44: Chapter 44 Taking Turns to Accompany

The hospital ward window had been left open, and the smell of disinfectant had faded significantly. The afternoon sunlight slanted through the glass, falling upon Lin Yu's slightly pale, yet still handsome face.

Fatty had just finished washing the thermos and was about to sit down when Lin Yu waved him off. "That's enough, Fatty. Go back to the company and find your classmate Chen Huihui. No need to bring dinner tonight; I'll just have Su Qingxue buy some dumplings. It's easier that way."

Fatty glanced at Su Qingxue, who was standing beside Lin Yu, and then at Lin Yu's lazy demeanor. He winked and grinned. "Alright, I won't disturb you two lovebirds. Call me if you need anything!" With that, he nimbly grabbed the thermos and left.

With no one else around, Lin Yu couldn't be bothered to hide his exhaustion. He stretched out a long arm, gently pulled Su Qingxue down, and pulled her into his embrace. "Sleep with me for a while."

Su Qingxue's cheeks flushed slightly. She leaned obediently against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeat, and before long, she drifted into a deep sleep along with him. The ward was quiet, with only the sunlight slowly shifting across the room.

When they woke up, it was already evening. The dumplings Su Qingxue had bought were still warm. After a simple dinner, Lin Yu felt sore from lying down for so long, so he took Su Qingxue for a walk in the hallway.

Su Qingxue gently linked her arm with his. With her slender figure, 165cm height, and delicate face, her original rating of 88 had risen to 89, according to Lin Yu's system scan. Her eyes and brows held a new, tender charm nourished by love, and she was on the verge of entering the ranks of 90-point super beauties.

Many family members in the hallway had seen Director Chu Yao walking with Lin Yu yesterday—that woman was tall, cold, and possessed an outstanding aura. Seeing a pure, quiet beauty by Lin Yu's side today, the onlookers' eyes filled with surprise, and hushed whispers could be heard faintly.

Su Qingxue was naturally sensitive. Sensing the gazes of others, she felt a bit uncomfortable. She looked up and saw a tall figure slowly walking towards them.

It was Director Chu Yao.

With her cold and stunning appearance and natural aura, she surpassed Su Qingxue in both looks and figure. Su Qingxue's small sense of pride was instantly replaced by a touch of insecurity. Her fingers loosened, and she subconsciously let go of Lin Yu's arm.

Lin Yu immediately noticed her small movement. He looked down at her slightly bowed head but said nothing, instead reaching out to firmly wrap his arm around her slender waist. His grip was gentle yet firm, offering silent comfort.

Su Qingxue felt a warmth in her heart. She looked up at Lin Yu, her eyes filled with emotion.

In the blink of an eye, Director Chu Yao arrived before them. Her expression was calm as she nodded slightly to greet them, then naturally reached out to link her arm with Lin Yu's other, free arm. A faint smile touched her lips as she said calmly, "What a coincidence. Let's walk together."

This scene left the family members in the hallway so shocked their jaws nearly hit the floor. They widened their eyes, thinking to themselves, 'Good heavens—what's this guy's deal? A stunning beauty yesterday, another one today, and he's being held on both sides. That's insane.'

With a beauty on each side, Lin Yu remained completely composed. He said calmly, "Nothing much today. We'll see how the rounds go tomorrow, but I should be able to be discharged."

Director Chu Yao nodded slightly. "You look much better. Just follow the doctor's orders; your health is what matters."

Throughout the walk, the gazes of everyone in the hallway seemed glued to the three of them. Lin Yu was calm, and Director Chu Yao was cool and detached. With Su Qingxue leaning against Lin Yu, his previous show of protection had dispelled her unease. After strolling for a while longer, she decided to rest, as she had to work the next day.

The next morning, just as the sky was brightening, Tang Man rushed to the hospital carrying an exquisite breakfast, looking capable and elegant.

Almost immediately after, Su Qingxue arrived, dressed in a nurse's uniform, looking pure and neat, carrying a breakfast made with love.

When the two entered, Lin Yu was talking with Director Chu Yao. Suddenly, the ward was filled with four handsome men and beautiful women. As the breakfast was set on the table, the atmosphere was not awkward at all, but rather exceptionally harmonious.

Sitting in the center of the hospital bed, Lin Yu looked at the beauties beside him, each with their own unique charm—Su Qingxue was delicate and quiet, Director Chu Yao was cold and noble, and Tang Man was capable and charming. All were one-in-a-million beauties, and his mood improved greatly, as did his appetite.

After breakfast, the department head brought a team of doctors for rounds. "Mr. Lin, how are you feeling today?"

"I'm doing great. I feel no different than usual. Let's process my discharge today," Lin Yu said in a calm tone.

The department head paused, instinctively wanting to persuade him otherwise. "Mr. Lin, perhaps we should wait..."

