Five years without pregnancy means you're too weak; I remarried a powerful man and had triplets

Tan Gui's high heels, their soles stained with wall dust, slammed down with a whooshing sound, the sharp heels cutting a gash in Xu Zhesheng's forehead.

Blood instantly flowed over his brow bone, mixing with the cold sweat that had seeped out after he was kicked by Shen Zhiyi, and ran saltily into the corner of his mouth.

Xu Zhesheng was so dizzy from the beating that his vision was blurred with crimson, but he still instinctively grabbed Tan Gui's wrist, his knuckles turning white with rage, trying to twist it back.

Lu Zichuan's eyes were as still as a deep pool, and he only slightly raised his chin towards Assistant Wang.

Assistant Wang, like a precision instrument with its switch turned on, stepped forward, gripped Xu Zhesheng's wrist bone with one hand like an iron clamp, and with the other hand, swiftly reached behind him, neatly twisting one of his arms behind his back, making a teeth-grinding "crack" sound at the joint.

Xu Zhesheng immediately hunched over in pain, all his resistance crumbling in an instant.

"Assistant Wang," Lu Zichuan said, still firmly supporting Shen Zhiyi with one hand, but his gaze swept over Xu Zhesheng's bleeding face like an icy blade, "Teach him a lesson. Remember to call 120, arrange for the best trauma department, and reserve a VIP ward as well."

Assistant Wang nodded, then increased the pressure on his hand by three points. Xu Zhesheng groaned and was almost forced to his knees.

Lu Zichuan stopped looking at him and instead lowered his head, gently wiping away the undried tears from Shen Zhiyi's eyes with the corner of his suit jacket. His voice was cold to the bone: "Don't be afraid, I'm here."

Tan Gui was in the middle of a fierce fight, her high heels almost breaking, but she was still not satisfied.

Assistant Wang stepped forward at the opportune moment, a flawless, gentle smile on his face, but his tone carried an undeniable professionalism: "Miss, calm down. I'm strong; I'll handle the aftermath."

Before he finished speaking, he turned and threw a punch, his elbow striking Xu Zhesheng squarely on the cheekbone.

The force was so dull that Tan Gui subconsciously grimaced, but she felt incredibly happy inside.

She spat at the distorted face on the ground before turning around and supporting Shen Zhiyi's other shoulder.

Shen Zhiyi's hair was disheveled, with a few strands of wet hair sticking to her pale face.

Tan Gui tenderly smoothed it away with her fingertips, her warm palm touching her cold earlobe, her voice like a ray of light breaking through the darkness: "Zhizhi, I'm sorry... I'm late."

That "I'm sorry" was like turning on a valve. Shen Zhiyi blankly raised her head and saw Tan Gui's familiar face. The defense she had been holding up suddenly collapsed.

She suddenly threw herself into Tan Gui's arms, her silent tears turning into loud sobs, like a child who had finally found her home. Clutching Tan Gui's clothes, she trembled so much she could barely speak: "Gui...you, you've finally come..."

Tan Gui herself was also in tears, hugging her tightly and patting her back repeatedly, blaming herself, "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... I wish I had seen the message sooner..."

Lu Zichuan stood quietly to the side, watching this scene. The layer of ice in his eyes melted for a moment, then solidified even more.

His gaze swept over Xu Zhesheng, who was curled up on the ground, howling inhuman pain, and his eyes darkened further.

"Let's go," he said, his voice not loud, but it decisively cut off the annoying background noise. "It's too noisy here. I'll take you home."

A deathly silence, almost frozen, filled the carriage.

Shen Zhiyi was still in shock, one hand gripping Tan Gui's clothes tightly, her knuckles digging in as if it were the only piece of driftwood she could hold onto.

After leaving the room that terrified her, she stopped wailing, but it was as if all her strength had been drained away, leaving only a silent trembling. Her face was so pale that it was almost transparent, and in the light and shadow that flashed past the car window, she was as fragile as thin porcelain that could shatter at the slightest touch.

