Chapter 4

Early the next morning, I assumed he would throw himself straight back into work.

Instead, he was sitting on a chair on the balcony, drinking tea. Dressed in relaxed loungewear, he had shed his usual edge. It was rare to see him so comfortable and at ease.

Autumn mornings were already a little chilly. He had only just been discharged; catching a cold or developing a fever would delay his recovery. I said softly,

“It’s still rather cold in the morning. You’ll catch a chill sitting in the wind.”

Huo Jingheng listened, rose with his cup, and came inside to sit on the living room sofa.

He recuperated at home for an entire week. During that time, I followed the doctor’s instructions to the letter and cooked light meals for him.

Throughout his illness, I cared for him in every possible detail.

After meals, he always seemed uncomfortable letting me do everything and would volunteer to clear the dishes. The moment his fingers reached the sink, I hurried to stop him.

“Leave them there. Try not to get your hands wet for now. You don’t want to pull the incision.”

He stopped, stood in silence for a few seconds, then turned and went back to his room.

Not long afterward, a transfer notification appeared on my phone. He had sent me two hundred thousand yuan.

I went to his bedroom to ask him about it. Just as I reached the door, I saw him standing with his back to me, holding a towel in one hand as he awkwardly tried to wipe his back. His movements were stiff and labored.

After several days without a shower, he was clearly uncomfortable in his own skin.

“Give it to me. I’ll help.” I walked in and took the towel from his hand.

When my fingertips touched the hard muscles of his back, his entire body went rigid. His spine straightened, and the tips of his ears rapidly turned red.

He did not dare look back at me throughout the whole process, and his breathing remained shallow.

I had to admit that he had broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He looked sleek and trim in clothes, but without them, his muscles were firm and well defined.

I broke the silence.

“Take the money back. What you give me every month is already enough.”

“It’s payment.” His tone was calm but left no room for refusal. “I’ve put you through a lot these past few days.”

When I finished wiping his back, I turned to leave. He suddenly spoke in a low voice. “You don’t need to return it. I want you to have it.”

If my wealthy benefactor insisted on paying, all I could do was graciously accept. It would be a shame to reject his kind intentions.

Once he had more or less recovered, he returned to work as usual.

I happened to see him leaving early one morning and offered a friendly reminder.

“If you have any business dinners, remember not to drink. And get plenty of rest.”

Huo Jingheng gave a mild nod.

After he left, I suddenly felt that I had been meddling too much.

He was an adult. He already knew everything the doctor had said.

Before, he had still been ill, so it was only decent of me to show some concern.

But now he had almost fully recovered. My reminders were unnecessary.

I had fulfilled my obligations. It was time to stop interfering in his affairs.