Setting Out Together
Simon Yu dusted himself off, darting his eyes left and right. Only after confirming no one had witnessed his recent thrashing did he finally breathe a sigh of relief.
He was Dr. Rowan Lin's prized apprentice—getting booted by a woman? How could he possibly keep his pride intact!
Simon Yu had set out to find Su Li, and running into Martin Wu was pure happenstance. He quickly straightened himself up and resumed his search for Su Li. “Simon, you’re here! Come, have a seat,” Su Li called out warmly as soon as she spotted him.
Simon Yu plopped down on the chair, only to spring up with a yelp—his backside still smarting. Trying to cover up his awkwardness, he blurted, “I’ll just stand. Sitting all day makes my back ache.”
Su Li just responded with an 'oh,' finding Simon a bit odd, but if he wanted to stand, let him—no skin off her nose.
“Simon, how are Dad, Mom, and Little Wu settling in?” Su Li asked.
Dr. Rowan Lin and his family had already left the Lin Residence when Charles Hayes and the others made their escape.
“Master, Mistress, and Little Wu are all safe and sound, Miss Su. No need to fret—they’ve returned to the Lin Family Ancestral Estate, which is practically a fortress. The Lin Family’s survived dynasty after dynasty for a reason; they know how to keep themselves safe. Even if the Prince of Qin’s Manor and the royal family fall out, the Lin Family will still be standing,” Simon Yu said reassuringly.
“That’s good to hear. I was worried I’d drag my parents and the Lin Family into this mess,” Su Li breathed a sigh of relief, then added with a heavy heart, “I never thought I’d end up separated from my mother, after all.”
Simon Yu said, “Don’t worry, Miss Su. Master absolutely spoils Mistress—he treats her like a precious gem and won’t let her suffer the tiniest grievance.”
"Simon, when are you heading back to the Lin Family Estate? The Lin Residence and Prince of Qin's Manor will soon be empty—you’re not planning to stay in the capital all by yourself, are you?" Su Li asked.
Simon Yu grinned, "Of course not! Staying in the capital alone would be way too boring. Master instructed me to travel with you to the Qin Kingdom. He said that place is pretty wild—probably not a decent doctor in sight. If you or young Charles Hayes get sick, you’ll need someone trustworthy around. Plus, it’s a perfect chance for me to get some experience. Every Lin Family doctor has to venture out before officially graduating, to sharpen our skills and character. So this trip is my training. Don’t worry, Miss Su—with me, Simon Yu, looking after you, everyone’s health is in good hands!"
Su Li smiled, feeling much more at ease about heading to Qin with Simon Yu by their side.
Charles Hayes had always been frail and sickly, and it was Dr. Rowan Lin who used to care for him so meticulously. Now, with Dr. Lin not around, Su Li had been worried.
But as luck would have it, just when she needed a pillow, her father sent Simon Yu right over—talk about perfect timing!
Su Li felt a rush of warmth in her heart. She knew her father cared deeply for her and Charles, but at the end of the day, it was all because he loved her mother. To set her mother's mind at ease, he made sure Simon Yu would be by their side.
"Alright, Young Master Simon, you’ll join us on our journey to Qin. Oh, and since we’ve got an extra person traveling with us, I’ll give you an address. Tomorrow, could you swing by and pick him up? We’ll meet at the dock and head south by boat," Su Li said, jotting down Martin Wu’s address and handing it to Simon Yu.
Simon Yu glanced at the note and replied, "Oh, picking someone up from the academy? Easy! I’ll go tomorrow, grab him, and then we’ll all set off together!"