Chapter 55: Chapter 55: "Thinking of You.
Yu Zhizhi braced her hands against the wall by the door, looking at the Wild Dog lying in a pool of blood.
The Night Light Pearls on the ground cast a hazy glow.
The old doctor helped him up, propping his back against the wall, and took a syringe from his box.
It was filled with a vivid green liquid.
He gave the Wild Dog an injection.
"First, I’ll strengthen his heart to prevent cardiac arrest during the procedure."
He remembered this particular Wild Dog well.
From the last time he’d treated him, he knew his Golden Beast Bone had been extracted. Currently, he was unable to awaken his spiritual power or Super Talent.
He couldn’t even fulfill the duties of a simple house guard.
Let alone any higher-level positions.
All he could do was be a slave, serving tea and water, at his master’s beck and call.
"His bone structure is actually excellent, and he has a good sense of strength. If he could awaken his spiritual power, he would have been a promising candidate." The old doctor’s tone was full of regret.
"Then... when will he wake up?" Yu Zhizhi asked with concern.
The old doctor said, "There’s no set time for that. With an injury this severe, there will be aftereffects. He could be in a coma for three months, maybe half a year to a year... or even longer."
Outside the storage room.
The Duke overheard their conversation.
He spoke up. "In recognition of his merit in saving a life, the Duke Mansion will take good care of him. He can sleep for as long as he needs, right up until his last breath. We will not cease any medical measures."
He said this for the little female to hear.
To put her mind at ease.
Beside him, Guard Captain Jieao’s face was filled with guilt.
If he hadn’t let his guard down, Count Gray never would have had an opportunity to strike.
The drinks tonight had been a grave mistake.
Just as he was about to drop to one knee, he heard the Duke’s words—
"It’s too late. Go back. We’ll discuss your punishment tomorrow."
"Yes, sir!"
Jieao immediately replied.
He bowed. "I will take my leave."
As Guard Captain Jieao was leaving, he saw Noel of the Rabbit Clan walking toward them and bowed respectfully.
Noel had also been keeping an eye on the situation.
He came to the door of the storage room and said slowly, "I have a way to wake him in the shortest possible time, without any lingering aftereffects."
The Duke smiled. "Then I’ll trouble you. Please."
Yu Zhizhi heard the voice and turned her head in pleasant surprise. When she saw it was Noel of the Rabbit Clan, she remembered—he was the most renowned Great Doctor in the Valoran Empire!
His awakened Super Talent was [Healing]!
The old doctor recognized the newcomer, his face lighting up with pleasant surprise. "Lord Noel, please, come in!"
It was his first time seeing the young Rabbit Clan man up close.
The power of a Healer was far more effective than lying in a cold hospital.
The old doctor had performed some basic wound treatment to stabilize the Wild Dog’s vital signs. He had planned to take him to the territory’s operating room for the rest, but now, seeing the Healer, he quickly stood up to make way.
An appointment with Noel of Greenfield City was worth a fortune and hard to come by.
Yu Zhizhi watched the young man walk past her.
She said softly, "Thank you."
Noel of the Rabbit Clan’s lips curled into a slight smile. Staring straight ahead, he casually tossed out a phrase, "This favor, in the future—"
Then, in a low voice only Yu Zhizhi could hear, he added, "will have to be repaid."
After stepping out, the old doctor noticed the wound on Yu Zhizhi’s knee and gestured for her to come over.
"Ms. Zhi Zhi, come over here. Let me treat your knee so it doesn’t get infected."
"Okay."
Yu Zhizhi agreed.
She slowly moved to a stool in the storage room. After sitting down, she watched the old doctor take out a disinfecting medicine to clean her wound.
The special medicine he used didn’t hurt at all; in fact, it felt a little cool.
The scraped area scabbed over.
After cleaning it, he covered it with a waterproof bandage to ensure it wouldn’t be exposed to airborne bacteria.
The old doctor handed Yu Zhizhi a bottle of white medicine. "This is for blood circulation and pain relief. It’ll be a bit bitter, but it’s good for you."
