Pei Chuan acquiesced to Bei Yao’s request.

On a summer night in May, the evening breeze stirred the curtains. Bei Yao closed the bedroom window. Her hands were somewhat cool, with a shallow mark drawn by a ballpoint pen on her index finger. Bei Yao first washed her hands with warm water before returning to the bedroom.

This season was just right—neither cold nor hot. The room didn’t need air conditioning.

Pei Chuan sat on the small sofa in the bedroom. Bei Yao crouched down before him. She hadn’t yet touched him, but already felt the tension in the air.

Pei Chuan was silent, as if accompanying her in playing a game that was extremely difficult for him to endure.

Bei Yao knew he needed great courage to accept this matter. However, if two people were to spend a lifetime together, some things had to be gradually accepted. She knew it needed to be done slowly, so her gaze was especially gentle as she asked him softly: “The prosthetic leg needs to be removed, right?”

He almost never went back on things he had promised her.

Pei Chuan lowered his eyes, bent slightly at the waist, and reached out to touch where the prosthetic leg met the residual limb. He was still wearing the long pants from work. She didn’t know how he did it, but he removed the prosthetic leg very easily. He placed the prosthetic leg to one side, his gaze not falling on it. Although its color was realistic, it was stiff—ultimately not a real leg.

Bei Yao noticed that below Pei Chuan’s knee, there was still about three inches of length. After the prosthetic leg was removed, the lower pant leg instantly became empty and loose.

She lifted her long lashes, letting him see the peaceful gentle light in her eyes: “Then I’ll start. If it hurts, tell me.”

He didn’t respond. His lips were pale.

Pei Chuan even somewhat regretted agreeing to this. That place with the residual limb… was ultimately different.

Even with daily massages, it was an injury caused in childhood. The residual limb portion would atrophy considerably.

Bei Yao lowered her eyes and placed her hand on it.

She had indeed seriously studied the technique. She started gently kneading from the thigh, then worked her way down.

The man’s body was very stiff. She could even feel the powerful muscle lines of his thigh. Bei Yao knew the first step was extremely difficult, so at this moment she could only temporarily ignore his inner thoughts.

Pei Chuan pressed his lips tightly together. Her hands were gentle. Long illness makes one a good doctor—from the moment she started massaging, he knew Bei Yao had specially studied this.

Her technique wasn’t skilled, but her movements were very standard.

Her hands moved closer and closer to his knee. He used almost all his strength not to retreat a single step.

Pei Chuan clenched his teeth tightly.

The next moment, she would touch the completely different residual limb. He didn’t dare look at her expression and turned his face away.

Bei Yao’s hand passed over his knee. Going a bit further down, she touched his residual limb.

Unlike the powerful thigh, the residual limb below tightened, much smaller than the kneecap.

Touching it for the first time—to say she had no thoughts would be a lie.

It felt obviously different to touch, but it was just flesh and blood. How big a difference could there be?

His body trembled slightly.

Bei Yao felt it. She didn’t want to pretend nothing was happening. She raised her face. Her eyes reflected the lamplight and his face as she said: “It is different.”

He pressed his lips together. The next moment, his arms supported his body as he silently retreated backward.

His movements were very intense. Because he had been keeping his head lowered, Bei Yao couldn’t see his gaze or expression.

But his fear, sadness, and inferiority complex—

She clearly felt all of it. But she hadn’t finished what she wanted to say. His reaction was too extreme.

She grabbed the man’s arm: “Pei Chuan, that’s not what I meant.” She said, “Don’t be afraid. Look at my eyes.”

He tasted the bloody taste in his mouth. He was afraid. That afternoon that year, outside the room, he had personally heard his mother’s hysterical accusations. Pei Chuan had warmth in his childhood. Jiang Wenjuan had once been very good to him. He had once had expectations, yet lost hope.

That’s why he was so afraid to face his delicate wife.

He could calmly accept Jiang Wenjuan leaving, but what about Bei Yao? He couldn’t accept it.

Bei Yao felt somewhat annoyed. If she’d known, she wouldn’t have said that first sentence. She said: “Your body has recovered better than I imagined. Pei Chuan, I like you—every part of you. I’m happy about your healthy condition. You must have seriously exercised before, right?”

