The man's deep eyes fixed on her, his gaze narrowing as if she were the only one in his sight.
"I told you I have the ability to protect you. As Mrs. Shen, you should live boldly and freely." His thumb gently stroked her cheek. "What I want to bring you is a solid support, not fear and unease."
An Ruo stared at him blankly.
"The one who truly brings inconvenience is me, because my life is a struggle, a muddy mess." The man took her small hand and gently kissed the back of it. "Mrs. Shen, are you willing to wade through this muddy water with me?"
The girl lowered her eyes slightly, staring at his neatly trimmed thumb, silent.
Seeing her silence, his heart skipped a beat. He slowly loosened his grip on her hand. It seemed she wasn't ready yet.
An Ruo suddenly grabbed his hand, a faint smile curving her lips, the dimples on her cheeks clearly visible. "You've already called me Mrs. Shen—how could I not wade through it?"
The most important thing between husband and wife is trust, and that's exactly what she and Shen Xiaoxing lacked!
Shen Xiaoxing's handsome face softened. The gloom and ferocity from before completely dissipated because of her words, a tenderness in his eyes.
"Let's go home?"
"Okay."
...
Shen Xingrou had a lollipop dangling from her mouth as she casually returned to her apartment.
Opening the door, she was surprised to find the man who should have been at work lying on the sofa, the TV volume turned up high, his eyes half-closed as he listlessly watched a show.
"Dr. He, why are you back so early today?" Shen Xingrou sat at the other end of the sofa, glancing at the show on TV with disdain. "A grown man watching SpongeBob?"
Was he aging backward?
He Su's expression was indifferent, completely ignoring her.
Feeling bored, Shen Xingrou went to the bedroom to study.
After studying until she felt sluggish, she looked up at the clock—6:30. She stretched and opened the door to the living room.
At this hour, the man should be in the kitchen preparing dinner.
Passing the kitchen, she noticed no activity. Peeking in, she saw he was still watching SpongeBob!
Shen Xingrou put her hands on her hips, standing behind the sofa. "Dr. He, are you not making dinner for me tonight?"
The man looked sick and weary, picking up the remote to turn up the volume.
The whole living room was filled with the grating sound of SpongeBob and Patrick's laughter.
"Hey!" Shen Xingrou's head ached from the noise. She snatched the remote from him and slowly turned the volume down.
"So annoying!"
He Su rubbed his ears. She was the most annoying one here!
"Are we eating dinner or not?"
"I'm not hungry tonight. You'll have to figure it out yourself."
Shen Xingrou raised an eyebrow. "You're not hungry?"
"Don't make me curse at you."
"..."
"I can't cook. How am I supposed to handle it?"
"Eat out."
"No, it's not safe outside." The experience in the alley that night still made her shudder.
"Then order takeout. Don't bother me."
Shen Xingrou pulled out her phone. To avoid being found by her family, she had switched to a new number, but she couldn't touch the money in her bank account.
If she did, wouldn't that expose her hiding spot?
She could only use the pocket money in her WeChat.
She glanced at the man. "Aren't you eating?"
He Su coughed heavily, his voice thick with congestion. "Not hungry."
"Your voice sounds off. Are you catching a cold?"
"I won't die."
"Perfect. If you die, no one will cook for me."
He Su glared at her with wide eyes. Did she really want to get cursed out?!
Despite saying that, when ordering, Shen Xingrou added an extra portion. Seeing how sick he looked, he could only eat bland food.
While waiting for the food, Shen Xingrou got bored and grabbed the remote to change the channel. It was a historical detective drama starring Shi Yibo. She'd been watching more TV lately, so she followed celebrity gossip more often. This new young idol was quite inspiring in the entertainment world, and she'd become a fan.
"Change the channel!"
"Watch less of that brainless cartoon."
"And you think this is better?"
"At least it's more mature than yours. My three-year-old cousin wouldn't even watch that childish show, yet here's a man nearly thirty, totally engrossed."
He Su's voice rose in anger. "Are you asking for a beating?!"
His loud voice irritated his throat, making him cough even harder.
"Save your breath. Don't pass your germs to me."
He Su shot her a cold glare. This girl really needed to be put in her place!
In the end, weakened by illness, He Su slumped into the sofa, watching her silly idol drama with her.
Twenty minutes later, there was a knock at the door. Shen Xingrou tossed the remote aside to get the food, giving He Su a chance to change the channel.
SpongeBob was so much better. At her immature age, she should be watching brainless shows.
Shen Xingrou set the takeout on the coffee table, and the smell of cheap oil wafted around. The man frowned. "Take it away!"
"I'm catching up on my show."
"Watch it on your phone."
"No membership." Shen Xingrou grabbed the remote and switched back to the idol drama. "I'm not a rich girl anymore. I have to save money."
"..."
"Eat up." She handed him the bland millet porridge.
The man rolled his eyes and turned away.
"You're sick. You can only have light porridge."
Not bad—she knew a thing or two!
"I'm a doctor. I know whether I'm sick or not."
"But you are sick right now. Your snot's about to drip into your mouth."
The man instinctively reached up, only to realize she was lying. She even let out a snicker, and his handsome face instantly darkened.
"Eat it while it's hot."
Shen Xingrou slurped her noodles, grease on her lips. "You won't have the strength to argue with me if you don't eat."
He Su was the type to respond better to softness than force. He slowly sat up, his cold and fever making him dizzy, his mouth bitter and tasteless.
Seeing him willing to eat, Shen Xingrou smiled with relief and triumph.
She was slowly figuring out this man's likes and weaknesses.
...
After dinner, Shen Xingrou took a comfortable hot shower, changed into her newly bought rabbit-fur pajamas, and lay on the bed scrolling through Weibo.
She was completely hooked on Shi Yibo, following his super topics and fan content, checking them daily.
Suddenly thirsty, she got up to get water from the living room.
The TV was still on, but after her suggestion, the man had turned the volume down.
She gulped down several mouthfuls of water, then glanced at the man. His eyes were closed, and he wasn't moving.
After all, they lived under the same roof, and she relied on him to cook. She'd gotten used to his meals.
Putting aside personal grudges, Shen Xingrou walked over and placed her hand on his forehead. It was burning hot—even she, a total novice in home care, could tell it was serious.
"He Su, get up. You have a fever. You need to go to the hospital."
The man was irritable, and being sick made him even more so.
"Get lost."
"If you don't go to the hospital, you'll burn away the last half of your brain!"
"..."
"Get up now."
The man shoved her away in frustration. "If you bother me again, I swear I'll hit you!"
She was trying to help him, and this was the thanks she got? Unbelievable!
Shen Xingrou gritted her teeth. "Fine, don't go then! Die for all I care!"
She stormed off a few steps, then stopped and turned back.
Saving a life is a greater virtue than building a seven-story pagoda. Putting up with this jerk, she'd just have to accept it!