C39 I Can Walk by Myself!

Hearing the first low sound outside, Soong Ruanruan was about to make another attempt when the door suddenly swung open with a snap.

She stopped short: Why didn't they stick to the plan? Weren't there supposed to be three knocks?

"Mommy! Did you fall down? Are you hurt?" her daughter asked, her eyes brimming with concern.

Fu Sui bit his lip, then glanced up at his father.

Fu Jingchuan raised an eyebrow but remained still.

The next moment, the little girl turned to him with big, questioning eyes, clearly puzzled by his lack of action.

It would be hard to justify doing nothing in front of the children.

Fu Jingchuan's frown deepened as he stepped forward and scooped the woman up in his arms.

Soong Ruanruan almost gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around the man's shoulders.

A familiar and intense scent enveloped her, causing her expression to falter, and then she tried uncomfortably to wriggle free. "I can walk by myself."

Fu Jingchuan gave her a cool look.

Right, she couldn't even stand, yet she was still talking tough!

The walk from the bathroom to the living room had never seemed so long. Soong Ruanruan remained tense until she was gently placed on the sofa, where she finally exhaled in relief.

"Mommy, are you injured?" An An leaned over the edge of the sofa, her lips turned down in worry.

Soong Ruanruan carefully rolled up her pant leg to reveal a swollen ankle.

"It's just a sprain, An An. Don't worry, it'll heal quickly," Soong Ruanruan reassured her daughter.

Out of nowhere, Fu Sui chimed in with a blunt, "Injuries to muscles and bones take a hundred days to heal."

Son, this isn't the time to be so literal!

As the children spoke, Fu Jingchuan surveyed the room, retrieved a first aid kit from a corner, and handed it to Soong Ruanruan.

"Thank you," Soong Ruanruan couldn't help but admire the man's keen observation; he had found it so easily.

"Mommy, let me help you," the little girl offered, reaching for the kit.

But Soong Ruanruan stopped her, "Mommy can take care of it. Why don't you and your brother go have dinner? Otherwise, the meal I worked so hard to prepare will get cold and won't taste as good."

"Mommy, it hurts. I don't want to eat," the little girl pouted.

"If sweetie doesn't eat, Mommy will feel even worse. I made all this delicious food, and you don't like it..." Soong Ruanruan said, looking disappointed.

The two children exchanged glances, and An An hurried to the dining table. "I'll eat! Mommy has to get well soon!"

Fu Sui glanced back with concern and followed her.

Only then did Soong Ruanruan start to apply her medicine. But —

Why was Fu Jingchuan still standing there?

She didn't believe he was concerned. His expressionless face made it clear he was indifferent.

"Mr. Fu, won't you give it a try? The dishes today are different from last time, all new flavors."

Fu Jingchuan lowered his gaze, silent.

The woman's lips were pale, and she seemed to be holding back something, reminiscent of Fu Sui's pallor during his hypoglycemic episodes.

Noticing his lack of interest, Soong Ruanruan felt disheartened. After finishing with the spray, she attempted to stand.

It was a shaky effort, but she managed to stay upright, until...

Dizziness swept over her. Already unsteady, Soong Ruanruan fell backward.

Fu Jingchuan, with quick reflexes, caught her by the waist.

Looking up, Soong Ruanruan's breath caught as she found herself close to his deep, captivating eyes and handsome nose. Even with a slight frown, he was a sight to behold.

Her heart, usually so steady, missed a beat.

"Hypoglycemia?" His magnetic voice resonated above her.

Soong Ruanruan regained her composure and shook her head. "Just a stomachache."

She had been caught looking unwell, so there was no point in concealing it. Moreover, as a doctor, she believed a woman's menstrual cycle was perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of.

Fu Jingchuan didn't press the issue. He was always detached.

But in the next instant, Soong Ruanruan felt herself being lifted effortlessly into his arms.

"!"

What was that about?

