Chapter 110: Worlds Apart

Lin Wanbai loved to listen to his stories about the past. Though he spoke simply, she had a vivid imagination and could easily visualize the scenes he described.

"When will you take me to see your school?" she asked. "Based on what you've told me, there must be many places there worth remembering."

Fu Juxing did not follow her lead. Instead, he asked, "Why don't you ask me about what happened later?"

Lin Wanbai laughed. What could possibly have happened at that age? Was he going to claim his territory in front of the entire school? Her eyes crinkled with amusement as she closed the piano lid, rested her chin on one hand, and looked at him. "And then what happened?"

"After that, you received many love letters almost every day. The milk on your desk was never-ending. Among those who pursued you, there was one who was particularly fanatical and high-profile; he didn't care about teachers or school rules at all. No matter how you rejected him, it was useless. This went on for nearly a semester, then in the second half of the year, he stopped coming. When you were in school, there were so many people who liked you. You were too dazzling; no matter where you went, you were the center of attention. You could capture everyone's gaze in an instant and steal hearts with the greatest of ease."

Lin Wanbai blinked, grinning. "Then aren't you very lucky? Everyone must have been envious of you."

Fu Juxing offered a faint, detached smile. He didn't know if others were envious; he only knew that the more radiant she was, the greater the distance between them—a distance so vast it felt impossible to cross. He was the dirt beneath the earth, and she was the clouds in the sky.

One was pure and flawless; the other was utterly filthy.

They were as different as clouds and mud.

His gaze was deep, so deep that Lin Wanbai found it impossible to fathom.

Fu Juxing looked away and said, "Teach me how to play a song."

"You don't know how?"

Lin Wanbai was surprised. Even she, a child bride, had reached the tenth grade in piano; how could a young master like him not know? Shouldn't a wealthy heir be proficient in everything?

He shook his head. "I don't."

"You don't like it?"

He smiled without answering, lifted the lid, and lightly pressed a key, producing a crisp, clear note.

Since they had nothing better to do, Lin Wanbai decided to teach him a piece. She flipped through the sheet music and found "Ode to Joy," the simplest one available. She was patient, and Fu Juxing was a quick learner; once she explained it, he understood, and once he played it, he remembered.

He played it through once on his own, quite fluently. Lin Wanbai clapped her hands. "Impressive. But your posture could be even cooler."

Lin Wanbai adjusted his position for him and had him play it again while she stood by and watched. With his looks, it was truly a feast for the eyes. In such an environment, Lin Wanbai found herself momentarily dazed.

When Fu Juxing lifted his eyes to look at her, she felt a sudden jolt like an electric shock. She straightened up immediately, her heart racing.

Outside the glass house, the wind and rain were raging, but between the two of them, the atmosphere was unexpectedly harmonious and cozy. The scent of the flowers in the greenhouse was intoxicating. She wanted to go somewhere else to calm down, but just as she had taken a few steps, Fu Juxing suddenly fell behind her.

She turned back to see him kneeling on one knee, one hand bracing himself against the piano, seemingly unable to get up.

She paused, hesitated, and then turned back to his side. "What's wrong?"

Fu Juxing's left foot was in unbearable pain; perhaps the steel pins inside had shifted. He had forced himself to carry her all the way yesterday and had been busy moving around, so his foot had been hurting the entire time. He hadn't paid it any mind, enduring it until now, when he could no longer hold back. His face had gone several shades paler.

He grabbed her hand and looked up at her. "Don't go."

He held her hand very tightly, as if afraid of something. Something flickered in his eyes, but Lin Wanbai missed it. She squatted down and said, "I'm not leaving; I'm just going to the restroom. What's wrong with you?"

She looked at his foot. The pant leg covered it, and she couldn't see anything. "Is there something wrong with your foot?" She suddenly remembered him carrying her through that long trek yesterday. Aunt Rong had told her before that his foot was seriously injured and that he had steel pins inside, so he couldn't engage in strenuous activity.

Carrying her like that yesterday must have caused damage.

"Wait here; I'll go call a servant to help you back to your room."

He wouldn't let go of her hand. "It's okay, just help me yourself."

Lin Wanbai couldn't refuse him, so she had to help him back to the living room herself. The wind and rain outside were too heavy to leave, and no doctor could get in.

