Maria's appetite was poor; after a light late-night snack, she regained a bit of energy but soon fell asleep again.
The rain finally eased during the early morning hours, tapering off into sporadic drizzle. It seemed as though it would stop for a while.
Zhao Lun couldn't sleep, his mind preoccupied with past events. The pets had remained by their side throughout the night, even if they were simply lying on the floor asleep, one ear always twitching, ever vigilant. With them keeping watch, no movement, no sound could escape their notice.
The night was quiet, only the wind was heard, and a faint light from a nearby desk lamp illuminated the room. Lost in his thoughts, Zhao Lun drifted off to sleep.
In the midst of his deep slumber, he felt an itch on his nose and suddenly sat up with a loud "Achoo!" The sneeze was so forceful that it jolted him awake.
"Ha-ha…" The mischievous giggle followed.
"Maria?" Zhao Lun asked, confused.
"Brother, you're such a lazybones!"
"Sleeping in even after the sun's up! Shame on you!"
The teasing voice could only belong to Maria. Her face, though a bit haggard, had become thinner, but her complexion had improved greatly from yesterday. Judging by her energetic state, it seemed she had emerged from the nightmare. Had she already forgotten the horrors of it?
Zhao Lun rubbed his nose, smiling at her.
Daring to mock him, did she forget that her own conscience wasn't exactly clean? Was she getting too forgetful? If so, he was more than happy to remind her, to show her his strength. These thoughts lifted his spirits, and he playfully retaliated.
"Little girl, dare to laugh at me? Who needs Nicole to wake them up every morning? Who wet the bed last time? Who—"
"Brother—"
"You must be mistaken, that was Maria who accidentally spilled some water."
"Also, the TV said that sleeping in is a privilege for beauties. Maria is a beauty, so of course, she needs Nicole to wake her up."
Maria, like a kitten with its tail stepped on, immediately interrupted Zhao Lun and retorted, then turned her small head away with a pout, fleeing the scene.
"Ha-ha…" Zhao Lun was in high spirits, his previous frustration gone, and he went outside to practice his boxing. He had already interrupted his training for a day because of Maria, and he knew he couldn't afford to stop now.
Monica peeked her head out from the kitchen, watching the two, shaking her head with a smile, and continued preparing breakfast.
The pets, seeing their owner recovering and in good spirits, joined Maria in the yard, playing with her.
With a bright mood and a clear mind, Zhao Lun completed his boxing routine, the fatigue of the past two days vanishing completely. His entire body radiated with a healthy glow, his face flushed, giving him an exceptionally vibrant look.
Before long, Maria adjusted her state and joined him, and the two practiced together in perfect harmony, neither mentioning the earlier teasing. It was only when the aroma of food wafted in that they wiped off their sweat, returned to their rooms to freshen up, and changed clothes before sitting down to breakfast.
By the time they finished, the sun had fully risen, and the clear skies indicated that it would be a beautiful, sunny day.
"Maria, let's go, I'll take you out to have some fun."
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Wow! That's great! Brother's finally going to play with Maria! Brother, can we go fishing? And pick fruits, buy chocolates, and desserts..."
The little girl was ecstatic. It had been a long time since her brother had played with her, and now that he was willing to take her out, she couldn't contain her joy. She cheered and ran over to Monica, then hugged Ivy and Snow White. The happiness she felt made Zhao Lun feel a bit guilty. He wondered if he had done something wrong.
"Monica, when will Nicole and Angela arrive?"
"Angela's almost here, but Nicole's flight will be a bit late. She'll be here by noon."
Although Maria was better, she still needed a checkup, and a thorough one at that, to ensure there were no lingering issues.
"Angela's coming back? That's wonderful!"
They didn't have to wait long before Angela returned. She drove herself, accompanied by an elderly man she had invited—a renowned traditional Chinese medicine practitioner who was highly sought after by the wealthy in Hong Kong. Angela had managed to secure his services not only because of her personal connections but also with a generous fee.
