"Are you awake?"
The moment Emilia opened her eyes, she heard that voice that brought her a measure of peace.
Looking up, she saw exactly who she had expected sitting beside her bed.
His face was as calm and composed as ever, though a rare trace of gentleness softened his expression.
The light sheen of sweat on his forehead proved that his body was still burning with fever.
Even so, his composure and serenity seemed etched into his very bones, utterly unaffected by his physical condition. The light in those deep, pitch-black eyes remained as vivid as ever.
For someone whose heart was still filled with fear and uncertainty, the man before her truly shone too brightly.
Even Emilia understood that.
Things like uncertainty and weakness simply did not exist for the man before her.
That was why he could be so strong.
The moment she realized that, Emilia helplessly began to rely on him, her voice trembling with fragility.
"Fang Li...?"
"It's me."
"Really...?"
"Are you wondering if this is an illusion again? Want to touch me and see?"
"...Yes, please."
Fang Li's joking words only made Emilia want to draw closer to him.
With trembling hands, Emilia tightly grasped Fang Li's palm, as though she wanted to pour all of her strength—and all the feelings in her heart—into that grip.
She looked like a child with nowhere left to turn, clearly wanting to cry, yet so hoarse she could barely even call out, utterly fragile.
Yet Fang Li showed not the slightest hint of rejection toward her. He let Emilia clutch his hand while reaching out with his other hand to stroke her beautiful silver hair.
There was no denying that Emilia liked this feeling.
Because it let her clearly feel that someone cared for her, cherished her,