Back at the camp, it was already dusk. Anping insisted that Lu Xiao treat his other scrapes first, while she carried her medicine basket back to her tent. She was deeply troubled, her mind replaying the image of Lu Xiao recklessly plunging down from the cliff edge, the deep, bone-revealing wound on his arm, and the chillingly focused look in his eyes as he bandaged the wound…
"No, I need to calm down." Anping took a deep breath and forced herself to focus on processing the Snow Seed Grass she had collected. However, when she sorted and put the herbs away and looked at those precious Snow Seed Grass plants, what appeared before her eyes was Lu Xiao's blood-soaked arm.
"He... was injured while saving me." This realization made it impossible for her to ignore. After hesitating for a moment, she still took the clean strips of cloth and the specially made wound medicine and headed towards Lu Xiao's tent.
Lu Xiao had just washed up quickly and changed into a clean undergarment; the bandage on his arm was still seeping blood. When he saw An Ping enter, he was visibly startled for a moment, then a barely perceptible glint flashed in his eyes, but he quickly lowered them, appearing somewhat uneasy.
"Dr. An... Dr. An? It's so late, is something the matter?" His voice was a little hoarse.
"Change the dressing." Anping said concisely, her tone returning to its usual coolness, but without the deliberate aloofness. She walked to the bedside and gestured for Lu Xiao to extend his arm.
Lu Xiao silently reached out his hand, and An Ping carefully unwrapped the old bandage soaked in blood, revealing the hideous wound. She frowned slightly, but her movements became even gentler as she carefully cleaned the wound with strong liquor, then applied a thick layer of wound medicine that exuded a bitter medicinal fragrance.
The tent was quiet, save for the occasional crackling of the candlelight and the soft sounds of An'an tending to her wounds. Lu Xiao looked at An'an's lowered, focused eyes, feeling the cool touch and gentle pressure of her fingertips, and his heart began to race again. He wanted to say something to break the suffocating silence, but he didn't know where to begin.
“That…” Lu Xiao finally mustered his courage, his voice low and hoarse, filled with obvious hesitation and embarrassment, “That day… in Dingyuan City… at the entrance of Yicui Tower… what you saw…”
Anping paused almost imperceptibly in her work, but she didn't look up or reply. She simply continued to wrap the new bandage with focused concentration, as if she hadn't heard a thing.
Seeing that she didn't react, Lu Xiao became even more anxious, and his speech quickened, filled with a panicked eagerness to explain: "It's not what you think! I... I didn't go in! No... I did go in, but I came out right away! I... I just... just..." He choked up. He couldn't very well say that he went there to test whether he liked men, could he? That would be even more inexplicable!
His face turned bright red, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Finally, he steeled himself and stammered, "I was just... just curious! Yes! Curious about what that place was like! But I regretted it as soon as I went in! The smell... the sounds... I couldn't stand it! Really! I swear! I didn't do anything! I... I was so disgusted I almost threw up! Really! I..." He became more and more agitated as he spoke, his voice filled with grievance.
Anping finished wrapping the bandage and tied a knot. She still didn't look up at Lu Xiao, but she didn't leave immediately either.
She remained silent for a few seconds. Just when Lu Xiao thought she didn't believe him at all and his heart turned cold, An Ping suddenly reached out and gently placed her hand on his uninjured wrist.
Lu Xiao froze! The cool, soft touch on his wrist made him forget to breathe, and his mind went blank.
Anping lowered her eyes, her slender fingers precisely placing them on his pulse. Her expression was focused and professional, as if she were diagnosing an ordinary wounded soldier. The pulse was steady and strong, beating slightly quickly, but it was by no means the weak and feeble pulse of someone who had indulged in excessive sexual activity or whose vital energy was depleted.
After a moment, Anping withdrew her hand, her voice calm and even, yet carrying a weight that lifted from Lu Xiao's heart: "Understood. Your Highness, rest well, and don't get the wound wet. I'll come to change the dressing tomorrow." She packed up her medicine box and stood up.
There was no disdain, no questioning, only a simple "I understand."
Lu Xiao looked up abruptly, staring at An An in disbelief. She...she believed it? She took her own pulse...was she confirming it? Or was she worried about her health?
“Dr. An…” Lu Xiao’s voice was hoarse from surviving a disaster and trembled slightly.
An'an stopped at the door, but didn't turn around. She simply said, "Young Master... it's best to avoid places like that in the future. Curiosity... can be harmful to your health." With that, she lifted the curtain and left.
Although his tone remained calm, even carrying a hint of admonition, Lu Xiao detected a trace of... an extremely faint, almost imperceptible... softening? Especially the phrase "harmful to health," which sounded more like... a helpless concern?
Looking at the swaying curtain, Lu Xiao slowly raised the wrist that An An had taken his pulse on, his fingertips still seeming to retain the slightly cool touch.
Did she believe it or not? Was her last sentence about caring about him? Lu Xiao stared blankly as An Ping's figure disappeared.
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