Part 3
Lai Ze smiled and greeted Xiu Nai.
As the two people closest to Zefaer, they could both feel that Zefaer was different toward this Zhu Ran.
So, they tacitly helped Zefaer hide his identity and tried to save his precarious image in Zhu Ranās mind.
The repeated apologies from Xiu Nai and Lai Ze lessened Zhu Ranās displeasure.
“Let’s save the apologies and small talk for later. Treat Z first!”
Both Xiu Nai and Lai Ze knew that once Zefaer entered a Spiritual Sea Berserk state, it was comparable to a small-scale natural disaster.
Yet, although Zhu Ranās room was messy right now, it was clearly far from the devastation of a disaster.
Had Zefaerās spiritual riot… actually been controlled?
Xiu Nai walked quickly to Zefaer and crouched down. He had just pulled back the blanket to check his wounds further whenā
A sharp blade of spiritual power grazed past Xiu Naiās neck.
Blood flowed down.
If Xiu Nai hadn’t dodged quickly, his head would have been separated from his neck!
Xiu Nai looked embarrassed.
Their Majesty didn’t recognize anyone when he was ill. He shouldn’t have let his guard down just because His Majesty was currently lying quietly on the floor.
Xiu Nai didn’t dare move again.
So, Lai Ze also tried to touch Z. Similarly, a sharp burst of spiritual power sliced off a lock of Lai Zeās hair.
He also couldn’t get close to the unconscious Z.
Xiu Nai spoke with a stiff neck, “Zhu Ran, can I trouble you to try getting close to him?”
Zhu Ran nodded. “Okay.”
He crouched by Zās side and tried touching him with his hand.
Z, who just moments ago wouldn’t let anyone near him, now seemed attracted by something. He buried his head in Zhu Ranās arms, his head pressing against Zhu Ranās soft abdomen.
He didn’t look at all like he wouldn’t let anyone close.
On the contrary, he seemed very willing to be intimate with Zhu Ran.
In fact… he was a bit like a big cat acting spoiled.
Both Xiu Nai and Lai Ze were surprised by the sight.
They had never seen Zefaer show such an intimate and unguarded side to anyone. Even Xiu Nai, whom Zefaer trusted most, couldn’t achieve this.
Even though Zefaer was currently unconscious, it was enough to show Zhu Ranās uniqueness.
Xiu Nai looked at Lai Ze, seeking his help.
The current situation was too far beyond his expectations. In his contingency plans, none of them said, ‘What should I do if His Majesty clings to someone after falling unconscious?’
Lai Ze still wore a faint smile. He tapped his finger against the corner of his eye, seemingly lost in thought.
“Since Z is unconscious and won’t let anyone but Mr. Zhu Ran near him, to avoid delaying his treatment, we might need Mr. Zhu Ranās cooperation.”
“I will have a private doctor come to treat Z, Mr. Zhu Ran, and Officer Xiu Nai together. I also hope Mr. Zhu Ran can look after Z for a few days until he regains consciousness.”
Zhu Ran frowned.
He clearly didn’t want a stranger stepping into his private space, especially an “unpleasant” stranger at that.
“Zhu Ran, I know this might be a bit of an imposition. But… Z was seriously injured while stopping a conspiracy against the entire planet. I hope you can look after him for a couple of days, seeing as his offense was unintentional. When he wakes up, you can punish him however you like.”
Hearing Xiu Nai say Z was injured while protecting the planet, Zhu Ranās resistance weakened slightly.
He also remembered how Z, after regaining consciousness, had jabbed himself with the needle without hesitation, and he recalled those heterochromatic eyes filled with apology.
Z really hadn’t meant it.
Moreover… seeing Xiu Naiās broken arm, Zhu Ran could guess how dangerous the mission Z had participated in was. The man had been injured to protect this planet.
After only a few seconds of internal conflict, Zhu Ran made his decision.
“Alright.”
Xiu Nai and Lai Ze were instantly relieved.
Xiu Nai: “I’ll contact the doctor right away.”
Lai Ze: “I’ll have someone clean your home! And help you replace a set of furniture while I’m at it.”
Zhu Ran nodded, then helped Z onto the nearby sofa.
Z was like an obedient toy, letting Zhu Ran move him back and forth.
It’s just that this “toy” was a bit too heavy…
Just as Zhu Ran sat on a chair, Zefaerās head naturally leaned against Zhu Ranās shoulder.
Zhu Ran pushed the man’s head away. Not a second later, the man leaned back again and sniffed at the side of Zhu Ranās neck.
Zhu Ranās fist tightened.
