A sudden scent of roses hit his nose…
Su Pu frowned, blinking as the bright light around him made him dizzy.
After adjusting, he slowly realized where he might be.
It was probably a hospital…
In his last memory, he had been cradled in Li Jichuan’s arms, rushed toward the hospital.
Li Jichuan had pressed something to his forehead, softly calling for him to stay awake.
But Su Pu was exhausted, in pain, and gradually lost consciousness.
All he remembered was Li Jichuan’s lips repeatedly pressing against his forehead, soothing him.
He hadn’t felt scared at all; not for a second during the confrontation with Su Hui did fear take hold.
It was just a pity—Li Jichuan had been kissing his forehead, and he should have been able to fully enjoy it…
Fully awake now, Su Pu shook his head slightly, and his forehead stung sharply.
“Ugh…”
Would it scar? Would he look ugly?
He glanced around, spotting Li Jichuan at the side of his hospital bed, tapping away at a computer.
Li Jichuan, always so focused while working, seemed especially attentive now. The company was going through a turbulent period, and besides the usual business, he was preparing for the Winter Board Election.
Both he and his aunt Li Shuwen were strong contenders, each the other’s fiercest rival. There was no time to slack.
A brief distraction caught his gaze on the one sleeping in the bed—the one he loved—and his eyes met a pair of dark, deep-set ones.
Perhaps the semi-opaque curtain made Su Pu’s usually brown eyes appear almost black, heavy with thought.
“Awake?”
Li Jichuan closed his laptop, maneuvering his wheelchair closer to the bed. He reached past the bandages to touch Su Pu’s forehead.
Fortunately, the fever had subsided.
“Uncomfortable?” he asked, his tone slightly distant.
Su Pu quickly shook his head—but the motion made his head spin.
“Don’t move.”
Li Jichuan steadied his shoulders, then pressed the call button.
The attending doctor arrived quickly, performing a routine check.
“Nothing abnormal for now. You may still experience nausea or dizziness today—aftereffects of the concussion. Rest and medication should relieve the symptoms.”
Just as the doctor put away his stethoscope, Li Jichuan carefully tucked Su Pu’s blanket.
“Haha,” the doctor chuckled understandingly, “family needn’t worry too much. Head injuries require caution, but serious aftereffects are unlikely.”
“If you prefer, he can stay for observation a couple of days—good for the forehead injury as well,” the doctor added.
Li Jichuan agreed immediately, asked a few more detailed questions, and finally let the doctor leave.
Su Pu lay timidly in bed, rolling up his sleeves to inspect himself.
Besides two stitches on his forehead from hitting the table corner, he had minor scrapes and bruises elsewhere.
Nothing serious—just small cuts or bruises from the collisions.
Yet, even the smallest wounds had been treated.
Both of his arms were coated with a thin layer of greenish ointment on every mark, infused with menthol to relieve pain.
Bruised joints were wrapped with white gauze, itching him slightly; he subtly rubbed his elbow against the blanket.
“Don’t move.”
Li Jichuan returned, holding Su Pu’s arm and tucking him securely under the blanket.
Su Pu stared at him, noticing—even without much expression, he could feel it clearly—Li Jichuan was angry.
After examining his arms, Su Pu looked down at the large, loose hospital gown, eyes tracing the green ointment along his stomach… and perhaps on his legs too?
All over his body? Who had applied all this medicine?
Embarrassment flushed his face as he adjusted his collar.
Li Jichuan, reading every emotion, said calmly:
“Awkward now?”
Su Pu paused, looking up helplessly.
His eyes—so impossibly beautiful, capable of melting even the heaviest worries.
Li Jichuan inwardly muttered about the unfairness, then spoke with reluctant patience:
“I applied it. Don’t worry, no one else saw…”
Hearing this, Su Pu’s cheeks burned instantly.
“Feeling shy?”
Li Jichuan shot him a glare. “When you lunged for the phone, you weren’t shy, were you?”
“You just met Su Hui that day. You don’t know what he’s capable of when cornered. Charging in recklessly without considering consequences—that’s why you’re lucky it didn’t go worse. If he’d been sharper, you might’ve…”
Li Jichuan couldn’t bear to finish the thought. He knew Su Pu risked everything, threw himself into danger—all for him.
He reluctantly tucked Su Pu back under the blanket.
“From now on, if anything like this happens again, move it somewhere safe and contact me first. Su Pu, don’t do this again. I’ll worry if you get hurt, and if something worse happens, I’ll never forgive myself…”
There was no anger in Li Jichuan’s voice—only helpless concern.
Unaware, perhaps, Su Pu had already become Li Jichuan’s lifeline, his Achilles’ heel, his most cherished existence.
The timid little mute nodded. Seeing Li Jichuan lower his head, he leaned closer, twisting slightly to meet his gaze.
Curiosity shone in his large deer-like eyes:
“You’re really angry, huh?”
Li Jichuan, caught off guard, let out a laugh, pressing his finger gently against Su Pu’s forehead, nudging him back onto the bed.
“Move again, and I’ll really get angry!”
Unable to scold further, Li Jichuan poured all his gentleness onto the little mute in bed.
Fortunately, Su Pu obeyed, staring straight at him until Li Jichuan, helpless, covered his eyes with his hands.
“Don’t look. This is a hospital…”
The warmth of his palms made Su Pu suddenly shy.
Li Jichuan swallowed dryly, speaking awkwardly:
“Do you know how much self-control it took to just apply the medicine?”
“Eat more, Su Pu, you’re too thin…”
The little mute nodded hard, still covered and embarrassed.
Li Jichuan feigned anger at Su Pu’s reckless bravery, but Su Pu knew better. Even at work, Li Jichuan’s attention was always half on him.
Whenever Su Pu moved, Li Jichuan would glance up to check.
Even small tasks, Li Jichuan insisted on helping.
When Su Pu went to the bathroom, Li Jichuan stayed by the door.
Seeing his underwear drying on the towel rack, Su Pu flushed again.
Luckily, Li Jichuan eventually rested. As night fell, he leaned in his wheelchair and fell into a deep sleep.
Su Pu washed his hands, grabbed a damp towel, and carefully wiped Li Jichuan’s face and hands.
The meticulous man, who even chose the most exquisite coffee for himself, had stayed by Su Pu’s side for an entire night and day.
Feeling the stubble on Li Jichuan’s lips, Su Pu’s nose tinged with emotion.
So there really could be someone willing to give up their principles just for him.
He was joyful, he was happy.
Setting the towel aside, Su Pu leaned closer, letting his breath pass over Li Jichuan’s forehead, nose, and finally, lips—
Placing a gentle kiss.
“Sorry for biting your lips on my first kiss. I hope this kiss is gentle enough.
If not…
If not…
I want to spend all the rest of my life making it up to you. Is that okay?”