Tang Ruanruan carried the food container to the Luo Family's door. The door wasn't even closed. She placed her hand on the door panel, genuinely afraid that if she pushed it open with any force, she would see yesterday's scene.
After all, she had asked her Mother why Luo Zhaoyao had stabbed himself. Her Mother had told her at the time:
"It's easy to understand. A normal person who has lost sensation in their lower limbs will instinctively want to confirm that feeling. And stabbing oneself with a knife isn't necessarily self-harm; it could just be a way to confirm. However, this varies from person to person; you need to observe."
Mother Tang had originally not wanted to continue this rather unreliable Arranged Marriage with the Luo Family. It wasn't that Luo Chaoyang was bad; on the contrary, that child was too promising. They understood better than anyone: the more accomplished a Scientific researcher is, the more protected they are by the country. Tang Ruanruan was simply too naive and would easily wear herself out.
Besides, the Luo Family's child's legs still had no sensation. How would that affect their daughter's future?
But Tang Ruanruan insisted. They had always spoiled their daughter, thinking that at worst, they could ask people from her Maternal home to properly help that child recuperate his Body. As long as he wasn't completely Crippled, they could accept it.
Tang Ruanruan had no idea how much of a Headache this decision caused Father Tang and Mother Tang. Standing at the door now, she cautiously pushed it open, glanced around, and only breathed a sigh of relief when she confirmed no one was there.
As long as it wasn't as shocking as yesterday, she would be fine.
"Is anyone home?"
Her voice was distinctive; not soft, but it made anyone who heard it feel that it was pleasant to listen to.
Tang Ruanruan walked in but didn't see that familiar figure. She had to search herself. When she reached the kitchen, she happened to see Luo Zhaoyao brandishing a kitchen knife, making gestures. Her first thought was of how they looked when they met yesterday, and she instinctively shouted, "Don't!"
She rushed over and snatched the kitchen knife from Luo Zhaoyao's hand, looking at him with an indignant expression.
"What on earth are you doing? Is your life not worth cherishing? Why do you keep hurting yourself like this?"
Because she was angry, Tang Ruanruan's face turned red.
Luo Zhaoyao was about to explain, but suddenly he didn't want to. He wanted to see what Tang Ruanruan would do.
He watched as Tang Ruanruan squatted down, grasped his wrist, and said very earnestly, "Your legs will definitely get better. I study Nursing. Even if your legs can't recover, I will help you. Please don't give up on yourself, okay?"
The purity in her eyes made Luo Zhaoyao narrow his eyes.
He recalled the phone call his Cousin had made early this morning, and he couldn't help but re-examine Tang Ruanruan.
Was this woman appearing too coincidentally?
Moreover, all the information regarding Tang Ruanruan had been placed before him early this morning. Because it was so clean, it made someone accustomed to all sorts of dirty privacy tactics feel somewhat uncomfortable.
"I haven't given up on myself."
Luo Zhaoyao felt Tang Ruanruan was over-imagining things. He pointed at the fruit on the cutting board, then pointed at the kitchen knife she had just snatched away.
Tang Ruanruan looked at the fruit, then at the kitchen knife, and suddenly understood. Luo Zhaoyao hadn't intended to harm himself; he just wanted to cut fruit.
At that moment, her face flushed red like the Evening Glow, looking strikingly beautiful.
She hurriedly stood up, tidied her hair, and tried her best to conceal her awkwardness.
With her back turned, her face looked like it had been twisted into a bitter gourd.
It was too Embarrassing.
How could she have done something like that?
She seemed to have just grabbed Luo Zhaoyao's Arm.
What would he think of her?
Would he think she was frivolous?
...
If Luo Zhaoyao hadn't coughed, she probably would have imagined herself disappearing on the spot.
The cough brought her back to her senses. Her gaze fell upon the food container she had placed on the counter, and it immediately felt like a savior.
"You probably haven't eaten yet. This is Astragalus and Black Chicken Soup I stewed. It should be good for your Body, replenishing Qi and Blood."
Luo Zhaoyao looked at the Lunchbox in Tang Ruanruan's hand, then at her face.
"Replenishing Qi and Blood?"
His voice was still cold, but it made Tang Ruanruan's ears tingle pleasantly.
Even knowing his voice was pleasant, hearing it made it harder to control herself each time.
She really wanted to hear this voice every day; it was too alluring.
Perhaps because she was already accustomed to complaining internally during her school days, her expression barely changed at this moment.
But she didn't know that her expression appeared so rich in Luo Zhaoyao's eyes.
Due to his work, he was used to observing a person's micro-expressions to make adjustments, but the girl before him was as straightforward as a blank sheet of paper, clearly showing all her emotions.
He felt a rare moment of relaxation.
Originally, he had planned to tell Tang Ruanruan today that the Arranged Marriage was void if she came over. He wasn't Luo Chaoyang. However, his Cousin had instructed him early this morning that his current situation was very dangerous, and he absolutely could not Expose the fact that he had left the Research Institute.
And so, Luo Zhaoyao really had to stay home pretending to be Luo Chaoyang.
"Yes, you lost too much blood yesterday. I asked my Mother, and she said this soup can replenish Qi and Blood. Drink more. I stewed this all night; the Bone is practically dissolved."
Tang Ruanruan's voice was softer, her trailing syllables unconsciously drawn out and slightly rising, which was quite captivating.
She looked like a pure Little Girl, yet she possessed a voice that people couldn't refuse.
Luo Zhaoyao didn't Speak. Tang Ruanruan didn't mind; she had already prepared for a long battle, knowing that Chasing after someone like Luo Zhaoyao wouldn't be easy.
She opened the Food container and placed it in Luo Zhaoyao's hand, then gently pushed him out of the kitchen.
As for the fruit Luo Zhaoyao was about to cut, Tang Ruanruan thought drinking Chicken soup was enough; the fruit could wait half an hour.
Luo Zhaoyao, who was rarely approached by others, allowed Tang Ruanruan to push him into the courtyard. The warm sunlight shone on him, feeling quite pleasant.
He held the spoon, but his gaze was fixed on Tang Ruanruan.
She was indeed a bit nervous.
"You drink yours; I'll read a book for a while!"
To avoid awkwardness, Tang Ruanruan had touched the book in her bag earlier and now took it out as a shield.
Luo Zhaoyao saw the name of the book, Compendium of Materia Medica, and thought it was quite a good book.
Tang Ruanruan had originally taken out the book because she was afraid Luo Zhaoyao would feel uncomfortable, but now, looking at the cover, she hesitated. Her Flaw of falling asleep after reading just a couple of pages had never failed before.
If she fell asleep after reading two pages, would Luo Zhaoyao think she was a hypocritical person?
Biting her lower lip with her teeth, she felt like she was riding a tiger—hard to get off.
She tilted her head and saw Luo Zhaoyao's seemingly penetrating gaze, so she finally opened the book and cautiously squinted at the content.
To her surprise, after reading one page, she didn't feel sleepy at all.
Not believing it, she carefully read the second page; still no yawning.
The third page,
The fourth page,
The fifth page,
...
Her speed increased, but she didn't doze off even once.
Tang Ruanruan, refusing to believe it, carried the book to the doorway, opened it with her back to Luo Zhaoyao, and an involuntary yawn escaped her.