Late at night, Zoya lay in bed, tossing and turning.
Moonlight streamed through the window, casting a cold silvery glow.
Lying on her side, she quietly gazed by moonlight at the small wooden carving in her hand.
It was carved in He Xi's likeness—the first wooden carving she had ever completed.
"Ms. Cassandra said he'd already returned."
"Did he immediately go back to that Mist Cave?"
Her slender fingers gently traced the contours of the carving, her thoughts in turmoil.
"I hope he wasn't hurt. And I hope... that girl named Annis has been rescued safely."
Although she knew that the girl's father had once wanted to marry her off to He Xi, she still sincerely hoped from the bottom of her heart that the girl would escape her predicament.
After all, she could tell that He Xi held no romantic feelings for that girl.
Otherwise, she did not know whether she could still pray for her so calmly.
Before long, a familiar creak came from the stairs.
Then came two sets of footsteps—one steady and powerful, the other the light tapping of four paws against the wooden floorboards.
He was back.
Zoya instinctively tightened her grip on the wooden carving.
She heard them enter the room next door, followed by Bruce's low grumbling, as though he were voicing his displeasure.
Soon, He Xi's slightly weary voice sounded. "All right, all right, stop grumbling. From now on, you can sleep on the bed."
"Woof!"
"But let's make this clear first," He Xi's voice came again. "You know what you should say and what you shouldn't."
The door to the next room softly opened again.
In a panic, Zoya stuffed the carving beneath her pillow, pulled the blanket higher, and squeezed her eyes shut.
He Xi came to the bedside and