"I had to help you to the toilet, feed you your meals, and even wash your feet! I really thought you were paralyzed, the way I tirelessly cared for you.

But who would have ever thought that the moment I stepped away, you’d vanish.

Tell me, where did you go? Did someone spirit you away?"

Listening to Wu Shengnan’s shouting, Du Heng genuinely felt like a thief caught red-handed. He held his phone and looked at Jin Zan, his eyes pleading.

Was he scared of Wu Shengnan? Truth be told, a part of him was, mainly because he dreaded her nagging. He just couldn’t understand why women seemed to become so fond of nagging once they settled into a domestic routine. Back when he lived at home, his elder sister-in-law nagged, and now it was Wu Shengnan. It seemed he was caught in an inescapable cycle. Fear of her nagging was one thing; the main issue was his guilt.

During this period, he had frequently used his injury as an excuse to have Wu Shengnan wait on him hand and foot. Wu Shengnan always did her utmost for him; even his more unreasonable requests would be met with a grumbled agreement.

Now that he’d been caught in the act, if he couldn’t come up with a plausible excuse, he feared his ears would be ringing from her lecture.

Seeing Du Heng’s dejected expression, Jin Zan couldn’t help but grin. He pretended not to understand the unspoken request as Du Heng offered him the phone.

"Speak up! Where did you go?"

"Hurry up and answer! Are you even still alive?"

Hearing the voice on the phone again, Du Heng shot Jin Zan a vicious glare and prepared to answer himself.

But just then, Jin Zan smilingly took the phone. "Shengnan, hello, this is Jin Zan."

There was a slight pause on Wu Shengnan’s end. "My husband is with you?"

Jin Zan glanced at Du Heng with a smile. "Yes, I had a bit of a situation with a young patient today that I couldn’t quite handle, so I asked Du to come and help me out. Don’t worry, Du’s fine. He was just about to head back."

Jin Zan thought his explanation was perfect and even gave Du Heng a knowing look. However, before the smirk could fully form on his lips, he heard Wu Shengnan erupt from the other side of the line, "If you can’t handle it, find another doctor! Your hospital is full of doctors, why did you absolutely have to pick Du?

He’s strained his back and can still barely walk! You made him come all this way. What if his injury, which was just starting to get better, gets worse?

He’s been in so much pain these past few nights he can barely sleep, and he doesn’t even dare to turn over in bed! Are you even his friend? Can’t you show a little consideration for him?

And is your patient really in such a critical condition? Couldn’t it have waited a couple more days until he was a bit better?

Alright, just send him back to me immediately! If his injury has gotten worse, then you can come over tonight and take care of him!"

Jin Zan felt extremely frustrated. Hearing the BEEPING of the busy signal from the phone, a suffocating tightness gripped his chest.

Du Heng, meanwhile, took back his phone with a grin. "Thanks, brother. Once I’m fully recovered, I’ll treat you to a lavish meal to properly compensate you for your heroic deed today."

Only then did Jin Zan finally let out a sigh of relief. He had an urge to shove Du Heng, but remembering his friend’s badly injured back, he resentfully pulled his hand back and glared fiercely at Du Heng. "You’d better sort this out. I’m not happy about this."

Though Jin Zan said he was unhappy, Wu Shengnan’s torrent of words had actually made him feel happy for his brother. Among their group of four, Du Heng was the only one still unmarried, a fact that had worried them. Now, seeing a girl who genuinely cared so deeply for Du Heng, Jin Zan was truly happy for his friend from the bottom of his heart. As for being scolded, he didn’t mind; he had already taken the blame when he answered the phone. He just hadn’t expected Wu Shengnan to be so fiercely protective of Du Heng or to react so strongly.

Du Heng put his arm around Jin Zan’s shoulder, smiling. "Don’t worry, brother, I’ll remember this. I’ll definitely make it up to you."

Jin Zan, still feigning annoyance, glared at Du Heng. "Don’t be so chummy. This is a hospital office; how unprofessional!" With that, he brushed Du Heng’s hand off.

