Lian Xue’s body wasn’t seriously injured. Sister Su Li was admitted to the highest-grade ward at Headquarters to rest, with no visitors allowed. Lu Yuan couldn’t go see her.
But Su Li had at least temporarily escaped danger.
So, since yesterday, Lu Yuan had been staying in Lin Wan’s ward, keeping watch over her.
***
Lin Wan lay on the hospital bed, thick bandages wrapped around her back and shoulders, still deep in sleep.
Her breathing was steady. Long eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes. The usually lively face looked especially peaceful and gentle at this moment.
Her blue hair was somewhat messy, scattered over the pillow. Lu Yuan sat silently in the chair by her bed, unmoving for a long time.
She wore only a simple dark outfit, with faint dark circles under her eyes from a sleepless night.
Lu Yuan’s gaze rested on Lin Wan’s sleeping face, and as she stared, her heart suddenly skipped a beat.
She had always regarded Lin Wan as a somewhat noisy but fundamentally good-natured companion, even once treating her like a little sister… Taking someone else for granted like that was truly irresponsible, and Lu Yuan had always felt sorry about it.
But now, in the quiet morning light, looking at Lin Wan’s unguarded sleeping face—the lips slightly puckered in deep sleep, the eyelashes trembling gently with each breath—
For the first time, Lu Yuan clearly realized that Lin Wan wasn’t a child, nor just a simple “teammate.”
She was, just as Lin Wan had told her before, a girl.
A girl who fought with all her might in battle, yet looked completely defenseless in sleep.
This realization caught Lu Yuan off guard, stirring a faint flutter in her heart, like a feather softly brushing her heart’s tip, sending a delicate shiver through her.
She instinctively looked away, her cheeks flushing.
***
At that moment, the bed emitted a soft whimper. Lin Wan’s eyelashes twitched, and she slowly opened her eyes.
At first, her gaze was confused, but as it focused, she immediately saw Lu Yuan sitting beside her bed.
“Lu Yuan…?” Lin Wan’s voice held a trace of uncertainty. She hadn’t expected to see her the moment she opened her eyes.
Lu Yuan quickly concealed all visible emotion, her expression calm again, though a faint red lingered at her ears.
She leaned slightly forward, voice gentle: “Yes, it’s me. How do you feel?”
“Okay… just my back hurts a bit…” Lin Wan answered instinctively, but her eyes stayed fixed on Lu Yuan’s face, her heart pleasantly surprised by Lu Yuan’s presence. “You… have you been here the whole time?”
“Mm.” Lu Yuan replied simply, offering no further explanation, just naturally reaching out to straighten the slipping blanket. “Sister Su Li is out of danger, but still unconscious. Qing and Lian Xue are fine too.”
Lu Yuan deliberately avoided mentioning that she had stayed overnight. She didn’t want Lin Wan to feel indebted.
***
Lin Wan looked at her face so close, listening to her calm and reassuring words, and somehow the pain in her wound seemed to lessen.
She gave a weak smile: “That’s great… everyone’s okay…”
Sunlight streamed over them, dust motes drifting in the air. Quiet and warm, the atmosphere softened.
Lu Yuan silently opened a thermos lunchbox placed nearby. Inside was a thick, fragrant, and soft porridge, still steaming hot.
“Qing made this,” Lu Yuan explained simply, picking up a spoon, preparing to feed her.
Lin Wan’s face flushed instantly, and she hurriedly waved her hand: “Ah! No, no! My hand’s fine, I can feed myself!”
She wouldn’t dare let Lu Yuan feed her. Just imagining that scene made her heart race so fast she felt it might burst.
Lu Yuan glanced at her, but didn’t insist. She handed the spoon and bowl over.
***
Lin Wan took the bowl and sipped the porridge in small bites. It tasted quite good, probably with preserved egg and lean pork. The warmth spread from her stomach, relaxing her entire body.
Suddenly, she felt a little regretful. Usually, she begged for Lu Yuan to feed her, but now she had refused.
The little voice inside her was banging its fists wildly: Ahhh! Lin Wan, you fool! Why did you refuse? That’s Lu Yuan feeding you! A once-in-a-thousand-year chance!
But what’s done is done. Better eat first.
***
The two fell silent for a while. Lu Yuan sat quietly on the chair by the bed, looking out the window, occasionally glancing at Lin Wan drinking porridge.
After a moment, Lin Wan set down the bowl, hesitated, and spoke softly:
“Lu Yuan… thank you for that night. And… I’m sorry. I was too useless, that’s why…”
She meant the time she was nearly overwhelmed by the clone and had to be saved by Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan turned to look at her: “You protected that child. You did well.”
No blame, no disdain, only a simple affirmation.
Lin Wan was stunned, her nose suddenly tingling.
She fought to hold back tears and lowered her head: “But… I’m still not strong enough… If only I could be stronger…”
“Then get stronger,” Lu Yuan’s voice was calm and steady. “I’ll be with you. We’ll do it together.”
Lin Wan suddenly looked up, meeting Lu Yuan’s gentle, liquid eyes.
“Re… really?”
“Mm.” Lu Yuan nodded. “But we’ll wait until you heal first. Before you’re fully recovered…”
***
She reached into her clothes and pulled out two amusement park tickets.
“Want to go to the amusement park?”
Lu Yuan smiled, waving the tickets.
Tian Aixing had told her about Lin Wan’s past. Lu Yuan knew the amusement park was a knot in Lin Wan’s heart.
It was something Lin Wan had to face sooner or later, unavoidable—just like Lu Yuan had faced the loss of her own sister. Leaving it unresolved for too long only meant sinking deeper into the mire, unable to escape.
But it was okay. Lu Yuan wouldn’t let Lin Wan face this alone.
She would be with her.
***
“Eh… me?” Lin Wan was stunned.
Is… is this a date invitation?!
Her heart pounded like a startled fawn, pounding wildly. Her cheeks slowly flushed.
The amusement park… going there with Lu Yuan? No matter how you looked at it, this was definitely a date!
“Re… really? With me?” She held her breath, asking again, afraid she’d heard wrong.
“Mm.” Lu Yuan looked at her surprised, hopeful face, eyes sparkling with a smile. She nodded firmly. “I’ve already bought the tickets. Once you’re healed.”
“I’m healed! I can get discharged now!” Lin Wan got so excited she almost tried to sit up, only to wince painfully from her wound. But her excitement didn’t diminish one bit.
Lu Yuan helplessly reached out and gently pressed her shoulder: “Don’t move around. The medical department’s Magical Girls said you still need to be observed for at least two days. And the amusement park isn’t going anywhere.”
“Oh…” Lin Wan obediently lay back down.
But her heart kept racing uncontrollably. That was Lu Yuan—the person she liked most, the one she admired most—inviting her on a date. No one could remain calm with that.
Gulp. Tomorrow, I’ll be discharged for sure.