Before he could finish, he met Lin Yu's calm, sweeping gaze. There was a faint, imperceptible chill in those eyes that sent a shiver down the department head's spine, causing him to instantly change his tune. "...That's fine. After you finish the last bottle of IV fluids this afternoon, you can leave."

Lin Yu smiled. "Thank you! Sorry for the trouble, department head. I'll treat you all to a meal later!"

After the medical team left.

Lin Yu held the hands of the two women. "Su Qingxue, Director Chu Yao, you two should go to work. No need to stay here. I'll be discharged this afternoon; we'll meet up when you're done."

The two women nodded obediently and left one after another, while Tang Man stayed behind to look after him.

At noon, Fatty rushed over with lunch. Not long after they finished eating, the IV drip ended. Fatty went to buy some fruit for the doctors' office and nurses' station, while Tang Man went to handle the discharge procedures and bought a well-fitting casual outfit and a baseball cap for Lin Yu on the way back.

After changing, Lin Yu immediately arranged things. "You two drive two cars to take me back to Ruiyuan Residential Compound. Leave the Cullinan for me, and you two take one car back to the company, then go buy some things..."

The two agreed and followed his instructions.

Inside the Ruiyuan Residential Compound apartment, the fingerprint lock gave a soft "beep."

Mu Wan, who was reading in the living room, heard the noise and her eyes lit up. She practically sprinted to the entryway, but when she saw who was at the door, she abruptly stopped and froze in place.

Lin Yu was wearing a baseball cap. Although his complexion had improved, the bruises on his arms, though fading, were still clearly visible and particularly striking.

Su Manqin followed closely behind, and upon seeing Lin Yu in this state, her face instantly turned pale.

Lin Yu looked at their shocked expressions and offered a gentle smile. "What's wrong? Haven't seen me in a few days and you don't recognize me anymore?"

Mu Wan and Su Manqin finally came to their senses and hurried forward, their voices filled with tension. "What happened to you? Why are you injured?"

The nanny, Sister Zhang, also put down her housework and hurried over. Together, they carefully helped Lin Yu sit down on the living room sofa.

Lin Yu knew he couldn't hide the injury, so he downplayed it. "I had a minor car accident on the way to work that morning. It's nothing serious; I just stayed in the hospital for three or four days for observation."

Su Manqin didn't believe it was that simple. She reached out and gently took off his baseball cap—a patch of hair on the back of his head had been shaved, and there was gauze covering it.

Seeing this, Mu Wan's eyes instantly reddened, and Su Manqin burst into tears, her voice choking up. "It's all my fault... I was sick that day, and you stayed by my side all night without sleeping, then dragged yourself to work the next day while exhausted. Otherwise, how could you have gotten into a car accident..."

Seeing the two of them blaming themselves and crying, Lin Yu's heart softened. He quickly comforted them softly, and after coaxing them for a long time, they finally stopped their tears.

Because Sister Zhang was there, Su Manqin and Mu Wan couldn't help him into their own rooms, so they carefully guided him to the guest bedroom to lie down and rest. Afterward, Su Manqin pulled Sister Zhang aside. "Let's go buy groceries and cook something to help Lin Yu recover."

Only Mu Wan was left at home to keep Lin Yu company.

Although he had been wiped down every day, he hadn't had a proper shower, and Lin Yu felt uncomfortable all over. He got up, wanting to go to the bathroom for a rinse.

Mu Wan looked at his slightly disheveled back, her heart filled with heartache. Usually, Lin Yu took care of her and her mother everywhere, and now that he was injured, she should take good care of him.

She took a deep breath, braced herself internally, and raised her hand to gently push open the bathroom door.

As the door opened, Mu Wan saw Lin Yu, who had already stripped off his clothes. His strong, upright figure came into view, and her cheeks instantly flushed bright red. Her heart pounded like a drum, and she panicked, not daring to look down. Her voice was barely audible. "I... I was afraid you might accidentally get your wound wet, so I came to help you."

Lin Yu did not refuse and handed the handheld showerhead to her.

Mu Wan steadied herself. With one hand, she held the showerhead, and with the other, she gently helped him wash, carefully controlling the water flow, terrified of getting his head wound wet.

The showerhead moved slowly down from his neck, and her face grew hotter and hotter. She then squeezed some body wash onto the bath sponge and gently rubbed it in circles over his body. When she brushed over the faint bruise on his back, her fingertips paused slightly—that was the mark left by the car accident, and just looking at it made her heart tighten.

"Slow down, no rush." Lin Yu's voice sounded exceptionally deep in the confined space, carrying a hint of a smile, which only made Mu Wan more nervous.

She hummed a response, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, but her movements became even gentler, as if treating a fragile treasure. The bath sponge worked up a thick lather in her palm, moving from his neck to his chest, then slowly downward. Each inch it moved, her cheeks grew hotter.

Until her gaze had nowhere left to hide, Mu Wan froze completely.

The air seemed to freeze instantly.

