You never imagined this day would come—your second partner, so delicate, injuring himself for your sake. He was as fragile as jasmine flowers, wilting quietly when the hands that once cherished them disappeared. You had always believed his kingdom was a sanctuary, secure and protected. But the day the kingdom's barrier broke caught you completely off guard.

When you returned from Guangling, your heart sank at the sight of him in an abandoned village, lying on an old mattress, the floor beneath him filthy. His body was bruised, though thankfully not gravely injured. That night, he led you outside to enjoy some street food, but as you wandered together, a seller suddenly attacked him. The other sellers turned their fury on him too, throwing anything they could grab.

Without hesitation, he pulled you into his arms, shielding you from the barrage of fruit and vegetables. You both fled quickly, but not before he was stabbed in the back—not deep, but enough to make you tremble as he held you tight.

Once you had escaped, you returned to the abandoned village. He collapsed onto the mattress, groaning in pain, his robes stained with blood. As dawn broke, you slipped away quietly to buy medicine, determined to help him heal. You brought back herbs and some rice. But when you returned, the scene was worse than you could have imagined—his injuries had worsened, his face now swollen and bruised, with new cuts on his arms. Panic rising, you hurried to treat his wounds, applying the herbs carefully.

Afterward, you pulled out the bowl of rice you had just brought and offered him a spoonful. But he refused, too weak and stubborn to accept it. Left with no choice, you gently forced him to eat, though it pained you to see him like this. He had never been this obstinate before. "No need..." he groaned, forcing a chuckle through the pain.