The atmosphere was thick with tension.
Qiao Xi clutched her chest, her heart racing, and cautiously shifted her position before tentatively asking, "You... you're awake?"
The man remained still, eyes open, but no sound came from him.
Qiao Xi carefully reached out and covered his eyes with her palm, feeling a slight itch in her hand.
Huo Xingzhou slowly closed his eyes again.
She sat up on the edge of the bed, drenched in cold sweat. She then wiped away the lipstick marks on his face, feeling guilty as she covered him with a blanket.
He still didn't wake up.
Qiao Xi tried to reassure herself. This must be an unconscious response from a comatose patient.
The sound earlier was probably just a hallucination.
She sat by the bed for a long time, the night growing deeper. Yawning and covering her lips, she unknowingly fell asleep.
In the middle of the night, she curled up in the cold, and dreamed of that night from years ago—so cold. Qiao Xi turned in her sleep, instinctively reaching for the warm body next to her, but missed seeing the man's eyes open again.
Daybreak.
Qiao Xi woke up to the sound of commotion. She blinked her sleepy eyes.
A maid, Aunt Qian, stood by the bed holding a basin. "Madam, please help the young master wash up."
"I... I wash him?" Qiao Xi asked in disbelief.
"Of course."
"Then who did it before? He's been in a coma for a month."
"Of course, it was the caregivers. But who can compare to a wife?" Aunt Qian said with certainty, leaving no room for argument.
Dressed in a bright red wedding gown, Qiao Xi reluctantly took the towel from Aunt Qian, wrung it out, and gently wiped the man's handsome face.
He remained motionless, his eyes still shut. It seemed last night was just a hallucination after all.
Unable to ignore his striking features, Qiao Xi's cheeks flushed red. Aunt Qian stood by, watching as Qiao Xi carefully wiped his eyebrows, eyes, lips, neck, and chest.
Every inch, every place the towel passed, she lightly brushed with her fingers.
"The young master likes cleanliness. Make sure you do it properly," Aunt Qian instructed. "Afterward, you should apply lotion to keep his skin moisturized. Massage him twice a day to prevent muscle atrophy."
Aunt Qian's eyes were sharp, and Qiao Xi knew she couldn't get away with anything. She told herself to treat Huo Xingzhou like any of the patients she had treated before.
Thinking this way, her movements became more focused and professional.
Aunt Qian watched with satisfaction and nodded.
Qiao Xi gently pressed his wrist, carefully spreading his fingers with the towel. Huo Xingzhou's hands were pale and long, his joints delicate and elegant.
"Hmm?"
Qiao Xi felt a pulse under her fingers and paused in surprise.
"What's wrong?" Aunt Qian asked.
Qiao Xi shook her head, and Aunt Qian gave her a knowing look. "You and the young master are legally married now. I've been through this myself. Don't be shy."
She handed Qiao Xi another towel. "There's still the lower half to go."
Qiao Xi's face turned crimson.
He was a patient!
Just a patient!
Grandpa Cheng always said that as a doctor, one must treat patients with focus and detachment, with no personal desires. She needed to stay clear-headed and treat each patient as if they were a block of wood.
Qiao Xi took a deep breath and released a heated sigh. She grasped the towel and carefully slipped it under the blanket, moving it downward along his stomach. Even through the thin fabric, she could feel his muscle lines.
She thought to herself, this man's appearance and physique were truly exceptional. He was perfect for acupuncture practice.
Suddenly!
Her wrist was grabbed by a cool hand.
A low, but firm voice interrupted her thoughts. "No need... don't touch me there."
Crash!
The basin Aunt Qian was holding fell to the floor, and she gasped before running out of the room, shouting, "Madam, the young master is awake!"
Huo Xingzhou, awake?
Qiao Xi's heart raced as she turned to look at the man in bed. His obsidian-like eyes were filled with coldness and a trace of anger, locking onto her.
Qiao Xi tightened her grip on the towel, her voice lowering. "I... I was just following Aunt Qian's instructions to help you wash up."
"Last night," Huo Xingzhou's voice was hoarse, his gaze icy, each word carrying a sense of accusation, "You kissed me... many times."
Qiao Xi froze, wishing for a rock to fall on her and end it all.
...
The sound of hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor. The villa was in chaos. Soon, the bedroom was filled with doctors in white coats, pushing others out of the room.
Qiao Xi let out a slow breath, standing in the corner, watching the door. She finally relaxed.
At least she wouldn't have to face Huo Xingzhou alone anymore.
"Madam is here."
"Madam."
The crowd parted, and a woman in a simple but elegant qipao walked toward her, looking at Qiao Xi.
It was Huo Xingzhou's biological mother, the second wife of the Huo family, Du Juan.
Qiao Xi instinctively straightened her back, a little nervous.
"You're doing well," Du Juan said, shaking her hand. "If it weren't for you, Xingzhou wouldn't have woken up."
To her surprise, a dead horse had indeed turned into a live one!
She removed an expensive jade bracelet from her wrist and slid it onto Qiao Xi's hand.
"Madam, this is too much!"
"Good girl, don't refuse," Du Juan said, patting her hand. "This is a gift for my daughter-in-law."
Qiao Xi's dry lips tightened as she forced a smile. "Mrs. Huo, I'm not from the Su family..."
"I know," Du Juan cut in. "Su Heng sent his adopted daughter here because our second branch is losing power. But even a dead camel is bigger than a horse. Xingzhou still holds major projects. There's always hope for a comeback..." She paused, then added, "Anyway, from today on, you're the only daughter-in-law I, Du Juan, recognize."
Du Juan eyed Qiao Xi's appearance and demeanor, growing increasingly fond of her.
"Our Xingzhou will need you to take care of him. You're a lucky girl, and I want my son to benefit from your fortune. From now on, you can call me 'Mom.' He has a sister praying for blessings at the temple, and his father is busy cleaning up the mess. Another day, we'll have a family meal together."
Qiao Xi stared into her sincere eyes, her own vision growing misty. For the first time, someone said she had good fortune.
People from the village always called her unlucky—an unlucky star who had brought death to her father, with her mother running off with a rich man.
This was the first time someone had told her she was fortunate.
Squeak.
The door to the master bedroom suddenly opened.
The lead doctor removed his stethoscope and mask. "The young master's bodily functions are gradually recovering, and there's no damage to his brain. However, there are multiple blood clots in his legs, and he has no feeling in them. The surgical risks are very high."
"Does that mean he can't be treated?"
Du Juan asked, stunned.
"Yes, the young master's legs are paralyzed, and it will affect his fertility," the doctor said grimly.
"Sorry, unless..." He adjusted his glasses. "Unless we can find Old Master Cheng, the national medical expert. He has successful cases in the past. But he's retired and no one knows where he is. The chances are slim."
Huo Xingzhou's mother, hearing this, looked devastated. Who could find such a legendary doctor?
A flicker of doubt passed through Qiao Xi's eyes, but she was sure Huo Xingzhou's legs...
She was about to speak up when her phone, tucked in her sleeve, vibrated.