Shen Xiaoxing turned around and watched the closed door in front of him, utterly speechless. He finally let out a laugh of exasperation. This girl—had she deliberately tricked him into leaving? Still, being able to stay overnight was enough to satisfy Shen Xiaoxing. He walked over to the sofa area and sat down, mentally calculating when the girl would fall asleep, planning to take advantage of her when she started sleepwalking. After sitting for about a few minutes, the bedroom door opened. The girl had changed into simple, fresh home clothes and picked up the keys from the shoe cabinet. "I'm going to buy medicine. Behave yourself." She pulled on her hoodie, grabbed her phone, and was about to twist the doorknob to leave when the tall man's figure pressed in. "What are you doing?" "Going with you." "With that face of yours, you'd better not go out." The man didn't say another word. He simply took her hand and walked out, closing the door behind him without any hesitation. An Ruo stood there in a daze, letting him lead her downstairs. It had been so long since they'd held hands like this on the street. Lately, there had been more arguments and prolonged cold wars. She didn't want it this way either, but ever since losing the child, her temper had become irritable and explosive. The grievances bottled up inside her always needed an outlet. And this man just happened to be in the line of fire—going against her, lying to her, hiding things from her, even forcing her... The more he did that, the worse her attitude became. Even though she still had feelings for him! The May evening breeze felt pleasant against her skin as they walked hand in hand on the asphalt road. Neither of them spoke a word, but silently savoring this brief peace was enough. The apartment building was a bit of a distance from the pharmacy. Couples out for evening strolls passed by frequently, and as they neared the bustling area, more and more people were out after dinner. An Ruo led him into the pharmacy. The female clerk on the night shift couldn't help but let her eyes light up at the sight of the man beside her. Even with the injuries on his face, he was still handsome! And there was a kind of battle-worn, broken beauty to him. She cleared her throat lightly: "Excuse me, could I get some medicine for scrapes?" The clerk snapped out of it and shyly went to fetch the medicine. A sudden wave of displeasure washed over An Ruo. She shook off his hand and stepped aside. The man glanced down at his now-empty hand, then at the girl's sulking expression. He took a long stride closer, deliberately pressing against her. A wave of masculine, cool fragrance enveloped her. An Ruo furrowed her brow slightly, sidestepping away, crossing her arms and refusing to acknowledge him. But this man's skin was getting thicker by the day. No matter which way she moved, he shamelessly stuck to her. When had he ever been this clingy? Where was that aloof, reserved Shen Xiaoxing? Annoyed by his persistence, An Ruo frowned, ready to snap at him, but catching sight of the clerk returning with the medicine, she held back with a flat expression. "That'll be one hundred and twenty-eight total." "So expensive?" An Ruo stared at the simple scrape medicine on the counter—it cost more than pig skin from the market! "This is the best scrape medicine, imported from abroad," the clerk said with a bit of salesmanship. She sneaked a glance at the tall, handsome man and smiled softly: "Besides, with a handsome guy like this, you wouldn't want him to end up with scars on his face, would you?" "..." An Ruo pressed her lips together, unable to argue. She shot the man a cold look and said, "You pay." "I didn't bring my wallet." Shen Xiaoxing patted his two pockets—they were cleaner than his face. "No problem, we accept WeChat and Alipay." The clerk cheerfully pulled out a phone, opening WeChat for the man to scan. An Ruo saw through her little trick. With a cold face, she pulled two red bills from her pocket and tossed them on the counter. "Cash." The clerk's expression faltered for a moment, then she forced an awkward but polite smile. ... Leaving the pharmacy, An Ruo stormed ahead alone, sulking. The man behind her caught up with long strides and grabbed her hand. "Let go!" "Mad again?" The man frowned slightly. "Can you tell me what I did wrong?" Why was this girl so hard to please when she was angry? An Ruo didn't want to talk to him, stewing in a nameless frustration. She held it in, refusing to speak, and shook off his hand with stubborn determination. Shen Xiaoxing stood frozen, watching her slender, sulking figure walk ahead. Losing patience, he strode over, scooped her up, and set her down on a bench by the roadside. "Ruo Ruo, even if I were a condemned prisoner about to be executed, you'd at least tell me what I did wrong, right?" An Ruo bit her lip lightly, her light brown eyes clear as glass beads. She quietly studied the man before her, desperate for an answer. He brushed his thumb gently across her cheek. "You're as stubborn as a mule with that temper of yours, and you say I have a bad one—isn't that unfair?" An Ruo shot him a glare. "You're the mule!" "Fine, I am." Shen Xiaoxing sat down beside her. "As long as you're not mad, I'll be whatever you say, okay?" An Ruo's lips twitched. Truth was, she was just annoyed that the clerk had been staring at his face. She was jealous, and that's why she was throwing a tantrum. It was obvious he was really handsome—even kids passing by couldn't help but take a second look, let alone single girls. "If we don't hurry back to put medicine on that wound, it'll scab over soon." "Not mad at me anymore?" "Mad. Who said I'm not?" The man smirked roguishly. "Alright, then let's put in some extra effort and get ready to make another one?" "..." An Ruo caught his double meaning, her cheeks flushing instantly. She pushed him away. "Who wants to have a baby with you!" "You're my Mrs. Shen. If you don't give me one, who else is qualified?" "..." Shen Xiaoxing chuckled softly and pressed a kiss to her forehead. An Ruo didn't dodge it, thinking to herself that they'd been married long enough—being shy about it would just seem overly coy. Just then, a couple walked past them, the man carrying the woman on his back. They were laughing and chatting, radiating happiness that made others envious. Shen Xiaoxing learned on the spot and immediately crouched down. "Come on, I'll carry you." "There are people all around..." An Ruo glanced at the neighborhood residents out for an after-dinner stroll. Being carried past them would require some serious social confidence. "What's there to be afraid of? I've got you." An Ruo still thought it was a bad idea. Knowing she was shy and reserved, the man simply grabbed her wrist and pulled her onto his back, supporting her with one arm. She was too thin. She'd been sulking and living apart from him lately, with no one to take care of her. The few pounds he'd managed to fatten her up with were gone again. The evening breeze felt lazy against her skin. An Ruo went from initial reluctance to, with the man's insistence, lying on his broad back and slowly ignoring the stares. A sense of security gradually filled her. This was the first time he'd carried her, and as far as she could remember, the first man ever to do so. An Ruo curved her lips, staring at the back of his head. Suddenly, a flash of an image crossed her mind, fleeting like daylight. It was a boy in white clothes carrying her on his back... The two backs overlapped for an instant. The feeling was familiar, but when she tried to recall it, she couldn't remember where it had happened. Delving deeper into the memory, a sharp pain shot through her head. An Ruo gripped the man's shoulders tightly, taking deep, forceful breaths. Gradually, the headache subsided, and her heart felt fuller. The image in her mind was fleeting; she couldn't dwell on it. Back at the apartment, An Ruo jumped off the man's back. Before she could steady herself, he was already scolding her with a stern face. "What's the rush to get down? What if you twist your ankle?"