Du Heng didn’t mind, still looking at Jin Zan cheerfully.

Jin Zan said irritably, "Alright, I’ve taken the blame for you. Now hurry up and go home, and stop bothering me."

Looking at Du Heng’s smiling face, Jin Zan felt an inexplicable wave of frustration and practically pushed and ushered Du Heng out of the office.

When Du Heng got home, just before stepping inside, he clutched his back and then slowly entered the house.

Wu Shengnan, who had been wearing a stern expression and was ready to unleash her temper, saw Du Heng’s pitiful attempt at walking, his injured back making his legs seem to drag. The words on the tip of her tongue were swallowed back, and with a dark face, she went forward to help Du Heng inside.

"Honestly, you! How important could this patient be? Are you the only one who can treat them?" Wu Shengnan helped Du Heng to the sofa, muttering continuously, "Even if the patient is important, you have to consider your own condition! Your back is nearly broken. Can’t you prioritize yourself for a bit?"

Du Heng shamelessly wrapped his arms around Wu Shengnan’s waist and said with a wide smile, "Baby, you have no idea. When you were telling off Jin Zan just now, I fell completely in love with you.

It was in that moment I realized just how much you care about me, how much you love me."

As he spoke, Du Heng became even more brazen, pressing his face into Wu Shengnan’s embrace. "I love you so much."

Wu Shengnan, her face still stern, could no longer maintain her composure. With a mock glare, she playfully pushed away the mischievous Du Heng. "Stop with the sweet talk. I’m still angry, you know."

Du Heng sat up straight, his gaze serious and fixed intently on Wu Shengnan’s eyes. "I mean every word. It’s not sweet talk at all."

Wu Shengnan found it hard to meet Du Heng’s direct, intense gaze and looked away. "Alright, alright, I get it. You’re being too cheesy. This isn’t like you at all. Did your good brother teach you this?"

"These words come from the bottom of my heart. Why would I need anyone to teach me?"

"Okay, I believe you."

Wu Shengnan ultimately couldn’t withstand Du Heng’s barrage of sweet words and completely abandoned her ’education’ of him. She actually found herself quite liking Du Heng’s sudden astuteness and his bold shamelessness.

"I went to the station earlier and found out they’ve had a few major cases come in these past two days, so they’re really short-staffed. I’ll stay with you today, but I absolutely have to go back to work tomorrow."

Wu Shengnan had Du Heng lie face down on the sofa, then began to massage the sprained area. "Before I go to work," she said, "I’ll cook for you. I’ll try my best not to work overtime and come back early. If I really can’t make it, just order takeout. Don’t push yourself to cook."

Lying on the sofa, Du Heng comfortably enjoyed Wu Shengnan’s massage. Only after she finished did he speak softly, "I’m almost better. I’ll go back to work once you leave. Don’t worry about me. Just focus on your job and take good care of yourself."

"No, you still need to rest at home for a few more days. A back injury isn’t like other injuries." Wu Shengnan was still worried.

Du Heng sighed. "Alright, how about this: for the next couple of days, I’ll stay at our new place. My brother and sister-in-law are there. If you can come home at night, you can come there too. That should be okay, right?"

"That could work. I really don’t feel at ease leaving you alone." Hearing this arrangement, Wu Shengnan finally felt a sense of relief.

After massaging for a few more moments, she said, "My brother called me just now. My sister-in-law’s check-up results are in. It’s confirmed."

Du Heng grunted. "It was inevitable."

Wu Shengnan gently slapped him and chided, "You make it sound so easy! It took them seven or eight years to have this child. They must have been incredibly anxious until they saw the confirmation themselves."

"To put it bluntly, they still don’t trust my skills, huh?"

"Humph, I’m not talking to you anymore." Wu Shengnan suddenly applied more pressure with her hands, causing Du Heng to groan softly. "By the way," she continued, "my brother also said the wedding hotel is already arranged, and they’ve found a planner too, so we don’t have to worry about it."