Jisoo finally let out a sigh of relief as they stepped out of the service elevator and into the upper ground floor lobby. Any lingering tension from their awkward moment in the crowded lift seemed to vanish as they inhaled the fresh air again.

But the relief was short-lived. The area Jisoo had predicted would be slightly quieter was just as chaotic—maybe even worse— as groups of young fans suddenly dashed through the corridors, clearly racing to catch a glimpse of their favorite celebrity.

Yixing’s protective instincts immediately kicked in. He gently pulled Jisoo to his left side just as one of the girls inadvertently bumped into her shoulder. Annoyed by the disregard for safety, Yixing even called out to the group, warning them not to run like maniacs. Jisoo, touched by his concern, quickly assured him she was fine, though her heel felt a little sore—maybe slightly twisted from the impact. The girls who had caused the bump quickly scattered.

They kept walking, and this time Yixing deliberately ensured Jisoo walked on the safer, inner side against the wall. They were chatting about the artisan studio they were about to visit when another group of excited girls came dashing past, their hurried movements catching both of them off guard. Before Jisoo could react, one of the girls took a sharp turn, trying to race smoothly along the wall side where Jisoo was walking, and slammed right into her from behind.

Jisoo lost her balance instantly. Her right leg gave out beneath her, and she fell heavily to the ground with a painful cry.

The sudden commotion drew the attention of nearby shoppers and security guards, who began shouting and chasing after the fleeing girls.

In the middle of the chaos, Yixing reacted instantly, dropping to his knees beside Jisoo. His face, usually so composed and measured, was a mask of clear, stark shock and mounting anger as he looked at her. He saw Jisoo clutching her right ankle, her teeth gritted as she fought visibly to hold back tears. The pain was clearly immense.

Yixing’s expression shifted, torn between the urge to unleash a furious reprimand and the need to focus entirely on Jisoo’s condition. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice strained and rough.

Jisoo shook her head, her eyes squeezed shut, clearly indicating the pain was overwhelming. "It hurts so much," she gasped, her voice barely a whisper as she fought hard to keep the tears from spilling.

Onlookers began to gather, collectively scolding the running fans who had caused the accident. The girl who had bumped into Jisoo, perhaps realizing the gravity of her mistake, attempted to approach. Yixing, fueled by a protective fury, immediately held up a firm hand toward the girl.

"Don’t come any closer," Yixing ordered sharply, his tone icy with annoyance and worry, making the girl freeze instantly.

He returned his attention to Jisoo, his voice softening again. "Can you try to stand?"

But she shook her head again, tears now spilling down her cheeks. She gripped her ankle tightly, hoping the searing pain would subside, but it only seemed to worsen.

Yixing’s eyes immediately scanned the area, searching for the fastest exit. Spotting one of the security guards around, he asked, his voice low and urgent, "Which is faster? The nearest ground floor lobby from here, or down to the basement parking?"

Upon hearing the security guard’s brief response, Yixing wasted no time. He quickly instructed the guard to help him gather the shopping bags and the pearl set. With practiced efficiency, he then knelt closer to Jisoo. He gently slid one hand beneath her knees and the other behind her back, scooping her up into his sturdy embrace.

Jisoo let out a small, sharp hiss as Yixing lifted her, but his movements were so smooth and steady, focusing entirely on minimizing the pain. The concern etched across his features was so clear—his entire focus was trained solely on her wellbeing. She instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face into his coat to hide her tear-streaked face and the embarrassment of the fall.

Yixing then glanced at the other security guard who had just arrived. "I need you to grab my phone from my pocket and call my driver now," Yixing ordered, his voice steady but laced with urgency. "Tell him to meet us at the nearest lobby entrance right away."

The second security guard nodded quickly, deftly retrieving Yixing's phone and placing the call as requested. Yixing, in turn, held Jisoo close, his gaze never leaving her face as he quickly assessed her condition, ready to provide any assistance she might need. The commotion around them had drawn a small crowd, with onlookers expressing their concern and agitation towards the careless girls, but Yixing paid them zero attention.

"Follow me, and clear a path," Yixing commanded the first security guard, already striding quickly toward the nearest exit lobby as instructed, ignoring the few remaining fans who were now staring at them instead of the celebrity event.

For Jisoo, the trip to the lobby felt like the longest five minutes of her life. She leaned her head against Yixing's sturdy shoulder, her hands clutching tightly to his shirt as the terrible pain in her leg consumed her. Luckily, the driver hadn't entered the basement yet when called, so he was waiting right at the nearest lobby entrance when they arrived.

Yixing quickly instructed the driver to take them to the nearest major hospital emergency room.

Jisoo remained largely silent for the rest of the journey, leaning back against the seat, her legs resting across Yixing's lap. He gently pressed a cold water bottle against her throbbing heel, trying to provide some relief. But Jisoo felt drained, the pain swiftly sapping her energy. She clutched at her temples, covering her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. The agony had become so intense that it had begun to feel numb.

When they finally reached the emergency room, nurses quickly tended to Jisoo, wrapping an ice pack around her ankle. Yixing stepped away for a moment to make a critical call, and within ten minutes, a specialist doctor, who clearly seemed to know Yixing, arrived to examine Jisoo personally.

The doctor asked several questions and conducted a thorough physical assessment. He asked if Jisoo had suffered any previous injuries, and Jisoo informed him that she had suffered a micro-tear in her ankle ligaments three years ago due to a snowboarding accident, compounded by extensive heel-wearing in the days leading up to this. After a series of examinations and an urgent MRI session, the doctor delivered the news.

Jisoo had ruptured one of her lateral ligaments, resulting in Grade II ligament damage. Although the injury was fortunately non-surgical, the doctor recommended aggressive physical therapy and, crucially, suggested administering an injection immediately to target the inflammation and alleviate her severe pain.

The doctor warned them that the injection would hurt intensely because he needed to get the medication deep into the inflamed tissue around the ligament.

"It’s going to sting like hell, I won't lie," the doctor explained frankly, "but it's the fastest way to switch off that paralyzing pain you’re feeling right now, and it will speed up your recovery significantly."

Jisoo paled instantly, her palms turning cold and clammy as she heard the doctor's recommendation. She knew the procedure was necessary, but she was still slightly traumatized by the pain. Honestly, she hated needles, but of course, she didn't want anyone to know about it.

She closed her eyes tightly, her hands trembling on the bedsheet. Sensing her distress, Yixing moved to sit on the edge of the examination bed behind her, gently taking her sweaty hands in his.

"Hey. Lean on me, I got you," Yixing said, his voice low and soothing, as he gently stroked her back.

Jisoo did as he said, allowing herself to lean back and rest against his shoulder, drawing strength from his steady, reassuring presence.

As the doctor began the injection, Jisoo braced herself. She knew it would hurt, but she genuinely hadn't expected the needle to be that agonizing. Weak and terrified, she nearly lost consciousness, but Yixing's continuous, firm grip on her hands kept her grounded. However, the ordeal had drained Jisoo's already diminished energy reserves completely. Exhausted both physically and emotionally, she felt herself growing increasingly drowsy, her eyelids growing heavy.

In the safety of Yixing's embrace, Jisoo's eyes fluttered closed, and within a few seconds, she succumbed to the pull of a deep, restorative slumber. The tension in her body slowly melted away as she surrendered to the much-needed rest, her mind and body finally finding solace in the temporary respite from the agonizing pain.