Chapter 88: You Can Always Be My Little One

Tears streamed down Ruan Li’s face, soaking Fu Huaizhou’s hand and wetting a large patch of the bedsheet.

“Stop crying,” Fu Huaizhou said softly, his voice carrying a hint of helplessness as he reached up to wipe her tears away. He focused on Ruan Li’s red, swollen peach blossom eyes, which looked even puffier from all her crying. Yet the tears kept flowing like an unstoppable river, wetting his fingertips.

“I’m really okay,” Fu Huaizhou sighed. A fall from one floor wasn’t a big deal. “I’ve had worse injuries climbing mountains back when I was in school.”

Ruan Li finally managed to stop her sobs, and she gingerly reached out to touch the bandage on his forehead. “Does it hurt a lot?”

Fu Huaizhou chuckled and shook his head. He used to try dangerous sports while abroad, and the burning pain from late night stomach aches was often far worse than this.

“There’s anesthesia, so it doesn’t hurt,” he said.

His gaze shifted to Ruan Li’s belly before looking up at Shi Mu, who was standing behind her. “Did you get her checked out?”

Shi Mu’s emotions were a complex mix, but he nodded. “The doctor said she’s fine, thanks to you cushioning her fall.”

“That’s good.” Fu Huaizhou’s large hand gently rested on Ruan Li’s belly, stroking it lightly. He was glad he had been close enough to catch her and react quickly, cushioning her fall with his body.

Thankfully, both she and the baby were safe.

“You should go back and rest,” Fu Huaizhou coaxed the girl sitting by his bed. She had just experienced a scare and then cried her heart out she needed to recover her strength.

“No,” Ruan Li clung to his arm, unwilling to leave.

“I’ll come find you once I’m feeling better,” Fu Huaizhou promised, his eyes warm, signaling Shi Mu standing behind her.

Shi Mu stepped forward, ready to gently convince Ruan Li to return to her room and rest, but she looked up at him with pleading eyes. “Brother, can I stay in the room next to his?”

Shi Mu had just recovered from his fright, and while the request wasn’t unreasonable, he found it a little exasperating. “So who’s taking care of who here?”

Ruan Li hesitated, realizing it did seem like Fu Huaizhou was the one caring for her.

“Alright, I’ll arrange for someone to look after him. If it comes down to it, I’ll stay in the room next to his. Does that work?” Shi Mu’s eyes lingered on Fu Huaizhou lying in the hospital bed. Gratefulness was genuine, but seeing his sister completely won over by Fu Huaizhou was just as undeniable.

But in the end, as long as everyone was safe, nothing else mattered.

Ruan Li, concerned for her unborn child, finally agreed to leave Fu Huaizhou’s room, though she glanced back frequently with every step she took.

Fu Huaizhou’s hospital floor quickly became the liveliest place. Upon hearing the news, Shi Xun also rushed over, eager to witness the drama.

He wasn’t particularly worried about Fu Huaizhou’s condition since the man had always been one of the fittest among them, with plenty of experience in extreme sports.

Inside the room, Ruan Li sat by the bed, holding a specially prepared breakfast from a nutritionist in one hand, feeding the man who was propped up against the headboard with the other.

“Does it still hurt now that the anesthesia’s worn off?”

Fu Huaizhou looked at the girl so close to him, a smile tugging at his lips. “Not at all.”

Shi Xun watched the two being so lovey dovey, especially Ruan Li arriving with breakfast early in the morning, causing quite a stir.

“Where’s my breakfast?” Shi Xun pouted, sounding jealous. “Why don’t you ever feed me?”

Ruan Li ignored him, gesturing to the side table, “There’s soy milk and milk over there.”

Shi Xun stood up from his wheelchair which seemed to be more of a prop than anything and briskly walked over to the table, giving the breakfast a once-over. “He gets such a good meal, and I’m stuck with soy milk?”

Fu Huaizhou observed Shi Xun’s energetic stride. “You can walk?”

Ruan Li glanced at this so-called medical miracle. “He’s just too lazy to want to walk.”

She added, twisting the knife a little, “Wonder how much your face will swell when you’re back on TV.”

They always bantered this way, trying to act as normal as possible, as if pretending it was just another day would make Shi Xun’s surgery a guaranteed success and ensure his return to the entertainment industry he loved.

“When I get my next role, I’m definitely playing a character that bullies you every day,” Shi Xun huffed.

Ruan Li wasn’t afraid, pointing playfully at Fu Huaizhou beside her. “Emperor Shi, our boss is right here, you know. What projects you take aren’t exactly up to you.”

Fu Huaizhou raised an eyebrow.

Shi Xun felt an itch to flip her off, like she often did to him, but held back.

“Fine, I’m leaving. Seeing you two is giving me cavities.” He sat back in his wheelchair, allowing a nearby servant to push him out, refusing to take another step.

Ruan Li set the bowl down, grabbed a tissue, and wiped Fu Huaizhou’s mouth. But she noticed him quietly laughing, his eyes filled with delight.

“What’s so funny?”

Fu Huaizhou took her hand, pulling her down to sit next to him. “You know, in all the time I’ve known you, this is the first time you’ve taken care of me.”

“Don’t make it sound like I’m some sort of brat,” Ruan Li muttered softly. “You have plenty of assistants and housekeepers. Why would you need me to look after you?”

Fu Huaizhou chuckled, gently pinching the soft flesh of her cheek. “I’m not saying you’re a brat. You can always be my little one.”

Ruan Li’s face turned warm, and she buried it in his chest, refusing to lift her head.

Fu Huaizhou wrapped his large hand around the back of her delicate neck and spoke softly, “To avoid a repeat of last time, where you locked the door after I got better…”

“Why don’t you tell me what else has been bothering you? Let’s clear out all the bad memories at once.”

Ruan Li stiffened, her pride getting the better of her, making her hesitant to speak. After a long pause, she finally asked in a small voice.

“Why did you want me to come back?”

Fu Huaizhou’s response was immediate, almost instinctual. “To marry you, of course. What else did you think?”

He had avoided bringing up the subject earlier, considering that Ruan Li was still young, and marriage could affect her career. He had wanted to wait until their relationship was more stable.

Hearing the word “marriage,” Ruan Li’s thoughts drifted to the marriage document she had once seen in his office. She hesitated, her expression uncertain.

She peeked up from his chest, her eyes darting. “Then why was the bride’s name left blank on that marriage document in your office?”

“Were you hesitant about marrying me and considering a business alliance instead?”

Ruan Li felt a pang of hurt. Given her status at the time, there had been no real commercial benefit to marrying her.

Fu Huaizhou looked genuinely shocked. He had no idea she had ever seen that document, and suddenly, everything clicked into place.

He lowered his head, rubbing his cheek against hers, and let out a soft sigh.

“The blank wasn’t for someone else.”

“I was searching for your true background. I knew you disliked the Ruan family, so I left it blank in case you wanted to change your surname.”