He saw her eyes—a pair of watery eyes with a gentle smile.

No disgust, no shock either.

His voice was low and hoarse: “The massage is done. Let’s sleep.”

She was silent. After a long while, she lowered her head and placed a light kiss on his knee.

He completely froze.

Through the pants, he actually couldn’t feel much, yet that kind of impact to his heart was like an electric current, making him feel this震撼 from his fingertips.

She pulled up his hand and placed it by her cheek, gently nuzzling: “Pei Chuan, we face reality—we don’t escape it. What’s special about you is your soul, not your body. There are many able-bodied men in the world, but I don’t like them. However, as long as you are you, I’ll like you for a lifetime.”

She looked at him very seriously: “Before I married, my mom said I would work very hard in the future. She said when we’re old, I’ll have to take care of you.”

His lips moved, wanting to say he wouldn’t burden her.

However, she smiled and shook her head: “Staying together for a lifetime is inherently a very unfair thing. Calculating these things—how can we figure it out clearly? Seeing you makes me feel at ease. Pei Chuan, there’s no one else in this world who can give me this feeling. When you become an old man, I’ll also become an old lady—not beautiful anymore, maybe even with a bad temper. You can earn money and you’re smart. At that time, maybe you’ll be the one who doesn’t want me.”

His eyes felt sore. His fingertips caressed her cheek: “I won’t not want you.”

She said: “Since you won’t not want me no matter what, then nothing else is a problem, right?”

He nodded.

Seeing his expression relax, she continued massaging him, kneading from thigh to knee, then from knee to the root of the thigh.

She was serious and gentle. He raised his hand, gently touching the girl’s soft hair.

She didn’t know what she thought of. She took out a tender yellow ribbon from her pocket and handed it to him: “A reward for you. If you’re nervous, you can tie my hair.”

After speaking, she continued massaging.

Pei Chuan was silent.

He placed the ribbon to the side and just quietly watched her. Under the lamp, her long lashes cast shadows—her small, delicate nose, cherry red lips.

For convenience, she crouched between his legs.

Bei Yao lowered her head with a charmingly earnest appearance.

Pei Chuan said in a low voice: “That’s enough, Yao Yao.”

Bei Yao said: “The book says you need multiple cycles, at least half an hour.”

His palm was very hot. He pinched her small chin, forcing her to raise her head: “I said it’s done, so it’s done.”

She blinked.

Wasn’t everything fine just now? He already said okay—the bad man went back on his word!

She was unconvinced and was about to say something.

Pei Chuan grabbed a pillow from the side and placed it in front of his crotch.

He let go, not daring to look at her anymore.

Actually, it was somewhat awkward.

As expected, he still couldn’t let her do this.

Bei Yao crouched dazedly between his legs. After a long while, her face reddened.

She asked softly: “Is it very uncomfortable?”

He suppressed his voice: “You stand up first.”

“Oh.”

She stood up. Bei Yao sat on the sofa beside him, watching him without blinking. Pei Chuan said: “Be good. Push my wheelchair over. You go wash up and sleep.”

Bei Yao said: “Then did I massage well?” Her expectant appearance made one’s heart extremely soft.

Pei Chuan praised her: “Good.”

“Can I continue massaging tomorrow?” She thought about it. “Husb—”

The vein on Pei Chuan’s forehead twitched slightly. Before she could say “husband,” Pei Chuan clapped a hand over her mouth.

The man’s face was stern. He said through clenched teeth: “Go to sleep.”

*

After that night, Bei Yao still had to go to school to study during the day. However, she discovered Pei Chuan came home much earlier and was especially punctual.

Bei Yao and her classmates suddenly became very busy in their fourth year.

Studying medicine was a very long process. Most still had to do combined bachelor’s and master’s programs. Their undergraduate was five years with quite a lot to learn.

University knowledge wasn’t in Bei Yao’s memories, so every course required Bei Yao to put in more effort.

Her university life was smooth and peaceful. Bei Yao counted on her fingers—in a few more days, it would be Pei Chuan’s 23rd birthday.

What should she give him this year?

Pei Chuan had Zhao Zhilan and Bei Licai temporarily move out of the old residential complex with Bei Jun.

