“Take off your top...” Chen Mian said as he closed the door.
Velyan froze instantly. Clutching the hem of her clothes, she glared at Chen Mian with a flushed face. “...Are you doing this on purpose?!”
“How am I supposed to treat your wounds if you don't expose them?” Chen Mian sighed helplessly. “Is your pride more important, or your life?”
Velyan pursed her lips, her hands trembling slightly. In the end, she squeezed out a few words through her teeth, “...Turn around.”
Chen Mian turned around to face the door.
From behind him came a rustling sound, mingled with Velyan's quiet muttering, “My dignity... to think I have to do this in front of a human...”
After a while, her awkward voice finally sounded, “O-Okay...”
When Chen Mian turned back, Velyan was kneeling on the bed with her back to him. Her golden hair had been swept over her shoulders, revealing several hideous gashes across her pale back. A faint black energy drifted over them, and fine, spiderweb-like cracks were faintly visible around the wounds. There was also a deep gash at the base of her wings, nearly severing them, which was similarly shrouded in black mist.
As for the wound that had already been treated, it was now nearly healed.
Right now, Velyan was completely tense, even her wings trembling slightly.
“Louise, stabilize her wounds,” Chen Mian said, his expression turning a bit more serious.
Louise placed her hand on Velyan's shoulder, and a rich flow of life mana slowly poured into her body.
Velyan's body stiffened before gradually relaxing.
“Do you need something to bite on?” Chen Mian's hand stopped near her shoulder blade. “It might hurt a lot.”
“No need! I am not afraid of pain!” Just as Velyan's words fell, the golden mana in Chen Mian's hand rapidly condensed and flowed into her wound. The black energy seemed to be provoked, suddenly turning violent. The cracks around the wound began to expand rapidly, but Louise's life mana quickly worked to repair the torn flesh.
Velyan let out a muffled, suppressed groan, her entire body arching forward in a shiver. The bedsheet clutched tightly in her hands ripped instantly, and she clenched her teeth hard.
“Don't move,” Chen Mian said, pressing down on her shoulder with his other hand. “I'm peeling it away now. We can't interrupt it.”
“I... I know... Ah—!” Velyan's voice suddenly spiked in pitch. The black mist, wrapped in golden mana threads, was slowly peeled from the wound. The mist struggled relentlessly, repeatedly tearing the wound open under its impact, only for it to be rapidly reconstructed with Louise's help.
The intense pain distorted Velyan's voice. With her hands pressed against the bed, her body shook uncontrollably, her skin covered in a fine layer of sweat.
“Almost there, hang in there,” Louise comforted her gently from the side.
Velyan's breathing grew heavier and heavier. Cold sweat seeped into the blanket, leaving dark, damp patches, and every surge of energy caused her body to spasm violently.
Because there were so many wounds, the process of peeling away the black mist became extremely drawn out...
“I... I can't take much more of this,” her voice squeezed out through her teeth, trembling slightly, with a faint hint of tears.
“It's almost over,” Chen Mian said in a deep voice.
With a sudden tug, he peeled a dense clump of black energy from the wound. As if all her strength had been drained, Velyan collapsed forward, slumping flat on the bed.
“Are you okay?” Louise asked softly.
Velyan didn't answer. She lay prone on the bed, panting heavily without moving a muscle. Drenched in sweat, she looked completely exhausted.
Once peeled away, the clump of black energy quickly dissipated.
“That's enough for today,” Chen Mian said, withdrawing his hand.
It took a long time for Velyan to recover. Still lying limply on the bed, she said in a somewhat raspy voice, “Thanks... Chen Mian, and Louise.”
“Get some rest,” Chen Mian said, walking over to the door. “We'll treat the other wounds once your body recovers a bit.”
“Mm,” Velyan murmured in a low voice, surprisingly not arguing this time.
Chen Mian stepped out of the room, and Louise followed, closing the door behind them.
“Chen Mian.”
“Hmm?”
“Is Flora important to you?” Louise suddenly asked seriously.
“Yes, she is,” Chen Mian replied without a second thought.
Louise was silent for a moment, then tipped her chin up. “Then haven't you noticed she's had something on her mind these past couple of days?”
Chen Mian was taken aback. “Something on her mind?”
“These past two days, she's always stealing glances at you, and she's been completely distracted,” Louise said with a smile.
“How do you know that so well?”
“Observation~ Since she's important to you, go ask her what's wrong,” Louise said, pursing her lips. “Honestly, having to make me remind you.”
Chen Mian looked at her with a complicated gaze. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you said she's important to you...” Louise shrugged helplessly. “Besides, because of Flora and the others' arrival, you've become less closed off, haven't you?”
“In the few memories I've recovered, you weren't like this at all.”
“Even though you have amnesia, the reason you became like this probably has something to do with my disappearance.” As Louise spoke, she walked toward her own room. After a couple of steps, she looked back, her tone returning to its usual lazy drawl. “But I still remember the compensation you owe me. You'll have to pay it back eventually. And next time you ask for my help, don't kick my door down.”
With that, she opened her door and stepped inside, leaving Chen Mian alone in the hallway.
Standing in place, he glanced in the direction of Flora's room. No light leaked from under her door.
...
Late at night.
Flora leaned against the railing, her light brown hair gently lifted by the wind. The Moonlight Grass tea she held in her hands had already gone cold.
Suddenly, the rooftop door let out a soft creak.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the rim of her cup as she slowly turned her head.
“So this is where you were,” Chen Mian's voice came from behind her.
Flora turned her face away, looking out at the distant forest. Her voice was slightly softer than usual. “...Mm, I wanted to feel the breeze.”
Chen Mian walked up beside her and leaned against the railing as well. “What's wrong, Flora?”
Flora traced the rim of her cup again, remaining silent.
Chen Mian didn't press her either, simply looking out at the distant forest alongside her.
Suddenly, she turned around to face Chen Mian, her lively eyes looking exceptionally clear under the moonlight.
“Mr. Chen Mian,” Flora spoke, though her pace was slightly slower than usual. “Lately... you seem very busy.”
Chen Mian was slightly taken aback. “Yeah, things have been a bit busy since I got back.”
“I'm not complaining.” Flora shook her head gently, her lips curving upward slightly, though her tone carried an obvious nervousness. “I wanted to say... it feels like the time I used to spend alone with Mr. Chen Mian has disappeared.”
The air fell quiet for a moment.
She lifted her gaze, looking at him earnestly. “Before, you would watch me cook from the kitchen doorway, you would hand me the hairdryer, and you would ask me if my curse had lessened while I was in the hot spring... You still care about me now, but...” Flora lowered her head, her voice growing softer and softer. “I know it's wrong to think like this... but I still want just a little bit of time to spend alone with Mr. Chen Mian...”
After saying this, Flora quickly averted her eyes, clutching her cup tightly as if startled by her own words.
The air fell silent once more for a few seconds.
Rate on N.U.