Lin Wanbai squatted down and rolled up his pant leg. She took a look and saw a deep, fresh scar on his ankle. The area was slightly swollen and looked quite alarming. She looked up at him. "You've been uncomfortable for a long time, so why did you force yourself? Aren't you afraid of becoming disabled?"

He pulled her back, lowered his pant leg, and said, "It's nothing."

"You really don't take yourself seriously. If your mother saw this, she would definitely blame me."

He was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "No, no one will blame you."

"Don't do this again in the future."

He smiled but said nothing.

Afterward, Lin Wanbai wouldn't let him walk around, and he became much more obedient.

The rain lasted for three days. Once it passed, Lin Wanbai insisted on returning. Under the butler's arrangements, they went back to the estate. But there was no doctor there either, and Lin Wanbai wanted to take him to the hospital. However, the butler left right after dropping them off.

The two of them were left alone in the estate again. Lin Wanbai wanted to call for an ambulance, but Fu Juxing stopped her.

"It's really fine, you don't need to worry so much. However, I'll have to trouble you to take care of me for these next few days."

Lin Wanbai narrowed her eyes. "Are you doing this on purpose so you don't have to get treated?"

"Does it look like it?"

"It looks exactly like it."

Fu Juxing laughed. "Well, even if I don't want to be treated, will you take care of me?"

He put on a pitiful expression. Lin Wanbai hesitated, looked at his already swollen ankle, and shook her head firmly. "No, you'll end up disabled. You can't joke about your own health. If you don't want to go to the hospital, you can at least have a doctor come to see you, but you can't go without medical attention."

Lin Wanbai was persistent.

In the end, Fu Juxing had a doctor come over to provide simple treatment for his foot, though the doctor still advised that he should go to the hospital for an X-ray. After the doctor prescribed some medication and left the estate, he gave her a list of precautions, which Lin Wanbai firmly kept in mind.

Now that they were alone, Lin Wanbai had to take on the heavy responsibility of caring for him.

She handled all his daily needs and meals. Fortunately, the ingredients in the house were fresh, and she knew how to cook a few dishes. Since Fu Juxing could only eat light food, she stewed a large pot of porridge, serving it for all three meals a day.

Fu Juxing had no complaints; he ate whatever she gave him and was very easy to manage.

However, at night, for the sake of convenience, Lin Wanbai stayed in his room, sleeping on the sofa.

Fu Juxing said, "The bed is big enough; you can sleep on the bed."

Lin Wanbai wiped his face with a towel and said, "In your dreams."

Fu Juxing wiped his face and hands and said, "We are husband and wife."

"I don't remember that."

"I won't touch you. My foot is injured, so I couldn't even if I wanted to, right?"

Lin Wanbai's cheeks flushed, and she glared at him.

Fu Juxing said, "I haven't bathed in a few days..."

"Bath? Don't even think about it. Don't you know your own condition? Don't make any requests. I'm the only one here, and you'll do as I say." Her face grew even redder, clearly aware of what he was secretly planning.

"My foot is the only thing injured. If you help me, bathing shouldn't be a problem. You just need to help me in." he coaxed.

Lin Wanbai took the towel back and glared at him. "Don't dream."

Fu Juxing laughed. "I'm not asking you to bathe me; I just want you to help me inside, or you can bring me my cane, and I can go in myself."

Lin Wanbai stared at him, saying nothing.

He carried the basin to the bathroom. She thought about it for a moment, and eventually, her heart softened. Thinking that he had ended up like this because of her, she figured helping him wouldn't hurt.

She rolled up her sleeves, took the showerhead, cleaned the bathtub, and filled it with water. Once everything was ready, she went out, brought out the wheelchair, helped him sit in it, and pushed him into the bathroom.

Fortunately, the bathroom was large, the size of a small room. Getting into the bathtub required climbing a few steps. Lin Wanbai acted as his cane, helping him up so he could sit on the edge of the tub.

"There, as you wished. Go ahead and wash; I'm going out."

She turned to leave, but Fu Juxing couldn't let her just walk away like that. He grabbed her. "Help me take off my pants."

"You're pushing your luck." The bathroom was filled with mist, and the temperature was high; Lin Wanbai felt her face burning. "Aren't your hands fine? Can't you even take off your own pants?"

He looked at her without speaking.

After they stared at each other for a while, Lin Wanbai helped him to the bottom, assisted him into the tub, and found a rack to prop up his injured foot to keep it dry.

