Chapter 4

Chapter 4

It hurt.

I woke to a sharp, tearing pain in my right hand.

The moment my senses returned, my father’s voice exploded beside my ear. “She’s awake! She’s awake! The girl’s awake!”

I blinked. Then blinked again.

The bed beneath me was soft, and the canopy overhead was beautiful.

I wasn’t at home.

The moment I turned my head, my father lunged over, wailing, “Ah Yu, you’re finally awake! If anything had happened to you, what would I have done?”

In a hoarse voice, I asked, “…Where’s Ah Yun?”

He wiped at the corners of his eyes, half laughing and half crying. “You saved an important person, child! Ah Yun is just fine. The noble lady had someone take her to eat something nice, so don’t you worry…”

The instant I heard that, I tried to struggle upright. “You let someone take Ah Yun away again?”

“What?” My father froze. “What are you saying? I had to stay here and look after you, didn’t I? Ah Yun went off to enjoy herself. What nonsense are you spouting?”

I flipped over, about to get out of bed.

“Sister!”

It was Ah Yun’s voice.

That tiny little bundle came stumbling in, still clutching half of a pretty pastry in her hand. “Sister, eat!”

She was running so fast that I instinctively reached out to catch her-only then realizing my right arm was wrapped in thick bandages and gauze. Pain shot through me, and I sucked in a breath.

Someone came in from outside the door and caught Ah Yun by the back of her collar. “Careful. Your sister’s hand is broken. They only just set the bone.”

It was Zhou You.

He set Ah Yun down and looked me over from head to toe. “Awake, huh? You’re pretty lucky. A beam that thick came crashing down, and all it did was break one hand.”

“Ah You.” Madam Zhou’s voice came from behind him. “Mind your words.”

My father bent in a bow. “Greetings, Madam, Young Master.”

I was about to bow as well, but Zhou You stopped me. “You saved my mother. I should be the one thanking you.”

As he spoke, he shifted slightly to the side, clearing the doorway.

Madam Zhou walked in at an unhurried pace.

The room fell silent.

Madam Zhou held a cup of tea and sipped it slowly, saying nothing for a long while.

Zhou You stood behind her chair with his arms folded, silent as well.

My father’s face was full of awkward unease. His hands kept rubbing at his thighs without him noticing, and he kept signaling at me with his eyes.

I acted as if I didn’t see it. I helped Ah Yun break off half the pastry and softly teased her, “Will you give me one bite?”

Zhou You looked at me and gave a quiet laugh.

Madam Zhou set down the teacup in her hand and said gently, “If you want to eat, there is plenty more. I can have someone bring it in.”

My father answered before I could. “No, no, no, that’s not necessary. The girl is just greedy. We wouldn’t dare trouble you.”

Madam Zhou looked at me.

I smiled. “Thank you, Madam Zhou. I’m not hungry.”

She smiled mildly. “What is your name?”

“Xia Yu.”

“Good. Don’t worry,” she said with a nod. “You saved me. I will make sure your injuries are treated properly.”

“You’re too kind, Madam.” My father bowed again and again, pulling me along to salute with him. “Hurry and thank Madam-”

Halfway through, Madam Zhou cut him off.

She suddenly asked me, “Why did you save me?”

I froze. My father froze too.

“At the time, everyone else was running out. Weren’t you afraid of dying?”

I lifted my head and met her gaze.

Those eyes were clear and penetrating, as if they could see straight through everything.