She hadn't had time to answer when she saw his tall figure block the light at the alley entrance.
Chen Jiancheng had pinpointed the location she sent and came here. Seeing the light from a phone emanating from the alley, he confirmed it was hers.
"Le Wanru!" He called out.
Hearing his voice, she looked at the young man and said in a low voice.
"Move!"
The young man, as if realizing it was truly Chen Jiancheng, fell silent. He frowned, and though unwilling, still moved to the side.
As if seeing a lifeline, she immediately ran to the mouth of the alley, rushing towards Chen Jiancheng and grabbing onto him.
He caught her. His eyesight was good enough to see the shadow of another person in the dark alley.
He led her to the car, opened the door for her to get in. He quickly scanned her from head to toe: her hands were tightly gripped, already bruised blue, and the corners of her eyes were both wet and red.
He guessed she had been bullied and had called him for help.
"Did he do anything to you?" he asked.
She shook her head, sobbing.
"I told him I knew you, so he didn't dare do anything."
She heard him chuckle and looked over, saying a little aggrievedly.
"Am I bothering you?"
Chen Jiancheng was startled to hear this. Where had the girl who always teased him gone? Before him now was once again a fragile, weak girl.
He absentmindedly shook his head.
"Let me take you home."
Wanru nodded without answering. She just sat, rubbing the spot where the guy had grabbed her.
Chen Jiancheng understood and drove her home.
When they arrived in front of her house, he got out and opened the door for her. The moment he placed a hand on her back, she cried out and her back buckled.
"What's wrong?"
Tears streamed down her face as she answered with difficulty.
"I don't know, my back hurts so much, I can't stand straight."
"What happened to your back for it to hurt?" Chen Jiancheng's hand rested lightly on her back, without any pressure.
"Earlier, that guy pushed me against the wall. My back hit it then, and it hurt a lot even back then."
"Let's go inside, I'll check your injury."
Even though tears streamed down her face from the pain, Wanru still noticed, amidst her distress, that he had, as she preferred, started using a more familiar address, rather than the more formal one.
This proved her plan was working.
But for now, the pain made her dizzy. Chen Jiancheng slowly helped her up to a room.
He found the key in her pocket, then helped her inside.
"Can you sit?" he asked.
"No, I can't straighten my back!"
"Then lie down."
Saying so, he helped her onto the bed.
Secretly, she was glad she was a tidy person. If he had come in and seen a messy room, she probably would have lost the chance to talk to him.
He helped her lie face down on the bed, then sat down beside her.
His hand gently probed her back, his mouth asking.
"Where does it hurt?"
"Up here...!A little higher. Ah! Don't touch my spine, that's where it hurts the most."
Wanru guided him with her words, and his hand followed her instructions, searching her back.
Once he located the spot, he stopped applying pressure, only gently touching it. Sure enough, the area she said hurt was swollen.
"Do I need to lift my shirt?" Wanru asked.
He paused, his hand hovering, unsure how to answer.
Le Wanru was wearing a shirt today, so she quickly unbuttoned three buttons at the front, pulling the collar back enough for him to see the injury. Only half of her back and her small shoulder were exposed.
Chen Jiancheng had expected to be surprised by the young girl's actions, but after she pulled her collar down, he was even more surprised.
The injury site was a dark, solid bruise.
His gaze turned several shades colder.
"Button up your shirt. We're going to the hospital."
He carried her on his back, taking her to the hospital.
Yuan Ru naturally leaned against his back, her arms wrapped tightly around his neck. She said softly.
“Thank you!”
“…”
“It’s really lucky I called you.”
“Later, give me your family’s phone number.”
“I don’t have any family, it’s just me.”
She said it naturally.
“Don’t joke around.”
His voice grew sterner.
“I’m not joking, I really am all alone.”
It was almost 1 AM, but they were still going back and forth.
At the hospital, Yuan Ru was diagnosed with a spinal injury, but it was minor, so after a single treatment session, she was given medication and sent home.
The doctor instructed her family to pay close attention to her care because the spine is very important, and improper use of bone and joint pain medication could affect her body.
As the patient’s “family member” – Chen Jiancheng listened, a headache forming.
After returning home, seeing Yuan Ru slowly shuffle, hunched over like an old woman, he sat on the sofa, losing his patience.
“Sit still, don’t move anymore.”
“Why don’t you go home?” Yuan Ru asked, bewildered.
“If I leave, can you manage here by yourself?”
“Are you planning to stay?”
“Not exactly. I’m just wondering how you’d manage on your own.”
Li Yuan Ru burst out laughing. Her laughing face was beautiful and radiant.
Chen Jiancheng gazed at her, a little dazed.
“I’m fine. If you’re worried, then you can stay!” Yuan Ru teased him with a smile.
“Alright, I’ll stay tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll call Mei Jin to come stay with you for a few days.”
He said seriously.
She had only meant to tease, but he was actually serious. Hearing him, a look of dismay crossed her face.
“Oh, there’s no need to call Jin over.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t feel comfortable.”
“Now I’ll give you two choices: one, stay with my niece until you’re fully recovered, or two, call your family to come here.”
That rotten old man, he clearly knew she didn’t have family and was still forcing her!
“Isn’t there a third option?” she asked.
“What is it?”
“To stay with you.”
“…” He frowned, looking at her.
She thought she had spoken out of turn, so her smile slowly faded, feeling incredibly shy.
Being so forward, she might just give this serious old man a heart attack.
“Go to sleep.”
He said softly.
“Okay.”
He gently helped her lie down, careful not to jostle her back too much.
Yuan Ru no longer paid attention to what he was doing, instead focusing intently on his face, which was very close to hers.
He was incredibly handsome. Her face flushed hot.
When would she get to legitimately kiss this face? She chuckled softly.
“What are you laughing about?”
“I really want to kiss you!” Yuan Ru said boldly, looking straight into his eyes.
As long as she wasn’t embarrassed, the other person would be.
Chen Jiancheng looked at the youthful face before him.
Her eyes were large and round, her long, curved lashes making them sparkle. Her cheeks were now flushed red.
He stared, a little dazed, and swallowed.
“Go to sleep. I’ll lie on the sofa. Call me if you need anything.”
He regained his composure and quickly went to the sofa, sitting there quietly.
Seeing him resting, Yuan Ru felt safer than ever before.
She didn’t fall asleep right away but lay with her gaze directed towards the sofa.
Yuan Ru realized that she no longer liked him just because he was handsome; she truly wanted to be in a relationship with him.
This person brought her a sense of security.