When everything was finished, she was exhausted. She walked down the steps and sat on a nearby chair. Given his condition, she couldn't just walk out like that.

Fu Juxing turned to look at her; she was sitting with her back to him, but she hadn't left. Neither of them spoke.

Lin Wanbai cupped her cheeks with her hands. When he was taking off his clothes earlier, she had caught a glimpse and discovered several scars on his body, though his physique was actually quite good.

She heard the sound of water in her ears and subconsciously turned to look, only to quickly pull her gaze back, her face feeling even hotter.

She secretly sighed, thinking it would be better to leave. "I'm going out. If you need anything, call me; I'll be right at the door."

This time, Fu Juxing didn't call her back; he just replied.

Lin Wanbai walked to the door and fanned her flushed cheeks with her hand. She went downstairs to drink a glass of water, which helped her calm down significantly.

Damn, was he trying to seduce her?

There was no need to think about it; he was definitely doing it on purpose.

She stayed downstairs for a long time, letting the breeze blow on her at the window, and only returned when she felt enough time had passed.

Fu Juxing hadn't brought a change of clothes, so Lin Wanbai went to the walk-in closet to get him a set. When she went back in, Fu Juxing was leaning his head back, and he didn't react when she entered.

Lin Wanbai called his name, but he didn't move. She called again, and still, there was no response.

She waited a few minutes, and seeing him remaining motionless, she walked over. He had his eyes closed and didn't respond. Just as Lin Wanbai stepped into the bathtub, ready to pull him up, he suddenly opened his eyes, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her toward him.

The movement was too sudden, splashing water everywhere, and Lin Wanbai was soaked to the bone. Before she could react, she was pulled into his arms.

When his lips pressed down, Lin Wanbai finally snapped to her senses. She immediately covered his mouth with both hands, panting slightly, and glared at him. "What—what do you think you're doing?!"

His eyes were burning, and his grip on her arms was exceptionally tight.

Lin Wanbai's heart began to race, and she started to panic. She wanted to scream for help. But there were only the two of them in the house; she doubted anyone would come to save her even if she screamed until her throat was raw.

She licked her lips, freed one hand, and slapped him hard on the forehead. "You—your foot is broken, but you still have the nerve to think about such things!"

The intensity in his eyes didn't diminish, and the hand pressing against her waist tightened. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free. She could only keep her hand over his mouth. Since force didn't work, she had to try the soft approach—appealing to emotion and reason.

Though she thought that, her actual action was to pinpoint his injured ankle and step on it hard.

She put all her strength into that single stomp. She could clearly feel Fu Juxing tense up, his brow furrowing slightly.

She kept a straight face and asked, "Are you going to let go or not?"

They remained at a stalemate for quite a while, and Fu Juxing still wouldn't let go. It was Lin Wanbai who couldn't hold out any longer; she retracted her foot, pouted, and put on a pitiful expression. "I have no memory, and you're scaring me like this."

As she spoke, she blinked hard, forcing out a tear.

That tear worked quite well. Fu Juxing released his grip, as if talking to himself. "Take it slow, take it slow."

As he spoke, he braced his hands on the edge of the tub and stood up, climbing out. He limped to the shower to rinse off and took off his underwear. Seeing this, Lin Wanbai immediately covered her eyes and turned her head away, her brain exploding with images she couldn't get rid of.

She cursed silently in her heart.

Fu Juxing finished showering quickly. Throughout the process, Lin Wanbai sat stiffly in the bathtub, never once looking back.

He put on his clothes and left. Once he was gone, Lin Wanbai climbed out of the tub and ran back to her room to bathe and change. She decided she was done with him; she wouldn't care if he lived or died.

She sat on the bed reading, but she couldn't focus at all.

By nearly ten o'clock, she couldn't help but check on him. The room was just as she had left it—the lights were bright, and Fu Juxing was lying on the bed with his eyes closed. Hearing her movement, he struggled to open his eyes. Seeing her head peeking in, he smiled and said, "I'm not dead yet."

Lin Wanbai hesitated, then walked over. Seeing his complexion was even worse than before and his lips were dry, she couldn't help but reach out and touch his forehead. It was burning hot.

"You have a fever?!"

Fu Juxing coughed. "Just get me some medicine, it's nothing."

