Chapter 34: I Applied the Medicine, and She Cried in Pain

It was very hot in the summer, and Lin Yuyao wanted to go home early, so she didn’t refuse.

After thanking them, she followed them to the car.

Fu Huayi ran to the passenger side and opened the door. “Xiao Lin, you sit here.”

Yi Yunshuo, who was about to get in, was speechless. Wasn’t that his usual seat?

Lin Yuyao smiled softly. “Thank you.”

Fu Huayi, in a good mood, returned a smile.

Yi Yunshuo was stunned.

This guy, who usually wore a perpetually grumpy expression, could smile so shyly and bashfully. Something was definitely off with this guy.

After Lin Yuyao got in, Fu Huayi went to the driver’s seat.

He started the car but noticed Yi Yunshuo was still staring blankly.

Fu Huayi frowned. “Did you forget something?”

“Ah? N––no, no.” Yi Yunshuo stuttered.

“Then why aren’t you getting in?”

His tone was completely different from how he spoke to Lin Yuyao.

“Okay, okay, I’m getting in,” Yi Yunshuo said, a tinge of resentment in his voice, getting into the back seat.

The car was stuffy, but after opening the windows, it became cooler once they started driving. This was the first time Lin Yuyao had ever ridden in a car. It was much more comfortable than a bicycle or motorcycle, and Fu Huayi drove steadily.

“Ah Yi, you’re driving so steadily today; it’s smoother than a cart pulled by an ox.”

Fu Huayi retorted, “Are you an ox?”

Yi Yunshuo replied, “I’m not even as good as an ox. It wasn’t like this when we came here.”

Fu Huayi ignored him and turned to Lin Yuyao. “By the way, where’s your bicycle?”

Lin Yuyao felt a pang of sadness thinking about her old bike.

Yesterday, while carrying Fu Huayi, it was still fine, and she even praised its sturdiness. But on her way back, she fell, and the poor bike was destroyed. She had pushed it back last night.

Lin Yuyao said, “It’s a bit worn out. I’m off tomorrow; I plan to take it to a repair shop to get it oiled.”

She hadn’t mentioned the bike breaking down last night, worried about making him feel guilty.

Fu Huayi didn’t think much of it.

Soon, they arrived at her building.

Lin Yuyao thanked him. “Big Brother Fu, thank you.”

She opened the car door and went upstairs.

Fu Huayi didn’t leave immediately; he watched her go upstairs. He glanced at the hallway and saw a mangled bicycle—her old bike from last night. Fu Huayi’s heart tightened. He also noticed her steps were odd.

Having experienced many falls and injuries himself, he immediately realized she was injured—her waist and legs must be hurting.

“Ah Yi, why aren’t you leaving yet? Are you…”

Before Yi Yunshuo could finish, Fu Huayi pulled the car door shut, locked it, took the keys, and chased after her.

Yi Yunshuo was speechless.

“Hey, where are you going?”

Fu Huayi ignored him and quickly caught up with Lin Yuyao.

He caught up with her on the second floor.

Lin Yuyao was surprised. “Big Brother Fu, is there something else?”

Fu Huayi took a deep breath and looked at her legs. “Did you fall last night?”

Huh?

“How did you know?”

Lin Yuyao covered her mouth, her question inadvertently revealing the truth.

Fu Huayi said, “I saw your bike downstairs; it’s all bent out of shape. And you’re walking is uncomfortable.”

Lin Yuyao was speechless.

She had fallen last night.  While carrying him back, she had pushed through the heat and exhaustion, holding back her fatigue.

But as soon as she relaxed, she couldn’t take it anymore.

On the way back, her legs felt sore and weak, and with the poor visibility at night, she had accidentally fallen into a roadside ditch. Fortunately, only the bike was damaged; the tire was bent, but she wasn’t seriously hurt. Her waist ached a bit, and her leg was swollen.

She could tolerate the pain while walking on flat ground, but climbing stairs was difficult.

“Come on, let me help you up.”

Fu Huayi said helplessly.

Lin Yuyao shook her head, pushing away his outstretched hand and holding tightly to the banister.

“Big Brother Fu, thank you, but I’m fine. I can do it.”

She felt it inappropriate for him to support her; she was quite reserved.

So, she would rather endure the pain and slowly climb the stairs herself.

It was only five floors; she could do it.

Fu Huayi didn’t insist on helping her, but he didn’t leave either. He followed her at a distance, watching her climb the stairs while enduring the pain. She was truly different from all the girls he had known. If it were his younger sister, she would have cried and told the whole family, needing everyone to comfort her.

She was alone here, without any relatives.

Lu Jiangting wasn’t her relative.

She had fallen, but she didn’t ask for help and didn’t make a sound, enduring the pain in silence.

She was afraid of troubling him again; he knew that.

Fu Huayi felt a mix of emotions, a sense of unease in his heart.

After thinking for a moment, he followed her into her apartment.

He walked towards her and said, “Let me take a look. If you’ve injured a bone, you can’t ignore it; you need to see a physician. You need to go to the hospital to make sure.” Fu Huayi said worriedly.

Lin Yuyao said, “I haven’t broken any bones.”

Fu Huayi insisted, “Let me take a look; it’ll put your mind at ease.”

Seeing his persistence, Lin Yuyao carefully sat down and pulled up her pants leg.

Having endured the pain since last night, she finally saw how swollen her knee was.

Lin Yuyao frowned slightly.

She hadn’t felt much pain; it was within her tolerance level, so why was it so swollen?

Fu Huayi gasped. “It’s swollen this badly, and you still worked all day?”

Lin Yuyao pursed her lips, not knowing what to say.

“Come on, I’ll take you to the hospital.”

“No need,” Lin Yuyao took a bottle of medicine from her bag. “I bought this medicine this morning; the physician said it would be fine if I applied it.”

Fu Huayi looked at it; it was a common medicine for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis—Hong Hua oil.

It would help with minor injuries, but hers was more serious; it probably wouldn’t be very effective.

She must have bought this because it was cheap.

“Let me apply it for you.”

Lin Yuyao shook her head like a rattle. “No need, I can do it myself.”

Fu Huayi frowned and said seriously, “Comrade Lin Yuyao.”

His voice was firm and authoritative, making Lin Yuyao instinctively want to stand at attention.  What was going on?

“You don’t have enough strength to apply the medicine properly; it won’t work if you do it yourself. Let me help you; just treat me like a physician.”

He spoke in a professional tone, completely devoid of any inappropriate thoughts.

Lin Yuyao felt that refusing further would be awkward, so she agreed.

“Okay fine, please help me apply the medicine.”

Fu Huayi sighed in relief, poured some medicine into his palm, and rubbed it thoroughly before applying it.

“It might hurt a little; let me know if you can’t take it.”

Lin Yuyao nodded. “Okay.”

But… but…

The pain she thought she could tolerate was now unbearable.

It wasn’t just a little; it hurt so much.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

But afraid he would think she was being overly sensitive so she tried hard to hold back her tears.

Fu Huayi applied for the medicine carefully, asking, “Is the pressure alright?”