In the dead of night, time for breathing exercises, in Yan Yu's room.
"So, Sister Zhao, how much longer do you have to wear that mask?" Lin Ning asked curiously.
"Hmm." Zhao Yuanzhen dared not answer, only humming in response.
"About another week." Yan Yu calculated the time and answered for her.
"Oh." Lin Ning took it that Sister Zhao's face must indeed be horribly disfigured, too ashamed to show herself, so she did not bring up the heartbreaking matter again.
The three sat opposite each other, palms together, with two puppets perched on the shoulders of Yan Yu and Zhao Yuanzhen, helping with Qi Refinement, akin to adding two more inlets to a swimming pool that was being filled, naturally speeding up the process.
It was not until the breathing exercises were over that Zhao Yuanzhen quickly removed her mask and, with a whoosh, dived into the blanket, silent thereafter.
But Lin Ning was feeling conflicted.