"What do you mean it's nothing? You're burning up!"

This high fever had come on suddenly, likely triggered by the injury to his foot. She checked his foot again; it was worse than before and looked terrible. She thought of how she had stepped on him earlier and felt a pang of guilt. She had acted on impulse without considering the consequences.

She looked at him. Though she appeared calm, she was anxious inside. Seeing his poor complexion, she said, "I want to call an ambulance; I'm afraid you'll die here."

"Don't talk nonsense."

"Your foot injury has worsened. I suspect this fever is caused by it, and we can't drag this out any longer."

"It's not as serious as you think."

"I don't know what's going through your head. When I stepped on you earlier, you didn't even resist. Doesn't it hurt?"

"It doesn't hurt." He smiled, his gaze exceptionally gentle. He reached out, took her hand, and placed it on his forehead. "I acted on impulse earlier; I scared you, didn't I?"

"Let someone come to take you to the hospital."

He shook his head and smiled. "I don't need a doctor. If you're willing to kiss me, I guarantee I'll get better soon, and the fever will go away immediately."

Lin Wanbai hummed, poked his forehead with her finger, and said, "I think your brain is the one that's burned out."

He just smiled, not wanting to ruin the atmosphere. He only wanted to live here with her, long and peacefully, with no third party to disturb them.

She didn't leave; instead, she went downstairs to get a kettle, prepared some hot water for him, and found fever-reducing medication.

Not long after taking the medicine, Fu Juxing drifted off into a confused sleep. Lin Wanbai checked his temperature; it was approaching forty degrees Celsius. She used a towel to help him cool down physically, but the temperature wouldn't drop. His complexion grew worse, and his whole body began to tremble.

This couldn't go on.

Lin Wanbai leaned over and whispered his name in his ear, but there was no reaction.

She pulled open the nightstand drawer and took out Fu Juxing's phone. It was locked and required a password. She thought for a moment and entered her birthday. It unlocked instantly.

She glanced at the person sleeping on the bed, momentarily lost in thought. A text notification popped up on the screen. Her finger touched it subconsciously, and the message opened. It was only a few words:

【Lin Zhouye has something against you.】

Lin Wanbai glanced at it and immediately backed out. She only wanted to find Aunt Rong's number; she didn't even process the content of the message. She quickly found the contact and dialed.

The call was answered quickly. Lin Wanbai said, "It's me, Aunt Rong."

Aunt Rong was startled to hear Lin Wanbai's voice and quickly got out of bed. How did she get the young master's phone?

"Xiaobai? Why do you have the young master's phone? Did something happen?"

Lin Wanbai said, "His foot injury has relapsed, he refuses to see a doctor, and now he has a high fever. I want to take him to the hospital. Aunt Rong, can you arrange it? If not, I'll have to call an ambulance."

"Okay, okay, I understand. I'll arrange it, don't worry."

Aunt Rong hurriedly got up, threw on some clothes, and told Lin Wanbai, "Don't mess with the young master's phone; he doesn't like others looking through it. After you hang up, put the phone back where you found it. Do you hear me?"

Lin Wanbai said, "I don't have the time to look through his phone. I just wanted to call you, and I didn't call an ambulance directly because I know his eccentric temper."

"Right, I understand."

After hanging up, Aunt Rong immediately went to find Liang Yusheng. Just as she reached the stairs, she ran into Liang Xi, who had just returned.

They bumped into each other. Liang Xi was surprised to see her. "Aunt Rong? Why are you here?"

Aunt Rong didn't have time for her. She just greeted her briefly and rushed upstairs, knocking on Liang Yusheng's bedroom door.

Liang Yusheng replied, then came out to open the door after getting dressed. "Aunt Rong? What's the rush?"

Liang Xi followed close behind, asking, "Yeah, it's the middle of the night. Why are you so flustered? What happened?"

Aunt Rong said, "Xiaobai just called using the young master's phone. She said his foot injury has relapsed, and he has a high fever."

Liang Xi frowned upon hearing this. "Fu Juxing is in Nancheng? Then why are you here? Are they the only two in Nancheng? Are you people crazy?!"

Aunt Rong couldn't be bothered to explain. "We have to arrange to get him to the hospital first. An infection from a foot injury is definitely causing the high fever. This is a serious matter; we can't delay any longer. He must be taken to the hospital."

