Stand

Inside a hidden laboratory, Ren Rouan is cleaning his medical tools and throw the acupuncture needles he used at a bin also full of used needles. He put the medical tools inside the autoclave to sterilize it. He picked up his white face towel and wiped the sweats on his forehead.

He looked at the girl lying on the hospital bed. The girl is no other than Feng Xiaoxi, her complexion is pale and she looked like a frail and sickly beauty. Finally, the treatment for her legs is done. Any minute now she will wake up.

He walked towards the bed and sat on a chair near the bed with a face towel on his hand. He stared at Feng Xiaoxi's face and a smile found its way on his face, but then he noticed a bead of sweats on her forehead and raised his hand to wipe it with the face towel he just used. But before he can wipe the sweat off her forehead, a hand stopped him.

She's awake!

"What do you think you're doing?" Feng Xiaoxi said as she glared at the guy beside her,

"You're up." Ren Rouan pulled his arm away from Feng Xiaoxi's hold and grinned at her. " Nothing, you are just sweating too much and I just want to give you a hand."

"And use a used face towel?!" Feng Xiaoxi's glare intensified and her eyebrows are almost meeting each other.

"Oh come on, don't be such a clean freak." Ren Rouan stood up from his seat. " I'm going to get you some water."

"Sure," Feng Xiaoxi indeed, needs that. Her throat is starting to hurt because of its dryness. "I want a clean one!" She added.

"No problem your majesty!" Ren Rouan said his voice with hints of playfulness.

Feng Xiaoxi rolled her eyes at Ren Rouan's nonsense. When Ren Rouan's image faded she looked around the room. The laboratory is very spacious and clean, everything is in order. The room is also bright and full of fluorescent light that you will feel like you're under a big spotlight.

After a few seconds, Ren Rouan came back with a glass of water.

"Here." He passed the glass of water to Feng Xiaoxi.

"Thanks." Feng Xiaoxi received it and drank half of the water in the glass. She put it down on the table, near the bed.

"Feng Xiaoxi, try to move your legs." Ren Rouan instructed.

Feng Xiaoxi did what she was told. She tried to move her legs but was having a hard time since it's been two months the last time she can move her legs. After a few seconds, she moved her heavy legs left to right.

Feng Xiaoxi is delighted. Her eyes sparks as she moves her legs left to right.

"Lift your right then left leg."

Feng Xiaoxi lifts her legs consecutively and the smile on her face grew more obvious and wide.

Ren Rouan helped Feng Xiaoxi to position her feet on the floor so she can try to stand. "Try to stand."

When Feng Xiaoxi's feet touched the floor the coldness of the floor seem to seeps up to her knees and feels like there's a spark.

She holds unto Ren Rouan and tries to stand. It is harder this time and Ren Rouan felt her grip tighten as seconds passed.

He knows that she's desperate to get back on her feet because she's missing a lot of things and was already lagged behind in their group. He also knows why she doesn't want to inform others about her situation. Her emotions are all bottled up. Even though she looks fine outside he also knows that there's a storm inside. She's the most secretive person in their group and they are with each other ever since they can remember.

Ren Rouan looked at the cold expression of Feng Xiaoxi on her face, beads of sweats are already trickling down her face. And then he looked at the tightly clenched fist of hers.

"You don't need to push yourself." Ren Rouan holds her arm and he felt that when Feng Xiaoxi heard him she tightened her grip more and her breath became laborious. "I'm sure, you can walk the next time we'll meet." Ren Rouan flashed Feng Xiaoxi a smile.

Feng Xiaoxi sat back down to the bed and let go of her hold on Ren Rouan.

"I need to head back." Feng Xiaoxi said looking at nothingness.

Ren Rouan nodded his head. "I'll get the keys."