The pain in her mouth brought Duan Liuyang back to her senses a little.

She seemed to hear a somewhat familiar name.

Zhao Yusheng? Was that the Young Master Zhao she had once met?

Duan Liuyang loosened the finger she had been biting, slowly lifted her gaze, and opened her eyes.

Zhao Yusheng withdrew his long finger, which had been bitten until it bled, and looked at her tenderly.

“Miss Duan, I’m Zhao Yusheng. We’ve met before — do you still remember me?”

“Jiu’er sent me to save you. I’m truly sorry about what happened to your family.”

Duan Liuyang stared at Zhao Yusheng without blinking, and the tears that had just stopped came pouring down again.

Her gaze drifted downward to the arm she had bitten, and she lowered her head, burying her face against her knees.

The room was very quiet, with only the sound of the woman’s hurried breathing.

She was crying — silently, grief carried to its utmost extreme.

Zhao Yusheng sat down at the edge of the bed and let out a soft sigh.

“Miss Duan, Jiu’er is also deeply sorry for what befell your family. Rest assured, from now on you’re one of us in Dragon Shadow.”

“From today on, we’re all one family. Whatever your father wished for, Jiu’er will make sure it comes to pass.”

Duan Liuyang kept weeping, her sobs gradually growing louder.

At last she broke down completely, crying out loud, her wails filled with sorrow.

Zhao Yusheng gently patted her trembling little shoulders, quietly staying by her side.

He could feel her helplessness but didn’t know how to comfort her.

This was the first time Duan Liuyang had allowed herself to cry so openly since losing her family.

It was as if she had finally found something to lean on, and simply wanted to cry it all out.

Duan Liuyang cried for a good while, until her voice grew hoarse.

Suddenly she began to cough lightly, again and again, her whole body shaking violently.

Zhao Yusheng’s large hand brought over a basin of water.

“Miss Duan, drink a little water first. If you keep crying like this, I’m afraid your body won’t be able to hold up.”

He gently stroked her hair, his voice just as tender as when he faced an injured Zhao Xiaoxiao.

Duan Liuyang gave a few hard sobs, drew in several deep breaths, and finally lifted her head.

Zhao Yusheng looked at her pale, bloodless face and carefully brought the water to her lips.

“Here, slowly! There’ll be porridge in a little while.”

Duan Liuyang parted her lips slightly and drank the warm water in small sips.

After a few mouthfuls, she stretched out a pair of faintly trembling little hands, wanting to hold the bowl herself.

“It’s fine, let me do it.” Zhao Yusheng shook his head gently.

Both his voice and movements were as gentle as could be.

Because the woman before him was truly far too weak, Zhao Yusheng worried that even a single sneeze from him might knock her over.

This pale, thin hand had not a trace of vitality left in it — it was too pitiful!

Duan Liuyang held the bowl lightly, and Zhao Yusheng didn’t withdraw his hand.

Not until she had finished all the water in the bowl did he take it back.

Looking down at the woman’s pitiful eyes, Zhao Yusheng felt a pang of tenderness.

“My brothers made some porridge — eat a little first, all right?”

“Mm.” Duan Liuyang nodded with some difficulty.

She was starving! She had lost count of how long it had been since she’d eaten.

Zhao Yusheng pressed his lips together, turned around, and brought over the thin porridge and sweet potatoes.

Catching the fragrance of the sweet potato, Duan Liuyang shifted herself outward a little.

“Let me do it — you just sit tight!”

Zhao Yusheng set the food down on a stool nearby and bent down to support Duan Liuyang’s shoulders.

His touch made her flinch involuntarily.

“Don’t be afraid! I’m not a bad person.” Zhao Yusheng pulled over a blanket, wrapped it around her thin frame, and only then let go of her.

Duan Liuyang’s whole body was wrapped up, with only her little head showing.

Her reddened eyes rolled as she looked at Zhao Yusheng.

Zhao Yusheng sat down beside her and picked up the bowl.

“Here, make do and drink a little — you need to build up your strength.”

He brought the bowl to Duan Liuyang’s lips, and she didn’t refuse, taking a somewhat eager gulp with a soft “glug.”

But because she was too hasty, she began coughing lightly again.

Zhao Yusheng held the porridge in one hand and gently rubbed her back with the other.

He didn’t dare pat her — afraid he wouldn’t gauge his own strength and knock her over — so he only stroked her gently.

“Slowly! It’s all yours. After the porridge, there’s still sweet potato, nice and hot.”

“Later there’ll be meat too. Slowly, no rush!”

Under Zhao Yusheng’s care, Duan Liuyang finished a whole bowl of porridge and ate an entire sweet potato besides.

“Growl…” This faint, half-there sound had already rumbled more than once.

By the time Duan Liuyang finished the sweet potato, she clearly heard that the sound was coming from the other person’s stomach.

“Young Master Zhao.” She looked up at him. “You should eat — I’m full.”

With food in her stomach, some strength had returned to Duan Liuyang’s gaze.

The corner of Zhao Yusheng’s mouth curved up slightly, and he stood, a little embarrassed.

He went to fetch the cloth he’d used earlier to wipe her face and used it to dab at Duan Liuyang’s lips.

“Young Master Zhao, I’m fine now. Please, go ahead and eat.”

Duan Liuyang glanced up once more, then lowered her head.

“Thank you for saving me. From now on, I’m yours to command.”

“Miss Duan, don’t say that!” Zhao Yusheng cut in at once.

Duan Liuyang gave a bitter laugh and shook her head. “Young Master Zhao, don’t misunderstand.”

“That’s not what I meant. I know I’m not worthy of that kind of talk either.”

“No!” Zhao Yusheng waved his hand. “Miss Duan, never say such a thing — it would upset Jiu’er.”

“We’re all one family. Not brothers, then sisters — there’s no ranking of high and low among us.”

“Once you’ve recovered, we’ll set out again. Jiu’er and the others have already arrived at Yongshan City.”

“The debt owed for your parents and your younger brother — I’ve already settled it. But there’s still so much left for us to do!”

Zhao Yusheng went over, picked up the rest of the porridge, and gulped it down in large mouthfuls.

A few swallows finished the bowl, and he picked up another sweet potato.

He peeled off its skin and turned back to Duan Liuyang’s side.

“Miss Duan, this sweet potato isn’t big. You can still manage a little more — go on, eat some.”

Having eaten, Duan Liuyang had regained a bit of strength.

She drew her hands out from under the blanket and took the sweet potato from him.

Seeing that her color had improved, Zhao Yusheng didn’t refuse her this time.

Duan Liuyang held the sweet potato and took a bite, head lowered.

Zhao Yusheng turned and picked up another one for himself.

In the room, one sitting, one standing, the two of them faced each other at not too great a distance.

Zhao Yusheng glanced at Duan Liuyang from time to time, worried something might go wrong.

Duan Liuyang knew the man was watching her; she kept her head lowered and said nothing.

As she ate, something came to mind, and tears welled up in her eyes once more.

A once-happy family, gone just like that — from now on, she alone would remain. Duan Liuyang’s heart still ached terribly.

Her father, who had devoted himself wholly to the people; her mother, gentle and virtuous; and her sweet, sensible little brother — all of them were gone.

After a few bites, Zhao Yusheng noticed something was wrong. He immediately set down the sweet potato, stepped forward, and sat beside her.

“Miss Duan, are you all right?”

When Duan Liuyang looked up, the tears pooling in her eyes rolled down both her cheeks.

“Young Master Zhao, I wish so much this were just a dream.”