She used the kind of ointment with anesthetic effects, and not long after it was applied, the medication dispersed.
Only then did Xia Shi’s complexion improve somewhat.
Her clothes were soaked through, and her lower lip was bitten, speckled with bloodstains; one could imagine just how painful it had been.
Xia Weibao closed her eyes in self-reproach, silent tears streaming down.
She hadn’t known this would happen, she really hadn’t.
It was her overconfidence that had led to Xia Shi’s injury.
"I’m really, very sorry..."
Xia Shi’s voice was weak, the severe pain from before leaving her drained of strength.
Seeing Xia Weibao blame herself, she stretched out her other hand, lightly covering Xia Weibao’s hand.
"It’s not your fault; you don’t need to blame yourself."
"It’s because of me that you’re hurt..."
The overwhelming self-reproach pressed heavily on Xia Weibao’s heart.
From last night till now, two people had been hurt because of her negligence.
Thinking about this made her heart feel blocked.
Very oppressive, very uncomfortable.
Xia Shi forced a smile, "Don’t take the blame onto yourself. I am your agent, protecting your safety is also part of my job.
This counts as a work-related injury, I’ll claim compensation from President Leng, but he’s so stingy, I bet he won’t want to pay."
Xia Weibao was originally very sad, but was amused by her last remark despite herself.
At the same time, she felt even worse.
It was clearly her fault, and yet Xia Shi, not wanting her to feel burdened, went so far as to say it was the responsibility of an agent.
How could it be a responsibility!
An agent’s responsibilities could never include risking their life to save somebody!
Xia Weibao was almost drowned by her remorse.
If Xia Shi had blamed her, resented her, even hated her, or had, like Sister Tong before, capitalized on Ruan Shushu’s life-saving favor, she would have felt a bit better.
But now, showing neither cries nor tantrums, no resentment, no blame, even considering her feelings throughout,
it truly tormented her conscience.
In her eyes, Xia Shi had always been a very strict agent.
She handled everything professionally and never got involved with personal feelings.
Yet unexpectedly, in a crisis, she had rushed out fearlessly to shield her from that bottle of sulfuric acid.
Such an action deeply impacted her inner self.
Waves of heat churned.
She took a deep breath, calmed her emotions, "Sister Xia Shi, why did you save me?"
This was the doubt in her heart; her relationship with Xia Shi wasn’t actually that deep.
It was confined to just work-related interactions.
Xia Shi had also never shown much fondness for her.
Why... risk her life to save her?
Xia Shi looked at her weakly, her eyes swimming with an undecipherable light.
It was as though she was looking at her, and yet through her, at someone else.
"You and the ’me’ from before... are very much alike."
In Xia Weibao, she seemed to see her younger self.
She had already been ruined by sulfuric acid and couldn’t allow another ’her’ to be destroyed as well.
Now, with her appearance as it was, even if she had one more scar on her, what difference would it make.
But Xia Weibao was different.
She was beautiful, vibrant, talented, with limitless prospects.
If her face were ruined, her star career would be over.
Xia Weibao was somewhat unable to understand her words, and just as she was about to ask what she meant, there was a knock at the door.
Her expression chilled as she stood up to open the door.
It was several police officers.
"Are you Xia Weibao?"
"Miss Xia, I am a police officer from A City Police Station, someone reported that you intentionally inflicted injury, please accompany us back to the station."
Xia Weibao’s expression darkened, wanting to slam the door right in his face!