The hand gripping the railing trembled slightly, frozen in one position. His breathing was heavy, laden with suppressed pain.
Nangong Yichen, who hadn't yet left the living room, turned to look at his tall back. Why was he standing there in that same posture for so long? Nangong Yichen wanted to ask if he was feeling unwell.
Suddenly, a commotion came from outside. He turned his head to look—a white luxury sedan had pulled up in front of the villa. Stepping out of the car was a graceful, striking figure. Nangong Yichen was very familiar with that silhouette. At the sight of her, a glimmer of light flickered in his cold eyes.
"Yichen—"
Ouyang Ruobing hurried into the living room as soon as she got out of the car.
"Mom, why are you here?" Nangong Yichen asked.
Ouyang Ruobing was about to say a few words to him when she suddenly spotted Nangong Yehen standing on the spiral staircase. She ignored Nangong Yichen and rushed over quickly.
"Don't come near!" Nangong Yehen didn't turn around or face her. His sharp shout froze Ouyang Ruobing in her tracks.
"Nangong, Mochen said you were seriously injured. I wanted to visit you yesterday, but Gong Liye was here, so I..."
Nangong Yehen waved his hand, signaling her to stop talking. A pang of pain struck Ouyang Ruobing's heart. She stepped forward, wanting to get a closer look at him.
Just then, Chu Lingzhi emerged from the room, having finished grinding the Chinese herbal powder. Seeing Ouyang Ruobing, she paused briefly. Ouyang Ruobing caught sight of her, and a shadow of melancholy flickered across her face.
"Miss Ouyang, you're here to see Young Master Nangong?" Chu Lingzhi asked with a smile.
Ouyang Ruobing nodded. Mochen had only called her yesterday to tell her that Nangong Yehen was injured, and the wounds were especially severe. When she heard he was hurt, it felt like a knife twisting in her heart—as if she herself were wounded, her whole body aching. She wanted to come see him immediately, but Mochen said Gong Liye was there, and her sudden appearance would be bad for him. She held back, suppressing the pain inside. Early this morning, she drove over and waited near the estate. As soon as Gong Liye left, she rushed in.
Her car was parked outside, and as she looked at the villa within the estate, imagining him injured, she suddenly felt helpless and afraid. Now, seeing him standing there like this, her heart eased a little.
Chu Lingzhi smiled reassuringly. "His injuries aren't serious, don't worry." She looked up at Nangong Yehen on the stairs. "Young Master Nangong, go back to your room and rest. I'll clean your wounds in an hour."
She had already set the Chinese herbs to boil; once the water was ready, she could use it to wash the wounds.
"..." Nangong Yehen stood rigidly in place, neither turning around nor going upstairs.
Chu Lingzhi found it strange. She glanced at him, then at Ouyang Ruobing. A sour thought crossed her mind—could it be that Ouyang Ruobing's arrival had made him tense up?
Nangong Yehen lifted his foot and took two steps, but Chu Lingzhi immediately noticed something was wrong.
"Pfft..." A sudden sweetness rose in Nangong Yehen's chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Young Master Nangong!" Chu Lingzhi's heart tightened as she rushed forward.
"Nangong!"
Ouyang Ruobing was even faster. The two women charged toward the staircase from different directions, both too frantic. Chu Lingzhi was bumped, stumbling backward two steps, her back hitting the stair railing. The impact made her wince in pain.
By the time she steadied herself, Ouyang Ruobing had already reached Nangong Yehen and was supporting him. Seeing the anxiety, panic, and lingering heartache on Ouyang Ruobing's face as she looked at Nangong Yehen, Chu Lingzhi felt a slight heaviness in her heart.