"Why can't she speak? I saw her try but she only choked and coughed."

"Her voice box was damaged, but the damage is just temporary. Her larynx will heal on its own. She will be able to speak again."

"Thank you, doc."

"No problem. Just call me if anything happens." As doctor Fu walked towards the main entrance of the penthouse he decided to poke his nose for a little bit. "Why didn't you go to the hospital after saving her? Anything could have gone wrong, you know."

"I did. I went to the nearest local hospital. They did what's necessary, but when they told me she was safe already, I took her here and called you."

"I cannot afford to lose sight of her even for just a second. She's my life. Do you know what I mean? She drowned, but I felt that I drowned too when I saw her fight for her life. I felt like gasping for air and getting suffocated anyway during those few minutes when I thought she's gonna leave me for good."

"I cannot part with her. If I send her to a hospital and alerted her family, then, at some point they would have taken over and I would have been asked to leave. I simply cannot let that happen."

The doctor stopped in his tracks aghast. "Wait, are you telling me… The family did not know?"

"Yep. I had it covered. They thought she's back in Hangzhou as planned."

Zhu Li Qiang's visage contorted with helplessness. "I know I kidnapped her, but she's safer with me. I'm having a hunch that something terrible happened to her. Something bad. It's so selfish of me to decide for her, right? Well, I believe it's the right thing to do. I'll keep her safe here."

The doctor sighed. "Seems complicated. I suddenly regretted asking. Well, if you need medical advice, or advice of any sort, for that matter, just give me a call."

"Got to go." The doctor said as he exited the premises of the penthouse.

As Zhu Li Qiang closed his front door, the maid Chichi approached him. "Sir…" Her eyes reflected both agitation and relief.

"Chichi, make her company. Make her feel comfortable here. I'm sorry, Chichi, I brought the two of you here. Do you care for your young miss?"

"Most definitely, Sir. I care for our young miss."

"Good. Then stay with her. She's counting on you. And…" Zhu Li Qiang put both hands on the maid's shoulders and stared straight into her eyes. "…everything that has happened should stay between the two of us. You're my accomplice now. If you tell anyone, you'll get dragged down with me. My intentions with Teng Man Rui couldn't be any clearer and more innocent. Don't worry, I will never allow anything to happen to her, or you."

"I've seen how much you love her, Sir. I was there. You saved our young miss' life. I'm indebted to you." She retorted with heartfelt sentiments as she wiped unshed tears at the side of her eyes with her index finger.

"It's nothing. My life would be nothing if Teng Man Rui isn't in it." Zhu Li Qiang sighed ruefully. These past days had taken its toll on him. With big panda eyes, s.h.a.ggy hair and overcast aura, anyone who would have b.u.mped with him on the streets wouldn't be able to recognize his status as a young master. He was haggard to the maximum extent.

But not today. Today, his angel woke up albeit only for such a short while. It's enough to lift his spirits up and wipe away all his weariness.

'But she's scared. She's scared like a kitten who had been abandoned in the streets which could only snarl at any potential threat. She's G.o.dd.a.m.n scared!'

'I could only deduce what happened.' He squinted his eyes as he remembered the hickeys boisterously shouting against Teng Man Rui's fair jadeite skin. He stared longingly at the horizon under the moonlit room in his penthouse unit. 'If my instinct is right, then, I swear I will kill that b.a.s.t.a.r.d.'

But deep down inside, he had wished he was wrong.