From Broken Family to Life Winner: A Reborn Mother's Journey

”Of course not!” A cold sweat was starting to form on Wu Sheng’s brow. He realized his casual remark had just dug him into a deep hole.

Wu Sheng calmed himself and explained, ”I don’t have much luck with young women. It’s mostly the elderly and children who take a liking to me. The ones holding my hand and refusing to let go are always old folks, and the ones clinging to my legs are always kids.”

The corner of Su Li’s mouth twitched into a smile for a fleeting moment before she firmly suppressed it. ”Is that so?” she said slowly. ”Because I seem to recall a certain someone telling me how charming and popular he was. Especially with young, pretty girls.”

Wu Sheng: ”...”

’That was then, this is now,’ he thought. ’Of course I’m going to say that at a time like this.’

”Su Li, don’t you worry. From now on, I’ll let Zhang Ming and the others handle all the young, pretty girls. I’ll stick to saving the elderly and children!”

Wu Sheng declared with a grave expression.

In an ambulance that had just driven off, Wa Wa Lian suddenly sneezed.

”What was that about?” he muttered, rubbing his nose.

Back with the others, Wu Sheng waited until Su Li’s smile returned before breaking into a goofy grin himself.

Su Li’s editor-in-chief from the TV station had been waiting patiently for a while. Seeing that Su Li and Wu Sheng seemed to have finished their sweet moment, he finally stepped forward.

”Su Li, you’ve had a long day. Leave the rest to them. You should go home and rest. I’m giving you tomorrow off, too. Just stay home, maybe watch the news, and relax. You must be exhausted.”

Su Li’s eyes lit up. ”Thank you, Chief Editor! You’re the best.”

The chief editor laughed heartily, shook Wu Sheng’s hand, and exchanged a few words with him before leading a grim-faced Li Anna and the others away.

Captain Zhang would handle the remaining on-site matters, such as arranging for the evacuated residents to return.

Once Wu Sheng finished up his tasks, he went to find Su Li, who was speaking with Captain Zhang.

When Captain Zhang saw Wu Sheng coming over, he knew the man was there to take Su Li home. ”Alright, Su Li, you two go on and get some rest,” he said quickly. ”Thank you both so much for today.”

”We’re all on the same team, no need for such formalities,” Su Li said as she bid Captain Zhang farewell.

”Let’s go,” Su Li said, and she and Wu Sheng walked toward their car.

As she was getting in, Su Li accidentally kicked the car and sucked in a sharp breath. ”Sss...”

”What’s wrong?” Wu Sheng asked, instantly tense.

”It’s nothing, I just stubbed my big toe...” Before Su Li could finish her sentence, she was suddenly swept up into his arms.

”Watch your head.” Wu Sheng lifted Su Li and placed her inside the car, his previously gentle expression now replaced by a stern one.

Su Li had been about to say, ’It’s fine, it doesn’t hurt,’ but one look at Wu Sheng’s face made her wisely swallow the words.

Frowning slightly, Wu Sheng gently took the foot she had injured, carefully unlaced her shoe, and began to take it off.

”Cry out if it hurts.”

”I can do it myself...” Su Li watched him work and bent down to take over, only to be stopped by a single look from Wu Sheng.

Su Li immediately snapped her mouth shut. She couldn’t help but shrink back a little, watching as Wu Sheng meticulously removed her shoe.

Normally, Wu Sheng would indulge her, but at times like this, he would wear a stony expression and refuse to yield an inch.

The last time she’d gotten a small cut from a kitchen knife, she had thought nothing of it. Ordinarily, she would have just applied some pressure until the bleeding stopped. But Wu Sheng had been there. Because of her casual attitude, he had not only dragged her to the hospital to get it bandaged under the doctor’s bewildered gaze, but he’d also given her the silent treatment for two whole days afterward.

That was... a first.

It had always been her giving Wu Sheng the silent treatment, never the other way around. But that time, he had ignored her as if she’d committed some terrible crime.