She squeezed her eyes shut, her eyelashes trembling in panic, and her toes curled inside her slippers. Her mind went blank, leaving only the sound of her frantic heartbeat. The courage she had forced herself to muster instantly collapsed, and the urge to turn and run grew wildly in her heart.

But then, thinking of the wound on Lin Yu's head, the bruises on his arms, and how he had suffered in the hospital these past few days, she forced herself to stay rooted to the spot.

No... I can't leave.

He's not in a condition to do this himself. If I leave, what if he gets his wound wet?

Mu Wan repeatedly gave herself a pep talk in her heart. Biting her lower lip, her cheeks red enough to bleed, she kept her eyes tightly closed. Reaching out by feel, she quickly and carefully rinsed off the foam with the showerhead, her voice trembling. "It's... it's done... I, I'll help you dry off..."

She fumbled to pick up a dry, large towel, not daring to open her eyes, and clumsily and frantically draped it over Lin Yu. Her movements were awkward and flustered, and whenever her fingertips accidentally brushed against his warm, firm skin, she would pull back as if electrocuted.

Lin Yu looked at her shy appearance, which made her look like she was about to cry, and his heart softened. He reached out and gently gripped her wrist, his voice becoming even gentler. "Don't be afraid, I'm fine."

The warm sensation from her wrist made Mu Wan stiffen. Her eyelashes trembled even more violently. She slowly opened her eyes a crack, her gaze darting away in panic, only to crash into Lin Yu's smiling eyes. There was no mockery in that gaze, only gentle tolerance, which allowed her tense nerves to relax slightly.

"I... I was just afraid of hurting you." Mu Wan whispered in defense, her cheeks still burning.

She picked up the bath towel and diligently helped Lin Yu dry his body, every movement cautious. Only after she carefully put a loose bathrobe on him and tied the belt did she let out a long sigh of relief, as if she had completed a monumental task.

Throughout the whole process, her head was practically buried in her chest; she didn't dare look up even once.

Once Lin Yu was ready, Mu Wan hurriedly ran out of the bathroom and stood by the door waiting for him, her earlobes still bright red, her heartbeat refusing to settle down for a long time.

Lin Yu walked out slowly. Seeing the girl's flustered, nervous, yet obedient appearance, he reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his tone filled with a smile. "Thank you, our Wanwan."

This gentle praise made Mu Wan look up instantly, her eyes sparkling. All her shyness and panic transformed into joy and heartache. She gently tugged at Lin Yu's hem and whispered, "It's not hard at all. Hurry and lie down to rest; I'll watch over you."

Helping Lin Yu lie down on the bed, Mu Wan carefully tucked him in, moved a small chair to the bedside, and sat there quietly, watching over him.

Ding! Mu Wan's intimacy +10

Current intimacy: 65

Not long after, the sounds of Su Manqin and Sister Zhang returning from grocery shopping came from outside the door.

Mu Wan got up and gently closed the door, not wanting the noise outside to disturb Lin Yu's rest. Leaning against the wall, she reached up to touch her still-burning cheeks, but the corners of her mouth curled up involuntarily.

At dinner time, the warm lights in the dining room were soft.

Su Manqin had specifically stewed a light pork rib soup and stir-fried two refreshing vegetable dishes. As she set the table, she didn't forget to urge, "Wanwan, serve Lin Yu more soup; it helps the wound heal faster."

Mu Wan nodded obediently and carefully served Lin Yu the soup, terrified of spilling even a drop. Lin Yu leaned against his chair; the wound on the back of his head still prevented him from making large movements, but he kept his gaze on her, gentle and warm.

Sister Zhang joked from the side, "Wanwan is truly caring; she's even more attentive than us."

Mu Wan's cheeks heated up. She lowered her head to take a bite of rice and whispered, "Usually, Brother Lin Yu is the one taking care of me; now it's my turn to take care of him."

Lin Yu reached out and gently touched the back of her hand, his voice deep and gentle. "With you here, I'll recover even faster."

Su Manqin saw it all, her eyes filled with gratification. She just silently served food to both of them, not teasing them further, simply maintaining a gentle and comfortable atmosphere. The meal was eaten in quiet, yet it was filled with warmth everywhere.

After nightfall, Lin Yu continued to sleep in the guest bedroom.

After Sister Zhang clocked off, Su Manqin, unable to set her mind at ease, came over with warm water, ointment, and a hard-boiled egg. She carefully checked the instructions for the medication, wiped the bruised area for Lin Yu, rolled the hot egg over it repeatedly, and finally applied a thin layer of ointment.

Mu Wan moved a small chair over, occasionally reaching out to help.

Seeing her forcing herself to stay awake and refusing to sleep, Lin Yu gently persuaded her. "Go back to your room and sleep; I'm fine."

Mu Wan shook her head, her small hand gripping his fingertips. "I want to stay with you. If you move, I'll know."

Moonlight spilled in through the gap in the curtains, falling on the girl's earnest features. Lin Yu's heart softened, and he eventually led the two women back to the master bedroom.