“Bed rest for a week, with walks limited to no more than five minutes each day,” Dr. Bai instructed Fan Biyu, his tone firm. “After a week, you may move around as normal, but avoid any strenuous activity for at least three weeks.”

  Fan Biyu frowned, clearly displeased. “Is there a way to heal faster?” she asked, the thought of being bedridden so long already vexing her.

  Dr. Bai smirked knowingly and reached into his sleeve, pulling out a folded slip of paper. “Dr. Chi anticipated you’d say that,” he said, handing it to her. “He told me to give you this when you asked.”

  Fan Biyu blinked in surprise. Anticipated it? She hadn’t evehis mysterious Dr. Chi. Curiosity sparked, she took the slip from Dr. Bai and unfolded it. Half a sed ter, her face turned a deep crimson. With a sharp motion, she stuffed the paper beh her b, determio hide its tents from view.

  “What did it say?” Jin Shu asked distractedly, not yet notig her rea.

  “N-nothing!” she stammered, avoiding his gaze.

  Jin Shu g her flushed face, a flicker of suspi crossing his mind. What in the world did Dr. Chi write? Shaking his head, he decided to let it go and turned his attention to Dr. Bai. “ she leave the ic?”

  “She , but remember—no more than five minutes of walking per day,” Dr. Bai replied. “If you pn to take her home, she’ll need assistance.”

  Dr. Bai stood, brushing off his robes. “If there’s nothing else, I must attend to my patient.”

  Jin Shu rose and gave a polite bow. “Thank you for your care, Dr. Bai.”

  “o thank me; I’m just doing my job,” Dr. Bai said with a chuckle as he exited the room.

  Jin Shu turned back to Fan Biyu. “Would you like to leave?”

  She gnced up at him, her expression uain. “How? I ’t walk.”

  “I was thinking of carrying you home,” Jin Shu replied casually, oblivious to the faint blush spreading across her cheeks.

  Fan Biyu looked away, her gaze fixed on a distant er of the room. After a long pause, she murmured, “…Okay.”

  “Let’s go, then.” Without further ado, Jin Shu slipped his hands around her bad under her legs, lifting her effortlessly in one swift motion.

  “AH! What are you doing!?”

  He stopped, giving her a puzzled look. “Taking you home. Is something wrong?”

  “I-I thought you’d at least give me a moment to mentally prepare!”

  “Sorry… Are you fine now?”

  Fan Biyu groaned, her face burning. “…J-just get it over with quickly.”

  With a small shrug, Jin Shu adjusted his hold on her and strode out of the ic. His thoughts wandered as he walked. Is it less awkward if I act like I don’t uand?

  He directed the question to Nano.

  “Interpersonal retionship advice is not included in our services,” Nano replied matter-of-factly.

  But you were talking about how Li Xue liked me before? Jin Shu tered.

  “That was a simple observation. For instance, I tell you that Fan Biyu, while she doesn’t seem to have as strong feelings as Li Xue, probably wouldn’t be opposed to a retionship—with a strong push.”

  Isn’t that still retionship advice?

  “Just a simple observation.”

  “Jin Shu,” Fan Biyu’s voice broke his train of thought. She was looking up at him, her expression curious.

  “Hmm?” He raised an eyebrow, gng down at her.

  “Where’s my master?”

  His steps faltered. The hesitation on his face didn’t escape her notice. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her tone shifting.

  “My mother… she’s missing.”

  “Missing? What do you mean missing?”

  “She never came back after the day you were injured.”

  Fan Biyu’s brow furrowed as she sidered his words. “Are you sure she’s missing…?” She stopped herself, realizing the absurdity of her question. “I guess that’s a dumb question. How could she not be, if she hasn’t returned?”

  “The Immortal Phoenix Sect has Soul Jades that reveal her locatiht?” Jin Shu asked urgently.

  “They do,” Fan Biyu firmed.

  Jin Shu’s gaze sharpened. “Then tell me how to find the sect!”

  “I ’t—”

  “Why not!?” he interrupted, his frustration boiling over.

  “Let me finish,” Fan Biyu said patiently, though a hint of exasperatio into her tone.

  “Oh, sorry… It’s just…”

  “I know,” she said softly, her expression uanding. “I get it.”

  “Please, tinue,” he said, his voice quieter now.

  “I ’t tell you where the sect is—”

  Jin Shu opened his mouth to interrupt again, but Fan Biyu swiftly pced a hand over it.

  “I said, let me finish,” she said firmly, giving him a pointed look.

  He nodded silently, his eyes apologetic.

