Normally, Li Jichuan woke up a little earlier than Su Pu.
He would slowly ease the other person over to the far side of the bed, then go wash up himself.
But this morning, the moment he woke, he immediately noticed the change in his body…
To be honest, this was not the first time.
Although Li Jichuan had lost the use of his legs, he was still a normal man, with normal needs—even if, in his heart, he had no deliberate intentions in that regard.
But this time was a little different.
Li Jichuan realized that the person lying on top of him seemed to have woken up as well…
“Su Pu?”
Li Jichuan’s voice was slightly hoarse. Unlike his usual lazy tone upon waking, it carried a hint of caution.
Su Pu practically hated himself for this problem of his—whenever his emotions fluctuated too violently, he would become completely unable to move.
He had always thought this only happened when he was in danger. He never imagined it would show up in a situation like this…
“If you’re awake, go back to your side and sleep.”
Li Jichuan’s tone did not change much. He was far calmer than Su Pu.
“I’m a bit… inconvenient right now.”
Su Pu still could not move, his entire body stiff like a plank of wood.
When he saw that Su Pu was not moving, a slightly wicked thought circled in Li Jichuan’s mind for two seconds—before reason ultimately prevailed.
“Can’t move?” Li Jichuan asked considerately.
If he could move, he would have run away long ago.
Su Pu nodded. Then, realizing Li Jichuan could not see him, he tugged lightly at the corner of Li Jichuan’s pajama top.
Two seconds later, a few soft chuckles drifted past his ear. The situation was so helpless it bordered on absurd.
Li Jichuan relaxed quite a bit. One hand supported Su Pu’s shoulder, the other braced his waist, lifting and setting him down where he was supposed to be lying.
Although his legs were disabled, Li Jichuan’s upper body was exceptionally strong. These movements took no effort at all.
Su Pu landed safely. As he let out a breath of relief, it felt as though something inside him had also gone missing.
He felt disappointed.
Disappointed in his own clumsiness. If it had been someone else, would they have handled such an awkward situation more gracefully, instead of being like a passive cloth doll, picked up and moved around…
However, in the very next second, darkness suddenly fell over his eyes. A dry, slightly warm palm covered them.
By his ear was Li Jichuan’s uniquely low, seductive voice.
“Su Pu, go back to sleep for a bit. Forget what just happened…”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. It’s a little awkward right now…”
Surprised by Li Jichuan’s frankness, Su Pu blinked. His soft lashes brushed against Li Jichuan’s palm.
The breathing by his ear abruptly paused for a moment, then grew slightly hurried.
“I… need to go take care of something now. Don’t come into the bathroom yet, okay?”
As Li Jichuan spoke, the warm air of his breath kept brushing against Su Pu’s ear, making his entire body heat up as if he were sick.
After Li Jichuan got into his wheelchair and left the bedroom, Su Pu was still burning wave after wave.
Something deep inside him kept collapsing, turning into a soft, warm puddle, while his heart thudded wildly, powerfully, almost bursting through his eardrums.
Soon after, Su Pu also began to react.
The sound of running water quickly came from the shower. If he listened any longer, Su Pu felt like he would completely melt today.
So as soon as his body loosened up a little, he padded barefoot to the guest bathroom.
Uncle Wang had just woken up. Seeing Su Pu dash past with a flushed face, he paused for two seconds, then smiled.
This household was really getting livelier and livelier.
…
During morning rehab, neither of them dared to look at the other the entire time.
Both physical therapists found it strange. Normally, the two of them practically glued their eyes to each other—why were they suddenly so reserved today?
Had they argued?
It was understandable. Li Jichuan looked gloomy today, as though he wanted to say something but kept holding back.
After rehab, Li Jichuan left for the company without eating breakfast.
Su Pu sat at the dining table, but it took him a full half hour to eat half a slice of toast. The household staff quietly observed and sensed that something was off.
Only Uncle Wang saw through it but said nothing. Calm as ever, he finished a bowl of porridge, then went to pack Su Pu’s lunchbox.
Su Pu was on the morning shift today and would not get off work until two in the afternoon.
Uncle Wang worried that Su Pu would not eat properly, so he always packed him a separate lunchbox and checked on it when he came home.
Once, Li Jichuan happened to see it. He stared at the lunchbox, as though carefully considering what to say.
