Days passed and Liu'er's standoffish behavior didn't cease. If anything, the distance between the young maid and Bai Yue increased tenfold much to the latter's chagrin. Liu'er's bright smile had won Bai Yue over in just a couple of days. Now that she was forced to face the dreary days without it, she couldn't help feeling bereft. The two of them had had a nice thing going on. At the moment, all that remained was an awkward atmosphere when they stood together in a room.
To keep herself distracted, Bai Yue focused all her attention on preparing to depart. She spent her time counting money, packing clothes, and making a list of what herbal remedies she needed. In between, she nursed her hand back to health but the result was slow. And itchy. Very itchy.