Tan Gui carefully wrapped her arms around her, wanting to ask, "Are you alright?" but ultimately didn't dare to speak, afraid that speaking would disturb this fragile peace.

All she could do was pat her back gently, offering silent support with her body heat.

Lu Zichuan looked at Shen Zhiyi, who was huddled in the corner, through the rearview mirror again and again.

Behind his glasses, his gaze was terrifyingly deep, churning with lingering resentment and an overwhelming heartache. But he kept his lips tightly pressed together, remaining silent and only slowing the car down even more steadily.

The car slowly drove into the parking lot.

The moment the car door opened, a rush of cold air entered.

As soon as Shen Zhiyi took a step, her legs went weak, and she fell uncontrollably downwards.

Tan Gui was alarmed and hurriedly tried to help her up, but she herself had been performing surgery all day and was already exhausted. The two of them staggered and almost fell down together.

The next second, a strong, warm body blocked her way. Lu Zichuan didn't say a word, bent down, and slipped his arms under her knees and back, steadily lifting her up in his arms. The movement was fluid, carrying an undeniable strength.

Tan Gui paused for a moment, then looked up and met Lu Zichuan's cold profile.

In their brief time together, she could already sense his unfathomable coldness and power, but at this moment, the way he held Shen Zhiyi revealed an almost devout reverence.

She said no more, silently stepped back half a step, leaving him the space.

As the man's body heat approached, Shen Zhiyi subconsciously shivered. Then, the familiar cool scent of cedar wafted into her nostrils. As if suddenly realizing something, she glanced at Lu Zichuan, then lowered her head again without saying a word, and did not reject his approach.

The two were very close, and Lu Zichuan clearly noticed her small movements. As if sensing her trust, a soft light flashed in Lu Zichuan's eyes.

Lu Zichuan gently placed Shen Zhiyi into her small bed and then prepared to leave.

Tan Gui nodded to him, then stayed in the room to take care of Shen Zhiyi.

Tan Gui bent down and carefully unbuttoned the suit jacket that Shen Zhiyi had been wearing for a long time.

Beneath the coat, her originally fair skin was covered with shocking red marks and abrasions, which looked particularly glaring under the warm yellow light.

Tan Gui's eyes instantly reddened again. She forced back her heartache and quietly got up to rummage through the first-aid kit, only to find that the iodine solution bottle was already empty.

She hurriedly ran out of the bedroom and addressed Lu Zichuan, who had just reached the door, her voice filled with apology and urgency: "Excuse me... could you please look after Zhizhi for a while? We've run out of iodine, and I need to go buy some right away."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zichuan simply nodded calmly without saying a word.

Tan Gui quickly changed her shoes and hurriedly went out.

The door was gently closed, and suddenly only the two of them were left in the room.

Shen Zhiyi curled up on the inside of the bed, her whole body buried in the bedding, like a small animal that was too frightened and was trying its best to protect itself. Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes still held lingering fear.

Lu Zichuan pursed his thin lips, turned around and went to the kitchen to pour a glass of warm water. When he returned, he walked very quietly.

He placed the cup carefully on the bedside table within her reach, his voice low and calm: "Drink some warm water."

Shen Zhiyi then slowly rolled her eyes, her gaze falling on him, her voice as soft as a feather: "Thank you, Mr. Lu."

She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but the newly healed wound on her lips was aggravated, and a sharp pain made her unconsciously furrow her brows.

Lu Zichuan's eyes darkened: "If you don't want to talk, then don't. If you don't want to laugh, then you don't have to. With me, you don't have to force yourself to make any expressions."

Shen Zhiyi's fingers tightened slightly as she held the warm water, a hint of surprise flashing across her eyes.

She hadn't expected him to be so perceptive as to detect her forced smile, which she herself wasn't even fully aware of.

She nodded obediently, brought the cup closer, and absorbed the meager warmth.

Only when the water in the glass had gradually cooled down did Shen Zhiyi seem to gather enough courage to raise her eyes and softly ask, breaking the silence of the room: "...Why did you go to Xu Zhesheng's house?"