Tang Ruanruan's mind was filled only with that one image: skin cut open by a cold blade, blood gushing out, exceptionally glaring, which made her involuntarily recall the scene before her death in her previous life, and she rushed forward to press down on the wound.
"Are you crazy? It's just a leg injury, it can be treated, why are you demeaning yourself?"
Her voice trembled as she pressed her hands onto the wound on the man's thigh, half-kneeling on the ground.
Out of fear, she didn't even notice that the belt of her trench coat had come undone, revealing the dress she was wearing underneath. The fair curve was unexpectedly thrust into Luo Zhaoyao's eyes, and he subconsciously turned his head, his ear tip turning slightly red.
His leg, which had felt nothing, was suddenly held. He thought he would throw the person away, but for some reason, seeing the look of worried disappointment in her eyes, he strangely didn't. Instead, he tilted his head to look at her, his gaze calm and placid.
Tang Ruanruan's eyes were full of the wound. She looked around, didn't see a medicine box, guessed the house might not have one, and pulled off a strip from her trench coat to tie above the wound. She decided to stop the bleeding first. Not long after, when she saw the blood flow lessen, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, stood up, and started to run outside.
"I'll go buy medicine, don't move around."
Her voice was still trembling, but very firm.
Luo Zhaoyao truly didn't know who this person was, but he couldn't bear to see her cry, so he reached out and grasped her wrist: "There is a medicine box under the coffee table."
The magnetic low male voice sounded, making Tang Ruanruan shiver, feeling like her ears couldn't handle it, and an electric current spread throughout her body.
She looked foolishly at Luo Zhaoyao, then reacted, rushing to get the medicine box. After opening it and checking, thankfully there was iodine and styptic powder. Tang Ruanruan carefully dipped cotton in iodine to disinfect the man's wound, then sprinkled on the styptic powder and bandaged it with gauze. She was very serious throughout the entire process, completely unaware that the location she was bandaging was a bit difficult to describe.
After she finished treating it, she let out a breath. Seeing the torn fabric of the trousers on the man's leg, her face suddenly flushed red; this spot was only about a palm's distance from the root of his thigh.
She opened her mouth to explain but didn't know how to start. The man hadn't made a sound the entire time, remaining so calm as if it wasn't his leg.
After waiting a long time and not hearing Tang Ruanruan speak, Luo Zhaoyao had to ask, "Who are you?"
"Your intended partner!"
Blurting it out, Tang Ruanruan realized what she had said. She abruptly turned around, feeling like she shouldn't exist as a person anymore. Was she too unrestrained?
But if she ran away now, she would have to go to the countryside in a month.
She didn't want to.
Tang Ruanruan clenched her fists to build up her mental fortitude, but she didn't realize that to facilitate bandaging the wound, she had taken off her trench coat. Now, her body, encased in the tight dress, was perfectly displaying her good figure because she had her back turned.
Even sitting in a wheelchair, it didn't stop Luo Zhaoyao from seeing this curve. He couldn't help but clear his throat lightly, turning his head away as a diversion. This was the first time he felt a bit awkward around a woman.
The sound of the light cough brought Tang Ruanruan back to her senses. She quickly said, "Don't misunderstand, my name is Tang Ruanruan. We have an arranged marriage, do you know?"
How would Luo Zhaoyao know about this? He simply shook his head.
Tang Ruanruan guessed he might not know, and fearing he would drive her away, she continued to explain, "It was decided by your Grandfather and my Grandfather. But the two families didn't interact much in earlier years, so we never met, and Grandfather definitely never mentioned it to you. But I'm not lying, if you don't believe me, just ask your Mom."
Luo Zhaoyao frowned: "Do you know who I am?"
Tang Ruanruan nodded: "I asked my Mom before I came, she said your name is Luo Chaoyang."
"You haven't met me?" Luo Zhaoyao initially thought Tang Ruanruan was talking about himself, but quickly realized she must be referring to his cousin. Their names sounded very similar, and people often mispronounced them.
"Meeting for the first time doesn't prevent us from discussing a relationship. I genuinely want to discuss a relationship with you; I don't reject an arranged marriage."
In her eagerness, she subconsciously squatted down and grabbed Luo Zhaoyao's hand, her eyes full of determination.
Luo Zhaoyao opened his mouth to say she had the wrong person, but then he thought about how he had just agreed to impersonate his cousin. What if this person was someone with ulterior motives testing him?
His gaze turned cold as he tried to discern something from her face.
"I know it must be hard for you to believe, but I truly want to discuss a relationship with you. I found out your leg can't walk, and I won't despise you. If you don't believe me, I can swear that I will never divorce you in my entire life."
She just wanted to avoid going to the countryside; having no reality as husband and wife was irrelevant.
Her two fair little hands held his large one. Luo Zhaoyao subconsciously didn't marvel at how soft her fingers were, but rather at how slender his own fingers were.
If he studied piano, he should have great talent.
His gaze was too direct, and Tang Ruanruan finally realized it. She subconsciously wanted to pull back, but fearing she would miss this chance, there wouldn't be another one. Blushing, she didn't let go, even shaking his hand slightly: "What I said is true, please believe me, okay?"
That voice, laced with coaxing and acting spoiled, soft enough to pierce the heart, instantly entered his ears, making him involuntarily shake off those small hands.
"I apologize. Marriage freedom is advocated now; the arranged marriage is not binding."
The cold voice was like a bucket of ice water poured down, and Tang Ruanruan's eyes immediately turned red.
She had considered that Luo Chaoyang might refuse, but when he actually refused, despair still involuntarily welled up in her.
"Do you already have someone you're seeing?"
Her expression was too pitiful, and Luo Zhaoyao subconsciously replied, "No!"
"Then do you have someone you like?"
"No!"
"Then will you marry me?"
"..."
If time could go backward, Tang Ruanruan probably wouldn't have the courage to try again, but since she had already said it, there was no room to retreat.
"Will you marry me? I can wash clothes, I can cook, I can serve people. Even if you can never walk again in the future, I will stay with you. Just marry me, okay?"
Her large, watery eyes were full of pleading, as if the continuation of her life depended on getting married.
Luo Zhaoyao wasn't afraid of a honey trap at all, but this woman's tears made him somewhat uncomfortable. However, he wasn't Luo Chaoyang and couldn't agree to such a thing.
Moreover, he didn't know anything about Tang Ruanruan.
Tang Ruanruan had been paying attention to Luo Zhaoyao. Judging by his expression, she knew he definitely wouldn't agree, but she didn't want to hear the refusal. As he opened his mouth to refuse, on a strange impulse, she quickly reached out and covered his mouth.
She blocked Luo Zhaoyao's refusal in his mouth.
He didn't push her away immediately, instead thinking:
Her hand is quite soft!