Liang Yusheng nodded. "I understand. I'll call and arrange it now. Don't worry."

Aunt Rong thought for a moment and said, "I'm going to take the fastest flight back. Xiaobai can't handle this alone."

"That works."

Liang Xi said, "I'll go with you."

Aunt Rong glanced at her, feeling reluctant, but she didn't have the authority to speak up.

Fortunately, Liang Yusheng was a sensible person. He said, "You just got back; stay home and adjust to the time difference. I'll arrange for someone to go to Nancheng to take care of things. It's not appropriate for you to go; if you go and end up making A-Xing unhappy, he won't appreciate your good intentions."

With Liang Yusheng having spoken, Liang Xi naturally couldn't say much more and just nodded.

Aunt Rong returned to her room to pack, checked on the baby, Xiaobao, and then, under Liang Yusheng's arrangements, left for the airport to catch the earliest flight back to Nancheng.

An hour later, the people Liang Yusheng arranged arrived and took Fu Juxing to the hospital. Lin Wanbai originally wanted to go with them, but one of the maids stopped her. "Young Madam, you should stay here and rest. The young master will be taken care of; you don't need to worry. It's very late, so go back to your room and sleep. If you need anything, call me; I'll stay here to keep you company."

Seeing the amount of people attending to him, Lin Wanbai couldn't be bothered to follow. "Alright, then take good care of him. I'm going back to my room to rest."

"Please rest assured."

She turned back three times as she walked. Only after the car drove away did she return to her room.

But she was unsettled. She lay in bed, unable to sleep, still worried about Fu Juxing's condition. But she didn't have a phone; otherwise, she could have made a call.

She felt restless, got out of bed, and opened the door. The young girl from earlier was standing in the doorway. Seeing her come out, she immediately wore a standard smile. "Is there anything you need, Young Madam?"

Lin Wanbai didn't speak; she just looked at her for a moment, then smiled and shook her head. "No, I just wanted a drink of water."

"I'll go pour it for you."

As she spoke, she went downstairs. Lin Wanbai returned to her room, walked to the bedside, and stared at the pitch-black night sky, lost in thought.

When the maid brought the water up, she asked casually, "How is Mr. Fu's condition?"

"I'll make a call and ask."

Afterward, the maid went to the door and made a call. A few minutes later, she came back in. "The situation is stable; he's already been treated. You don't need to worry."

"Alright, I know."

"Get some rest early."

"Mhm."

Lin Wanbai still didn't sleep. As the sky began to turn light, Aunt Rong returned.

The moment she arrived, she came to check on Lin Wanbai. Seeing that she was perfectly fine, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing her, Lin Wanbai got out of bed and rushed over to hug her. She felt like crying. "Aunt Rong, you're finally back!"

She held her tightly, finally feeling a sense of security.

"Next time you leave, you have to tell me in advance. Don't leave me all alone."

Aunt Rong felt a pang in her heart hearing this. "Wasn't the young master there with you?" She pushed her away, tidied her hair, wiped away her tears, and smiled. "How did you get along with the young master while I was gone?"

"Not well." She rubbed her nose, was silent for a moment, and said, "How about we go to the hospital to see him?"

Aunt Rong smiled. At least there had been some change. She nodded. "Alright. You didn't sleep all night, right? Get some rest first, and we'll go over at noon."

Lin Wanbai nodded. With Aunt Rong back, she felt much more at ease and fell asleep as soon as she returned to bed.

At noon, Aunt Rong prepared a food box, arranged for a car, and took Lin Wanbai to the Nancheng hospital.

Before getting out of the car at the hospital, Aunt Rong had Lin Wanbai put on a mask. "There are many germs in the hospital; it's better to wear a mask."

Lin Wanbai obediently put it on and followed Aunt Rong into the hospital.

Fu Juxing had been placed in an emergency ward. By the time they arrived, he had regained consciousness, and his fever had gone down.

Lin Wanbai followed obediently behind Aunt Rong. After entering the ward, she stood quietly to the side, still wearing her mask, her eyes darting around as she occasionally snuck a look at him.

Fu Juxing looked at her and said, "Don't worry, there's nothing seriously wrong."

The foot originally hadn't been too bad, but after she stepped on it so hard, he would need a minor surgery.

Aunt Rong asked, "Are you planning to have the surgery here, or return to Beicheng?"