  “The sect has forbidden anyone from revealing its location. However, I lead you there.”

  “Mmm—” Jin Shu tried to speak, but with his mouth still covered, his words were muffled. Fan Biyu removed her hand with a small sigh.

  “You really ’t tell me where it is?” he asked again, his disbelief evident.

  “When I said ‘forbidden,’ I didn’t mean we were ordered not to,” she expined. “The sect used a teique that makes it physically impossible for us to speak its location.”

  “You ’t point it out on a map?” Jin Shu asked, frowning.

  Fan Biyu shook her head, her expressiretful.

  “So we’ll have to wait three weeks for you to heal?” he pressed, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice.

  Her gaze dropped, and her face took on a hard-to-read expression. After a moment, she blushed. “A week… but I’ll need your help,” she muttered, barely above a whisper.

  “But the doctor said—”

  “A week!” she snapped, her faow a deep shade of red.

  Her outburst echoed dowreet, drawing the curious stares of passersby. Jin Shu sighed, adjusting his hold on her. Without another word, he quied his steps and carried her through the gates of the Jin manor, leaving the onlookers behind.

  Onside, Jin Shu called for a maid. “Prepare a room for her to stay in,” he ordered before heading to his private courtyard with Fan Biyu still in his arms.

  As he stepped into the courtyard, a sharp crad a soft gasp drew his attention.

  His eyes darted to the source of the sound: Li Xue, seated at a small table, stood frozen. A broken teacup y at her feet, tea pooling around the shards.

  “Are you alright?” Jin Shu asked, flickering across his face.

  Li Xue didn’t respond. She stared at him, or more specifically, at Fan Biyu led in his arms.

  “Li Xue?” Jin Shu tried again, stepping closer. “Are you okay?”

  “O-oh… I… I’m fine,” she stammered, her voisteady. Her gaze dropped, though her hands fidgeted nervously. “W-who’s this?”

  “This is my friend, Fan Biyu,” Jin Shu expined. “She’s the one I he Divine Physi to treat.”

  Fan Biyu, resting in his arms, tilted her head and gave Li Xue a once-over. “And who are you?” she asked bluntly.

  Li Xue’s hands stilled. “Um… I’m Li Xue,” she mumbled, her voice barely audible. Her gaze darted between them, her shoulders stiffening. “I’m, uh… I’m Jin Shu’s… uh…” Her words trailed off, and her expression crumpled. “I don’t know!”

  Before Jin Shu or Fan Biyu could react, Li Xue pushed past him, bolting for the courtyard exit. Jin Shu caught a glimpse of tears sliding down her cheeks as she disappeared through the doorway.

  “Could you put me down now?”

  Jin Shu nodded aly set her on her feet.

  “Is she your lover?” Fan Biyu asked abruptly.

  Jin Shu nearly dropped her in surprise. “No.”

  “Then what is she to you?” she pressed as she slowly made her way toward the table in the er.

  Jin Shu followed close behind, ready to catch her if she stumbled. “Her adopted father is General Gong. I took her in as a favor to him.”

  “Hmm.” Fan Biyu made a nonittal sound as she eased into the chair, her gaze unreadable.

  Jin Shu settled into the seat opposite her. “How I help you heal in a week?”

  Without a word, she handed him the slip of paper she’d received from Dr. Bai.

  “Read this, and you’ll uand,” she said, avoiding his gaze.

  Curious, Jin Shu unfolded the note and began to read.

  ‘I’m sure you want to heal ys as fast as possible. Well, you’re in luck—there is a way. However, I’m not so sure you’ll like the sound of it. Below are the instrus for a massage teique that expedite your recovery. Keep in mind, it must be performed by someone in the Qi Realm, and as it happens, yood ‘friend’ Jin Shu fits the bill.

  …

  P.S. The teique requires skin-to-skin tact. :p ’

  Jin Shu blinked, rereading the o ensure he hadn’t misuood. Since when was Dr. Chi such a character!?

  “So… I have to massage ys eaight for a week?” he asked, his tone caught between fusion and disbelief.

  “AH! Don’t say it out loud!” Fan Biyu yelped, waving her hands frantically, her cheeks flushed bright red.

  Jin Shu raised an eyebrow but said nothing, folding the note aing it aside. “I’ll help if it’s what you need.”

  Fan Biyu crossed her arms and turned her face away, still blushing furiously. “Just… don’t make it weird.”

  “I'm not. It's just a massage, nothing to be embarrassed about.” He shrugged nontly.

  With that, the tension dissolved into an awkward silehe faint chirping of birds filling the courtyard.