After evading most of Liu Mingyun’s attempts to make him go back to sleep under the claims of propriety, facing Namgung Jihye was, perhaps, the second hardest thing Li Xinyuan had to do this morning.

His reluctance to face the young lady was rooted largely in his distaste towards actions of the World’s consciousness.

How important was it for the female lead to meet Liu Mingyun that the damned thing did not hesitate to push the latter under the metaphorical bus?

Shaking his head, the surgeon signaled for the patient to move along and came face to face with Namgung Jihye who stood towering over him.

"Doctor Baek," she inclined her head respectfully, "could I have a moment of your time?"

If Li Xinyuan was a better man, he would not have been bitter about this ordeal, keeping in mind she was not at fault for something else’s ploy.

However, her existence (as well as his own) forced its hand. And that alone was enough to make the surgeon bitter against her.

Mostly acting blind-eyed to her presence, the surgeon turned to close his wooden chest with all the intentions to keep ignoring her. Then, he stood up to return to his study, all without making a sound.

The one-sided stalemate continued until finally, Namgung Jihye could bear it no longer. Thus confused, the Eldest of the Namgung sisters seized his hand and tugged.

"Doctor Baek."

Li Xinyuan turned to look at her, raising an eyebrow in askance but stayed silent.

"Have I done something to cause you offence?"

Internally, the surgeon expressed his amazement at her straightforward behaviour. It was admirable, really.

"No." Not that you would know.

"Then, why does it seem as if you are ignoring me?" Namgung Jihye asked, voice clipped and eyes narrowed in suspicion. "All I wish for is to speak with you, if only for a brief moment." Then, she paused for a second before adding. "It should not take too long."

Li Xinyuan hummed, golden eyes dropping to their hands, Namgung Jihye’s clasped around his wrist, bandaged. "Very well. Please, be swift."

Namgung Jihye noticed his eyes on their hands and promptly released his hand, watching as the man rubbed his wrist with his other hand.

Like he was trying to rid his arm of her touch.

What was going on in this doctor’s head?

She didn’t know.

Li Xinyuan turned around, swiftly striding to lead her out of the examination room and to the sitting area. Gracefully, the surgeon gestured towards a chair, face placid.

"Have a seat."

Silence filled the room as Namgung Jihye stared at Doctor Baek’s placid expression. Inexplicably, she seemed to see lines of impatience on his face.

Belatedly, she nodded and began lowering herself into the chair.

Woosh. Namgung Jihye froze for a split second, eyes snapping to observe the room.

Windows were closed and the door too. There was little place for any wind to enter the room from outside.

Then... What had she heard just now?

Slowly, the Young Lady Namgung turned her eyes to look up at the standing doctor, gaze full of covert scrutiny, as if to assess his reaction.

None. Had he not heard the sound just now?

Was she being a touch too paranoid? Namgung Jihye licked her drying lips, ears prickling as they strained to catch another noise. None still.

And Doctor Baek didn’t seem to react either.

The young lady exhaled, taking a seat on the chair, and closed her eyes. It was only natural for the man to have not heard anything. He was but a civilian, after all.

She was being too cautious, it appeared.

However, before Namgung Jihye could fully settle herself in the chair and become used to Doctor Baek’s strangely curt manners, she froze.

Was... Was there a man standing in the corner?

With a start, she observed the newcomer, taking in his green robes and long, flowing amber locks. They seemed almost reminiscent of flames. Where did he come from?

Why hadn’t she seen him enter the room?

Clearly, she had not been as discreet as she thought, because the amber-haired man noticed her eyes and gave her an indolent smile.

Had it been any different occasions, Namgung Jihye would have considered the whole atmosphere to be a slight to her position. But at this moment, she was akin to a supplicant, and could rarely afford to make a show of her high-status.

Giving him a slight nod, the young lady Namgung was quick to withdraw her gaze and took to staring down at her lap.

