Chapter 4: Heidi Casson

Words : 1812 Updated : Sep 25th, 2025

"Don't mention it, Ms. Warth. If you're still feeling uneasy, come back tomorrow for another checkup. I could tell you were shy today, so I didn't go further with the exam," Leonard Zimmerman said, his tone serious. His professionalism won Daisy Warth's respect. But then the thought of that useless deadbeat at home soured her mood again. She glanced at Leonard: young and promising, upright, steady, knew where to draw the line. Just a moment ago, he had used only two fingers and left her floating, light as air. She had never known such bliss. Just thinking about it made her blush all over again. "Would it be too much trouble for you, Dr. Zimmerman? My condition…" Daisy trailed off. Once she'd had a taste, she wanted more; the craving pulled at her. She had always thought checkups meant pain. She hadn't expected Leonard's exam to feel so good. The memory made her itch all over. "You're overthinking it, Ms. Warth. Getting you well is my job. 'Trouble' doesn't come into it," Leonard said with a smile. Watching her shy, flustered face, he suddenly wanted to pull her into his arms and spoil her. Her thoughts were running wild. Then another worry popped up. "What about the fee?" If the treatments cost too much, she couldn't afford them. If she couldn't afford them, better not start than have to quit halfway. "You know how things are in the village, and you know me, Ms. Warth. Exams are free. I only charge a little if I prescribe medicine. It's getting late. You should head back. If you stick around, people will run their mouths," Leonard said, smiling. He stepped around her, opened the door to the treatment room, and walked out without looking back. She really had come early. Someone might have seen her and run their mouths, and it'd be a pain to deal with the fallout. He knew Daisy needed time to process. That last touch had probably left her knees weak. She was reserved; even if she was losing control, she'd force herself to keep it together. Leonard, on the other hand, wasn't sure he could hold out. After he left, Daisy took a few steps forward. Her legs felt weak. If only he had gone a little deeper. She braced one hand on the wall. The other slipped down, and even through denim, the sensation made her hum with pleasure. She didn't dare go too far. She only stroked herself over her jeans, letting her mind spin wild fantasies, until Leonard yanked up the metal roll‑up door; it rattled loudly. The sound snapped her out of it. She snatched her hand away, leaned on the wall for support, walked out, and sank into a chair in the hall to rest. After raising the shutter, Leonard went back to his seat and pretended to read. He didn't try to talk to Daisy again. He'd stared at the same page of Medical 101 for ages without turning the page. His mind replayed the scene in the treatment room. He could hardly wait for nightfall, to pull out the loose brick and peek through his secret hole, curious what surprises the night might bring. After Daisy rested for a while and felt steady again, she glanced at Leonard, who seemed absorbed in his book. Too embarrassed to say goodbye, she slipped out of the clinic. "Young man? Young man… Dr. Zimmerman…" Leonard looked up. It was Heidi Casson from the edge of the village. He didn't even know her first name. From the villagers' gossip, he'd pieced together that she was from out of town, bought by Old Li as a bride. On their wedding day, the village was dressed to the nines, lanterns strung up, a sea of red. It should have been a happy event. That very night, Old Li dropped dead, and the wedding turned into a funeral. People said Heidi Casson was a jinx who brought death to her husband, a walking disaster who dragged bad luck into the village. But she'd married him fair and square. In life, she was Old Li's woman; in death, she'd still be tied to his name. Even if people thought she was unlucky, no one could just drive her away. They say widows attract gossip, yet Heidi was an exception. The villagers were so superstitious that after Old Li died, anyone who saw her wished they could cross the street to avoid her, afraid she'd bring misfortune to their door. Some parents even warned their children to steer clear. Everyone called her Widow Casson. Even the little ones, parroting their elders, said "Widow Casson" with adult solemnity. Her real name had slipped from memory. "Ms. Casson? Sorry, I got lost in that book. What seems to be the trouble?" Leonard quickly shut Medical 101 and asked with practiced calm. He had no patience for superstition and was the only one in the village who didn't shun her. When she had nothing particular to do, Heidi would happily spend a few minutes chatting with him. Sometimes she brought him little treats, and he, in turn, gave her extra care. "What were you daydreaming about, young man? I called and called, and you didn't answer. You stared at that medical text without turning a page. Thinking about women?" Heidi teased, her eyes crinkling. "No, not at all. I was just remembering a case, so I drifted off a bit," Leonard said, denying it flat out. "Who hasn't been there?" she said, tossing him a conspiratorial wink. "Did you come just to chat today, Ms. Casson?" Leonard tried to joke, though her steady teasing threw him a little. "I haven't been sleeping well the last few days. I'd like you to take a look and tell me why," she said with a bright smile. If she hadn't been an optimist, grief and gossip would have crushed her long ago. "Give me your left hand. I'll check your pulse," Leonard said after steadying himself. Heidi set her hand on the table. Leonard placed his fingers on her wrist, felt for the rhythm of her pulse, then stood and took a bamboo tongue depressor from the cup beside him. "Open your mouth and let me see." Standing, he glanced down and couldn't help noticing her cleavage on full display. Heidi was a bit over thirty, but her good spirits and careful upkeep showed in her looks. Her skin was smooth as a young woman's. Compared with Daisy Warth, her figure was just as good, and her breasts weren't sagging at all. The weather had been stifling. Heidi wore a strappy sundress, the kind of trendy outfit rarely seen in the conservative countryside. Leonard swallowed. One stroke of luck after another seemed to be falling into his lap. He worried about his self‑control. After checking her tongue, he dropped the bamboo strip into the wastebasket. "Your pulse is a bit unsteady, and your tongue coating is thick. With all the heat and dryness lately, you've got some excess internal heat. I'll prescribe you some Heatwave Relief Liquid to clear it out. Try that first." He bent his head to write up the chart. In a little while, he was done. Just as he was about to hand it to her, Heidi said, "My chest hurts a little, too." "Your chest?" Leonard froze, racking his brain. Maybe it wasn't just heat. Maybe there was something deeper. While he hesitated, Heidi took his hand and pressed it to the swell of her breast. "Young man, if you don't believe me, feel for yourself," she murmured. She did have some heat, yes. But more than that, it was pent‑up desire. What she needed wasn't medicine so much as a man.

Chapter 4: Heidi Casson

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