However, seeing the man’s body covered in wounds, he suppressed his anger.
Forget it, I won’t argue with a sick person.
Xiu Nai quickly brought a doctor to Zhu Ranās home to treat Z.
Since Z wouldn’t accept anyone else’s touch unless Zhu Ran was by his side, Zhu Ran stayed with Z throughout the entire examination.
This created an illusion that Zhu Ran and Z were on very good terms.
But in reality, the two were barely acquaintances.
“The spiritual riot caused by the illegal drug… is a secondary injury for him. Although he was calmed down afterward, it still caused great damage to his spiritual sea. Whether it can be repaired in the future depends entirely on luck.”
“Iāll prescribe some medicine for conservative treatment first. The medicine for the superficial wounds is on the table; apply it twice a day.”
The doctor’s gaze lingered for a moment on the wound on Zhu Ranās neck. “You should apply it as well.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
After seeing the doctor off, Xiu Naiās expression was heavy.
He naturally knew how terrible the state of Zefaerās spiritual sea was, and this berserk episode had clearly made matters worse.
Ever since Zefaerās early awakening at age 15, his unstable spiritual sea had been gnawing away at his body day and night, leaving him troubled by pain and negative emotions at all times.
Zefaer had tried many methods, but none had been effective.
Regarding this, he would simply brush it off with a laugh.
“I won’t die for now anyway. If it can’t be cured, then so be it.”
In this weapon theft case, the enemy’s goal wasn’t to steal weapons at all, but… to have Zefaer die from a Spiritual Sea Berserk.
They had even bribed Rui, whom Zefaer trusted, to take action. Although Zefaer had been alert, he still fell for the trap.
Xiu Naiās expression was grim and full of rage.
But he soon realized his expression was frightening, so he took two deep breaths to steady his mind.
“Sorry for adding to your trouble.”
Zhu Ran noticed that Xiu Naiās complexion was very poor. He also found that Xiu Nai would get angry on Zās behalf; clearly, the two weren’t just acquaintances, they were likely on good terms.
“You and Z are… very close?”
“Yes.”
Xiu Nai recalled, “I watched him awaken early, and I watched him go berserk before my eyes while I was helpless. How should I put it… he…”
Xiu Naiās tone was low, his hands clenched into fists. “He had it too hard in the past, and things aren’t exactly good now.”
The unconscious Z had awakened Xiu Naiās past memories, which made him lose a bit of control.
“Iām sorry… I might be feeling a bit unwell. Could I trouble you to apply the medicine for him? I can’t get close to him.”
Zhu Ran noticed Xiu Naiās voice was choking up, so he nodded.
After Xiu Nai left, Zhu Ran picked up the ointment the doctor had left.
He glanced at Z, who was still frowning in his sleep, and sighed.
Then he pulled back the blanket covering Z, and the manās bodyāriddled with scarsāappeared before him.
Zās skin was very pale, and his muscle lines were beautiful and full of power.
However, the intersecting, cracked scars across his body were like cracks on flawless porcelain, ruining that beauty.
These were injuries Z had inflicted on himself with his own spiritual power during his berserk state.
Zhu Ran applied the ointment to Zās scarred body without changing his expression.
When his fingers touched Zās skin, the man subconsciously resisted from the pain; his muscles trembled slightly, and his body shifted to one side.
“Be good. Your injuries will heal faster once the medicine is on.”
Perhaps Zhu Ranās voice was too gentle, or perhaps it was the faint scent of vanilla sugar, but Zās furrowed brows and tensed muscles relaxed.
He allowed Zhu Ran to apply the medicine.
After working for over half an hour, Zhu Ran finally finished applying the ointment to Zās wounds. He then wrapped Z in bandages, finishing the treatment for the external injuries.
Zhu Ranās own back wounds had already been treated by the doctor, but the one on his neck hadn’t been handled yet.
So, he dipped some ointment and applied it to the wound on his own neck.
The skin on the neck was already very delicate, and the wound was in such a position that while it looked savage and tragic, it also provoked wild imaginings.
No wonder the doctor had looked at him with such a strange expression earlier.
By the time Zhu Ran finished everything and left the room, Xiu Nai had returned to normal.
He stood in a military posture with his back straight, his broken arm simply treated and hanging in a sling. Although his emotions were stable, he still seemed a bit dejected.
Xiu Nai: “I saw you were applying medicine for him, so I didn’t come in.”
“I’ll have to trouble you to look after him for the next few days. It’s not convenient for me to stay and disturb you, so Iāll come to visit him tomorrow.”
“If anything happens, you can contact me. Well then, Iāll leave him in your hands!”
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