Volume 1 Chapter 24: Touching Teeth
Upon hearing this news, Li Xuzhou’s first reaction was not happiness, but heartache.
Ruan Yu actually remembered him and hadn’t regarded that experience as a nightmare. But… Li Xuzhou furrowed his brows, the line of his jaw tightening.
There are many ways people gain a sense of security—from a parent’s embrace, the company of friends, or even the balance in a bank account…
Yet Ruan Yu’s sense of security came from a single night with a stranger three years ago.
Li Xuzhou dared not imagine what Ruan Yu had endured.
How desperate must she have been to cling to that small bit of tenderness as a source of security, hiding it away for three years?
No wonder she melted so easily with just a simple kiss on the forehead. He had initially attributed it to her sensitive constitution based on her reactions three years ago, but now it seemed there was more to it.
Doctor Li, unaware of the specifics, was still immersed in the joy of a potential breakthrough in treatment. She held her phone between her ear and shoulder, typing rapidly on her computer as she drafted a treatment plan. Halfway through, she noticed the silence on the other end of the line.
“Mr. Li?”
“Hmm, continue.”
Hearing Li Xuzhou’s voice grow hoarse in such a short time, Doctor Li hesitated. “Then I’ll continue.” She switched the call to speakerphone, typing as she spoke. “Under what circumstances does Miss Ruan usually make requests of you?”
Suppressing his emotions for the moment, Li Xuzhou had someone bring the meal to Ruan Yu’s room before carefully recalling.
The first night here, after being frightened by Jin Mu, the video call… and today.
He quickly identified a pattern: “When her emotions are particularly volatile.”
Li Xuzhou heard the typing on the other end of the line slow down and stop.
Doctor Li paused her typing and asked another question. “For example, when she’s especially happy or anxious, does she directly express her requests to you?”
“Yes.”
Doctor Li sighed almost imperceptibly. Li Xuzhou frowned. “Doctor Li?”
He didn’t want to hear Doctor Li sigh at this moment, as if Ruan Yu’s condition were difficult to treat.
It felt inauspicious.
In a daze, he remembered how Ruan Yu, beneath him three years ago, also disliked hearing him sigh. He had teased her for being delicate back then, never imagining he would become like this himself.
Doctor Li quickly explained, “Patients experiencing significant emotional fluctuations are driven by their feelings, seeking only ways to relax or find happiness.” She chose her words carefully. “In such states, patients lack rationality, much like children throwing tantrums to get what they want.”
“In other words, Miss Ruan may see you as a… tool to manage her emotions.”
Doctor Li was aware of how much Li Xuzhou valued Ruan Yu, which made these words difficult to say.
After all, no one wants to be treated as a tool by someone they care about.
Li Xuzhou simply asked, “As long as I fulfill her wishes, will she feel secure?”
Doctor Li hesitated. “Theoretically, yes.”
“Good.” That was all Li Xuzhou needed to know. As long as Ruan Yu felt better, he would do anything. As for the future, they could take it slowly. “Let’s end it here for today.”
Doctor Li quickly stopped him. “Mr. Li, wait a moment.”
Li Xuzhou paused on his way upstairs, his voice low. “Please go on.”
“Considering your relationship with Miss Ruan, I have a better plan here. When Miss Ruan makes demands of you, don’t fulfill them immediately. Instead, give her small rewards each time, allowing her more time to reflect on your relationship.” Doctor Li added notes to the treatment plan, with several key points highlighted in bold: “The specific plan has been sent to your email.”
“Alright, thank you.” After hanging up, he opened his email, checking it distractedly while heading upstairs.
Arriving at Ruan Yu’s room, he put away his phone.
He knocked. “Ruan Yu, it’s me.”
“Mr. Li, come in.” Her voice sounded muffled, as if she had saliva in her mouth.
