Before she could protest further, he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips, soft, reverent, full of the tenderness and fear and relief of someone who had nearly lost something precious.
When he pulled back, his dark eyes were serious. "You scared me," he said quietly. "Watching you nearly die, seeing all that blood... I thought I was going to lose you. Cleaning you, taking care of you, it wasn't about seeing your body. It was about ensuring your safety. Comfortable and cared for."
Shuyin's anger melted away, replaced by something softer.
She could see it in his eyes, the lingering fear, the exhaustion, the dark circles that spoke of a sleepless night spent watching over her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just... I had to save her. I couldn't let my mother die."
