The sound of Leng Yexuan's footsteps faded down the stairs. The master bedroom returned to silence, but it was permeated with a微妙 (subtle) tension different from before.
Su Wan quickly composed herself, as if the brief conflict had been just a minor interlude. She walked to the table, poured a glass of warm water, and handed it to Leng Yecheng. "Drink some water to soothe your throat. You were coughing badly just now."
Her tone was calm and natural, showing no trace of the earlier "deeply affectionate couple" performance.
Leng Yecheng took the glass, their fingertips inevitably brushing. Her fingers were cool, while his were slightly warm from the recent emotional波动 (fluctuations) and brief "act." The contact was brief.
He drank a few sips slowly, but his gaze never left her. He watched her tidying the quilt corners and checking instrument readings (though most were just for show) as if nothing had happened, her movements fluid and professional.
"You seem," he put down the glass, his voice still hoarse but with a probing amusement, "quite adept at handling such situations."
Su Wan didn't stop her movements, not even looking up. "In the Su family, to live peacefully, one must learn to read people's expressions, know when to yield, and also understand... when to be firm."
She described the survival rules of the "Su family" lightly,巧妙地 (cleverly) explaining her ability to handle the situation.
Leng Yecheng gave a noncommittal "Hmm," clearly not entirely buying it. But he didn't press further. Instead, he changed the subject. "Just now, thank you."
The thanks seemed abrupt, unclear whether it was for stopping Leng Yexuan or for cooperating in the act.
Su Wan finally looked up at him, offering a faint, distant smile. "Part of my duty. After all, we are 'allies' for now, aren't we? Only when President Leng recovers can I get what I want."
She emphasized the transactional nature again, drawing a clear line.
Leng Yecheng's eyes darkened slightly,似乎 (seemingly) displeased by her constant need to clarify the relationship, but he didn't show it. He suddenly groaned, his brow furrowing tightly. His hand instinctively pressed against his left lower rib, and a layer of fine cold sweat instantly beaded on his temples.
"What's wrong?" Su Wan immediately stepped forward, her expression turning alert, the previous distance instantly replaced by professional wariness.
"Old injury..." Leng Yecheng gritted out through clenched teeth. His face was paler than during his act moments before, his breathing becoming labored. The pain didn't seem feigned.
Su Wan quickly supported him. "Lie down. Don't move."
She helped him lie flat slowly, her fingers swiftly finding his pulse while her other hand gently lifted the hem of his pajama top, revealing his left flank.
There, a狰狞 (savage), healed but still vividly red scar stretched from his back around his side to beneath his ribs, like an ugly centipede. The muscles around the scar were unnaturally tense, even twitching slightly.
Su Wan's eyes sharpened instantly. The location and appearance of this scar... it was clearly from a severe penetrating injury! And the timing of the injury must have been shortly before he became a "vegetable"!
Was it from that attack? What kind of attack could cause this? This was definitely not from an accident or an ordinary conflict.
She suppressed her shock and suspicion, her fingertips carefully pressing around the scar area, feeling the condition beneath the skin. "Does it hurt here? Is it a sharp pain, a dull ache, or a pulling sensation?"
Her voice was calm and professional, carrying a power that could reassure and convince.
Leng Yecheng closed his eyes, sweating profusely, struggling to describe it. "Dull ache... like something churning inside... occasional... tearing sharp pains..."
Su Wan's frown deepened. His pulse indicated his qi and blood were in turmoil again due to the earlier emotional波动 (fluctuations) and the current pain. The cold toxin also seemed agitated, becoming more active. This old injury had clearly damaged internal meridians, hadn't been thoroughly treated or healed, and left a significant hidden danger,极易 (extremely prone) to flare up when his body was weak or his emotions were agitated.
"Relax. Take deep breaths," Su Wan instructed firmly, already pulling several silver needles from her case.
Disinfected with alcohol swabs, her movements swift as lightning.
The next moment, the long, thin needles accurately pierced the Tianshu (ST25), Guilai (ST29) on his abdomen, and Zusanli (ST36) on his leg. The needle tips quivered, carrying a strange, gentle force that slowly infused into his body.
Leng Yecheng felt several warm streams of energy flow in through the needles, like an invisible hand gently smoothing out the churning, severe pain and spasms inside him. The tormenting dull ache actually began to slowly subside.
He opened his eyes in surprise, looking at Su Wan, who was fully focused on the acupuncture.
Her lips were slightly pressed together, her concentration as intense as if performing精密手术 (precise surgery). Fine sweat beads formed on her temples from the focus, her entire person seeming to be enveloped in a faint glow. At this moment, stripped of all pretense, she radiated an extremely attractive, confident, and powerful light.
Leng Yecheng's heart skipped a beat莫名地 (inexplicably). A strange, indescribable emotion quietly stirred.
After more than ten minutes, Su Wan removed the needles. The severe pain in Leng Yecheng's side had mostly subsided, leaving only a weary soreness.
"This old injury of yours is very serious and wasn't handled properly," Su Wan said sternly as she put away the needles. "Avoid excessive emotional agitation and strenuous movements in the future. I will adjust the prescription, adding more herbs to soothe tendons, activate collaterals, resolve stasis, and relieve pain."
Leng Yecheng leaned against the headboard, looking at her deeply. Suddenly, he asked, "Can you cure this injury completely?"
Su Wan paused, meeting his gaze. Those deep eyes no longer held only scrutiny and ice, but held a trace of something barely perceptible... expectation?
She pondered for a moment, then nodded. "It's troublesome. It will take time. But theoretically, yes."
Leng Yecheng fell silent, just looking at her, his expression complex. After a long while, he spoke slowly, his voice low. "That attack... wasn't simple. This wound was from one of them."
He was actually主动透露 (volunteering information) to her!
Su Wan was inwardly shocked, but her face remained impassive. "Oh? President Leng is willing to tell me?"
Leng Yecheng, however, shook his head and closed his eyes, seeming utterly exhausted. "Later... perhaps I'll tell you. For now... the more you know, the more danger you're in."
This was the first time he had shown something resembling "protection."
Su Wan looked at his weary, sleeping face and didn't ask further. She knew this was a beginning. Trust took time and the right moments to build.
She tucked him in, her gaze once again falling on that savage scar.
Attack, poison, vegetative state, a watchful stepmother and brother... Leng Yecheng's situation was far more dangerous than she had imagined.
And she seemed to have,不知不觉 (unconsciously), become more deeply卷入 (embroiled) in the eye of this vortex.