Chapter 7: Devotion

On the way back, as they passed by a pharmacy, Fu Juxing stopped to buy some medicine. Then he sent the driver to fetch some water, leaving only the two of them in the car.

The wounds on their palms were strikingly symmetrical; the old man had shown no favoritism, inflicting equal pain. Fu Juxing applied the medicine to her hands, and Lin Wanbai, overwhelmed by the pain, grew frantic. “Can’t you be gentler? Are you doing this on purpose? Seeing me like this, are you secretly delighted?”

Sweat beaded on her forehead, and her features twisted in agony. Fu Juxing blew softly on her palm, the cool air soothing her somewhat. “Now you know how much it hurts. When you bought that car for someone, did you ever consider there would be consequences?”

Fire flashed in Lin Wanbai’s eyes as she retorted fiercely, “When love arrives, who has time for reason? All I thought about was giving everything.”

He glanced at her, meeting her gaze squarely, their eyes locked. He corrected her, “It was my sacrifice.”

“You’re so stingy! It was just a wrong swipe of the card! Are you going to bring it up for a whole year?” She tried to pull her hand away and reach for her bag to throw her card at him, but her injured hands made such a bold gesture impossible.

She managed to open the bag, but the metal clasp scraped her palm, making her gasp sharply and toss the bag at him. “Take the black card inside, use it as you wish. Even if you buy a villa for your lover, I won’t care.”

She glared at him, impatience written all over her face.

Fu Juxing closed her bag and set it aside. “My sacrifice isn’t just about money.”

She looked at him, uncertain what he meant.

“Give me your hand,” he said, his gaze fixed on her palm. Lin Wanbai remained still, so he took the initiative, gently gripping her wrist and pulling it before him to continue applying the medicine, this time even more gently.

As he finished, he spoke, “This is the last time I’ll say it: I don’t have a lover. If you don’t believe me, you can check everything about me. If you find anything…”

She raised an eyebrow. “And if I do?”

“You can do whatever you want with me,” he replied, his eyes unwavering and open.

Lin Wanbai curled her lips, choosing not to respond.

After the medicine was applied, Fu Juxing blew softly on her hands again and instructed, “Don’t get them wet for the next few days. Stay home and behave, don’t wander around.”

She gave no answer.

“Don’t meet with Ye Run for a while.”

She hummed noncommittally, silent for a moment before looking at him and asking, “What if I absolutely must?”

“Tell me first. Don’t make decisions on your own.”

She gave a soft laugh, turned to gaze out the window, and said lazily, “Let’s go home.”

Fu Juxing called the driver back and phoned Aunt Rong, asking her to prepare some light dishes.

When they returned to Lan She, Aunt Rong had already finished preparing the meal. Not wanting to intrude on the young couple, she found an excuse to leave immediately; nothing spoils an argument more than a third party’s presence.

With her hands injured, Lin Wanbai couldn’t use chopsticks, so Fu Juxing fed her himself.

They sat face to face, and Lin Wanbai glanced at him from time to time. The house was quiet; the rules instilled since childhood dictated silence during meals and before sleep.

So no one spoke, no matter how suffocating it felt.

After dinner, Fu Juxing fed her some blueberries. When enough time had passed, he led her upstairs to bathe.

Throughout the entire process, she didn’t have to lift a finger; he became her hands. She never needed to say much—he anticipated everything perfectly, leaving no room for error.

From the smallest details of daily life, it was evident he had truly devoted himself to her, understanding her deeply through careful observation.

Could anyone say he wasn’t attentive? Surely not.

Lin Wanbai lay in the bathtub, her gaze filled with Fu Juxing’s upside-down face as he washed her hair. He was positioned directly beneath a lamp, its halo radiating around him.

His expression was earnest, the pressure of his hands just right, and his movements skillful, making her feel utterly comfortable.

Lin Wanbai squinted, arms raised, her eyes fixed on his face, unable to look away for a single second.

After all these years, she still wasn’t tired of him.

Just then, her phone rang outside.

Fu Juxing rinsed the lather from his hands, went out, and brought her phone in, answering it for her and holding it to her ear.

“Miss Lin, as per your instructions, we’ve thoroughly investigated Fu Juxing’s recent whereabouts, as well as the people he has met…”