After you drink it, you’ll be able to walk normally.
Yu Zhizhi took it and drank it all in one gulp.
Just as the old doctor had said, it was a bit bitter and astringent, like licking metal.
The effect was immediate.
The moment she drank it, the pain in her body vanished.
Yu Zhizhi tried moving her leg; she could straighten and bend it normally.
A few servants arrived outside the door, including Teacher Dai Li.
She walked to Yu Zhizhi’s side and said softly, "Ms. Zhi Zhi, it’s so late. You should go back and rest. I’ll watch over things here."
"Mm," Yu Zhizhi nodded lightly.
Inside the room, Noel had already drawn a healing Array. Even from a distance, she could feel the embrace of holy light.
Yu Zhizhi stood up and slowly walked to the doorway.
Outside in the courtyard, moonlight spilled across the ground.
The Duke stood alone beside the shadow of the bamboo. He looked up, staring at the distant night sky. His deep purple robes swayed in the wind, and a trace of weary loneliness clung to his features.
The black snake coiled around his shoulder slid down his body and onto the bamboo upon seeing the young woman, quickly disappearing into the night.
Yu Zhizhi walked up behind him.
Hearing her footsteps, the Duke turned around, a nearly imperceptible smile flashing in the depths of his eyes.
"I’m all better~" Yu Zhizhi slowly lifted her skirt hem slightly to show the Duke her newly bandaged knee. "It doesn’t hurt anymore."
"Let’s go."
The Duke started walking toward the study.
Yu Zhizhi followed.
She noticed that this time, the Duke was walking very slowly. She didn’t have to trot to easily keep up.
The two of them walked one after the other down a tree-lined path. As they passed the wall of the back courtyard, the Duke nonchalantly glanced at the hole at its base—
"You ran out from here?"
Yu Zhizhi’s face flushed. "Mhm."
"Impressive that you managed to find it."
The corners of the Duke’s lips curved up slightly.
That hole.
It was left by a small chow chow he’d raised many years ago.
So much time had passed that after planting some greenery, it was basically invisible. If the little pet hadn’t snuck out, he would have forgotten all about it.
They returned to the study.
Yu Zhizhi took off her shoes at the door. Carrying them in her hand, she walked on the cobblestones, not entering the house but instead taking a side path directly to the back courtyard.
’I got so dirty today, I need to get properly clean.’
Steam rose lazily from the round bath.
The moonlight in the sky was bright.
By the side of the pool, a small, dim yellow lamp was hanging.
She could almost see the moon’s reflection shimmering on the water’s surface, hazy and beautiful. Yu Zhizhi set her shoes down, sat slowly on the edge of the pool, and dipped her legs into the hot water.
When the Duke arrived, he saw the little female sitting by the pool, seemingly in a daze.
He sat down as well.
Yu Zhizhi was thinking about tonight’s events, her heart still pounding with lingering fear.
Her eyelashes trembled. It felt as if she had just escaped the Grim Reaper’s scythe.
If it weren’t for the [Eavesdropping Heart Card], she might have already died at Count Gray’s hands.
She had browsed the System Mall before but hadn’t found this card.
She couldn’t help but ask in her mind.
[I’d like to buy two more Eavesdropping Heart Cards, is that possible?]
[System: Apologies, this item is not currently for sale. There is a chance it will drop into the reward pool upon completion of a main quest.]
Yu Zhizhi remembered.
Neither the first nor the second quest had rewarded an Eavesdropping Heart Card.
These two had come from the novice gift pack.
’Hopefully, the third main quest will have this reward.’
But, thinking about the third main quest...
Yu Zhizhi couldn’t help but lower her head, her rabbit ears drooping, feeling lost.
’The Duke has never felt any desire for me at all.’
The Duke noticed the little rabbit had wilted.
She didn’t look very happy.
He couldn’t help but ask, "What are you thinking about?"
Without thinking, Yu Zhizhi blurted out, "...Thinking about you."