His thoughts ran deep, and he thought more. Although there was no danger currently, Jiang Huaqiong had already begun moving against Huo Xu.

When Huo Ran and Jiang Huaqiong divorced back then, perhaps because of Huo Nanshan’s death, Huo Ran felt guilty and gave up an additional ten percent of shares. But besides this ten percent, Jiang Huaqiong’s natal family was also a large clan—otherwise the Huo family wouldn’t have chosen her for a business marriage alliance.

This woman had a natural business mind. If she fully suppressed Huo Xu, he wouldn’t last two months.

Moreover, a lioness who had lost her cub—if she couldn’t prevail in business, Jiang Huaqiong wouldn’t mind using improper means to kill Huo Xu and Shao Yue.

Transferring Zhao Zhilan and the others to a safer place meant Bei Jun could also study with peace of mind.

In case Huo Xu became desperate in the future, at least there would be an extra layer of protection.

Pei Chuan never underestimated his enemies. He deeply understood the principle that a centipede doesn’t stop moving even after death.

His guess wasn’t wrong. Huo Xu had been extremely busy these past few days and couldn’t spare the energy to find Bei Yao or Zhao Zhilan and the others.

Huo Xu’s heart sank. He knew his plan had been exposed.

Bei Yao had married. For Shao Yue’s safety, Huo Xu could only bring her to his side.

The two lived in a small villa in City B’s Fragrant Hills. Shao Yue was very anxious now. She was afraid at all times that the crazy woman Jiang Huaqiong would retaliate, too scared to even leave the house.

She did indeed like wealth and glory, but with her life almost gone, who still dared care about wealth or not.

Shao Yue even secretly blamed Huo Xu in her heart—he shouldn’t have accidentally killed Huo Nanshan back then. Although… Huo Xu did it to save her.

In any case, she was the instigator and Huo Xu was the one who struck. Neither could escape.

However, living together made meeting very convenient—no need to hide.

Shao Yue wasn’t a stupid woman. She knew that a man as wealthy and prestigious as Huo Xu could have any woman easily. She was also three years older than him. If she easily went to bed with him and he lost his novelty for her, the loss would outweigh the gain.

She did like Huo Xu, but not to the point of recklessness. There would always be some calculation in her heart.

Therefore, she had always kept him hanging, making his feelings for her deeper and deeper.

The first time she and Huo Xu did it was on the night she came up with that bad idea. Huo Xu indeed went to pursue Bei Yao for her safety.

And now, Jiang Huaqiong seemed to have suddenly determined that the two of them had killed Huo Nanshan.

Shao Yue’s heart panicked too. To relieve pressure, at night in the villa she entangled desperately with Huo Xu.

Deep into the May night, wind blew outside.

Shao Yue clung to the man’s body, extremely aroused.

At the moment when both reached climax, Huo Xu looked at the aroused face of the woman beneath him. He quickened his movements and involuntarily called out a name.

Shao Yue’s flushed face instantly turned pale.

She pushed Huo Xu away, sat up, and asked trembling: “Who did you just call out?”

The lust in Huo Xu’s eyes hadn’t faded either.

Hearing Shao Yue’s questioning, he only then awakened from that dazed feeling.

He… he had called out… Bei Yao.

Shao Yue was furious. If a man, when holding her at his most pleasurable moment, called out another person’s name, that was enough to prove everything.

She cried: “I’ve loved you for so many years… so many years, Huo Xu. This is how you treat me!”

She didn’t even put on clothes and stepped barefoot onto the window ledge: “Rather than wait for Jiang Huaqiong to harm me, I might as well end it myself.”

Huo Xu was momentarily panicked: “A’Yue, come down.”

Shao Yue shook her head: “Do you really love me? Prove it to me!”

Huo Xu’s heart was in complete chaos, yet the cool night breeze also made him calm down.

He rubbed the bridge of his nose: “I’ve been under a lot of pressure lately, thinking about many things. It was just a slip of the tongue. Come down.”

A slip of the tongue—what a ridiculous slip of the tongue!

Shao Yue simply regretted it to death. She shouldn’t have suggested that idea in the first place. Now she’d lost both the lady and the soldiers!