In the end, she’d had to swallow her pride and coax him, solemnly promising that she would take it seriously next time she got cut by a kitchen knife. Only then did he finally relent.

Remembering that ridiculous ordeal, Su Li pressed her lips together and obediently let Wu Sheng finish removing her shoe.

Wu Sheng, oblivious to her expression, carefully removed her shoe and then her sock.

He took one look and his brow furrowed. ”It’s swollen and red. How did this happen? You didn’t feel anything before?”

Su Li instantly grew more nervous. She wanted to say she hadn’t felt it, but she didn’t dare.

Seeing that she didn’t answer, Wu Sheng glanced up at her. ”This isn’t from kicking the car just now. This injury is older. Something must have fallen on it, or someone stepped on it. Why didn’t you say anything?”

”I... It was so chaotic earlier, it probably just...” Su Li’s voice trailed off under his intense stare.

’For some reason, I feel more and more guilty.’

’I don’t even know why I feel guilty! It’s not like I enjoy it!’

Su Li told herself to be more assertive, but the words died on her lips.

’I... I just can’t bring myself to be tough with him.’

”We’re going to the hospital to have a doctor look at this. It’s already so swollen,” Wu Sheng concluded, carefully cradling her foot as he examined it.

Drawing from past experience, Su Li opened her mouth, but ultimately decided against saying she didn’t want to go to the hospital.

Watching Wu Sheng crouched before her, cradling her foot as if it were some priceless treasure, made her feel a little awkward.

’It’s just a foot... I’ve been running around all day, it probably smells a little sweaty...’

At the thought, Su Li’s foot twitched.

”Don’t move, you’ll make it hurt,” Wu Sheng chided gently, his grip on her foot tightening slightly the instant he felt it move.

Wu Sheng glanced up at Su Li before lowering his head again.

The sensation of her foot in his hands slowly registered.

It was a small, soft, warm foot. So different from the rest of her—it was plump and round, feeling like a soft steamed bun in his hands.

Against her fair skin, the redness on her big toe looked even more jarring.

Wu Sheng’s brows knitted together. He gently rested her foot back on her shoe. ”Stay still. I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

Su Li: ”...”

She wanted to protest that it was unnecessary and probably nothing serious, but she kept the words to herself.

Wu Sheng started the car and headed for the hospital. Along the way, he kept asking Su Li if she was in pain, glancing at her foot from time to time.

Each glance was accompanied by a frown; the redness seemed to become more glaring every time he looked.

While waiting at an intersection, Wu Sheng couldn’t resist leaning over to touch her foot. ”Is it cold?”

”I’m not cold,” Su Li replied, but Wu Sheng clearly didn’t believe her.

”Your foot is ice-cold, and you still say you’re fine.”

Wu Sheng glanced at Su Li and, without another word, took off his jacket. ”We’re still about ten minutes from the hospital. Let’s wrap your foot in this for now.”

Even though it was spring, the nights were still chilly.

Su Li felt exasperated. ”You really don’t have to. I’m fine, we’ll be there in a second. Put your jacket back on before you catch a cold.”

”I’m not cold.” Wu Sheng, who had been leaning over, straightened up. Su Li sighed in relief, thinking he had finally listened to her.

”Hurry and put your jacket on...” Su Li had just started to speak, her relief premature, when Wu Sheng’s next move left her utterly speechless.

”Wu Sheng, what are you doing?” ’What the hell? Why is he suddenly stripping?’

’The jacket was one thing, but now he’s unbuttoning and taking off his shirt?!’

As Su Li stared, wide-eyed, Wu Sheng took off his shirt with astonishing speed. And then... then he grabbed the hem of his undershirt and pulled it up—

”Ah! Wu Sheng, you... you... Have you lost your mind?!”

Su Li yelled, squeezing her eyes shut.

’A man and a woman, all alone, late at night, in a car! Taking off his jacket and shirt was one thing, but he even took off his undershirt!’