Ning completed another measured inhalation in the institute breathing room. Qinghe sat beside her, and Fan watched the breathing gauge. Herbal steam rose slowly from the cup. The dose remained at half strength, as Ning had requested.
She checked the cup against the measure first. Fan had set it at the agreed half dose and wrote the amount on the slate where she could see it. Ning asked Qinghe to confirm the gauge was working. Qinghe showed her the needle at rest and let Ning touch the stop signal herself. The needle returned to its starting mark.
She took the first breath and coughed. The fit stopped, then returned on the next inhalation. Ning lifted two fingers.
Fan moved the cup away. He did not ask her to continue. Ning waited until her breath settled, took water, and listened to her chest.
“Do you want to stop for the day?” Qinghe asked.
“I want a minute. Then I’ll decide.”
The cough eased. Ning took another breath without the cup. “I’m ready to resume.”
Fan waited for her to nod before setting the cup back. The second half of the treatment felt easier than the first. Ning said the warmth stayed high in her chest, but the sharp tightness did not return.
