41 Chapter Forty One(Caretaker)

He was not amused by her insult and steadily met her mocking eyes, waiting patiently for her to finish her laugh only then did he speak again. "Miss Zhou if you are serious then as the older party in this conversation I will have to insist that you tell me what it is you are speaking of. Without asking for help how will anyone know that you need to be saved?" She gave a small giggle lifting her hand to cover her grin due to his statement. It was funny to hear him say something like this, morbidly funny.

"Brother Liang I do not want to be saved, I have never asked to be saved." He frowns even further and sat up straighter to scold her. "Zhou Hua Fan-" She cuts him off with another charming laugh that was somewhat forced and hollow sounding. The blanket of darkness and gloom is cast over the girl's petite frame. Zhong Zemin could almost see the shadow behind the girl as it swallows her whole making her seem all that more fragile and small. Her lashes fan over her cheeks as her gaze is lowered toward her papers on the table with aimless melancholy.

"Even if I asked to be saved, no one will come." As he was about to open his mouth to argue with her, he found he could not utter a single sentence of comfort against those sad despondent words. He was aghast and disgusted with himself for hesitating as the longer the seconds go by the paler and more lonely the girl seemed. The longer he hesitated the more she resembled a porcelain doll left on a shelf locked behind a glass barrier. What is he supposed to say? What could he say?

He hardly knew anything about her besides the fact that she is the heiress of the Zhou family and had a proud and arrogant attitude. To see her solemnly standing in the chilling shadows right in front of him, he found himself suddenly speechless. They were not close enough for him to claim to be of help to her emotionally. In fact, it became even more obvious to him after all of this that all this time it really has been just Hua Fan suffering losses... He vented to her, he was comforted by her, he was supported by her and even shielded by her halo yet she got nothing in return.

The frustrating bubble that unsettled his heart from before returns followed closely by shame. For him to be so comfortable being protected by someone younger than him, he was ashamed to not realize how selfish he had been the past few days. Without even realizing it he was already taking her emotional support for granted. Hua Fan had given him stability when his life was falling apart. She gave him a sanctuary as she promised with no one to disturb his thoughts, she gave him a place to rest his mind without worrying about anything.

But he was still selfish enough to ask her to open up to him without him knowing anything. To her, wasn't he useless then? Stubborn pride and determination override his shame. The fact that she was willing to say this much meant something already, and even if she does not tell him he can still be of use. No, he WILL be of use. Being looked down on by a child irked him. Looking back over to the unnaturally quiet girl Zhong Zemin studies her pale petite body over and seriously starts taking notes of her appearance for once. Feeling a scrutinizing gaze on her Hua Fan glances over at Zhon Zemin and noticed his professional-like appearance.

A warm but troubled feeling arose in her heart. The way his eyes look her over as if she was a serious patient made her want to laugh again. "Doctor Liang are you diagnosing me?" "You have yet to tell me your real goal." Hearing this her mouth clamped shut and a flash of irritation crosses her expression, "Were you not listening to me?" This time Zhong Zemin was unmoved and strides over her warning with a shocking amount of resolve.

"I don't care. Whatever you said before, I don't care. Whether you ask me for help or not I will still give it to you. What you give me I will give to you." Hua Fan's eyes widen, for once, she was the one stumped and stunned into silence seeming to finally look her age. Zhong Zemin's unease slowly ebbs away seeing her expression, he much preferred this Hua Fan who could show anything other than apathy. Smiling rather mockingly he threw more of her words back at her. "If you can do it why can't I? Miss Zhou, you seem to forget that I am an adult, you may be able to scare away other people with this talk but not me. You say you will offer me endless support in this life without asking for anything in return? Then I will do the same. You will protect me? I will also do the same."

"Hey, Zhong Zemin-" A strange flush brightens the girl's face making her appear more youthful and vibrant after hearing his confident promises. There was a weird warm sensation in her stomach that flopped around as blood rushes to her cheeks making her feel embarrassed. To think he would actually repeat and use her words against her. She was really not expecting it! Especially someone like Zhong Zemin who was very straightforward and disliked flowery words.

He had truly caught Hua Fan off guard. Instead of a pale and flawless mask, Hua Fan's face came to life melting away the ice she had put up around herself without her being able to help it. Her eyes even sparkle a bit in the light looking dewy and lively. This change came abruptly, even startling Zhong Zemin who had caused her to give such a loveable response. And for the first time, Zhong Zemin understood why so many people fussed over the girl despite her terrible personality. With a face red from embarrassment Hua Fan's cold aura was tossed away until you were only left with a beautiful young girl who was easy on the eyes and who tugged at your heartstrings without your consent.

Added to her large eyes, even if those eyes glared at you they were sparkly and lovely looking. So much so that you did not even mind if they were glaring at you. The tense atmosphere that choked Zhong Zemin lightened to the point where he felt he could take a deep breath without fear of choking. Before she could storm away Zhong Zemin found his own voice softening in face of her charm as he held out one hand very gently trying to persuade the girl. "You say that no one will save you even if you ask, then how about someone who will try to save you regardless if you ask or not? Little Heiress, I may not be the most reliable person in your eyes but if you have no one else you are willing to trust then at least let me become one."

"-Like you said, as a doctor why would I sit by and watch as someone dies without even trying?" Hua Fan finally shows hints of hesitation as the troublesome feeling grew more and more. "You cannot save me." Zhong Zemin gave her a grim smile, "How do you know?" He saw a trace of hesitancy on her face and saw her bite her lip as if keeping herself from saying anymore, but he knew he was close to persuading her. "No matter what you say, only the gods can destroy your spirit. Letting me know will do you no harm." A light flickers in her eyes and she finally meets his gaze with an unidentifiable emotion on her face. As if she was a robot Hua Fan stiffly and hesitantly rose her hand and placed it in his. "...Brother Liang you are right, letting you know will do nothing."

She adds as an afterthought "But no matter what you see or learn, you must promise me one thing." Meeting his gaze Hua Fan told him seriously. "Ye Ye must never know." Zhong Zemin was planning on ignoring her request and made to stand to take the girl to the hospital but the girl grips his hand tighter forcing him to take her seriously. "If Ye Ye knows then everything I worked for will be for nothing. You will have ruined my life and his." She pulls his hand to make sure he was paying attention, her tone solemn. "If you want me and Ye Ye to be happy, you will never repeat what I say from this point on or report what you find. Do you understand?" Zhong Zemin saw her unmoving stance and knew she wouldn't go with him unless he agreed he pauses for a few seconds before nodding. Hua Fan's face blossomed into a beautiful smile as she loosens her grip and stood up with him this time willingly. "You promised. Don't forget my words today Brother Liang, nor your own."