Da Qing may well be familiar with Alfredo's case - arrived as an Assistant, demoted to Patient after getting more familiar with the Nurse's modus operandi, not particularly keen on graduating, if for reasons that the boy doesn't often try to explain...

He also reads frequently, and therefore has a lap that's often available regardless of time of day. And isn't particularly forward in pushing certain visitors off his lap, so long as the pages don't take claw-damage.

All the chaos with the new arrivals hasn't disrupted this aspect of his character too much.