When he took out the pineapple bun, Lin Ye was still a little nervous. He was afraid that Liz would refuse them. After all Liz was no longer the same person as before. However as long as there were pineapple buns to be enjoyed, then everything else didn't matter anymore.

Right?

After looking at the pineapple buns in Lin Ye's hand, she nodded slowly, taking it from his hands and then said softly "I'm learning something."

"Learning?" Lin Ye didn't seem to understand what she was trying to say.

"Making pineapple buns."

Lin Ye opened his mouth slightly in surprise "You're learning to make pineapple buns?"

"Yes," Liz confirmed, as she replied back "In my free time, I go to the cafeteria and learn how to make pineapple buns from the chef there. The chef's cooking is delicious, but I still don't know how to make them. I always manage to add starch instead of sugar."

Lin Ye didn't expect Liz to try something that contrasted so much from her standard skillset. He couldn't help but feel the irony in the situation, as he recalled his attempt at making pineapple buns back with the old Liz.

Then he spoke with a smile, "You're not a professional. You're not going to get it right on your first couple attempts."

"It's hard to do something if you're not a professional?"

"Something like that," Lin Ye said as he further tried to console Liz, "Some people simply have the talent, while others do not."

"Then are you a professional in making pineapple buns?"

"Of course I'm not. My field of expertise is as a veterinary physician," Lin Ye smiled at her, "I am nowhere near being a professional in making them."

Liz lowered her head and muttered softly, "... You're wrong."

"Hmm?" Lin Ye couldn't hear her.

Liz shook her head as she asked in a low hushed tone, "Nothing...Are you going to stay on the island longer than a couple days?"

"Yeah...it's rare but," Lin Ye coughed twice, "It's just that there are a couple things left to sort out, but I won't be heading out for a while. Kal'tsit also gave me some time off to rest and recuperate."

"Is that so?"

"What about you?" Lin Ye questioned Liz, "I heard Ansel mention that after you've finished your tasks in the R&D department, there'll be a week of rest. Moreover, you're still in the R&D room during lunch. You don't want to go out with Nearl and Shining anymore?"

Liz nodded and spoke, "I don't need to, but it's mainly because I don't have the same stamina as before since I'm still recovering. Every time I go out, I need my sisters, Shining and Nearl to take care of me. In case of danger, I can only be a burden to them. So I won't be heading out until I know I will no longer be a burden to them".

Liz's words caused a great conflict of emotions within Lin Ye. He couldn't help but lower his head and look at Liz's legs.

Her legs were the same as when he had first met her, which were still in a heavily affected Oripathy state. Her early years of forced war participation prevented her from receiving effective treatment, so as a result her recovery stagnated to the point of deteriorating due to nullification.

Her mind had recovered with Lin Ye's help, and her legs were being treated by Kal'tsit when she came to Rhode Island. But even with Kal'tsit's medical skills, there was no current method available that would allow for a full recovery.

When she walked normally, she was forced to slow down to a snail's pace.

There was no clear abnormality or cause for her condition, but it was clear that running was not an option for her. She also needed to rest every time she walked for a long period of time to avoid injuring herself. This was also the reason why Liz chose to enter the R&D department and work on the island. She could no longer follow Shining and Nearl on missions, as it was obvious to see that due to her physical constitution, she would be a hindrance rather than an asset.

But this left Lin Ye with a sour taste in his mouth as he knew that he was powerless to assist in her recovery, as well being very aware of how much Liz yearned for the outside world. With her condition being in such a critical state, she wanted to break free from the "black cage" and fly into the blue sky, but now Lin Ye suddenly wanted to do something. Although he didn't know what he could do for her, he couldn't idly stand by watching from the sidelines.

Setting his aims for the future, he raised his hand and rubbed Liz's head gently as he tried to soothe her, "Don't worry, everything will be fine."

Liz smiled at his touch and spoke, "Compared to before, I'm already in a much better state both mentally and physically. But my legs are still the same prior to my past...and it makes me feel uncomfortable."

Lin Ye sighed softly in his heart but remained silent on the matter.

He could see that Liz was already a bit tired after the day's shift, so he suppressed his thoughts for the time being.

Then he sent Liz back to the nursing home where she lived and returned to his office.

Skadi was still waiting for him in the office.

When he arrived at the office, Skadi was sitting on the sofa as she glanced at him, and told him faintly "You're late."

"Sorry. Something happened," Lin Ye said, "I was talking with somebody and didn't notice the time."

Lin Ye didn't want to mention Warfarin. After all it felt weird to be stared at by a vampire, but he also thought that it seemed that Warfarin was as passionate about Skadi's blood as his.

He quickly replied, "You should know them too."

"I know them?"

"Well, Doctor Warfarin," Lin Ye originally thought that with her "fame" in Rhodes Island, Skadi would instantly recognize Warfarin when he mentioned her name.

But what Lin Ye did not expect was that Skadi wasn't even aware of their existence.

"Warfarin?" Skadi shook her head, "I haven't heard of this person before."

"Really?" Lin Ye was surprised, "Have you really never heard of her?"

"Who is she? Is she that famous?" Skadi seemed confused by the sudden mention of a random stranger.

Lin Ye told Skadi about Warfarin and reminded Skadi about the sleeping pills.

"Sleeping pills?" Skadi seemed to remember something, and spoke softly, "I recall there was such a person. That' Warfarin is a vampire?"

"Huh? Do you know who Warfarin is?"

"I remember," Skadi replied lightly, "She gave me something a year ago and asked me to drink it."

Lin Ye was shocked "Really?! She actually did that?! Did you drink it?"

Skadi shook her head, "No".

"Were you wary of her?" Lin Ye asked.

"It's not that I'm not alert enough," Skadi said faintly with her slender legs folded.

"It's that any individual can't drink that cup."

"Why?" Lin Ye raised a brow.

Skadi says seriously: "Because she didn't mix sleeping pills with any tea, but with black tea."

… But I love black tea, Lin Ye commented to himself.

"Well, now that you're here, let's start now," Skadi got up slowly, looking directly at Lin Ye, and slowly uttered "Take off your clothes."

Lin Ye instantly hugged himself.

{Rhodes Island's Psychologist}

Draft: Jaq

Proofread: SM

Edit: Jaq