The Enigmatic Return (Neera and Jean)

When Neera woke up again, it was early morning the next day. The bedside lamp was still on, and though the daylight was breaking outside, the sun had not fully risen yet.

She felt her hand being enveloped by a sizable, warm palm, the dry and warm sensation within the palm evoking a familiar sense of comfort from the depths of her heart.

She gently moved her fingers, tracing the skin of that hand with her fingertips.

However, she didn't wake him up.

Neera's eyes adapted to the light, and she turned her head to find a man leaning over her bedside, soundly asleep.

His usual light sleep, easily disrupted by the slightest movement or sound, was undisturbed this time—a clear indication of profound exhaustion.

Neera looked at the crown of his head with clear eyes, sensing an overwhelming tenderness in her heart.

These past few days had to have been terrifying for him. He had been with her all along, enduring worries and fears, and she had no idea how long he had stayed awake.

In reality, and even in her dreams, she experienced sensations.

The memories preceding her unconsciousness consistently intertwined with her in the dream realm, unsettling her peace of mind.

She wanted to be clear-headed, to shake off those images from her mind, but her consciousness felt like it had plunged into a deep abyss, sinking deeper and deeper.

In her daze, she seemed to be struggling, but she could feel a warm, reassuring hand holding onto her throughout.

The painful experiences that haunted her before slipping into unconsciousness now seemed insignificant the moment she saw this man peacefully sleeping. They were no longer as fearsome.

Her heart gradually calmed down, feeling a sense of tranquility. A slight smile formed at the corner of her lips, unintentionally pulling at the not-yet-healed wound, causing her to wince.

This caught Jean's attention, and he woke up.

Almost reflexively, he lifted his head, anxiously looking at her.

"Neera, where does it hurt? I'll go call the doctor," he said, getting up to leave.

Neera quickly grabbed his arm. "No, I'm fine. You don't need to be so worried. It's just... I accidentally tugged at the corner of my mouth."

Jean lowered his gaze, focusing on her dry lips and the wound at the corner of her mouth. He pursed his thin lips, then turned to get a cotton swab and warm water, gently moistening it for her with patience and care.

After completing these tasks, he adjusted the bed a bit and placed a pillow behind Neera.

"Do you want some water? Are you hungry? Should I still call the doctor?” he asked.

Neera shook her head. "No need, I just slept for too long, and I'm feeling a bit disoriented. If you talk to me, it'll be fine."

Jean was more than willing. However, in this moment, while holding her hand, he found himself uncertain about what to say.

Just by gazing at Neera, he couldn't shake off the lingering fear, and his emotions stayed unsettled.

Observing his stern and composed expression, Neera could discern his emotions with a single glance. In her eyes, there was a blend of helplessness and compassion.

"Don't be sad. I'm fine now, and I'm right here by your side," she spoke first, her voice unusually gentle.

"As long as I see you well and safe, everything I went through is worthwhile," she continued.

Jean heard her words, and it felt like a knife slicing through his heart, only to be delicately stitched back together. The tender care seeped through every stitch.

“Neera...” he mouthed, his lips moving, his voice husky. “It's my fault. I promised to protect you, yet you got hurt...”

Neera smiled and reached up to touch his cheek.

"Between us, there's no need for such words. You want to protect me, and I want to protect you. When one of us is hurt, the other won't fare well. We can't escape what's meant to be, but thankfully, we're both okay."

Jean held her hand, his lips grazing her palm, each gesture tender and filled with compassion.

Neera didn't want him to dwell in self-blame, so after speaking, she shifted the conversation to something she had been concerned about.

"How is Zephyr now? Is he recovering well? Is he still in this hospital? I'd like to go and see him."

Jean cleared his throat and said in a low voice, "He's doing fine, but he's no longer recovering in the hospital.”

"Not recovering in the hospital?" Neera was surprised. "So, he's... back at the Gordon family? Is the situation at the Gordon family suitable for recuperation? He broke two ribs; why the rush to leave the hospital?"

After a brief silence, Jean truthfully explained, "Shane has sorted things out on the Gordon family's side. As for returning to the Gordon family, it was Zephyr's own proposal. Uncle Chad advised against it, but he insisted on going back."

"Over at the Fu family, the Qing banquet has been taken care of. As for going to the Fu family, it was Xiao Feng's own suggestion. His uncle tried to dissuade him, but he insisted on going back."

Neera was even more puzzled, "Why the rush to go back? Did something happen to the Gordon family? Or is it related to Bartitsu Guild?"

This topic always made her nervous.

Jean poured her a glass of water, testing the temperature first, and then handed it to her.

"Don't be nervous. The Gordon family is fine now. With Shane in charge, everything is under control. The affliated forces of the Gordon family are also safe. It's Zephyr... He insisted that he didn't do his job well, couldn't protect you, and felt guilty. He was determined to accept punishment."

"Punishment?" Neera frowned immediately, sitting up with concern. "He has already done well enough. Why does he need punishment? If it weren't for him, I would have been captured. The attackers were obviously well- prepared, with a large number of people, and the fact that Phoebe leaked information was unpredictable. For him to save me, he almost sacrificed his own life. That's already very responsible."

Jean sighed in helplessness. "Everyone shared the same sentiment. No one pointed fingers at him except himself. He's a person of strong principles and adherence to rules. He felt he fell short and insisted on accepting punishment. Otherwise, he'd refuse to eat or drink and would kneel for an extended period."

Neera didn't know what to say for a moment. "Why does he have to do this?"

Then, she asked, "So, what about him now? Did Uncle Chad punish him?"

Jean nodded. "Uncle Chad didn't want to, but Zephyr is too stubborn. His body hadn't fully recovered, yet he insisted on kneeling. Uncle Chad was afraid it might harm him further, so he agreed. It was supposed to be a hundred lashes, but Uncle Chad reduced it to thirty. He also mentioned that once you wake up, Zephyr still needs to protect you closely. If he's beaten too much, even if he doesn't die, he'll become disabled. How can he protect you then? After hearing that, Zephyr didn't say anything more."

Neera's brow furrowed even tighter, a blend of speechlessness and a hint of wry amusement evident on her face.

"Why is he so stubborn? Is his punishment over?"

"Yeah, it was only done on his back to avoid his injuries. He's resting now. Don't worry."

Neera let out a heavy sigh. "How can I not worry? This guy, besides excelling in martial arts, is a mess in everything else. Why does he have to be so rigid?"

Jean, however, could understand Zephyr's feelings.

"It's not about being rigid. It's about guilt and regret that can't be vented out. He can only find solace through this form of punishment, and it serves as a wake-up call. Just like when I found out you were in trouble, and when I saw you covered in wounds, I wished I could kill those who hurt you and then end my own life. I couldn't control the overwhelming self-blame. I kept thinking, 'If only I hadn't left you, things would be different'. I believe Zephyr migh have similar thoughts. He might feel that if he had better skills—if he had been more vigilant you wouldn't have been hurt.”

Neera listened, a bitter taste passing through her heart.

Suddenly, she leaned in, hugging Jean tightly and burying herself in his embrace. "While I was in the warehouse, fear gripped me, but I held onto the hope that you would come to my rescue, whisk me away. That's what kept me pushing through. Thankfully, you arrived."