The man, carrying a medical kit, appeared to be in his forties, dressed in an old-fashioned robe, though it seemed newly tailored. He wore cloth shoes, walked steadily, and exuded an air of an old scholar—somewhat difficult to approach. This didn't quite align with the description Angela had given, who had mentioned he was a warm-hearted person. This man was anything but warm. Wasn't he supposed to be sixty? He seemed so young.
In the living room.
"Alun, this is Master Liu. Master Liu, this is Alun, and this is Maria, your patient." Whenever Angela introduced someone from China, she would do so in Mandarin.
As she made the introductions, she waved at Monica, who nodded in acknowledgment and returned to the kitchen to bring over a tray of tea. The tea leaves, hand-picked from the Divine Kingdom, had been carefully roasted by Angela, producing a unique fragrance that rivaled the finest teas in the world. When brewed, the aroma lingered, refreshing and invigorating.
"Master Liu, hello. I'm Zhao Lun. You can call me Alun or Zhao Lun."
Zhao Lun shooed away the few alert pets and, both nervous and eager, bowed to Master Liu.
"Mm, since that's the case, let's begin."
Master Liu remained rather indifferent. Not even the aroma of the tea seemed to affect him; he only focused on his patient.
Zhao Lun, concerned, wondered if the pets' behavior had displeased him.
"Master Liu is a man of few words but a heart full of care for his patients. Let him take a look without disturbance," Angela advised, gently urging Maria forward for a careful examination. Zhao Lun's mood immediately improved; he greatly admired such a doctor—one who prioritized the patient without unnecessary formalities.
Maria, feeling a bit uneasy, tried to hide behind Zhao Lun.
"Don't be afraid, little one."
Unexpectedly, Master Liu, despite his cold exterior, was incredibly gentle while attending to his patient. He appeared like a kindly old grandfather, comforting Maria to the point where she no longer felt the need to retreat.
"Had another nightmare? Don't worry, let me see what's going on."
Maria, who was typically wary of strangers, seemed to be at ease with Master Liu, cooperating with his examination. After some time, he sat down, took a sip of the tea, closed his eyes, and reflected for a moment. The tea was fragrant, and after savoring it, his mind seemed to clear, and his focus sharpened.
After a while, he instructed Zhao Lun to take Maria out so they could discuss the diagnosis privately.
"The patient is healthy, there's nothing serious."
Having drunk some tea, Master Liu appeared more relaxed, his demeanor warmer.
"Nothing serious? How can that be?"
Zhao Lun was starting to question if this Master Liu was a fraud.
"Yes, you must have given her something to calm her spirit, which is why there's no major issue."
Master Liu didn't seem to mind Zhao Lun's doubts, and the extraordinary pets around them were completely ignored.
"Oh? Then why does she still have nightmares?"
"She may have been traumatized. Just continue to nourish her spirit, and she will be fine. Well, that's all for now. I need to rest. Once I'm refreshed, I'll come back and check on her."
Master Liu's quick judgment that Maria had been given valuable remedies to nurture her spirit earned Zhao Lun's trust. The holy waters from the Divine Kingdom were known for their restorative properties, and Maria drank them daily. Angela took Maria to the designated resting area.
"Why does he look so young? Are you sure he's the Master Liu you mentioned?" Zhao Lun, though convinced, still had lingering doubts about the man's age. Was this the right person?
"Master Liu is highly skilled in medicine, especially in health preservation. His youthful appearance is well known in all of Hong Kong. He is very cautious in his practice, and he only treats patients when he is in optimal health," Angela reassured him, explaining Master Liu's professional attitude.
"Mm, didn't you skip breakfast? The porridge in the kitchen is still warm. Maria..."
Zhao Lun gently pulled the exhausted Angela towards the kitchen. After sharing another light breakfast with Maria, he sent her off to rest. Before noon, Nicole also arrived, looking tired. Zhao Lun, moved by her efforts, encouraged her to rest as well.
Around noon, Hoddle returned.
"Boss, everything has been taken care of."