Chapter 466: Sense of Security
Su Li’s face flushed under Wu Sheng’s scorching gaze. "Don’t look at me like that."
"Like what? You won’t even let me look at you? You’re being too cruel."
Wu Sheng wanted to marry Su Li. He always had, but this time, he *really, really, really* wanted to.
Of course, aside from this desire, there was also an indescribable weight on his heart.
His profession meant he was destined for many more rescue missions like this one. He would always give it his all, without complaint.
But no matter how careful he was, he might not be able to avoid getting injured again, just like this time. He might even... even lose his life.
He would, of course, do everything in his power to ensure his own safety, but there were no absolutes in these matters.
This time, he was lucky enough to make it out alive. Seeing how his mother and Su Li were, Wu Sheng couldn’t even imagine what would have happened to them if he hadn’t woken up.
’Su Li is still so young, just entering the prime of her life, her best years. Her life has only just begun. I can’t let her wither away in her most beautiful years...’
’I have to keep my promise to grow old with her. I can’t leave her behind. And I must do everything I can to avoid another crisis like this one.’
He and Su Li had agreed to marry after her graduation. That was still over two years away. In that time, he had to work even harder and, above all, ensure his own safety.
Wu Sheng couldn’t let Su Li live in a constant state of tension, always afraid something would happen to him because of his job.
’I can’t give Su Li a marriage without a sense of security...’
In an instant, a thousand thoughts flashed through Wu Sheng’s mind.
Wu Sheng wasn’t the only one; Su Li’s mind was also in a jumble, all while being enveloped by his intense gaze.
"What do you mean, ’like what’? Don’t you know what kind of look you’re giving me?"
Su Li reached out, intending to cover Wu Sheng’s eyes.
Wu Sheng chuckled. Seeing Su Li’s blushing, conflicted expression, he dropped the subject of marriage.
He caught her hand and kissed it. "I don’t know," he said. "What kind of look?"
Su Li: "..."
’Fine, I can’t win an argument with him.’
She glanced up at Wu Sheng and saw his gaze hadn’t changed. In the end, she covered her own eyes with her hands.
’Out of sight, out of mind.’
’If I can’t block his gaze, I can at least cover my own eyes.’
Seeing her action, Wu Sheng let out a laugh.
"Are you trying to bury your head in the sand?"
Su Li didn’t answer, only wanting to pull her hand back.
Wu Sheng wouldn’t let go. "Don’t pull too hard now. I’m a patient, you know."
Su Li was truly exasperated with him.
Seeing Su Li immediately lessen her force and obediently let him hold her hand, Wu Sheng’s eyes filled with mirth.
"Alright, stop hiding. Let’s have a proper talk. I’m only looking at you because I missed you."
Wu Sheng gave her hand a little tug. "Come on, put your hands down. You were watching me every day while I was in a coma, so you’ve probably had your fill of looking at me. But I haven’t had my fill of looking at you."
His words left Su Li without any retort.
She looked at Wu Sheng’s still pale and gaunt face. "Does your wound hurt?"
Wu Sheng shook his head. "A little pain like this is nothing. It’s almost healed."
"In that case, being in a coma for a few days was actually a good thing. You got to rest well and didn’t feel the pain from your wound."
After saying that, Su Li tried to pull her hand away again.
"I’ll peel an apple for you."
This time, Wu Sheng obediently let go. "Okay."
As Su Li peeled and sliced the apple off to the side, Wu Sheng lay on the hospital bed watching her, only blinking after a long while, as if he could never get enough of the sight.
Su Li glanced at him a couple of times before finally letting out a helpless smile, not saying anything more.
After cutting the apple into slices, Su Li fed them to Wu Sheng while making small talk with him.
Most of it was about what happened during the days he was in a coma.
"...Little Mo helped us take care of you. He even gave you massages and talked to you. Every single day."
Hearing this, Wu Sheng chuckled. "I knew it. That kid loves me to his very bones. I could tell from the look on his face when I woke up; he couldn’t hide it."
Su Li couldn’t help but laugh. "Could you maybe phrase that differently? What do you mean, ’Little Mo loves you to his very bones’?"
’Isn’t that kind of phrase usually used to describe romantic love? Why would you use it for Little Tang Mo?’
"I think it’s a great phrase. It describes it perfectly."
Wu Sheng was unconvinced; he felt his choice of words was perfectly fine.
"Yes, yes, whatever you say is right." Su Li fed Wu Sheng another slice of apple. "Here, eat up."
As the two were talking, there was a knock on the hospital room door.
"Come in." After Su Li spoke, the door opened with some difficulty.
The visitor was Wu Dong. He smiled the moment he came in and saw Wu Sheng was awake.
"Cousin. Su Li."
He was carrying a heap of large and small bags, so with his hands full, he had some trouble opening the door.
Seeing him like that, Su Li quickly put down the apple and got up to help him.
"Why did you bring so many things?"
"It’s all from back home." Wu Dong let Su Li take some of the bags from his hands.
The things Wu Dong brought included a pile of food, as well as shoes and other items.
"It was my second sister’s wedding a few days ago, wasn’t it? Since we couldn’t go back, they just mailed everything they could."
Wu Dong listed all the items for Wu Sheng and Su Li, making both of their mouths water.
"This arrived at the perfect time. We’re in for a treat these next couple of days."
"We were hoping to make it back in time, but... well, at least we still get to enjoy the food."
Wu Sheng said, a warm feeling spreading through his heart.
"Cousin, does it hurt a lot? Are you uncomfortable anywhere?" Wu Dong sat by the bed, looking at Wu Sheng closely as he asked.
"No, I’m fine, really." Wu Sheng looked at Wu Dong and let out a breath. "Look at you, you’ve gotten thinner. Now that your cousin is awake, everything’s fine. Don’t worry anymore."
Wu Dong nodded vigorously. "Now that you’re awake, can we tell Grandma Wu and my mom about your injury?"
In Wu Qihua’s and Su Li’s eyes, Wu Dong was still a child. Even though he was actually a few months older than Su Li, he was still just a kid to them.
Because they saw him as a child and were afraid of scaring him, neither Wu Qihua nor Su Li had told Wu Dong.
Wu Dong had only belatedly found out about Wu Sheng’s injury from the news.
As for Grandma Wu and his younger aunt, they still didn’t know about Wu Sheng’s injury.
For one, news traveled slower over there, and for another, they were busy with the wedding.
Wu Xia had just gotten married a few days ago.
The Wu Family had four children whose names corresponded to the four seasons: Chun (Spring), Xia (Summer), Qiu (Autumn), and Dong (Winter). The eldest sister, Wu Chun, was twenty-six this year, with a two-year age gap between each sibling.
Wu Xia was already twenty-four, and in this era, that was practically an old maid.
Many girls, especially in more isolated rural areas, would marry and have children at eighteen or nineteen. A lot of them would only get their marriage certificate much later, after the children were already born. The wedding banquet, rather than the certificate, was considered the true mark of marriage.
Those who married a bit older were usually twenty, twenty-one, or twenty-two at the latest. Anyone over twenty-two was considered an old maid.
Wu Xia was pretty, virtuous, and hardworking. She had even graduated from junior high. She shouldn’t have had to wait this long to get married; it was just her bad luck that she did.