"Shhh... hmhhhh... uhhh..." Elena's tightly sealed lips let out muffled sounds that hinted at the pain she was enduring.
It seemed like every time Yuchen's fingers made contact with her slapped cheek, it triggered an unexpected surge of pain.
Yuchen, on the other hand, continued to gently apply the cream to Elena's cheeks. Her skin felt smooth, with a slight softness beneath his touch. His concerned eyes never left her face. He couldn't fathom why her grandfather would slap her like that.
"You don't have to suffer in silence," Yuchen softly advised, watching Elena clench her teeth to bear the discomfort. "It's okay to admit it hurts. There's no need to endure the pain alone," he added, offering some words of comfort.
In reality, these were the words he wished he could have said to his mother back then, understanding the pain she had gone through. His mother didn't need to worry about appearing weak or blame herself for expressing her pain.
