Chapter 20

Xin Chun picked up the phone. Catching sight of the number, his brows drew together slightly.

"Hello."

The voice on the other end paused at Xin Chun's clearly unfamiliar voice. "Hello, this should be..."

The caller was a woman.

Xin Chun's jaw tightened, then relaxed. "This is Owen's phone, but he's occupied right now and can't take the call. I'll pass along your message later."

"Alright, sorry for the trouble. I'll call back in a while."

After the call ended, Xin Chun stared at the phone for two seconds before smiling at Owen as though nothing was wrong. "A woman was looking for you, Owen."

Owen freed one hand and took the phone to check the caller ID. "She's my stepmother."

"Oh." Xin Chun looked unconcerned. "I could tell she wasn't a young woman. So she's your stepmother."

Just then, the doctor finished changing the bandages on Owen's back and left the ward with the nurse.

Owen pulled Xin Chun by the arm, making him fall into his embrace, then wrapped an arm around his waist and held him tightly. "I told my family about the car accident last night, but I didn't explain the details. She probably wanted to ask about it."

Xin Chun looked up. "Your stepmother cares about you very much."

Owen said, "She's only maintaining the family."

Xin Chun smiled without speaking, his fingers brushing through the hair over Owen's forehead.

Chapter 20

A little later, Owen called back. Xin Chun did not listen in. He carried a thermos out to fetch water, and by the time he returned, Owen had already finished speaking.

"What did you talk about?" Xin Chun asked casually.

Owen said, "They wanted to come to Hua Country to visit me, but I refused. Once I've recovered, I'll go back to Y Country."

Xin Chun looked at Owen.

Owen was looking at him too, his dark green eyes earnest. "Would you be willing to go back with me?"

Xin Chun thought of that woman in Y Country. He stood where he was, silent for a moment.

Owen thought the request had been too sudden and that Xin Chun was hesitating in surprise. His gaze flickered. "Do you think things are moving too fast?"

Xin Chun came back to himself and shook his head. "No... I'll go back with you."

Owen smiled, pulled Xin Chun over, and hugged him.

After recuperating in the hospital for some time and confirming there was nothing else requiring special attention, the two completed their discharge procedures and went home.

Owen's back still could not get wet, and his injured leg had not fully healed. For now, he had to rely on a wheelchair to get around. Xin Chun's fractured arm would also need more than another month of care before the cast could be removed.

With two injured people living together, one with an inconvenient hand and the other with an inconvenient leg, they could only help each other.

The first thing they did after getting home was bathe.

Owen had an injury on his back, so he needed to wipe himself down.

William volunteered. "Just tell me if you need any help. I can do it."

Owen said, "No."

Xin Chun said, "Yes."

Seeing Owen's expression, William gave a chuckle.

Xin Chun said, "Starlight needs a bath. Take him to the pet store..."

William's eyes lit up. "No need to go to the pet store. I can bathe Starlight. I know how."

So it was not help for them after all.

"Are you sure?" Xin Chun raised a brow.

"Sure." William nodded.

Xin Chun said, "Alright, then. Don't get water everywhere. Dry him after his bath, then brush his fur."

He gave him a few instructions.

William indicated that he understood.

"Woof, woof." Handsome Star came up beside Xin Chun and sniffed at his casted arm.

Xin Chun rubbed the dog's head. "Be good. Dad needs a bath too."

After William led Handsome Star away, Xin Chun pushed Owen into the bathroom. He turned on the hot water and filled the tub, then helped Owen stand up and began taking off his clothes.

Owen braced himself against the counter with one hand while using the other to cooperate with Xin Chun. He wore loose loungewear. His shirt came off quickly, followed by his pants.

When Xin Chun saw the frightening wound on Owen's leg, he paused. His fingertips could not help stroking the skin beside it. It had been cut by a shard of metal from the car. Though it had already been treated, the wound was still terrifying.

The doctor had said it was truly heaven's blessing that the leg could be saved. The two of them had been fortunate in this car accident.

Owen's back was injured as well. Even after it healed, it would leave scars.

Such a large wound had to hurt terribly.

Yet while they had been in the hospital, Owen had not shown the slightest sign of it. Xin Chun understood that Owen did not want him to worry.

Xin Chun crouched there and did not get up for a long time.

Owen reached out and lifted his chin. Xin Chun's face was so small that it seemed Owen could cover it completely with one hand. "What are you thinking about?"

His thumb brushed over the faintly reddened corner of Xin Chun's eye before lingering on his cheek.

Xin Chun stood up. "I was thinking about you. Who else could I be thinking about but you?"

He took Owen's wrist and pressed Owen's palm against his own cheek, nuzzling into it tenderly before placing a kiss in his palm.

The next second, his chin was lifted again. Owen's kiss covered his, deep and consuming, only pulling away after a long while.

Yet as he withdrew, he could not bear to leave and returned to peck and kiss him again, their lips tangling.

Xin Chun finally managed to catch his breath. He made two muffled sounds and used his good hand to push Owen away. "O-okay."

If they kept kissing, he would run out of oxygen. Stop already.

Only then did Owen pull back, laughter written across his eyes and brows.

Seeing that, Xin Chun smiled too.

Owen rested his forehead against Xin Chun's and said softly, "Don't look at it, and don't think about it anymore. I'm incredibly grateful that I protected you. You're alright. Nothing matters more than that."

But as he slowly stroked Xin Chun's fractured arm, regret filled his eyes—regret that Xin Chun had been hurt rather than emerging completely unscathed.

Xin Chun said, "Me too. I'm glad you're alright."

The danger from that night had passed. Did that mean he had escaped the fatal calamity from his previous life?

They looked at each other for a long while before finally remembering that they still needed to bathe.

Owen had only a pair of underwear left on, while Xin Chun was still fully dressed. His face reddened as his fingers rested at the waistband. After dawdling for a while, he finally took them off.