Before Soong Ruanruan could react, she found herself seated at the dining table.

"…"

Such a startling move was very much in keeping with Fu Jingchuan's style.

"Mammy, eat more. You'll get better faster." An An, seeing her mother join them for the meal, eagerly served her several dishes. Her clumsy yet careful actions were endearing.

After a brief pause, she also served Fu Jingchuan, "Uncle, you eat too."

Soong Ruanruan's expression shifted subtly. She recalled that Fu Jingchuan disliked others handling his utensils, not to mention the act of serving food, which he equated with poor hygiene.

Yet, contrary to her expectations, the man simply looked down and remained silent.

The meal passed in relative tranquility.

Afterward, to keep his sister from worrying about their aunt's foot injury, Fu Sui led her to the bedroom to play games.

Soong Ruanruan felt a bittersweet pang at her son's thoughtful behavior.

They say the more considerate the child, the more poignant it is for the parent. Her greatest regret was not being there for Dear Sui as he grew up.

Fu Jingchuan caught every nuance of the woman's adoring yet self-reproachful gaze.

When Soong Ruanruan snapped back to reality, she was disconcerted to find Mr. Fu had been watching her intently, stirring a sense of unease within her.

"Mr. Fu, I really appreciate your help earlier. It's quite late now, so perhaps you should take Dear Sui home to rest."

She was interrupted by the doorbell. Unable to move due to her foot injury, Soong Ruanruan watched as Fu Jingchuan rose to answer the door.

Ji Yu, surprised to see who was inside, hesitated. "Mr. Fu, what brings you here?"

"Is there a problem?" Fu Jingchuan's gaze grew frosty.

"Ah, well, I've brought a few toys for An An." Ji Yu began to retrieve them from his bag.

Fu Jingchuan's voice turned icy, "That won't be necessary."

Ji Yu paused mid-action.

Listening to Fu Jingchuan's unwelcoming response at the door, Soong Ruanruan was at a loss for words. How could someone be so rude while denying entry to their home?

"Mr. Yu, please come in."

After her invitation, Ji Yu maneuvered past the tall figure of the man and entered. Spotting the array of dishes on the table, he effortlessly shed his coat and rolled up his sleeves to start tidying up.

"So Sui is here. That explains the feast."

Unconvinced, Soong Ruanruan shot back, "Mr. Yu, I always prepare a full spread when you visit."

Ji Yu glanced up, meeting Fu Jingchuan's gaze with a seemingly casual look. "Yes, we made it together."

A hint of frost crept into Fu Jingchuan's eyes.

"Mr. Yu, I'll hire a cleaner tomorrow. There's no need for you to tidy up." Soong Ruanruan momentarily forgot her injured foot and, seeing Ji Yu at work, attempted to rise, only to wince in pain.

Ji Yu's face was immediately etched with concern. "What happened?"

"I twisted my foot by accident."

"How could you be so careless? Let me see." Ji Yu took Soong Ruanruan's foot in his hands to examine it, his brow furrowing. "It looks like you'll need to rest for a while to recover. I'll request time off for you tomorrow. Make sure to rest up for the next few days."

The back-and-forth between the two was grating, particularly Ji Yu's hand on the woman's foot, which was a sore sight.

Fu Jingchuan, appearing indifferent to the woman's injury, reminded her coldly, "Tomorrow is Fu Sui's treatment day."

Ji Yu's frown deepened. "Mr. Fu, Ling's foot is injured; it would be best to let her rest a few days before going to the hospital."

"There are no sick days in the treatment agreement." The man's reply was devoid of empathy.

Indeed, when Soong Ruanruan had first taken on the case of Dear Sui, she had signed an extra agreement due to his unique circumstances.

Yet, hearing the man's indifferent tone, Soong Ruanruan couldn't help but feel a coldness settle in her chest.

She had believed that no matter what he said or did, he wouldn't stir up any trouble again...