He was afraid—for just a moment, but a terrifying moment nonetheless, one that stretched out between his question and the young master’s answer like an infinity—that the young master would get angry at him, that he would push him away, that he’d be furious that He Peilin dared to bring up such a subject in front of him—to think of such a subject at all. But the young master just sighed and rubbed his face again, digging his heels into his eyes.

“No,” he said.

He Peilin’s hands tightened around the steering wheel. He still remembered that night vividly—the young master’s limp body lolling in his arms, his glassy eyes, the slouch of his mouth. He’d never felt younger than that night, his entire body trembling, willing traffic to move out of the way as if he were the ambulance that should have been called, hoping desperately that he got to the hospital in time before they’d lost all hope of the young master ever waking up again.

“Really,” said the young master, his voice tired but sincere. “I don’t have any injuries that I can’t fix with a first aid kit.” He paused. “How is Meimei?”

“She’s worried about you. We both were.”

“I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“We just wanted to know that you were okay.”

“I’ll call her first thing in the morning.”

“Call her tonight,” said He Peilin, and then winced—was he really giving the young master an order? But the young master just looked at him curiously in the mirror, inviting him to continue. “She’s not getting sleep anyway. If you call her to tell her that you’re fine, I’m sure she’ll be able to get some sleep at last.”

“Very well. I’ll do that, then. Thank you for letting me know.”

He Peilin flicked on the signal and pulled the steering wheel to the right. “If you did need to go to the hospital,” he said, “for any type of treatment, would you tell me? You know I wouldn’t tell President Liu or Director Sun.”

“I’ll tell you.”

“You’ll let me drive you?”

“I wouldn’t trust anyone else.”

At least there was that.

“Take the day off today. I don’t see myself going anywhere. Get rest.”

“Oh, sir, I don’t need—”

“I insist. If you’d like to do anything that you need my connections for, just let me know and I’ll see what I can do.”

He Peilin was fairly certain that he would never do anything that would take advantage of the young master’s connections. “Yes, sir. Please feel free to contact me if you decide you need to go anywhere.”

“I will. Thank you.”