‘As if I won't move,’ she thought.  As her foot touched the floor, ready to push off, Yue Linze anticipated her move, his hand clamping around her waist as he pressed the massive alcohol-soaked cotton ball against her ear.

"Ow!" The unexpected sting of alcohol on her wound forced a small cry from her lips.  As the burning subsided, she relaxed slightly, weakly protesting, "I got this injury saving you.  Couldn't you be a little gentler, Mr. Yue?"

"Unnecessary."  

With efficient movements, Yue Linze cleaned the blood from her ear, then unceremoniously pushed her off his lap. "Put on your own band-aid."

Tao Yu landed lightly on her feet, momentarily speechless. She couldn't decipher whether he meant he didn't need her to save him, or he didn't need to be gentle.

Looking at his impassive face, she sighed. "It wasn't that I wanted to interfere. That glass was aimed at your face. I wouldn't have been hurt if I blocked it. If you'd been hit, Mr. Yue, you might have been disfigured. I was just…reacting."

Yue Linze listened impassively, his expression unchanged.  "What's it to you?"

…’Well played, you little brat.’ She smiled faintly, grabbed a band-aid, and went to the bathroom to apply it in the mirror. Returning, she found Yue Linze in the same position she'd left him.

Hesitantly, she approached him, about to speak when her stomach growled loudly. Yue Linze frowned at her.  Tao Yu chuckled awkwardly. "A bit hungry."

Ten minutes later, the glass shards were cleared away, and they sat facing each other, a lavish breakfast spread between them.

Having not eaten since the previous evening, Tao Yu, while maintaining an air of elegance, wasted no time in efficiently and neatly consuming her meal.  Finally, she looked up at Yue Linze with a faint smile.

“Mr. Yue, your coffee is getting cold.”

Yue Linze glanced at her, took two sips from his cup, and showed no further inclination to drink. Tao Yu expressed a touch of concern, “Aren't you going to eat anything? It’s not good for your stomach.”

“I’m not hungry,” Yue Linze said with distaste. Since the car accident, he’d lost interest in many things, including food. If it weren’t for maintaining basic strength, he wouldn’t even want the coffee.

Tao Yu sighed, her gaze falling on his untouched plate. The toast, sausage, eggs, and vegetables remained pristine, fresh and appetizing.

“If you’re not hungry, Mr. Yue, then there’s nothing to be done. You can eat when you are,” she said, reaching for his plate. “But it would be a waste to leave all this. Although I’m not hungry either, I could…”

“Put it down.” Yue Linze’s face was impassive.

The plate, which had risen a mere inch, returned to the table. Tao Yu innocently withdrew her hand. “I was just trying to help you…”

Before she could finish, she saw Yue Linze, expressionless, pick up his knife and fork and begin to eat with deliberate slowness.

Tao Yu thought, ‘Annoying. I want to punch him.’ 

Watching an elegant man dine was a pleasure, but only when one wasn’t hungry oneself.  Her stomach was only half full; every cell screamed for sustenance. Yue Linze’s languid pace was pure torture, both mental and visual.

“Mr. Yue, perhaps you could eat a little faster?” 

He looked like he was being forced to eat, like he had an eating disorder. She desperately wanted to just finish his plate for him.

Yue Linze glanced at her. “No.”

Tao Yu thought, ‘Fine.’

Yue Linze ate slowly, even as his stomach began to feel full. After finishing the main course, he met Tao Yu’s despairing gaze and slowly popped a cherry tomato, meant as a garnish, into his mouth. He didn’t enjoy eating, but he did enjoy tormenting people.  He decided the latter pleasure outweighed the former annoyance.

Tao Yu thought, ‘I had one of those earlier. Sweet and sour. Delicious.’

After they finished, the housekeeper knocked again, this time with a complete outfit and a makeup case. He smiled at Tao Yu when she opened the door. “Miss Tao, I had these clothes sent over for you to change into.”

“Thank you,” Tao Yu said, relieved, taking the items. Turning, she saw Yue Linze already in his wheelchair.  Curious, she asked, “Mr. Yue, are you going out?”

“A walk.”  His stomach uncomfortably full, Yue Linze’s face was now grim.

Tao Yu paused, then nodded gently. “Then you go ahead. I’ll just change.” She wondered how he planned to take a walk in a wheelchair.

Yue Linze glanced at her without speaking. The housekeeper immediately stepped forward to push the wheelchair.  Noticing the two clean plates on the table, he looked at Yue Linze with pleasure. “You have a good appetite today, sir.”

In all this time, the master had only had a good appetite twice, and both times were with Dr. Tao. It seemed he should find more opportunities for them to dine together.

Tao Yu smiled as they left, closing the door behind them before returning to shower and change.

The housekeeper pushed Yue Linze slowly through the house.  Seeing the changed state of the residence, his face darkened.  

“Master Gu’s taste isn’t that bad, but how could he let someone turn this place into…this? He must be doing it on purpose, desecrating it.” 

Master Gu was truly the most ungrateful wretch, having angered his wife to death, mistreated his own son, and now attempting to erase the entire Yue family.

After his brief complaint, he fell silent, pushing Yue Linze onward.  As they passed the study, Yue Linze’s expression shifted. “The floor here is looking a bit worn.”

The housekeeper, startled, looked at the floor by the study door. The wood did appear duller than before. He bowed slightly. “It does need waxing.”

“Fetch something for me later.”

“Of course, sir.”

They continued their slow progress towards the courtyard.

***

After her shower, Tao Yu’s first action was to check her phone. Seeing no messages, she breathed a sigh of relief and began drying her hair, then changed into the outfit the housekeeper provided. It was a pale, playful pink and white dress with a slightly flared skirt and a small bow at the neckline.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Tao Yu fell into deep thought. She couldn’t understand what had given the housekeeper the impression she had a girlish fondness for pink. The dress looked…childish.

She glanced at the makeup case, opened it, and froze. After a long moment, she laughed helplessly, deciding it would be a shame to waste the housekeeper’s efforts.

When she was finally ready, she stepped out of the room to hear a commotion. Puzzled, she walked towards the noise and stopped a hurrying maid. “What’s going on?”

“The master fell and hit his head. I’m going to get the doctor.” The maid hurried off.

How could he suddenly fall and injure his head? Tao Yu frowned.  Seeing Zhou Yanran shouting in the distance, she decided to avoid her and, after asking where Yue Linze was, went to find him.

The sun was pleasant, the humidity comfortable, and the courtyard was filled with meticulously cultivated flowers and plants, a visual feast. After a leisurely stroll, Tao Yu saw Yue Linze sitting in the sunlight, reading.

His high nose bridge, thin lips, and sculpted jawline were captivating. A single glance was enough to steal one’s breath.

Tao Yu stood silently for a long moment. Finally, as if sensing her presence, Yue Linze looked up. A doll-like figure met his gaze.

He paused, his brow furrowing.

“Does it…look strange?” Tao Yu asked, self-consciously smoothing her hair. The housekeeper had been incredibly thorough; the makeup case had contained everything. She hadn’t been able to resist curling her hair, letting it fall loose to cover her injured ear.