Mr. Pei! Don't force yourself into circles you can't fit into.

Chu Haonan stared at him for a long time, the words of advice he wanted to say swirling on his lips, but he ultimately swallowed them back. He bent down to pack up the first-aid kit.

"Okay, okay, as long as you know what I mean. Don't get the wound wet for the next few days, eat a light diet, move around as little as possible, and stay home in bed for at least a week. I don't have much to do lately, so I've been coming to see you every day, keeping an eye on you."

After he finished speaking, he walked to the door and glanced back at the person still leaning back in the recliner. Pei Lin had his eyes closed, his face was pale, his chest was rising and falling slightly, and he was completely sunken into the back of the chair.

Chu Haonan gently closed the door.

Halfway down the stairs, he caught a glimpse of the figure in the center of the living room out of the corner of his eye, and his foot involuntarily paused. Shen Jicheng was still standing in the same spot, in the exact same posture as when he went upstairs, as if his toes hadn't even moved.

Chu Haonan was slightly surprised. "You've been standing here the whole time?"

Shen Jicheng pursed his lips and did not answer.

Looking past Chu Haonan's shoulder towards the area behind him, the stairwell corner was empty; no one was following him down. His fingers, hanging at his sides, curled slightly, his nails digging into his palms.

Chu Haonan could easily see through that look. He waved his hand, his tone softening, "Don't wait any longer, go upstairs. He's lying in the study, just had his stitches done. Just be careful not to press on his wound."

He took two steps toward the door, then turned back and added, "Do you still have the business card I gave you last time? Call me if you need anything tonight."

Without waiting for Shen Jicheng's response, she grabbed an umbrella and walked into the rain.

The study door was ajar. Shen Jicheng pushed it open a crack, squeezed in sideways, and then closed the door behind him, his movements so quiet they were almost silent.

Pei Lin remained lying on his back, one hand covering his forehead to block out the light. He didn't even lift his eyelids when he heard the door open and close.

Footsteps approached and stopped beside him. Then he felt a slight weight on his knees. Shen Jicheng squatted down, rested his head on his knees, and curled up into a small ball like a kitten.

Pei Lin paused almost imperceptibly.

He didn't open his eyes or speak; instead, the hand that had been resting on his forehead naturally fell to the top of Shen Jicheng's head, and his fingertips gently rubbed the soft strands of hair.

Then his fingertips stopped.

In the quiet room, the barely suppressed sobs still leaked out clearly.

Pei Lin finally opened his eyes, turned his head, and saw Shen Jicheng burying his face in his knees.

"Why are you crying?"

Pei Lin stopped being afraid of Shen Jicheng getting into trouble at some point. He wasn't afraid of Shen Jicheng getting into conflicts with others, or of him causing huge messes; he had a way to handle them all.

He was only afraid of one thing: that his darling would be unhappy. Especially now, with Shen Jicheng in tears, he felt helpless.

"Because I yelled at you just now?" Pei Lin saw that he didn't answer, so he reflected on his own words and realized that his tone downstairs had been a bit harsh. He softened his tone, "How about I apologize? You're not angry anymore?"

But these words were of no use at all.

Shen Jicheng's tears fell even more fiercely, and his breathing was trembling with sobs, which was heartbreaking to hear.

Pei Lin was so heartbroken that he didn't care about the wound anymore. He used his arm to pull Shen Jicheng up from in front of his knees. Before Shen Jicheng could react, he was pulled onto his lap.

Shen Jicheng's first reaction was to back away, "Don't—"

"Don't worry." Pei Lin pressed down on his back with one hand to stop him, his voice soothingly lowering his voice, "It won't hurt my injury."

Shen Jicheng froze, not daring to move, but also not daring to put his weight down. He was suspended in mid-air, his legs taut.

"I want to hug you," Pei Lin said again.

Upon hearing this, Shen Jicheng's tense demeanor dissipated. He stopped dodging, but remained cautious, deliberately shifting his weight to one side and bracing himself against the back of the chair, avoiding touching Pei Lin's waist and abdomen.

Pei Lin noticed his thoughts perfectly. Without saying anything more, Pei Lin gently pulled him close, his chin resting on Shen Jicheng's shoulder, his breath brushing against his neck.

"It's just a superficial wound, it's not as serious as you think. Don't cry, okay?"

Shen Jicheng finally stopped crying, but his voice was still hoarse.

"Tell me, why were you injured? And what do you mean by hearing my voice?"

Pei Lin was silent for a moment. Those dangerous scenarios flashed through his mind, and in the end, he picked and chose only a few innocuous sentences to say.

"I had a little conflict with someone and accidentally scratched them. It wasn't intentional on their part."

Shen Jicheng, of course, didn't believe him and looked up at him.

"What about when you said you heard someone call my name?"

Pei Lin paused for a moment.

He did hear the name Shi Jiaming, which is why he turned around and saw the figure at the stern. But now, thinking back, with the wind so strong and the waves so loud, he couldn't tell whether someone was really shouting or if he was just hallucinating from being too tense.

"Maybe... I misheard." He ruffled Shen Jicheng's hair and smiled. "Maybe I was just missing you too much at the time."

Shen Jicheng stared at him for a few seconds, unsure whether he believed him or not, but ultimately didn't press the matter. He buried his face back in Pei Lin's chest and mumbled, "You're not allowed to go anywhere these days. Just stay home and rest."

Before Pei Lin could speak, Shen Jicheng suddenly raised his head and glared at him, his eyes still red, but his aura was fierce.

"Don't think I don't know that you usually have to get up and work after you've put me to sleep."

Pei Lin: "..."

"Do you want your job or me?" Shen Jicheng's cheeks puffed out, his sulky expression making him even more adorable.

"If you dare choose a job, I'm leaving right now!"

As he was about to get up, Pei Lin pulled him back and held him in his arms. Shen Jicheng struggled for a moment, then suddenly heard a gasp from above him.

"hiss……"

He froze instantly, too afraid to move, and frantically tried to pry open Pei Lin's arm, "What's wrong? Are you pressing on your wound?"

The imposing manner she had displayed just moments before vanished completely, replaced by a look of panic and heartache.

Seeing his anxious and frightened expression, Pei Lin's heart softened almost to the point of melting. He lowered his eyes, curved his lips into a smile, and deliberately softened his voice.

"Hmm... a little... don't move, let me hold you for a while."

Shen Jicheng obediently stopped moving.

She sat stiffly on his lap, her breathing barely audible. After a few seconds, he asked again in a low voice, unwilling to give up.

"So, will you choose the job or me?"

Pei Lin did not answer.

Shen Jicheng waited a few seconds, his patience wearing thin. Just as he was about to look up and push his shoulder to question him, he felt something soft and warm gently bite his cheek.

"Hiss—!" Shen Jicheng covered his cheek and glared at him.

Pei Lin chuckled softly, his gaze falling on Shen Jicheng's face. The feigned weakness he had just shown vanished completely, replaced by an undisguised, almost scalding tenderness.

"Baby." He leaned closer, forehead to forehead with Shen Jicheng's, his voice low and husky, "Is that even a question?"

"Have a little more confidence in yourself, huh?"