The girl wore only a loose top that half-covered her hips, kneeling on the carpet beside the bed. Her slender legs were spread apart, feet tucked behind her, the tips of her buttocks hidden in the plush fibers of the expensive carpet, while her knees showed a faint pink from rubbing against the carpet.
This was what young girls nowadays often called the “male escort” sitting position.
It should have been an ambiguous pose, but Ruan Yu’s teary expression made it look adorable instead.
Li Xuzhou noticed she was holding one side of her face. On the small table beside her were the meals, untouched and still in the same portions as when they were brought up earlier.
“What’s wrong?” He knelt on one knee beside Ruan Yu, placing his hand over hers where she held her face.
Ruan Yu flinched at his touch and whimpered in pain: “Mmm… it hurts.” Her muffled voice sounded soft and delicate at first listen.
“Is it a toothache?” Suddenly remembering something, Li Xuzhou narrowed his eyes and grabbed her other wrist. “Open your hand.”
His tone was commanding.
Ruan Yu whimpered, “My tooth hurts, my mouth hurts so much…” Trying to use coquettishness to evade the issue, but Li Xuzhou wasn’t having it.
Forcing his voice to remain cold, he asked, “What are you hiding in your hand?”
Reluctantly, Ruan Yu opened her hand, revealing a wrapped piece of chocolate—part of two large boxes Li’s mother had shipped back from Zurich. She had specifically reminded Ruan Yu on WeChat to hide them and eat them secretly alone, knowing Li Xuzhou would scold her if he found out.
Ruan Yu had been restraining herself, having only two pieces before meals each day, but she was still caught.
Li Xuzhou confiscated the chocolate. “Doctor Li reminded us to reduce your sugar intake during this period.”
Ruan Yu knew, of course. Li Xuzhou had cut her dessert portions in half after meals, which was why she couldn’t resist the chocolate.
Her tooth ached even more now, and her gums felt slightly inflamed. Earlier, to avoid the chocolate flavor affecting her appetite for the meal, she had brushed her teeth, but she hadn’t expected her mouth to feel uncomfortable as soon as she sat down.
The man in front of her suddenly stood up. Thinking she had angered him, Ruan Yu looked over with teary eyes and called out softly, “I’m sorry, Mr. Li, please don’t…” She finally saw him heading to her bathroom, carefully washing his hands.
After washing them about three times and drying them, he returned and knelt before her again. The distance earlier had kept him from hearing her clearly. “What did you say?”
“Nothing…”
“Open your mouth.” He adjusted his posture, still kneeling on his left knee.
Ruan Yu obediently opened her mouth, not caring about her appearance, revealing her clean, sharp teeth.
Li Xuzhou chuckled, his chest vibrating. His low, rich voice made the fine hairs on Ruan Yu’s ears stand on end.
“Where does it hurt?” Li Xuzhou turned on a light and examined carefully.
“The very back.” Ruan Yu moved her tongue to help guide him.
The deepest part of her gums was swollen and red, with faint signs of bleeding.
Li Xuzhou frowned, inserted his index finger, and gently touched the root of her tooth before reaching the swollen area.
“Right here,” Ruan Yu mumbled, her words even less clear with a finger in her mouth.
The unbearable pain and itch, along with the feeling of her gums swelling, were truly uncomfortable.
She couldn’t help but clench her teeth, accidentally biting Li Xuzhou’s knuckle in the process. Her sharp teeth left faint red marks.
“Sorry,” she decided to apologize anyway, behaving obediently.
Li Xuzhou curled his lips, applying slight pressure with his finger to massage her gums, easing her discomfort. Unable to resist teasing her, he asked, “Then would you be willing to give me all your chocolates?”
After asking, he couldn’t help but laugh at himself for becoming increasingly childish, as if teasing a little kid.
After massaging the swollen area for a moment, he withdrew his finger. First, he used a wet wipe to clean the saliva from Ruan Yu’s chin and lips, then wiped his own fingers. As he quietly wiped them, he suddenly heard the girl’s sweet voice:
“Of course I would.”