72: Chapter 73 Bringing Yin Tianxue Home

Coming out of the "bamboo room restaurant," the night breeze already carried a distinct chill.

Yu Bo thoughtfully draped his suit jacket over Yin Tianxue's shoulders, opened the car door for her, and gentlemanly shielded her head with his palm.

Once seated in the car, the heater had already been turned on in advance, dispelling the cold inside.

Yin Tianxue held the folder containing the "Yin Angel" Plan, leaning back into the comfortable seat.

Her gaze drifted toward the rapidly receding, colorful lights outside the window, but her mind remained unsettled for a long time.

The weight of that plan lay not only in its content and significance but also in the intentions and future it represented.

She felt a long-lost, slightly bittersweet warmth slowly enveloping her heart.

Yu Bo drove with focus, occasionally glancing at her in the rearview mirror, his gaze gentle and lingering.

He didn't say anything more, simply changing the car's music to the soothing piano pieces she liked, letting tranquility flow through the cabin.

The car drove into the underground garage of the apartment where they lived together.

After parking, Yu Bo walked around to the passenger side, unbuckled Yin Tianxue's seatbelt, and then reached out his hand naturally.

Yin Tianxue looked at his extended hand, her fingertips curling slightly, before finally placing her hand in his.

His palm was warm and dry, carrying a reassuring strength.

The elevator slowly ascended, leaving only the two of them in the narrow space.

Yin Tianxue could feel Yu Bo's gaze resting on her, filled with undisguised attachment and the cautiousness of someone who had regained what was lost.

She didn't look up, only watching the changing floor numbers until, with a "ding," the elevator doors opened.

Back in the familiar apartment, the warm lights in the entryway turned on automatically.

Yin Tianxue took off her high heels and stepped barefoot onto the soft carpet, a complex sense of belonging welling up in her heart.

Every part of this place held traces of their life together—warm, sweet, and also a place she had once wanted to flee from after her heart was broken.

Now, stepping inside again, her mood was entirely different.

"You must be tired, right? Why don't you go take a hot shower and relax first?"

Yu Bo followed her in, taking the bag and coat from her hands to hang them up.

His tone was one of ordinary concern, yet it held a bit more cautious care than usual.

"Mm."

Yin Tianxue responded softly, gently placing the folder for the "Yin Angel" Plan on the living room coffee table before turning toward the bedroom.

Yu Bo didn't follow her in; instead, he turned and went to the kitchen.

He remembered that Yin Tianxue hadn't eaten much that evening; that bowl of soup and a few bites of vegetables were far from enough for her body after a busy day.

Yin Tianxue stayed in the bathroom for a long time.

The warm water washed over her body, seemingly washing away some of the fatigue and tension in her heart.

She looked at her eyes in the mirror, still somewhat red and swollen, touched the cold snowflake pendant on her neck, and thought again of that heavy plan, feeling a mix of emotions.

After showering, she put on a comfortable set of loungewear and walked out of the bathroom, drying her wet hair with a towel.

A faint, sweet scent drifted through the living room.

She walked over to see Yu Bo coming out of the kitchen carrying a white porcelain bowl.

Inside was crystal-clear white fungus soup, garnished with a few bright red goji berries.

"It's a bit late, and I was afraid something too heavy might upset your stomach."

"I stewed some white fungus soup; it's good for nourishing the lungs and calming the mind. Want to have some?"

Yu Bo placed the bowl on the coffee table in front of the sofa and then turned to get a hairdryer.

"Dry your hair first, don't catch a cold."

Yin Tianxue looked at the steaming white fungus soup before her, then at the hairdryer in his hand, her eyes warming slightly.

These subtle, daily acts of care, which had once been the warmth she took for granted, now seemed so precious after experiencing the coldness of betrayal.

She didn't refuse and sat down on the sofa.

Yu Bo stood behind her, gently drying her hair.

The hairdryer hummed, and his fingers wove through her soft locks, occasionally brushing against her scalp and bringing a comfortable warmth.

Neither of them spoke, and the air was filled with a quiet, slightly melancholic warmth.

When her hair was half-dry, Yu Bo turned off the hairdryer, his fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of her hair.

"Tianxue," he spoke in a low voice, his tone exceptionally clear in the quiet living room, "that plan... if you feel there's anything that needs changing, or if you have any thoughts, tell me anytime."

"This is just a preliminary framework; everything will be based on your wishes."

Yin Tianxue picked up the bowl of warm white fungus soup and took small sips, the sweet taste spreading from her tongue to her heart.

"Mm, I will look at it carefully."

She paused and added, "Thank you, Yu Bo. You really... put a lot of heart into this."

"You don't need to say thank you to me."

Yu Bo sat down beside her, keeping a little distance without getting too close, though his gaze remained fixed on her.

"Doing anything for you is what I should do, and it is also... something I do willingly."

Yin Tianxue put down the bowl and turned her head to look at him.

Under the light, the dark circles under his eyes were still visible, and short stubble had sprouted on his chin.

He exuded a tired yet gentle aura.

She knew that these past few days, he had had it no easier than she had.

"You... should rest early too," she said softly.

"Your dark circles are very heavy."

Yu Bo's eyes lit up at her slightly awkward show of concern, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but lift.

"Alright, once you finish drinking and I clean up, I'll go to sleep."

Once Yin Tianxue finished the white fungus soup, Yu Bo efficiently tidied up the bowl and spoon.

They both washed up and returned to the bedroom.

The large bed was still wide and soft, but the atmosphere was different from before.

Yin Tianxue got into bed first, lying down with her back toward Yu Bo's side, and closed her eyes.

After Yu Bo finished washing up, he climbed into bed quietly and lay down on his side.

He didn't immediately move over to pull her into his arms as he used to; instead, he lay flat, staring at the ceiling, with a polite and restrained distance between them.

The room was lit only by a dim bedside lamp, and it was quiet enough to hear each other's breathing.

After a long while—so long that Yin Tianxue thought Yu Bo had fallen asleep—she heard him speak very, very softly, with a hint of uncertain hesitation: "Tianxue... may I... sleep holding you? Just holding you, I promise."

Yin Tianxue's body stiffened almost imperceptibly, and she didn't answer immediately.

The pain of betrayal and the images from those ten seconds were still clear; her body's instinct made her resist intimate contact.

But deep in her heart, another voice was longing for that familiar sense of security and warmth.

Just as Yu Bo thought she would refuse and was preparing to sadly withdraw his request, he felt the mattress beside him sink slightly.

Then, a warm, soft body, carrying the fresh scent of a post-shower bath, carefully and slowly leaned over, pressing her back gently against his side.

Yu Bo's heart skipped a beat, immediately followed by being overwhelmed by immense ecstasy and heartache.

He held his breath and, extremely slowly and gently, reached out his arm to wrap it around her slender waist from behind, carefully pulling her into his embrace.

His movements were filled with the utmost cherishing and apology, as if he were treating a rare treasure he had regained.

Yin Tianxue's body was a bit stiff at first, but upon feeling the familiar and reassuring body heat coming from behind her, as well as the restrained yet gentle strength of his arm, her tense nerves gradually relaxed.

She didn't pull away, simply burying her face deeper into the pillow.

Yu Bo rested his chin gently on the top of her head, inhaling the familiar fragrance of her hair, and let out a long, silent sigh of relief.

His embrace was finally full again; although there were still invisible cracks and cautiousness between them, at least she was willing to draw close again.