This was the first time the two of them had spoken to each other on their own initiative since the ambush and their escape that day.

Though Zhen Jiu’er still said nothing, inwardly she couldn’t help but feel a flicker of surprise.

But she didn’t seem to have any desire to speak.

Jiu’er shook her head and went on gathering up her needles.

“Because I held you?” Lu Beicheng asked again.

“No!” This time Jiu’er finally raised her head and glanced at him. “I’m not angry. But you and I have an employer-employee relationship, Ninth Master, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with how we’ve been getting along.”

In other words: mild, businesslike, purely professional — that was how they ought to interact.

She was just a doctor he’d hired with money, after all. There was no need to mix in too much personal feeling, was there?

A shadow passed faintly across Lu Beicheng’s eyes; he was clearly a little displeased.

But he himself didn’t even know what he was displeased about.

Their relationship really was nothing more than employer and employee.

“Ninth Master, try lifting your leg.” Zhen Jiu’er packed away her needle kit and looked at his leg.

Lu Beicheng said nothing, turning his attention back to his own leg.

Gently, he lifted it.

Not the slightest response.

Jiu’er spoke again: “Try harder, just a few times, that’s all. Don’t think about anything, don’t worry about whether you’ll be able to walk — just focus on lifting it, right now.”

“Just… put the effort into your knee. A few lifts is enough.”

Zhen Jiu’er at work was, without question, focused and serious.

Whatever anger there might or might not have been, it wasn’t going to affect how she treated her patient.

“How is it? Ninth Master, try pushing harder… yes! Just like that! Lift it! A little more!”

Lu Beicheng really was trying his best — a fine sheen of sweat had visibly beaded at his temples.

In the past he truly hadn’t been willing to make the effort. But tonight, he was trying in earnest too.

Because this girl was giving it everything she had, with utter seriousness.

His leg slowly began to lift, bit by bit, rising little by little.

“Don’t panic, Ninth Master, it won’t hurt. Just focus on lifting.”

Seeing his foot rise slightly off the ground, a brilliant gleam suddenly lit Zhen Jiu’er’s eyes.

At first, Lu Beicheng hadn’t been very willing to try at all. But the light in her eyes inexplicably lifted his own mood.

She must be a girl who liked to smile.

Three days ago, in fact, she had always liked to smile.

His leg pushed with a bit more strength.

At last — it straightened!

“That’s it! That’s it, that’s it!”

The result took Zhen Jiu’er somewhat by surprise.

She had only meant for him to lift it a little. She hadn’t expected he’d actually be able to straighten it out!

“Wonderful, that’s enough for today. Tomorrow we’ll—”

“Not angry anymore?” Lu Beicheng’s voice suddenly drilled into her ear.

Low, pleasant, magnetic — genuinely lovely to listen to.

Jiu’er froze for a moment, and the mood in the tent turned suddenly awkward.

She supported his leg and slowly lowered it back down.

“Actually, I wasn’t angry…”

“Does the whole world think I’m blind?” Rare for him — Lu Beicheng had actually managed a dry joke.

Jiu’er let out a breath, unsure how to explain.

If she said she was only angry at herself, would he believe her?

She was angry at herself — again and again, she had mistaken him for her Ninth Imperial Uncle.

She had even felt safe curled up in his arms, had even wished, for that one moment, that time would simply stop…

She was angry at herself for losing herself in another man’s embrace, when it was her Ninth Imperial Uncle she owed her loyalty to.

“Ninth Master, I really…”

But Lu Beicheng’s expression had suddenly turned serious. “Am I really that similar to the person you care for?”