11 – So, you’re my husband?
The girl’s request was clear and bright, and the smile on her face seemed different from her usual perfect image—her small dimples were sweet, her eyes curved like crescents, and her thick, dark lashes made her look as dazzling and radiant as stars half-hidden by clouds.
Such a smile made Jin Zhi feel a hint of nervousness. He instinctively leaned back, pursed his lips, and his expression grew wary.
Fu Yao, understanding, did not press closer, maintaining a distance that allowed Jin Zhi to feel safe.
She could clearly see the red and green hues surrounding Jin Zhi, indicating his tense emotions.
He was still wary of her.
But she didn’t mind. After all, it was she who had wronged him eleven years ago—she who had painstakingly earned his trust, only to betray it.
It was she who, after entering the wolf’s territory, turned her back and left, shattering the lone wolf’s trust.
It was she who rebuilt the crumbled defenses into even higher walls.
So, it was only natural for him to remain guarded.
She continued tentatively, “Is that okay? It still hurts quite a bit… I’m worried the wound might get infected or something along the way. If that happens, I might not be able to handle it properly, and an accident could occur.”
Hearing this, Jin Zhi’s gaze fell on Fu Yao’s slender, jade-like hand resting on the hem of her clothes. It was as smooth and lustrous as white jade, so delicate and flawless that pores were almost invisible, like a work of art.
Yet, on this art-like hand, there was a glaring flaw—her arm was lightly wrapped in several layers of bandages, the pure white stained with blurred bloodstains, marring its sanctity.
If the bandages were removed, the bite mark would be unbearable to look at—flesh torn and skin split.
His dark eyes fixed intently, he ultimately yielded to guilt.
“Mm…”
Fu Yao was pleasantly surprised. “Really?”
As she spoke, she excitedly reached out to take Jin Zhi’s hand, but unexpectedly, the moment their hands were about to touch, he brushed hers aside and hastily stepped back, breathing rapidly.
She looked up in astonishment, only to see his expression turn grim.
He said nothing, staring at the ground, his body radiating intense shades of green and red.
Even the mere prospect of touch made him agitated and uneasy.
Fu Yao adjusted her emotions. “No touching, is that it?”
Jin Zhi remained silent.
Fu Yao reached into the pocket of her trench coat, rummaged around, and soon pulled out a lollipop. Holding it by the stick, she offered it to him.
“I’ll hold this end, you hold the other. Don’t get lost.”
Jin Zhi looked at the unknown brand of lollipop before him, then at his own slightly dirty hands. His breathing grew heavier, and after a moment of hesitation, he shook his head.
“I won’t get lost…”
Fu Yao insisted firmly, “I just arrived in this area. I might get lost. What if I do?”
Jin Zhi pursed his lips and finally reached out to take hold of it.
Seeing this, Fu Yao was satisfied.
“Let’s go.”
Jin Zhi said nothing, allowing himself to be led by Fu Yao via the lollipop.
She walked ahead, he followed behind, connected by a single lollipop. Though they couldn’t feel each other’s warmth, a strange, indescribable feeling rose in his heart—not exactly dislike, but not fondness either.
It was just awkward.
They remained in this state even after leaving the campus on leave.
Jin Zhi wondered inwardly.
Didn’t she say she just arrived here and didn’t know the way?
But he still didn’t like interacting with people—talking to Fu Yao earlier had already been his limit.
For him, asking someone for help was an extremely difficult thing. If it weren’t because the other person was Fu Yao, from whom he had bitten off a piece of flesh, he wouldn’t have entangled with her for so long.
Just then, Fu Yao suddenly spoke up: “Eleven years ago, we also went to the hospital together, remember?”
Jin Zhi’s nerves instantly tensed. His hand clenched slightly, the veins on the back of his hand and his knuckles protruding. He gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Fu Yao continued: “I’m sorry. Back then, I was just a child too. I had to obey.”
Jin Zhi still didn’t speak.
After all these years, the scene of being abandoned back then had always haunted him like a nightmare. How could he not be clear about that?
He was clear, but so what? It was meaningless.
Abandonment was abandonment.
He would never again entrust his trust to anyone else, nor would he let his emotions be swayed by anyone.
Seeing that Jin Zhi didn’t respond, Fu Yao didn’t press further to avoid awkwardness.
She just wanted to make up for this debt, unable to bear seeing him so alienated from society.
As for whether she would be forgiven, she didn’t deny that she had some hope, but she also didn’t insist that she must receive it.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward for a moment.
Looking up and seeing Kyoto Hospital, Fu Yao found a topic to ease the tension: “After we get to the hospital, a family member needs to sign. My parents won’t come, so I can only rely on you… When the doctor asks you what your relationship to me is, how will you answer?”
Jin Zhi was stumped by this question. His feet halted on the spot as he stared at the girl before him, seemingly thinking seriously.
They stopped at the entrance of Kyoto Hospital.
Outside, there were some plum blossoms and pine trees. On the path amidst the tangled branches and woods, the two were connected by a lollipop stick—one at this end, one at that end—in a silence that spoke volumes.
Jin Zhi was about to speak.
But Fu Yao, smiling, suggested the most tension-easing identity she could think of: “How about saying you’re my husband?”
Instantly, Jin Zhi’s face flushed crimson. A shy pink and an excited red spread across his skin.
His handsome, brooding face also revealed an indescribably nervous expression.
He knew what “husband” meant.
“No…”
Before he could say anything.
Fu Yao pulled on the lollipop stick, leading him into the hospital.
Since there weren’t many people in line, they registered quickly and soon saw a doctor, finding a surgeon.
After checking the records, the doctor unwrapped the bandage on Fu Yao’s arm. Seeing the roughly treated bite wound, he couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
“How on earth did this happen… It doesn’t look like a bite from a stray dog or cat. You students these days really come up with all sorts of bizarre injuries. This needs stitches. Where’s your family member? Get ready for the procedure.”
Seeing the doctor’s reaction, Jin Zhi felt both guilty and ashamed. Especially when asked, “Where’s your family member?” those four words echoed Fu Yao’s earlier words in his mind, making him tense up all over.
He was too guilty to look directly, his breathing growing heavy. He could only glance at Fu Yao out of the corner of his eye, feeling extremely strange inside.
Fu Yao looked at the doctor, her expression natural and smiling: “He is my family member.”
The doctor looked puzzled, completely unable to see any resemblance between the two. He simply asked: “What’s your relationship?”
Here it comes.
—Author’s Note—
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