With Huo Yan guarding Shen Yuan's sides, Zhou Yi could only sit next to Bai Feng who sped up his eating pace with a calm façade. He finished his food in less than 5 minutes.
"I will excuse myself first." Bai Feng got up with his empty tray. "Boss, Dr. Wang wants to discuss something with you. Please stop by the infirmary when you have spare time."
Zhou Yi affirmed with a nod. Once Bai Feng retreated, he returned his focus to Shen Yuan. "If I had known you would lock yourself up in your room, I would've proceeded with the plan of assigning you to mine."
"Better than roaming around with nothing to do." Shen Yuan continued eating his congee.
"You can help Dr. Wang arrange our medical supplies in the infirmary. She's not young anymore and can't handle much physical strain, so it's been progressing slowly."
"You have this many people here and none of them lend her a hand?"
"Active members focus on external tasks like scouting, gathering information, and security. Able-bodied regular members took care of internal tasks to keep the shelter orderly like cleaning and cooking. Those with technical skills help with maintenance and fixing things. Our number is far from enough."
Shen Yuan thought of something and accepted the task. "Alright, I'll help the doctor."
"After you're done with that, we can start your shooting practice." Zhou Yi glanced at Huo Yan that had been staring at him since he finished his food.
He never had any pet before, but he didn't need a cat expert to know what his taut back and constricted pupils meant. Why was this cat always so hostile towards him? He was fine towards Bai Feng earlier.
"People often say that animals can smell intention." Shen Yuan combed down Huo Yan's puffed fur and cast a deliberate glance at Zhou Yi. "What do you think?"
"Perhaps." Zhou Yi didn't avoid Shen Yuan's eyes. "But do they have the intelligence to discern it?"
"More than you think, I'd argue."
Huo Yan narrowed his eyes, his face contorted into a threatening snarl.
"…" Zhou Yi took a sip of his drink.
They finished their meal in silence.
Once Shen Yuan finished his food, he got up to leave first. "I'm going to the infirmary, then. I'll tell Dr. Wang you sent me."
He dropped the tray at the designated station before heading to the infirmary. He knocked on the door three times, and a gentle voice prompted him in from the other side.
An elderly woman in a white coat stood inside, boxes of medical supplies strewn by her feet. Her hair had fully greyed, but wrinkles barely aged her face. She had amiable, smiling eyes with arched eyebrows that enunciated her friendliness.
She gave off a soft air children would easily find comfort with. Like a favorite grandma who always prepared sweets for her grandchildren.
"Dr. Wang?" Shen Yuan stepped inside and closed the door. He noticed one of the 3 beds had the curtain around it drawn close and noted there might be a person in there.
"Yes, that is me. Are you feeling bad? Or is there anywhere injured?" Wang Liyan put down the things in her hands, ready to help.
"My name is Shen Yuan. Zhou Yi sent me here to help you."
"Oh, dear. He didn't have to. If you're busy…"
"Not at all. I'm a new member and I haven't been delegated any tasks. This is perfect. I'd love to help," Shen Yuan reassured.
Wang Liyan smiled in gratitude and accepted the assistance. "Then, let this old lady thank you in advance."
"Both Dr. Wang and the infirmary is vital to this place. There's no need for thanks." Shen Yuan knelt down and inspected the items in the boxes. "There's a lot. Will the shelves here be enough?"
"That is why we need to sort and arrange them. We only put the most commonly used items here and store the rest in the chemistry lab."
"I hope it's alright for my cat to be here?" Shen Yuan gestured at Huo Yan. "He'll behave."
Only then Wang Liyan noticed the cat listening tentatively by Shen Yuan's feet and couldn't help but melt in adoration. "Certainly! He may sunbathe on my desk. Having him watch over us will bless us with plenty of energy!"
"Please be careful…"
"Oh, don't worry. This old hen still has some bones on her back." Wang Liyan rolled up her sleeves, fueled with motivation. "Shall we get started, then?"
"Let's do it." Shen Yuan placed Huo Yan on the desk as requested and nodded.