Fu Juxing said, "Return there to have it done."

"When are you planning to leave?"

"I'll go back in the next couple of days." As Fu Juxing spoke, his gaze remained fixed on Lin Wanbai. He then hooked his finger at her. "Come here."

Lin Wanbai didn't move. She stood at the foot of the bed with her hands behind her back. "I'm fine standing here."

"Come here." He said again.

Aunt Rong looked over and said, "Go on over."

With Aunt Rong's instruction, she obeyed. Just as she stood still, Fu Juxing reached out and took off her mask, revealing her face.

His hand was fast; Lin Wanbai couldn't stop him. She frowned and glanced at him.

Fu Juxing said, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"There's no rush. Just take your time recovering and get better first." After she finished speaking, she looked up and smiled at him.

...

The next day, Fu Juxing returned to Beicheng, checked straight into the hospital, and scheduled his surgery.

After Fu Juxing left, Lin Wanbai's life returned to how it was before—but it was also different.

She was startled to realize that she would occasionally think of Fu Juxing, and when eating with Aunt Rong, she would ask about his condition.

On the third day after Fu Juxing left, Lin Wanbai went to the garden to water the flowers. She was alone; Aunt Rong was busy with other things.

Halfway through watering, she suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the bushes near the back wall.

She turned to look and saw a patch of grass moving. She stopped immediately. She arched a brow, wondering if some stray puppy was hiding in there.

She set the watering can aside, clapped her hands, and walked toward the bushes.

Before she could get close, someone suddenly rolled out from the bushes.

Lin Wanbai was startled, let out a scream, and retreated rapidly. She looked around for a weapon but couldn't find anything, so she clenched her fists and stared intently at the person. "Who! Who are you?!"

Judging by the figure and the hair, it should be a woman.

The woman seemed startled herself; she scrambled back toward the edge of the bushes on all fours, and when she looked up, she saw Lin Wanbai.

Her eyes widened, and the next second, she lunged forward. "Xiaobai!"

She looked very excited. In a few steps, she reached her, grabbed her hands, and looked at her with such intensity that tears streamed down her face.

She hugged her, holding her very tightly. "I finally get to see you! Heaven truly rewards those who don't give up! I'm taking you away right now!"

However, before she could finish her sentence, many bodyguards in black appeared from all directions and rushed toward them.

Lin Wanbai hadn't reacted yet, staring blankly at the person in front of her. "Who exactly are you? Do you know me?"

The woman was clearly taken aback, but seeing so many bodyguards approaching, she panicked. "I'm Liang Zhixia! Your best friend! Don't you remember?"

She shook her head. "I don't remember. I was in a car accident and lost my memory."

"Just come with me first, I'll explain everything slowly."

She grabbed her and headed toward the bushes, but the bodyguards were fast. Before she could even scramble inside, they were pulled apart.

Aunt Rong also rushed over, anxious. By the time she arrived, the person had already been dragged out.

Lin Wanbai hadn't had a chance to say another word to her.

"Xiaobai, Xiaobai, are you okay? I heard someone broke in and attacked you?"

Aunt Rong said as she ran toward her, grabbing her hand and pulling her away from the bushes.

Lin Wanbai looked back at Aunt Rong's anxious face, feeling a bit dazed. What the woman named Liang Zhixia had said left her confused, and the fact that so many bodyguards had appeared so promptly also frightened her.

She had always thought there were only she and Aunt Rong in the estate; she hadn't realized there were so many bodyguards hidden about.

Aunt Rong was actually quite panicked. Someone had already told her the situation, and she knew who had come. She was terrified that in those few short minutes, Liang Zhixia had said something she shouldn't have.

Lin Wanbai saw the anxiety and panic in Aunt Rong's eyes, a mix of several emotions.

She shook her head and said, "No one attacked me. I discovered there's a dog hole here; I don't know when it was dug."

She didn't mention what Liang Zhixia had said, just parted the grass and pointed to the dog hole hidden inside. "That person crawled in from here."

Aunt Rong pulled her back, took her hands, and looked her over. "Are you hurt?"

"No, the bodyguards came out just in time and dragged her away."

Aunt Rong twitched the corner of her mouth and nodded. Her gaze flickered toward the dog hole. "As long as you're okay, as long as you're okay. I'll have someone seal this hole tomorrow; it's too unsafe."