Wang Youbao didn’t realize Li Wuyu was having a tiff with herself; he simply walked to the bedside and softly called out, "Miss Li."
Li Wuyu maintained her position lying with her back to him and said irritably, "Didn’t your heartless self leave? What are you doing back here?"
Wang Youbao fell silent for a moment before he said, "What do you mean, Miss Li? I don’t understand."
Li Wuyu huffed, "I got injured for you, and you just leave me with the doctor and think it’s all settled? Is this how you treat the person who saved your life? If not heartless, what is it?"
Finally, Wang Youbao understood, but he couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and frustration, "I didn’t leave heartlessly; I was just outside. The way you were back then... I couldn’t bear to see it, so I thought it’d be better if I stayed outside."
Li Wuyu didn’t notice that Wang Youbao had stopped referring to himself as ’your humble servant,’ nor did she perceive the affection for her in his words. She just snorted again, "What couldn’t you bear to see? How ugly I looked in pain, right? I was slashed with a knife. What, am I not even allowed to feel the pain?"
Li Wuyu’s words were clearly petulant, but Wang Youbao wasn’t annoyed. Instead, he sat on the round stool beside the bed, looked at Li Wuyu who had her back to him for a long while, and then lowered his eyes, murmuring, "I’m in pain, too."
Li Wuyu took that as Wang Youbao mocking her. Disregarding the wound on her arm, she immediately sat up, turned to face Wang Youbao, and scoffed, "Do tell, where exactly are you in pain?"
Wang Youbao had always been thin-skinned. Although he could express some of his feelings when Li Wuyu was facing away, the moment she faced him, he suddenly found it difficult to express himself.
In fact, he couldn’t even dare to meet Li Wuyu’s gaze.
Seeing that Wang Youbao wouldn’t look at her but rather looked elsewhere, Li Wuyu assumed he was feeling guilty. Her irritation grew, and her scoffing intensified, "Go on, tell me where it hurts. Clearly, the one in pain is just one person – me!"
The last sentence had a double meaning.
Having acknowledged his feelings for her, Wang Youbao naturally understood the dual meanings in Li Wuyu’s words. He felt anxious inside, but still found it difficult to speak. After staring at the ground for a long time, he finally murmured, "I know how you feel."
Because she had lost a considerable amount of blood, Li Wuyu’s complexion was pale, but now, upon hearing Wang Youbao’s words, her face grew even paler.
He knows how I feel...
Did that mean he had always pretended not to know? Was he merely playing with her?
Initially, she wanted to leave with some dignity, but now, not only was she stripped of all pride, but she also felt extremely embarrassed.
Li Wuyu was truly embarrassed, feeling the sting of being so unwanted that it assaulted all her senses, turning her face even paler and her eyes redder.
How could she possibly stay here any longer?
Without saying anything, Li Wuyu firmly pressed her lips together, ignoring the tears welling in her eyes and her blurred vision. She quickly sat on the edge of the bed, intending to get off, put on her shoes, and leave.
She didn’t want to stay here any longer.
She wanted to go home.
At home, no one would make her feel so embarrassed.
"Miss Li, what are you doing? The doctor said you’ve lost a lot of blood and need to rest properly," Wang Youbao hadn’t expected Li Wuyu to suddenly change her demeanor and appear deeply aggrieved. He immediately became anxious. However, considering the propriety between men and women, he didn’t move to stop her but gestured to the two maidservants in the room to quickly prevent Li Wuyu from getting out of bed and putting on her shoes.