At the hospital, Xiao Yao is sitting in her office. Suddenly, the doors burst open and Ah Nian storms in, her face twisted with rage.
Ah Nian: (shouting) XY! Did you really think I wouldn't find you?
XY: (surprised, standing up) Ah Nian? What's going on?
Ah Nian: (approaching aggressively) I came to give back what you did to me.
XY: (trembling) What do you want to do?
Cang Xuan comes running down the hallway, seeing the confrontation.
Cang Xuan: (intervening) Ah Nian, calm down! This isn't necessary.
Ah Nian: (ignoring Cang Xuan and trying to hit XY) Don't defend her! She—
Cang Xuan steps between Ah Nian and XY, trying to separate them.
Cang Xuan: (firmly) Enough, Ah Nian. This is inappropriate.
Ah Nian: (pushing Cang Xuan) Get out of my way! This is between her and me!
XY: Please, stop! This is a hospital. We can settle this outside.
Cang Xuan: (trying to remain calm) We all need to calm down. Ah Nian, if you have something to say, say it without violence.
Ah Nian: (still furious) No!
In the chaos, XY tries to push Ah Nian away, but accidentally strikes Cang Xuan in the face, knocking him to the ground.
XY: (shouting) Oh no! Cang Xuan, I'm so sorry!
Cang Xuan: (holding his face in pain) I'm fine, don't worry.
Ah Nian: (with a cruel smile) Cousin?
XY: (sobbing) I didn't mean to… I didn't mean to hurt you, Cang Xuan.
Cang Xuan: (slowly standing up) I know you didn't. It was an accident. Ah Nian, leave before this gets out of control.
Ah Nian: (growling) This isn't over, XY.
Ah Nian turns and leaves, leaving XY and Cang Xuan alone.
XY: (with a trembling voice) I'm so sorry, Cang Xuan. This is all my fault.
Cang Xuan: (gently touching her arm) It's not your fault, XY. Ah Nian was out of control. You couldn't have predicted what would happen.
XY: (looking down) But I hurt you. I never wanted to hurt you.
Cang Xuan: (smiling softly) I know, Doctor.
As XY tends to Cang Xuan's injuries, he notices a flower-shaped mark on her arm as she absentmindedly rubs it.
Cang Xuan: (narrowing his eyes) That mark… on your arm?
XY: (startled) What? Oh, this… it's just a birthmark.
Cang Xuan: (stepping closer, visibly shaken, thinking) It can't be. That mark… it's identical to the one my cousin had. Who is your family, XY?
XY: (uneasy) Why are you asking about that?
XY begins to remember her childhood, when she lived with her parents. She remembered her cousin and how close they were. Suddenly, a disturbing thought overwhelmed her. Her heart began to race.
XY: CX, you need to leave. I have a lot to do.
CX walks away, deep in thought.
CX (thinking): I must find out if she really is my cousin.
That night, as XY leaves the hospital, XL is waiting for her. She approaches him.
XY: Why did you come? Is someone hurt?
XL: No. I want you to come with me somewhere.
XY feels uncertain.
XL: Are you afraid, Doctor?
XY takes the helmet from XL's hands and climbs onto the motorcycle. They arrive at an underground gambling venue. There, they have fun all night. XY wins a lot of money. Later, they walk down a dark street.
XL: Doctor, I didn't know you could gamble so well. When did you learn?
XY: (smiling) When I was very young.
XL: I never would have imagined it.
XY: (serious) I've lived through many things, believe it or not.
XL: Why don't you tell me?
XY felt that of all the people she had met, XL was the only one who could truly understand her… and she began to recount details of her childhood.
XY: When I was a child, I was kidnapped…
XL was surprised. Deeply moved, he gently took XY's hand. She felt the warmth of his hand holding hers. She looked at him in surprise, unable to imagine that this man—sometimes so cruel—could be so compassionate. After a few seconds of silence, she continued.
XY: (sadly) I was locked in a dark place with a small window where sunlight barely came through. I counted the days by making marks on the wall. The men said my family didn't want to pay, that they didn't care… and I believed them, because no one came looking for me.
XL: How long were you there?
XY: A couple of years.
XL: And how did you manage to escape?
XY: When the men were careless… I escaped through a window. Injured, I walked aimlessly for a long time until I found an abandoned house. I lived there for a while. I searched for food in the trash and met all kinds of people. Once I got sick, I walked to the doors of a hospital, then I fainted. When I woke up, I was surrounded by doctors and nurses. They treated me, bandaged my wounds, and for the first time in a long while, I felt that someone cared about me.
XL: Is that why you decided to become a doctor?
XY: Yes.
XL: And what happened after that?
XY: One of the nurses, an older woman, took care of me and took me in.
XL: How old were you?
XY: Thirteen.
XL remained silent, listening carefully to every detail, until dawn broke. Then he took XY home.
When XY arrived at her apartment, she found 17 asleep on the couch. She smiled warmly, took a blanket, and covered him.
The next day, 17 wakes up, sees the blanket, and smiles. He gets up and peeks into XY's room. She is sleeping deeply. He decides to go to the market to buy things to prepare a delicious meal for her.
17 walks through the bustling market, observing stalls filled with fruits, vegetables, spices, and handmade goods. He blends into the crowd, trying to go unnoticed. Suddenly, a familiar voice calls out to him.
Woman: (surprised) My lord! Is that you?
17 stops abruptly and turns toward the voice. One of the servants from his household is standing a few meters away, her face filled with astonishment.
17: (nervously, walking quickly toward her) Shh! Please, don't make noise.
Woman: (lowering her voice) What are you doing here? Do you know how worried your grandmother and your brother are?
17: (interrupting) I know. How is my grandmother?
They talk for a while. He asks her not to say anything yet, as there are matters he needs to resolve first. The woman nods, though she still looks worried.
17: (more calmly) Thank you for understanding.
Woman: (with empathy) I understand, sir. But you must be careful. There are many people who could recognize you.
17: (nodding) I know, I know. I promise I'll be more careful.
The servant walks away, blending back into the crowd. 17 takes a deep breath, feeling uneasy. He does not want to be separated from XY.
When he returns to the apartment, XY notices the worried look on his face.
XY: Did something happen at the market?
17: No.
XY: Are you sure?
17: (smiling) Yes, everything's fine. I'll prepare a delicious meal for you. You've been working very hard these days. You deserve it.
XY: Thank you very much.