These past few days, Ryker often went without eating. Only when I pushed him hard would he reluctantly eat a few bites. I knew he wanted to save all the food for me.
This morning, as soon as I woke up, he blindfolded me. He said he had made something delicious for me. He wanted to see if I could guess what it was. The texture was like steamed egg custard, a little salty. But the taste wasn’t egg custard. I wanted to take off the blindfold and see. But Ryker stopped me, insisting I eat it all before revealing the answer.
I grew alert, and with a swift motion, pulled down the blindfold. Before me was a bowl of steamed blood pudding. I looked at Ryker, shocked. Quickly, I pulled up his sleeve and saw that his wrist was still bandaged. I instantly understood. Angrily, I knocked the bowl of blood pudding away. “Are you crazy?! Are you trying to die?!”
“If only one of us can live, I want you to live well. Whether I live or die, I will always protect you.” Ryker hugged me,
soothing me gently.
I hugged him back and burst into tears. “Why are you so good to me?”
Ryker cupped my face, smiling as warmly as spring sunshine. “Do you remember the little wolf you saved from the fire that year? From that moment on, I secretly swore to become strong. I wanted to be with you.”
When I was about eight or nine, I saw some mischievous boys roasting a little wolf over a fire, planning to eat roasted wolf meat. I told my guards to chase them away, and in the process of saving the little wolf, my hand got burned. I never imagined that wolf was actually Ryker. No wonder he cared so much about the burn on my hand. Thinking of the sacrifices he made for me in my previous life, this time, I wouldn’t allow him to harm himself again.
We finally made a pact: we would live together, or die together! We held on for five more days, drinking only water with no food, until we finally heard the system notification of successful completion. Ryker and I helped each other out of the house. Valerie also emerged, leaning on a cane, looking haggard. But she was alone.