Uncle Wang thought he was going to scold him for meddling.
Instead, Li Jichuan placed his palm next to the lunchbox, compared the size, then muttered,
“Isn’t it a bit small?”
“What?” Uncle Wang did not understand.
Li Jichuan withdrew his gaze, casually sipping his tea. “I mean, the lunchbox is too small. What if he doesn’t get full?”
Uncle Wang laughed. “Then I’ll switch to a bigger one?”
Setting down his teacup, Li Jichuan steered his wheelchair away, lazily tossing out a final remark:
“Make it two sizes bigger. He has a friend at the shop who looks like he can really eat. Don’t let everything get snatched away…”
Someone like Li Jichuan—how could he possibly let Su Pu suffer any grievances…
Uncle Wang packed the lunchbox and placed it by the entryway.
This kid cared about him more than enough already.
…
The aftereffects of the morning incident lingered. When it came time for lunch, Su Pu was still a little distracted.
Ouyang picked a chicken leg out of Su Pu’s lunchbox, took a big bite, and narrowed his eyes in enjoyment.
“Su-ge, what’s wrong with you today?”
He nudged Su Pu with his elbow. Su Pu swayed along with it, like a little roly-poly toy.
Coming back to his senses, Su Pu shook his head to show he was fine.
“Oh, right—since the event just wrapped up, the other branches have all sent me the survey data they collected. After we get off work, let’s sort it out together and then deliver it to President Li.”
Ouyang was extremely excited. He had never expected that an ordinary college student like him could directly help Li Jichuan’s business…
Even if this experience was not particularly impressive and could not be written on a résumé, it greatly boosted his confidence.
“Su-ge, I didn’t even know I had this much pull! We got so many responses this time, all collected by the other branches. I’d only met a lot of those people once during training—I never thought they’d help me this much…”
Ouyang told Su Pu that they had collected more than nine thousand questionnaires, far exceeding their expectations.
“Nine thousand responses—that’ll definitely help President Li!”
Su Pu’s expression grew heavy. After hesitating for a long time, he made up an excuse to avoid it and told Ouyang to deliver the results himself.
“Why? Isn’t he your husband? You don’t want to see him?” Ouyang asked, puzzled.
Su Pu denied it.
【Of course I want to see him…】
【I just happen to have something to do.】
“What thing? It’s just delivering some materials—it’ll only take ten minutes…”
Ouyang clasped his hands together at his chest and rubbed them. “Su-ge, please, just go with me. Without you, I wouldn’t even know where to find President Li.”
Su Pu’s face heated up.
Under normal circumstances, he would definitely have agreed to go along. But today’s situation was really too special.
He could still feel the spot on the back of his thigh where something had pressed earlier, tingling and numb, and he could not help imagining more…
By the end of it, his little face was practically glowing yellow with embarrassment…
Even his breathing was uneven. Su Pu closed his lunchbox, preparing to make a getaway.
“Ge, Bodhisattva, please—go with me… I’m doing this for you two as a couple. Can’t you even grant me this one wish?”
…In the end, Su Pu could not resist. Half coaxed, half tricked, Ouyang dragged him up to the top floor.
Li Jichuan was in the middle of working. When the secretary saw Su Pu, she waved them through directly.
The steps of questioning and introduction were completely skipped.
Su Pu knocked three times and walked into Li Jichuan’s office, followed by Ouyang, who wore a look of “a long-cherished wish finally fulfilled.”
Li Jichuan had not paid much attention to who was coming in, his gaze locked on the reports on his computer.
When they drew closer, he glanced over casually.
In the next second, he choked on his own saliva and started coughing violently.
“Oh—what happened? Here, drink some water.”
Ouyang reacted quickly, grabbed the water cup from the desk, and handed it to Li Jichuan.
As Li Jichuan caught his breath, his gaze involuntarily landed on the little mute.
No matter how calm he had acted in the morning, it had all been an act.
Now that they had run into each other without warning, only awkwardness remained…
The atmosphere was far too delicate.
Even Ouyang, usually as dense as they came, sensed that something was off. He pointed at Su Pu’s cheek.
“Su-ge, why is your face so red?”
His gaze shifted to Li Jichuan, and Ouyang froze. “President Li… why are your ears red too?”