laugh upon hearing Kong Hou’s stomach growl. She tore open the bag of bread, handed it to Kong Hou, then turned to retrieve a small bottle of water. The bottle didn’t have any trademark or pattern, just a simple clear plastic bottle, around 200 milliliters in capacity.
Kong Hou ate the bread and drank the water, looking at the gentle woman before her, she opened her mouth to express her gratitude, "Thank you."
"Do you remember where you used to live? What’s around there? Do you remember your family?" Li Jiali guided Kong Hou, hoping she could provide some clues.
Kong Hou shook her head.
Li Jiali was silent for a moment, then softly said, "It’s okay, I will help you find your family." If she can’t find them, I will continue to take care of you. This sentence Li Jiali said quietly in her heart.
And so, Li Jiali adopted Kong Hou.
Gradually, Kong Hou discovered the distorted aspects of this world.
This world was indeed the world of Qu Fengbai and Zhou Chaoyang. But now, it has developed in a sickly manner. The Water God Empire towers above, it’s said that people up there don’t have to exert much effort, yet live comfortably and leisurely, while in the Swamp District below, people must toil daily to barely obtain enough resources to survive.
Every day, Li Jiali had to go out to work. She didn’t feel at ease leaving little Kong Hou at home, so in the morning, before Kong Hou woke up, she carried her on her back and went to work. Li Jiali was a nurse, a nurse at a small clinic. Although the clinic was small, it had decent business because in such harsh environments, people working under high stress easily fell ill.
There was only one doctor and Li Jiali, the nurse, in this little clinic. The doctor was Zhong Hong, an elderly man in his sixties, kind-hearted and often treated people for free. Seeing Li Jiali bringing Kong Hou along, he was quite surprised.
"Where did this child come from?" Doctor Zhong Hong bent down to look at Kong Hou, who was rubbing her sleepy eyes, and asked in surprise.
"Found her. Got separated from her family, but she doesn’t know anything when asked. So I brought her back for now." Li Jiali changed into her nurse uniform, picked up Kong Hou, and set her down to sit on a chair, and brought her something to eat.
"Cute-looking child. She doesn’t seem like someone from the Swamp District, yet not someone from above either," Doctor Zhong Hong stated confidently.
"How do you know?" Li Jiali asked in confusion.
"I just know. Alright, go prepare." After speaking, Doctor Zhong Hong glanced at Kong Hou again, bent down to her level, revealing a smile, "Little darling, you stay in here and don’t wander around, understand? It’s dangerous outside."
Kong Hou nodded.
"Good girl." Doctor Zhong Hong smiled.