Hands clenched on her knees, the eldest of the Namgung sisters looked down, eyes wide and filled with frantic questions.

Was this man behind that gust of wind she heard before?

Never in all her years had Namgung Jihye been so confounded as now.

"Doctor... Baek." The man drawled, finally drawing the said Doctor’s attention towards himself.

"Li— Lihuan." Doctor Baek stumbled over his words for a split second, eyes darting towards Namgung Jihye. "Were you not working on the herbs?

Hu Lijing resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the foolish name Li Xinyuan thought to bestow upon him.

"Oh, I have finished that task for a few moments now." Hu Lijing hummed, striding forward to stand behind Li Xinyuan’s chair, looming behind him. "Who might" —tilting his head slightly, he shot a cursory glance towards Namgung Jihye— "this Young Miss be?"

Namgung Jihye turned frigid at his question, feeling the weight of his careless gaze press down on her. For a moment, it was as if she was looking at something more beast than human.

Her breath paused for a moment, mind clouding inexplicably as she raised her head to meet his gaze. Maybe a glare would make this insolent man withdraw.

Only, before she could put her thoughts to action, Doctor Baek’s voice broke through the thick fog in her mind, like a breath of fresh air, like a stream of cool water in blistering summer.

"Lihuan," his voice was cold, jarringly so as he shot a single glance over his shoulder, making the amber-haired man look away. "This is Young Miss Namgung, the sister of my patient. If you remember at all."

"Oh, her."

Namgung Jihye bristled at the unmistakeable derision in his voice. Any slight towards herself, she could overlook. But derision towards her sister?

Unforgivable.

"You—"

"Lihuan." Namgung Jihye flinched at the venom in Doctor Baek’s hiss, watching as the man twisted to level the man with a withering glare. "Watch your tone. She was my patient. And you will give her that respect."

The young lady Namgung’s eyes widened ever so slightly, completely baffled at the sudden change in Doctor Baek’s demeanour. Inadvertently, her eyes wandered to look at Lihuan, vindication filling her heart at his chastised face.

"My apologies." Hu Lijing’s lips pursed. He knew he had overstepped. "It was not my intention."

Li Xinyuan turned back, voice still biting. "Whatever your intentions may be, what matters is how it was perceived."

"..."

"Regardless, I, too, apologise on my friend’s behalf." When the surgeon turned back to Namgung Jihye, he couldn’t bring himself to be as cold, and smiled apologetically. "What is it that you wished to talk about?"

"Ah, that... there are a few things, really." Awkwardly, Namgung Jihye scratched the tip of her nose. However, before the two of them could begin the meeting, Hu Lijing excused himself and slipped out of the room.

As the nine-tailed fox spirit made his way out of the door, he caught the sight of Bai Huiqi’s silver hair fluttering behind a pillar and halted. The moment the younger fox spirit saw him leave the room, he leapt out of hiding and glided towards him.

Bai Huiqi glanced at the closed wooden door, then at the undecipherable expression on Hu Lijing’s face, and fidgeted anxiously. "Is the atmosphere still frigid?"

Hu Lijing stayed silent at the urgent question, looking down at his feet. Bai Huiqi’s feet rooted to the floor, the nine-tailed fox spirit’s lack of reaction spiking a rush of worry in his chest.

"L— Doctor Baek would not kill her... Would he?"

Just as he opened his mouth to ask again, the four-tailed fox spirit heard a low chuckle leave Hu Lijing’s lips.

Hu Lijing laughed softly, ducking his head to press his hand to his lips. After laughing for a few long moments, he took a deep breath and gave Bai Huiqi a thumbs up — a gesture Li Xinyuan inadvertently taught them.

"He seems less disdainful now."

"What did you do?" Bai Huiqi’s eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Turned his ire towards myself." Hu Lijing dusted off his sleeves and scuttled away from the younger fox spirit, leaving him flabbergasted.

"What."