A rosy blush climbed up Ji Yunshu’s auricles upon hearing the answer. However, she insisted on being alone and forcefully pushed Jing Rong to the door.
“I’ll be careful. It’s just that if you are inside the room, it’ll be kind of… inconvenient,” said Ji Yunshu.
‘Inconvenient? What do you mean? Why? Explain it to me?” thought Jing Rong, but he was out of the room before he could open his mouth to protest.
Ji Yunshu approached Yu Sao again, this time with a little more reserve and, in a voice soft enough to make Yu Sao feel reassured, she said, “Yu Sao, I don’t want to lie to you, but I’m a doctor. If you really want your daughter to feel well again, you should let me have a look. Maybe I can think of something that could help her.”
Yu Sao’s reaction was less aggressive this time: she looked at Ji Yunshu and said, “I’ve told you already, my daughter is not sick. Leave my home now.”
“Do you really not care at all about your daughter’s life?”
‘I…” Yu Sao hesitated. She looked at Ah Yu, who was still in her arms, and cried with more sorrow. “It’s my fault. I didn’t take good enough care of my daughter; it’s my fault!”
Yu Sao’s sadness was contagious: Ji Yunshu also felt her heart being strangled by the anguish. She took two steps forward and said, “Yu Sao, don’t you worry. I won’t hurt you. I see that your daughter has signs of ecchymosis in the feet and palms, along with retracted finger joints and prominent veins under her dermis. These are signs of mental exhaustion. If you do nothing about it, you will lose your daughter. Then, it’ll really be your fault.”
Yu Sao could not fully understand what Ji Yunshu said, but she nevertheless answered, “You’re a doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Can… can you really help my daughter get better?” asked Yu Sao, whose eyes were filling up with hope.
“I’ll try my best.”
This was actually a blatant lie from Ji Yunshu. However, her words were enough to disarm Yu Sao’s distrust. She hesitated for a bit more but finally let go of Ah Yu, stood up and retreated to the side.
Ji Yunshu passed the oil lamp to Yu Sao and sat down right beside Ah Yu. The latter, upon realizing that there was a stranger, retreated further backwards, causing a clangour from the links of the metal chains.
“Your name is Ah Yu? What a nice name!” said Ji Yunshu with a soft tone.
Ah Yu did not answer. Instead, she pressed her back against the wall and appeared to be trying as hard as she could to get away from Ji Yunshu.
“Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you,” said Ji Yunshu as she extended her arm and caressed Ah Yu’s soft tresses with her thin fingers.
Ah Yu curled up even more.
Ji Yunshu slowly brushed Ah Yu’s hair away with her fingers. Soon, she was finally able to fully contemplate Ah Yu’s face under the dim light. The skin on the jaw was a little rough, but her facial features were delicate. A well-rounded nose, the lips shaped like a butterfly, and the pretty eyes hidden under long eyelashes completed the picture; she was a good-looking young girl. Ji Yunshu finally met her regard the moment she brushed away the last lock of hair.
“Ah!”
Yu Sao jumped from the side to lock Ah Yu in a tight embrace and whispered, “Mom is here. Don’t be scared, Ah Yu. Don’t be scared now.” However, these words were of little comfort to Ah Yu, and the intense terror that seeped through her eyes was as obvious as daylight to Ji Yunshu. Ah Yu grasped her own clothes with her hands and refused to let go.
The moment Ji Yunshu saw the fear within Ah Yu’s eyes, she understood what had happened to her. Although Ah Yu did not remove her clothes to allow Ji Yunshu to examine her body, Ji Yunshu already found the answer she sought.
‘There’s no need to go further.’
Ji Yunshu stood up without saying a word and retreated from the malodorous room. Jing Rong approached her as soon as he saw her. Ji Yunshu cut his questions short by saying, “Milord, it’s time to leave,” and walked out of the house.
As she readied her umbrella for the return trip, something caught her attention: a small knife, dull and coated with rust hanging on the exterior wall of the house!