As Lu Xiong realized this, an indefinable feeling washed over him.
If Lu Yinghan had thrown a tantrum, he could have felt more justified...
But right now, Lu Yinghan had no major reaction whatsoever...
“Yingying... does it hurt?”
He Shu wiped away her tears and stepped forward, asking softly.
Lu Yinghan glanced at He Shu and shook her head.
“I’m fine, Mom.”
Such a casual, light response sent a shiver through both Butler Liu and the family doctor...
With so many injuries, how could he, as a doctor, not know how painful it was to break up the blood clots with force?
Yet Miss had simply endured it in silence...
And now she was even speaking to Madam so calmly...
Sweating profusely, the family doctor finished applying the ointment to Lu Yinghan, massaging away the final bruise on her ankle.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead, his back drenched in a cold sweat.
“Master, Madam, I have finished applying all the medication. However, Miss also has internal trauma. I strongly suggest letting Miss rest properly at home. Her nutritional intake must keep up—Miss’s current nutritional levels fall completely short.”
There was a hint of reproach in the doctor’s voice, which everyone understood...
Yet no one refuted it, because Lu Yinghan really was so thin!
Lu Xiong silently accepted the blame.
“I will return tomorrow to apply more medicine for Miss. For tonight, please let Miss rest well and get some proper nourishment.”
A realization struck He Shu.
“Right! Yingying hasn't had dinner yet! Butler Liu, let’s go to the kitchen to prepare dinner for Yingying!”
He Shu led Butler Liu straight to the kitchen.
Lu Xiong looked toward Lu Yue.
“Lu Yue, take Yaoyao back to her room.”
“Alright. Yaoyao~ let’s go back to our room.”
Lu Xuanyao had kept her head buried in Lu Yue’s neck, not daring to look up at the injuries covering Lu Yinghan’s body. Hearing Lu Yue say he would take her away, she quickly nodded.
Her small frame turned up slightly...
“Sister, get some good rest...”
Lu Yinghan looked at this little girl whose skin was fair with a rosy glow, laughing self-deprecatingly in her heart.
“Okay, you go back to your room and rest too.”
The moment Lu Xuanyao finished speaking, Lu Yue left without even turning his head, not hearing Lu Yinghan’s words fully...
Both Lu Jiansen and Lu Xiong felt a flash of awkwardness.
Lu Xiong rolled his eyes at the doorway.
“What kind of manners is that? What’s wrong with listening until she finishes?”
Lu Xiong grumbled under his breath. He then exchanged a glance with Lu Jiansen before looking at Lu Yinghan on the bed.
Neither of them knew how to open their mouths.
In the end, it was Lu Xiong who stepped forward to speak with Lu Yinghan.
“Yingying, how do you want to resolve this matter?”
Lu Yinghan opened her eyes wide, staring at Lu Xiong.
Was this the Lu Xiong she knew?
Usually, when encountering something like this, wouldn't he go straight to their doors to demand justice?
Now, he was actually coming over to ask for her opinion.
Had the sun risen from the west?
Lu Yinghan asked tentatively, “If I tell you, will you respect my wishes?”
Lu Jiansen nodded.
“Yes. As long as you speak up, we will respect your choice and resolve this matter according to your wishes.”
This was the first time they had spoken to her with such a calm, peaceful attitude.
Lu Yinghan felt deeply flattered and shocked.
However, this was a good opportunity; she could state her thoughts clearly.
She turned her head to look at the two tall men looking down at her.
“Big Brother, Father, I don’t want to make a big scene. I want to make friends through my own ability. Although I was bullied today, I resolved it. They probably won't trouble me anymore.”
The moment Lu Yinghan finished speaking, Lu Xiong’s face darkened directly.
He clearly disapproved.
The light in Lu Yinghan’s eyes instantly vanished.
She turned her head back to stare at the lights on the ceiling, no longer speaking to either of them.
Lu Jiansen stepped forward and pulled on Lu Xiong’s arm.
Lu Xiong suppressed his inner dissatisfaction, glaring petulantly at the doorway.
Lu Jiansen walked over to Lu Yinghan’s bedside and knelt on one knee.
“Can you tell Brother why you don’t want us to step in? Do you really just want to make friends through your own ability?”
Lu Yinghan did not look at Lu Jiansen, simply nodding.
“I don’t want to rely on you guys...”
Lu Yinghan murmured under her breath as her mind drifted... Being close to her, Lu Jiansen heard it somewhat clearly.
After Lu Yinghan uttered those words, his pupils suddenly contracted, a bitter ache spreading directly through his chest. He opened his mouth to say something, but found he couldn't utter a single word...
In the mouth of another child, these words could be taken as a signal of wanting independence.
However, coming from Lu Yinghan, Lu Jiansen could distinctly feel that she truly wanted nothing to do with anyone in this family...
Clenching his bony hands, Lu Jiansen lowered his head.
“Alright, I understand. For the next few days, rest well at home and only go to school after your injuries have healed. However...”
Suddenly, Lu Jiansen’s expression turned dark, a hint of anger pulling Lu Yinghan back to reality.
“If you get bullied again and come back covered in injuries, then you will have to listen to us. Understood?!”
Lu Yinghan nodded, accepting the terms...
Lu Jiansen pursed his lips, standing up and pulling Lu Xiong outside.
“Dad, let’s head out first.”
Seeing that Lu Yinghan genuinely did not want to rely on them and did not want to say she was part of the Lu family, Lu Xiong’s mood had reached rock bottom.
The moment they stepped out of Lu Yinghan’s room, Lu Xiong roughly yanked his hand away from Lu Jiansen.
“Since she wants to be on her own, let her! We’re just redundant!”
Lu Jiansen frowned in annoyance, reaching up to rub his temples.
“That’s enough, Dad! Yingying didn't cry, throw a fit, or act out after coming home. What more do you want? She’s the injured one! If you keep scolding her, how can her mental state be normal?”
Lu Jiansen’s tone wasn't good either.
Lu Xiong’s anger lessened slightly.
It was rare for his eldest son to show such frustration in front of him.
“Hmph! I won't care about this matter anymore! Do whatever you want!”
With that, he petulantly thrust his hands behind his back and stormed off to his study.
Lu Jiansen looked toward Lu Yinghan’s room, standing in place for a long moment until He Shu and Butler Liu came over carrying dinner.
“Jiansen, is Yingying asleep?”
“Ah... Mom, I don’t know. Let me take a look?”
Lu Jiansen snapped back to his senses and gently opened the door to Lu Yinghan’s room.
Striking his view was Lu Yinghan’s peaceful sleeping face.
Her hands rested obediently against her chest, the blanket pulled all the way up to her chin, wrapping herself up tightly.
Small as she was, one could barely see the rise of her body beneath the blanket.
Her face was somewhat pale—a stark, pain-drained pale from having her bruises massaged away earlier.
Even her breathing was faint.
It was almost impossible to tell if she was breathing at all.
He Shu and Lu Jiansen felt their hearts skip a beat. Quickly stepping forward, they gently placed a finger beneath her nostrils...
A faint trace of cool air relieved He Shu, and the two simply stood there, looking at the sleeping Lu Yinghan.
After a long silence, He Shu suddenly whispered softly, “Do we know who bullied Yingying?”
Rate on N.U.
