The baby slapped me, and I said, "Sit on my lap and slap me."

Over the next period of time, Wen Yu and Su Qingyao's relationship steadily warmed up without any tacit understanding between them.

Aside from attending classes, working part-time, and visiting her mother, Su Qingyao spends all her other time with Wen Yu.

No matter how late it is, she will pack her things and prepare to go back to her dormitory at 10 o'clock.

Wen Yu never tried to keep him.

He would simply raise his eyes and gaze at her quietly with those captivating peach blossom eyes.

Under the lamplight, his eyes were wet, filled with deep longing and reluctance, like a poor little dog left at home by its owner, clearly aggrieved, yet obediently silent.

Then he accompanied her in her wheelchair to the entrance, and they went downstairs together. He then had the driver take her back to school.

Su Qingyao's heart softened, and without realizing it, she agreed to more of Wen Yu's requests.

From the initial polite refusal, to the later whispered "Actually, I can go back by myself," and now to saying goodbye in the car, gently instructing Wen Yu.

"Be careful on the road."

She vaguely sensed that she was gradually allowing Wen Yu to become more deeply involved in her life.

Strangely, she did not resist this change.

-

This weekend afternoon, sunlight filled the living room, and a lazy warmth floated in the air.

Su Qingyao stood beside Wen Yu, one hand supporting his arm, the other hand slightly outstretched, gently protecting his waist.

She frowned slightly, her gaze fixed on his weight-bearing left ankle, her expression showing the same focus and seriousness she had maintained for the past month.

"Yes, slowly shift your weight... distribute the pressure evenly on the balls of your feet, and feel the stretch in your ligaments..."

She gave her instructions softly, her voice tinged with concerned tension.

Wen Yu did as instructed, placing his left foot firmly on the ground.

In fact, his sense of balance had already been largely restored.

But out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of her slightly furrowed brow, filled with concern, and her clear, unwavering eyes fixed on his ankle…

His left foot suddenly wobbled, and his body tilted to one side.

"Be careful!"

Su Qingyao reacted immediately.

The hand that was supporting him suddenly tightened, and the other arm quickly wrapped around his waist, using her slender body to catch his weight as he fell.

Wen Yu "smoothly" and solidly fell into her arms.

The impact made the two of them sway. Su Qingyao was forced back half a step by him, and only managed to steady herself when her back hit the edge of the sofa.

The warm, male body weight almost completely covered her.

Her cheek was pressed against his cotton T-shirt, and she could clearly feel his firm, undulating chest beneath the fabric, and his heart pounding faster and faster.

Wen Yu's arm had somehow already wrapped around her shoulder, holding her tightly in front of him.

His chin nestled in the crook of her neck, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive skin, sending a shiver down her spine.

"Wen...Wenyu?"

Su Qingyao's voice was a little tight, still carrying lingering panic, "Are you alright? Did you twist it again? Does it hurt?"

She tried to push him away, but he pressed her even tighter against his chest, making her unable to move.

"Don't move..."

His voice came from above her head, a suppressed, almost painful hoarse tone.

"Let me lean against it for a bit, it seems... a little painful."

Su Qingyao dared not move, her body stiffening in his burning embrace, her hands trembling slightly as she held his waist.

Whether it was out of fright or from the helplessness brought about by this overly intimate confinement, it was unclear.

She could smell the crisp, slushy scent emanating from him, mixed with a hint of sweat from his workout, creating a strong, unique presence that belonged only to him.

Wen Yu's body temperature radiated through the thin fabric of her clothes, making her ears tingle.

The heat from his burying his face in her neck scorched that small patch of skin until it turned bright red.

Su Qingyao was completely encircled in Wen Yu's arms, obedient yet uneasy, like a little rabbit caught in a net without realizing it.

A surge of satisfaction, mixed with a deeper greed, slowly gnawed at Wen Yu's heart.

His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and his lips seemingly unintentionally touched the warm skin of her neck.

Then, very lightly, with a mixture of probing and greed, it licked the tip of its tongue.

Su Qingyao trembled violently, her whole body froze, and her voice changed tone.

"Wen Yu, you...you..."

"Um?"

Wen Yu raised his head, his eyes innocent, his voice still hoarse with a trace of "pain".

"It hurts a little, I accidentally bit my lip. What's wrong, baby?"

"N-nothing..."

Her voice was barely audible, her neck flushed crimson, almost as if it were bleeding, "Are you... feeling better?"

A triumphant smile flashed across Wen Yu's eyes.

He took a slow breath in and then slowly exhaled, his arm loosening its grip slightly, but his voice still sounded pitiful.

"It seems... a little better."

He stepped back slightly, his gaze lingering with satisfaction on the patch of skin on her neck that he had "accidentally" stained crimson, a dark undercurrent swirling in his eyes.

He held her in his arms, lowered his head, and met Su Qingyao's gaze.

"I'm sorry, baby," he said softly, his tone utterly sincere, "I scared you."

Su Qingyao shook her head, her face still flushed. "N-nothing... Just be more careful next time."

"Okay," he replied, his fingertips gently brushing away the stray hairs on her forehead, and he murmured softly, "With the baby here, I'm not afraid of falling."

Su Qingyao's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly looked away, not daring to look into his overly deep eyes again.

Wen Yu looked at her evasive little face, and a very faint smile of satisfaction appeared on his lips.

They're so easy to fool.

It's so nice to hug.

He let go of his hands, braced himself against the sofa, and slowly stood up, as if the fall had truly been an accident.

"Let's continue, baby."

He reached out his hand to her, his smile clean and harmless.

Su Qingyao looked at the hand he offered, hesitated for a moment, and then placed her hand on it.

Palms pressed together, warmth mingling.

Wen Yu gently grasped it, his strength gentle yet allowing no room for escape.

The darkness in his eyes was perfectly covered by his gentle smile, as if the greedy licking and possessive confinement just now were all just her illusions.

He knew that he could "accidentally" do this many more times during this "rehabilitation".

-

Finally, a week before the final exams, the results of the re-examination came out.

The doctor looked at the latest scans and nodded approvingly.

"The recovery is going very well. The ligaments are healing well, and you can walk normally now. However, you should wait two more weeks before engaging in strenuous exercise and proceed gradually."

Wen Yu rotated his left ankle; it was flexible and steady, without any stiffness or pain.

It's completely healed.

Su Qingyao breathed a sigh of relief, her face showing the most relaxed smile she had had in a month.

Looking at her relieved expression, Wen Yu felt a subtle, somewhat dark sense of regret welling up inside him.

There were no more excuses for him to "accidentally" fall into her arms during practice, nuzzling against her neck and listening to her nervous breathing and concerned whispers.

He lowered his eyes, carefully concealing the fleeting regret, and when he looked up again, his eyes were still those gentle, smiling features.

Wen Yu reached out and gently rubbed Su Qingyao's hair.

His voice was soft and gentle, "Thank you, baby, you've had a tough month."

Su Qingyao shook her head, her eyes sparkling with pure joy.

"It's not hard work, I'm glad you're all better now."

Looking at her unguarded smiling face, Wen Yu's initial regret was suddenly overwhelmed by another, more intense emotion.

It's okay.

Even if your foot heals, there will be other reasons.

As long as the baby is by his side, that's enough.