C5 5

As Fu Chijing spoke, Tong Qing was on the verge of calling him a scoundrel, but the sight of him in his wheelchair, brows furrowed in frustration, gave her pause. Once towering above others, a single fire had reduced him to a mere mortal, his disability now requiring assistance for something as simple as bathing. It must have been a bitter pill for him to swallow. Fu Chijing waited in vain for a response before explaining, "I apologize. The servants usually handle these matters, but for some reason, they're all absent today." Of course, this was a fib meant for Tong Qing. He had always disliked people invading his personal space, and that hadn't changed even after his injury. Nonetheless, using this excuse to coax his young wife seemed like a clever ploy. "I..." Tong Qing inhaled deeply, mustering her courage. "I'll go draw the bath for you." She turned and headed to the bathroom, turning on the faucet to fill the tub with steaming water. Fu Chijing, pleased with himself, followed her in. Once the bathtub was half full, Tong Qing stood up and glanced at Fu Chijing, who was waiting expectantly, frozen in place. Fu Chijing arched an eyebrow, prompting, "Should I do it myself?" Tong Qing's cheeks flushed a deeper shade of red as she reached out a shaking hand, stammering, "I... I can do it." She removed his suit jacket and methodically unfastened the buttons of his shirt. When only his trousers remained, she abruptly halted. Fu Chijing didn't rush her, instead quietly observing her embarrassed state. Tong Qing, desperate not to let Fu Chijing sense her turmoil, resumed the task she had yet to complete. But she had never unbuckled a man's belt before and fumbled clumsily, becoming so flustered that she broke out in a sweat without making any progress. Finally, she blurted out to Fu Chijing, both embarrassed and agitated, "I can't do it." Whether it was the steam or something else, Tong Qing's face was a rosy hue, her ears tinged pink, giving her a delicate appearance, her eyes and brows exuding an endearing innocence. A sudden tension gripped Fu Chijing's abdomen, and for a moment, he wasn't sure who was being tested more. His voice was hoarse as he took her hand. "Let me teach you."

With a snap, the belt buckle came undone, and Fu Chijing felt as if a taut string in his mind had snapped. "Okay," he said as he released her hand and inhaled deeply. "I'll handle the rest on my own." Relieved by his words, Tong Qing hurried out of the bathroom. It was not until she sat on the bed that she noticed the fine sheen of sweat covering her body, leaving her weak and drained. Instead of stepping into the tub, Fu Chijing turned on the shower. The icy cascade drenched him, quenching the flicker of heat that had just begun to stir in his heart. He lingered in the bathroom for a long time. By the time he emerged, Tong Qing had already fallen asleep on the bed. He eased into the covers, muttering under his breath, "You little heartless thing." He had endured a cold shower on their wedding night while she slept peacefully. But in the end, he had only himself to blame. Annoyed yet resigned, Fu Chijing took advantage of her sleep to gently bite her red lips. The familiar, sweet taste drew a satisfied sigh from him. In the morning, Tong Qing opened her eyes to an unfamiliar sight: a broad, muscular chest, its warmth and scent surrounding her. Fu Chijing had one hand cradling the back of her head and the other wrapped around her waist, while she clung to him like an octopus, arms and legs wrapped around him. Their bodies were tangled in an intimate embrace, like a pair of lovers. Tong Qing felt embarrassed and at a loss, her limbs stiff as she did not know where to put her hands and feet. After a moment, she cautiously glanced up at Fu Chijing. His breathing was even, and he showed no sign of waking, which finally eased her nerves. Of the thirty-six stratagems, fleeing was best. Tong Qing carefully lifted the arm around her waist and slipped away. Almost the instant the door clicked shut, Fu Chijing, who had seemed fast asleep, opened his eyes. He had not slept all night, yet his gaze was strikingly clear. The young woman had been so flustered and distracted that her mind was clearly elsewhere. Otherwise, she would have noticed something different about the way her calves met the floor. Fu Chijing shook his head with a self-mocking smile. Here he was, a man in his thirties, behaving like a boy. His so-called self-control seemed completely useless in front of her.

Downstairs, the breakfast table was already set with Tong Qing's favorites. Yet she ate with her mind elsewhere. "Madam," the maid Zhang asked tentatively, "Is there something not to your liking?" Tong Qing shook her head. "No, everything's fine." "But..." Zhang was about to say more when the sound of someone descending in the elevator interrupted her. Fu Chijing's hair was damp, as if he had just showered. A cool, sharp aloofness clung to him, but his gaze softened slightly when it landed on Tong Qing at the dining table. The wheelchair came to a stop behind her, his crisp presence wrapping around her. Remembering what had happened that morning, Tong Qing's ears burned. She sprang to her feet as if to run. "Wait." "Wh-what is it?" she asked, not daring to meet his eyes. Fu Chijing glanced at the barely touched food and frowned. "You've eaten so little. Are you sure you're full?" Tong Qing bit her lip and lied, "Yes, I'm full." Her stomach betrayed her with a loud growl right after she spoke.

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