The next afternoon, Yan and Qinghe walked the courtyard lane after checking the new clinic shelf. Tessa had counted the jars and marked the two cracked ones for repair. Qinghe had asked Yan to help carry a board to the storage wall; he had asked whether she wanted to join the clinic supply count. She had a patient review first and could meet him afterward.
He left the schedule open rather than filling her time around his work. They met at the lane when she finished, and he fell into step beside her.
“Was the review difficult?” he asked.
“One patient wanted a second opinion and another wanted to change the hour of her next check. Neither was a problem. We adjusted the schedule.”
“Did you have time to eat?”
“Yes. I brought half a bun.”
He glanced at her hand. “The other half?”
“In my sleeve.” She showed him the cloth-wrapped piece. “I didn’t forget.”
