Nan Zhiyun turned her head away, refusing to speak.
"Why aren't you speaking again? Weren't you just making threats?" Yu Jingchen's tone carried a hint of teasing.
"I dare not," Nan Zhiyun said, clinging to Yu Jingchen's arm.
Yu Jingchen helplessly pulled her out from behind him, withdrawing his arm. Without her support, Nan Zhiyun lost her sense of security.
"Speak properly. What's with this habit of only saying one or two words at a time?" Yu Jingchen remarked.
"I don't want to see her," Nan Zhiyun said, not wanting to face her. Yu Jingchen, exasperated, finally had her escorted away.
"Are you satisfied now?" Yu Jingchen asked. Nan Zhiyun remained silent.
"Forget it, let's apply the medicine first." Yu Jingchen didn't want to prolong the conversation. Perhaps sensing she couldn't continue, Nan Zhiyun sat quietly as Yu Jingchen applied the medicine.
"Does it hurt when you speak?" Yu Jingchen inquired.
"It hurts," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"Well, then, speak less." Yu Jingchen answered with mock seriousness.
Nan Zhiyun: "..."
"It hurts even when I don't speak," Nan Zhiyun said. Yu Jingchen didn't acknowledge her, so she added, "It hurts now too."
Yu Jingchen glanced at her. Nan Zhiyun happened to meet his gaze before looking away. She still seemed... afraid.
Yu Jingchen noticed but didn't comment. The room fell silent. After he finished applying the medicine, he asked, "Why aren't you calling out in pain anymore?"
"I'm afraid Your Majesty will be annoyed," Nan Zhiyun replied.
Yu Jingchen's tone remained unchanged. "Then why did you dare to speak just now? Weren't you afraid of annoying me?"
"I was afraid, but I wanted to..." Nan Zhiyun began.
"Wanted what?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"I wanted to be cherished... I wanted to be pampered just once, as I might not have the chance again," Nan Zhiyun lowered her head.
"Why won't you have the chance again?" Yu Jingchen regretted the question the moment it was out. As expected, Nan Zhiyun said, "My dreams won't be the same next time. Your Majesty, when I haven't seen you recently, I truly wish to sleep. Because when I sleep, I can see Your Majesty, the Your Majesty who never loses his temper. I've never seen that side since entering the palace."
"But when I am with Your Majesty, I'm afraid to fall asleep, because I fear the next time will be different. Your Majesty, I think I no longer know what is real and what is illusory." Nan Zhiyun looked back at Yu Jingchen, her eyes becoming lost as she spoke.
Yu Jingchen was silent for a moment, then said, "Then just treat it all as real and don't overthink it," Yu Jingchen told Nan Zhiyun.
Nan Zhiyun shook her head. "No, none of this will be real."
"Why can't it be?" Yu Jingchen asked.
"Because Your Majesty dislikes me and dislikes the Nan family. If I do anything wrong, Your Majesty will punish me. But if I get hurt, Your Majesty never inquires," Nan Zhiyun replied.
"...That was in the past," Yu Jingchen found himself feeling a pang of sadness upon hearing this.
"It's the same now, you still dislike me, don't you?" Nan Zhiyun smiled, a gentle smile, but while the corners of her lips turned up, tears streamed down her face.