After her rebirth

Katniss spun around and saw Maximilian standing there. "Maximilian, you're back!" she exclaimed, totally surprised. She glanced down at her pajamas, wondering if something was off. "What's wrong with my pajamas?" she asked.

The house was warm, so Maximilian had ditched his coat, leaving him in just a vest and shirt, sleeves rolled up to show off his muscular forearms.

He reached out and tugged on the little tail on the back of Katniss's pajamas, raising an eyebrow. "I was talking about this."

Katniss had just taken a bath, her long hair still damp and hanging over her shoulders. Her skin was flawless, no makeup, just clean and glowing.

She was bent over, facing away from him, rummaging for something in the corner. She looked adorable, like a little bunny.

In the house of a 27-year-old guy, having a sweet, soft girl around was a new feeling for Maximilian. He loosened his tie and unbuttoned a couple of buttons.

Katniss blushed and pulled away. "Let go, why are you holding it?"

Maximilian let go, looking relaxed. "Do you like this style?"

Katniss was puzzled. What was wrong with this style? Wasn't it cute and warm?

Then it hit her, the underlying meaning of his words. Her earlobes turned red instantly.

"The clothes inside were picked by Mira. The rest were too revealing, so I chose this one," Katniss mumbled, her face turning crimson. "How was I supposed to know the clothes were hinting at something more?" No wonder this outfit was with those sexy nightgowns. Mira really knew her stuff.

"Bunnies are very obedient," Maximilian said softly, pinching the bunny ears on her hat. "What about you?"

Katniss bit her lip. Was he saying she was like a bunny?

"Maximilian, Katniss, come down for dinner!" Mira called loudly from the stairs.

Katniss quickly pulled back her clothes and took several steps back, afraid someone might walk in and see this.

Maximilian's eyes lowered, watching her shy and reserved demeanor, and he couldn't help but smile.

"I won't tease you anymore. Tidy up and come down for dinner," he said, turning his wheelchair and leaving the room.

His words made Katniss's cheeks heat up. She bit her lip and ran to the walk-in closet. In the large full-length mirror, she saw her flushed cheeks and the white fluffy pajamas.

She really did look like a big bunny.

Katniss quickly found another set of clothes, changed out of the bunny pajamas, and stuffed them into the bottom of the wardrobe.

Downstairs at the dining table, Katniss didn't dare to look at Maximilian even once.

But Maximilian glanced at her several times. This time, she was dressed neatly in thin fleece pajamas, a top and bottom set, with her hair softly draped on both sides, looking fresh and bright. Katniss seemed a bit more grown-up.

She wasn't the same girl he first met, wearing a wet school uniform with big, bewildered eyes.

After dinner, Katniss stopped Maximilian, saying she wanted to give him acupuncture for his legs.

Maximilian looked at her and hesitantly asked, "Won't it be too tiring for you?"

Katniss shook her head. "I'm not tired. The acupuncture should have been done a week ago, and it's already been delayed for several days."

Maximilian had always been good to her, and the only way she could repay him was by helping him stand up as soon as possible!

Maximilian should be high and mighty, looking down on the world, not stuck in a wheelchair, being pitied by others.

Upstairs in the study.

Katniss took out the silver needles, disinfecting them as she said, "Maximilian, I'll do the acupuncture on your legs first, and tomorrow night I'll make some healing grub for you." "Okay," Maximilian replied, his eyes following her every move.

When Katniss was ready to start the acupuncture, she realized his pant legs weren't rolled up yet.

"Maximilian, don't you have any shorts?" she asked.

Maximilian was silent for a moment. "No."

"Oh, okay, then I'll bring you a couple of pairs tomorrow," Katniss said casually. Without shorts, how could she do the acupuncture properly?

She reached out with her small hands, wrapping them around his leg, and slowly rolled up his pant legs. She had just taken a bath, her body fragrant, and her hands soft.

After just two rolls, Maximilian grabbed her wrist.

Katniss looked up in confusion and met his eyes.

"I'll do it myself," Maximilian said in a low voice.

Looking at Maximilian's long, muscular legs, Katniss couldn't help but praise, "Maximilian, your ankles and kneecups are so perfect, they could be used for anatomical models, even better than the skeleton diagrams in our textbooks!" And Maximilian's hands, especially beautiful, dry and warm, with distinct and slender joints.

As a medical student, she couldn't help but be fascinated by these human structures. Maximilian's hands and bone structure were particularly captivating to her.

"Really?" Maximilian chuckled, his dark eyes brightening.

Katniss was quick, steady, and precise, her technique as skilled as a doctor with decades of experience.

Maximilian asked, "Do you have any plans for the weekend?"

"No, do you?"

"On the 15th, it's our monthly visit to The Boleyn Manor," Maximilian said, his voice calm. "Do you want to go? If not, you can go to the Wesley's and hang out with your sister, or stay home and study. Your finals are in a month." The Boleyn Manor.

Katniss really didn't want to go there, particularly because she had chased Desmond before. Whenever she saw the Boleyn family, she would remember the foolish things she did, making her feel embarrassed and humiliated. "I'll stay home and study, then make you some new medicinal food." After the incident with Saskia, Katniss was on edge. Maximilian was so good to her, that she wanted to help him recover as quickly as possible. Some things were destined, and her interference wouldn't change them. However, she held out hope of healing Maximilian soon, so maybe he wouldn't die in a year.

Maximilian said softly, "Alright, then you can study well at home and wait for me to come back."

Mentioning studying made Katniss nervous, and she nodded slowly. She was studying hard and wouldn't embarrass him.

Soon, the time was up, and Katniss removed the needles in order.

"In a week, you can start doing some rehab exercises. The sessions shouldn't be too long, just half an hour of exercise each day," Katniss said, biting her lip. "It will be very painful at first."

After sitting in a wheelchair for years, the pain of trying to stand again would be unbearable for most people.

Maximilian reached out and ruffled Katniss's hair. "You've matured a lot, showing concern for others now."