4. You're diagnosed with Spinal Paralysis

Her breath hitched, recalling how her mother looked. She had died seconds after her labor, but for a second, when she had lifted Mingxia in the air, her face had stuck to her memory. Day by day, that face began to fade off, which is why Mingxia painted half of the image of her down on paper. She convinced herself every day to find her dead mother, but not until her sister died shortly after—two months after her mother's death, to be exact.

She was only two months old and did not know what was going on. She only wailed when others did. Growing up as the only child of her psycho father, Mingxia learned on her fifteenth birthday that she had an older sister who was a year older than she was. In addition, her shameless father admitted to being the cause of her death!

"She was a kind woman when she was alive. Although I might not have seen her, my mother told me tales of how she helped her both financially and morally. My mom's family had a lawsuit from my dad's family concerning how she was the one who murdered him and all. My mother was completely innocent, and your mom believed her too. She was the one who took the case and ended the rival." Lixin's voice croaked, evoking those dreadful memories back into his head. He forcefully gripped the hem of his coat and balled his fist.

He had promised his uncle Haoru that he would not think about it, but he did! Every time he saw himself in a trance, he thought of that same event. It was nobody's fault! Yet he could not bring himself not to assume it was his. His mother died four years later during a fire accident. He was the only survivor because his mother had pulled him out of the house before it collapsed. For the rest of his life, it remained a scar.

He was lucky to be the only survivor, but his face was badly hurt, and stitching it up caused him to lose his social life. He was a monster! To hide his face, he wore a black mask and refused to take it off, even when he showered. Lixin was terrified of his face—his hideous, disgusting face.

"I see why my father hated her profession. He hates when people seek justice! He hates it," Mingxia uttered, peeking at him. She wanted to know more about her mother, but her efforts were futile. It was as if she disappeared and was never seen after her delivery. No records of her were ever found. "I never got to know who my mother was, including her personality. He hated it whenever I looked like her. He called me disgusting and made me cover my face. He said I resembled a harlot!"

"He said that?" Lixin spoke up later, letting go of his clenched fist. His neck turned to her, and he patted her head. It seemed he was very late in saving her from the hands of her father; at least, he saved her in the end. "I am sorry that I was late. Mother would hate me for not doing anything in my power to save you from his clutches. Before she died..."

"If it hurts for you to say it, then you don't have to." Her eyes brightened up as she watched him relax his knuckle muscles.

Mingxia understood fully how it hurt to remember something you wished never to recall—it was a striking death killer.

"You need to know," His grips stiffened, and his brows furrowed together. "She wrote down the address—your address. She told me to save you and bring you to my house. To cater to you. I did not quite understand what she meant until Uncle Haoru handed me that letter." He took a drastic pause and put a little distance between the two of them. "My uncle and aunty will love you as their daughter and care about your spinal nerve dysfunction; we will get the best surgeon for you."

"Thank you, Lixin." Mingxia exhaled sharply, folded the letter, and gave it back to him. At last, she felt warmth in her heart, knowing he was not a bad person out to harm her; in fact, he was a kind man. "

"It is not a big deal. I am just repaying the debts my mother could not repay before her departure." Lixin closed his eyes and kept them shut until the car arrived back at his mansion. It was late at night, yet the house bloomed with so much light. From the black, shiny gates to the tall skyscraper building, Mingxia faced him anxiously. She was not ready to meet anyone!

"This is my house. I live here alone." As if understanding her cold gesture, he pulled her into his embrace and whispered into her ears. "Come, let me help you." Lixin gently helped her down from the car and sat her down in the wheelchair. He gave a slight nod to his butler, who also helped him with her bags.

Stepping into the mansion, Mingxia's eyes met with a bright, stunning chandelier hanging from the ceiling and the cool, stoic decoration. From the vintage black couch to the black nightstand, coffee table, and wall. His house was black! She sat down and played with her fingers.

"If you don't like the interior, I would get another wallpaper for you tomorrow morning, Mingxia."

"No! I like it. It is perfect. Wait, I never introduced myself to you; how did you know my name?" Mingxia asked again when he stopped rolling her in and moved her into the elevator. "I won't bother you again." She shrugged the question off her mind and obediently let herself be wheeled into her room.

"It is late. The housekeeper would have you bathed and clothed. When you are done, ring the bell, and I will come to check on you. Scott recommended some drugs for your fast healing."

"Thanks, Lixin," She blurted out, staring at him. She wanted something from him but did not know how to ask. "I… Can I, for once, see your face? You have had this mask on your face for too long. I will really..."

"No! That part is not allowed," Lixin scolded her. He picked up his phone and left the room. Seconds later, a woman rolling in hangers of clothing pulled the door open. She beamed happily and greeted

"Young Miss Zhou, the young master has assigned me to take care of your bathing and perhaps everything he cannot handle since he is a man. I will try my best to be at your service all the time."

"Call me Mingxia. I do not go by that last name again," Mingxia responded politely as she allowed the woman to undress her from the hospital gown to her naked self. Her face flustered, allowing another woman to see her naked body; all the same, she had no other option but to permit her to do so.

Bai Yuming, the house cleaner, nodded and went ahead with helping her into the bathtub. She reached for the sponge, rubbed soap lotion on the towel, and began to scrub her body softly. Minutes later, she was done bathing, and I helped her into soft, silky white underwear before wearing a nightgown. It was a bit oversized, but it was comfortable!

"I will be on my way. The young master said, When you are ready to take your pills, you should ring the bell."

"Hmm, I remembered." Mingxia forced out a smile and stopped. She curiously stood up with the help of her nightstand and sat on the bed. "Why do you call him the young master and I call him Lixin?"

"I dare not call my master by his name. It is disrespectful. I am only a house cleaner and nothing more; nonetheless, you are his soon-to-be wife. That is how he wants you to address him."

"Soon to be a wife?" Mingxia muttered to herself internally. "Is he usually so secretive about his face that he wears a mask all day long?"

"The young master never takes his mask off, even when showering. For years, no one knew why he did so. Why do you ask? He is not a bad man. He won't hurt you if that is your worry."

"I know. It is just that. I saw through him. I felt his heart, his emotions, and his feelings, yet I am yet to see who he truly is. Consequently, he never takes off; that is what you are sticking with?"

"Ma'am, this question is beyond my abilities. I have worked for him for ten good years and have never seen that mask come off his face. I do not have the answer you are looking for; perhaps you can ask him yourself."

"I did, and he scolded me."