Following Wang Liyan's instruction, Shen Yuan started by grouping everything with their respective kinds and separating items like syringes, cotton packs, and bandages from medicines and chemicals. Wang Liyan then asked him to cross-check the medicines and chemicals with the list Bai Feng gave to her while she inspected the tools.
Shen Yuan finished checking the box of disinfectants and moved to the box of pills. He glanced at Wang Liyan, confirming she had her back against him, and sifted through the rows of semi-translucent orange bottles.
Once his eyes caught the word he was looking for, he fished the bottle between his deft fingers and slipped it into his cargo pants pocket.
"What's with all this noise!?"
The drawn curtain whipped open, revealing the second last person Shen Yuan wanted to deal with.
"Were we too loud, dear? We're sorry for waking you up," Wang Liyan apologized.
Ming Xia snorted in annoyance and her sight landed on a familiar face. Her expression turned ugly, and she pointed at Shen Yuan. "What are you doing here!? Are you stalking me!?"
"Khaa–!" Huo Yan derided in response.
"And you're even bringing your dirty, violent cat here!?" Ming Xia took a step back in aversion and a slight fear.
She usually liked animals, especially cats and dogs, but she saw what this cat did to the perverted middle-aged man in the mall. There was nothing cute about it at all.
Shen Yuan only cast her a brief glance and turned to Wang Liyan. "Why is she here?"
"She's been having stomach cramps, so she's been sleeping here."
"Stomach cramps, huh?"
"It's that time of the month." Ming Xia crossed her arms with a scoff. "What? You expect me to sleep on the cold floor with my condition? You're disturbing my rest, so scram."
"You look healthy enough to exhaust noise pollution." Shen Yuan didn't believe that a single bit.
Seems like Bai Feng listened to his advice and warned his colleague. She wouldn't be here to hog a bed for herself otherwise. It was understandable that Wang Liyan couldn't just dismiss her 'health complaint', but her lie would be exposed in a week or at most two weeks.
"What did you say!?" Ming Xia turned red, incensed.
"Now, now. Please don't fight. We're all family here." Wang Liyan mediated them before things turned into a scream-fest. "Ming Xia, now that you're awake, how about you go to the cafeteria and have your breakfast? I've asked the cooks to prepare you some tea and soup. It's not good to leave your stomach empty."
"Tsk. Why didn't you tell them to bring it here? Every single one of you is just—!" Ming Xia stomped out of the room with a grumble and slammed the door shut.
Wang Liyan sighed and gave an apologetic smile to Shen Yuan. "Please don't take it to heart. She must be feeling particularly unwell."
"Don't worry. I've dealt with countless people like her. Tell me if she's making things difficult for you. I'll return it to her twofolds."
"No, not at all!" Wang Liyan hurriedly waved her hands and returned to the unorganized items on her side. "Let's finish things before she returns, so she can rest."
"You're the boss."
***
With the two of them working together, Shen Yuan and Wang Liyan finished organizing everything that could be put in the infirmary a little past mid-day. All that left was to move the rest to the chemistry lab.
Wang Liyan couldn't carry the boxes up the stairs, so Shen Yuan offered to do it for her. Since there were three boxes, there was no choice but to make it a two-way trip.
When he was about to bring out the first two boxes, the door to the infirmary opened and Zhou Yi entered. "Good afternoon, Dr. Wang. Bai Feng told me there's something you want to discuss with me."
"Ah, you came," Wang Liyan greeted back. "Do you have time?"
"There's nothing urgent that needs my attention for now." Zhou Yi looked at Shen Yuan carrying up two boxes in his hands and the remaining one on the ground. "Is everything finished here?"
"Yes, everything's finished. Xiao Yuan is a great help."
"Those are going to the chemistry lab?"
"Yes. I've given the key to Xiao Yuan."
"I'll help with this first and we can talk after this." Zhou Yi grabbed the last one.
Wang Liyan raised her eyebrows in intrigue and glanced between Zhou Yi and Shen Yuan. Seeing the latter's unamused face, she could only cancel her teasing. "Of course. I appreciate your help, Young Master Yi."