The entire room fell silent, with only dust particles dancing noiselessly in the beam of light.
Cen Jin quietly squeezed the tissue ball in her hand, her defensive posture diminishing slightly. For some reason, Li Wu’s suddenly lowered stance made her instantly recover her rightful position, that comfortable feeling of being in control and being relied upon was regained from this moment.
Especially the youth’s eyes, so clear, so sincere, like a tame deer that had gone out frolicking for a few days and returned to its nest begging forgiveness, awaiting its keeper’s punishment.
Cen Jin couldn’t help but let out a trace of malice. She had been in this lonely, confined situation for too long, to the point where this malice began to incite her, shouting desperately in her ear—quickly, choose him, drag another person down with you.
So she also couldn’t help but open her mouth, appearing conciliatory: “Fine then.”
Li Wu had been worried about being too rash but hadn’t expected Cen Jin to agree so easily. He was surprised into momentary speechlessness.
Cen Jin’s eyes had lost their dampness, her expression much more stable as she leaned back against the pillow: “Don’t crouch anymore, get up.”
Li Wu stood up straight, and this time, Cen Jin seemed to no longer feel that sense of pressure.
She became increasingly convinced of her judgment, reopening the book and glancing up at him: “You didn’t go to your part-time job today?”
The youth’s jawline was distinct as his eyes looked over through the backlight: “I went, but your friend called to tell me you weren’t doing well, so I came straight here.”
So it was Chun Chang who had sold her out. Cen Jin’s cheek muscles tightened briefly before she curved her lips: “I’m fine.”
Li Wu looked at her left leg, wanting to ask for details: “What happened?”
Cen Jin glossed over it: “Just accidentally fell and hurt my leg.”
Li Wu asked: “Is it serious?”
Cen Jin didn’t want to recall at all: “It’s okay, it hurt quite a bit the first few days, but these days I can barely feel anything,” she carelessly flipped through the book, asking though she knew the answer: “Aren’t you going back to work?”
Li Wu responded without hesitation: “Not going back, I want to stay and take care of you.”
Cen Jin laughed: “How can you take care of me as a male? Carry me to the bathroom?”
Li Wu choked, his ears steaming with heat, but he still asked: “Do you need to go to the bathroom now?”
Now Cen Jin was stunned too. She immediately refused: “No.”
“I used to take care of my grandfather,” Li Wu wracked his brains trying to make her lower her guard: “For several years even.”
Cen Jin looked at him: “You mean you’re very experienced?”
Li Wu slowly and seriously nodded: “Especially with people who can’t walk.”
Cen Jin: “…”
She snapped the book shut: “I’m not paralyzed.”
Li Wu said: “I know.”
Cen Jin casually moved her right leg, as if showing off her remaining assets: “This leg is still good.”
Li Wu followed her movement to look. Her leg bent then stretched, the nightgown sliding down to reveal her calf, slender and powder-white, bathed in light with an almost pearl-like quality.
His throat seized for an instant as he quickly averted his eyes.
Seeing him standing there like a blocked bottle gourd again, Cen Jin asked: “How long are you going to stand by my bed?”
Li Wu came back to his senses, instinctively asking: “Do you want some water?”
Cen Jin looked at him suspiciously: “No.”
He slipped into his role extremely quickly: “Is there anything you want to eat?”
Cen Jin said: “I’m not hungry.”
Li Wu said: “Then get more rest.”
Cen Jin lowered her head to read, pretending to be deaf and blind to him.
Seeing she had found something to do, Li Wu stopped disturbing her, left the bedside, pulled out a nearby chair, and sat down about a meter away.
He didn’t do anything, didn’t even take out his phone, just sat there, like an AI waiting to be summoned at a charging station.
The youth didn’t move a muscle, but his presence was terrifyingly strong. Cen Jin couldn’t focus on reading at all, and finally couldn’t take it anymore: “Aren’t you bored?”
He seemed to emerge from deep thought, his eyes full of “do you need anything?”
Cen Jin clenched her hand, trying to scare him away: “A young man like you, staying alone with me in a room for so long, with the door closed—what will Auntie Tang think?”
Li Wu’s face reddened slightly as he got up to open the door completely, then sat back in his original spot, maintaining his position.
Cen Jin was utterly convinced.
She confirmed that she couldn’t possibly focus on the book anymore and switched to watching dramas on her tablet.
Cen Jin put on headphones, using them to immerse herself.
But somehow, maybe because the room wasn’t very big and the youth’s volume was relatively prominent, she still glanced several times at this annoying presence.
Ten minutes had passed, and he really hadn’t done anything, just staring straight ahead at some point, his gaze somewhat distant.
So affected.
Who was he putting on this show for?
How could there be such a strange teenager?
He silently held his position there, like a young and fearless steadfast soldier. It was this very appearance that inexplicably aroused her sympathy, remorse… and many other complex emotions.