A sprained ankle

Shen Zeyu had wanted to visit the milk tea shop beside the Lu Corporation for ages.

Perhaps because it was working hours, there weren't many customers inside, only a few young women gathered together, chatting over milk tea.

After ordering a cup of milk tea, Shen Zeyu sat down by the window and quietly watched the people passing outside.

He had been here for a little over two months now, and he seemed to be living the life he wanted. He no longer had to run around trying to make money. Life as it was now was pretty good.

As his thoughts wandered, he remembered how Lu Cizhou had been acting these past few days. An idea surfaced in Shen Zeyu's mind, but he didn't dare believe it and firmly pushed it down.

Before he knew it, Shen Zeyu had spent an hour in the milk tea shop. Fortunately, there weren't many customers, or he would have felt embarrassed about staying so long.

After paying, Shen Zeyu decided to spend the remaining half hour in Lu Cizhou's office.

As he strolled toward the company, someone suddenly ran up from behind and bumped into him. Before he could say anything, a woman's shout rang out behind him, as though she had used every ounce of her strength. "Stop that thief!!!"

Realizing what had happened, Shen Zeyu broke into a run, but this was a shopping street, and the bustling crowd blocked his view.

Shen Zeyu shouted too, "Make way! Stop that thief!" Some people obligingly stepped aside, while others acted as though they hadn't heard him.

Still, with some people moving aside, Shen Zeyu could see more clearly. Spotting the thief not far ahead, he gritted his teeth and picked up speed.

As the distance between them narrowed, Shen Zeyu lunged, pinning the thief from behind and twisting his arms behind his back. "Stay still."

He hadn't expected the thief to be so strong. The man nearly threw him off, but fortunately, another man nearby saw what was happening and hurried over to help.

By then, the woman who had been robbed had caught up too. After taking her wallet from the thief, she thanked Shen Zeyu and the other man over and over.

Shen Zeyu told her it was nothing, then asked, "Should we take him to the police station?"

The woman quickly replied, "Yes, but I've already called. There are always officers patrolling nearby, so they should be here any minute."

After all, this was the busiest part of the city center, and officers regularly patrolled to keep people safe.

As she spoke, uniformed officers approached. After handing the thief over to them, Shen Zeyu slowly walked away.

Once he was sure the woman couldn't see him, he slowly crouched down and rubbed his ankle. He seemed to have twisted it when he'd put his weight on it wrong earlier.

Unable to handle the woman's enthusiasm, he had kept enduring the pain.

After a while, it gradually felt a little better, and he limped toward the company.

However, barely had he entered the building when he saw Lu Cizhou hurrying down. Taking in Shen Zeyu's condition, he asked, "What happened? How did going out for milk tea leave you looking like this?"

Traces of dust were still visible on Shen Zeyu's clothes, leaving him looking a little bedraggled.

Shen Zeyu smiled. "I went and did a good deed."

Seeing Lu Cizhou's expression grow increasingly grim, he added, "I ran into a thief just now and caught him."

"Can't you think about whether you can handle something before you do it?"

"I didn't have time to think that much back then."

Seeing the slight swelling on Shen Zeyu's ankle, Lu Cizhou stepped forward, scooped him up, and headed toward the parking lot.

"No need. I can walk." Being picked up so suddenly in public was far too embarrassing, especially being carried bridal-style.

[Aaaah!]

The noise bothered Lu Cizhou, but he didn't let go. He kept walking, holding Shen Zeyu securely.

"Don't move. I'm taking you to the hospital." Although it didn't look particularly serious, it was better to have it checked at the hospital.

"Then put me down. I can walk by myself."

"You mean limp along? It'll be faster if I carry you."

When Shen Zeyu saw that resistance was futile, he simply buried his head in Lu Cizhou's chest and played dead.

As long as I'm not embarrassed, everyone else will be.

Once the two had left the company, the employees who shipped them immediately grew excited. It was a little wrong to be this happy when Shen Zeyu was hurt, but they were just so shippable! Especially with President Lu carrying him bridal-style. It was enough to make them swoon!!!

Shen Zeyu had no idea what the employees were thinking. All he knew was that he had suffered another bout of public humiliation, because Lu Cizhou carried him into the hospital too.

"It's fine. It isn't very serious, and there's no damage to the bone. Get plenty of rest. If you know how to massage it, you can use some medicinal liniment to work the swelling out. It'll heal a little faster," the doctor said.

After Lu Cizhou settled him in the car, Shen Zeyu was still saying, "I told you it wasn't anything serious, but you insisted on coming to the hospital."

"If it had been serious, you'd have been in trouble." Lu Cizhou couldn't help adding, "There were so many people on the street. Did you have to be the one to play hero?"

"All right, I know I was wrong. I'll make sure to stay within my limits next time." Shen Zeyu knew Lu Cizhou was looking out for him, so he didn't argue.

When they got home, Lu Cizhou wanted to carry him again. Shen Zeyu hurriedly said, "Don't pick me up. I can walk."

But Lu Cizhou wouldn't budge, so Shen Zeyu compromised. "Then can you carry me on your back?" He really couldn't handle being carried bridal-style.

Lu Cizhou turned around and crouched halfway down.

Shen Zeyu slowly climbed onto Lu Cizhou's back and wrapped his arms around his neck.

Lu Cizhou carried him forward, step by step. "Am I heavy?" Shen Zeyu asked close to his ear.

Warm breath brushed his ear. Suppressing the ticklish sensation, Lu Cizhou said, "No."

After hearing that, Shen Zeyu rested his head against Lu Cizhou's back. Being carried by this man made him feel truly safe.

As evening fell and the sun sank, their shadows stretched longer and longer, as though they were two people who could never be separated.

When they came inside, Lu Yu saw Shen Zeyu on Lu Cizhou's back and hurriedly asked, "Papa, what happened?"

After Lu Cizhou put him down, Shen Zeyu said, "Papa did a good deed today. I caught a bad guy."

Lu Yu looked at him with sparkling eyes. "Papa, you're amazing."

"However amazing your papa is, he still got hurt. Don't copy him."

Shen Zeyu protested, "Why shouldn't he? I was doing a good deed, you know."

"I'm telling him not to be reckless like you."

Hearing that his papa was hurt, Lu Yu asked, "Papa, is it serious?"

"It's fine. I'll be better after a few days of rest."

Lu Yu held out a tiny hand. "Papa, I'll help you to the couch."

Shen Zeyu gently rested his hand on it. "Thank you, Yuyu."

At dinner that evening, Lu Yu kept putting food on Shen Zeyu's plate. If he couldn't reach something, he either asked Lu Cizhou to get it or stood up to get it himself.

Lu Cizhou said helplessly, "Your papa only hurt his ankle. His hands still work."

Lu Yu refused to stop. "Papa's hurt. I want to take care of him."

Shen Zeyu enjoyed Lu Yu's care too, without the slightest embarrassment.

But when Lu Yu even wanted to help him bathe, he refused. "Papa can do this himself. You should go take your bath too, Yuyu. You have school tomorrow."

After talking to him for a long time, he finally persuaded Lu Yu to give up the idea.

Since his injured leg made things inconvenient, Shen Zeyu just gave himself a quick wipe-down.

When Shen Zeyu came out, he saw Lu Cizhou sitting on the bed, waiting for him.

"Do you really have to massage it?" Shen Zeyu was a little scared. Working the swelling out would hurt.

Lu Cizhou said nothing. Resigned to his fate, Shen Zeyu lay down and pulled up his trouser leg.

"Do you know how?" Shen Zeyu asked uncertainly.

"Yes. I specifically spent some time learning before." With that, he looked down at Shen Zeyu's foot.

Shen Zeyu's foot was delicate and fair, looking even paler beneath the light, like a smooth, lustrous gemstone.

"Then hurry up. The sooner it hurts, the sooner it'll get better," Shen Zeyu urged.

Lu Cizhou poured a little medicinal liniment into his hand and gently rested it on Shen Zeyu's foot.

Feeling the soft, smooth skin beneath his hand, Lu Cizhou's breathing briefly caught. Only after a moment did he slowly begin to move.

"Mm~." Unable to bear it, Shen Zeyu let out a sound.

Lu Cizhou: ...