80 training

The rehabilitation training officially began on the second day.

The attending physician applied hot compresses, massaged, and stretched the newly grown tendons and bones, kneading them into the appropriate positions.

It must have been very painful, but Gu Tingshen didn't utter a sound the whole time. At most, his face was pale, and he let the sweat roll down his forehead.

After a morning of training, he was soaked to the bone, looking as if he had been pulled out of the water.

He gritted his teeth and endured the pain; his damp T-shirt clung to his strong, muscular body, unable to conceal the subtle trembling of his muscles. Like some wounded beast, the scars on his limbs did nothing to diminish his ferocity.

Ye Zhenzhen squatted down in front of him and stroked his sweaty forehead. Gu Tingshen turned to look at her and gave a weak smile.

She didn't express much more concern.

Even as he turned his head in extreme pain, Gu Tingshen could always see her gentle gaze, and then all that remained in his heart was peace.

Just look at me, your gaze falls on me, and I become omnipotent.

Seeing their good relationship, the attending physician comforted them while they were relaxing their finger bones.

"Mr. Gu is young and has a good foundation, so he is recovering quickly. In a few days, he will be able to gradually increase his voluntary exercise."

He has treated countless patients, and those who come here for recuperation are either rich or noble. But when faced with the pain of loosening muscles and bones, some scream in agony, and some strong ones need three or four people to hold them down.

This guy was tough; he didn't utter a sound and just endured it.

He naturally developed a good impression of patients who cooperated well with treatment and provided generous care, and thus became more patient with their families.

After the physical therapy session, Ye Zhenzhen carefully inquired about the precautions and contraindications for the exercise, asking all the necessary questions, and the doctor naturally answered all her questions.

"The doctor said to start with walking, and after a while, when the ribs are a bit better, you can start swimming. The buoyancy of the water can support the body, which is a great rehabilitation exercise. However, you should do it in moderation at the beginning, and the injured area should not be in severe pain." Ye Zhenzhen sat on the edge of the bathtub, rubbing the foam on Gu Tingshen's head. "I can swim with you too, and practice my freestyle."

"That's good. I haven't exercised in a long time, and I feel like my bones are rusting." Gu Tingshen leaned back in the bathtub and sighed.

Over this period of time, he had become quite accustomed to Ye Zhenzhen's care. Her soft fingertips massaged his scalp, and the soreness in his bones seemed to fly away.

Ye Zhenzhen rinsed his hair with the showerhead, ran her fingers through the increasingly long strands, and styled it into a Super Saiyan-like hairstyle. Looking at her work, she smiled to herself, "How is it? Has my hair-washing technique improved again?"

Gu Tingshen unconsciously curled his lips, "Yes, the force is just right. Master Ye's skills are becoming more and more exquisite."

The person being praised was even happier, supporting the man's strong back and helping him sit up. Drying his hair with a towel, Ye Zhenzhen smiled smugly, then casually wiped the water droplets splashed on his neck and chest. "Right? You're enjoying VIP treatment! This is my unique skill; aside from the higher price, it's flawless!"

"Unfortunately, I have nothing of value to repay you with," Gu Tingshen straightened up, speaking slowly and deliberately, then took her hand and placed it on his chest. "The only thing I can do is repay you with my body..."

The steam rising from the bathroom creates a small, secluded world; once the water stops, it's so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Her smooth, warm, tanned skin glowed with the healthy rosy hue of a bath, and beneath her broad chest beat her beloved, powerful heartbeat—a vibrant life force that captivated all who beheld her.

"Hmm, not bad physique. Keep working out, I'm rooting for you." She squinted, making a lecherous face, and pointed her finger at the man's chest muscles. However, she wasn't very good at flirting, and blushed before she could finish her sentence.

Gu Tingshen looked at her without saying a word, only smiling, which finally made her furious. She received two claws on her arm before he lowered his head with satisfaction and had someone blow-dry his hair.

His hair had grown a bit longer, hanging down and covering his eyebrows and eyes. After Ye Zhenzhen dried it, she inserted her fingers and stroked it, the rustling sensation was mesmerizing.

Gu Tingshen relaxed his body and lay back in her arms, resting his head between her crossed legs. Looking up from below, his eyelashes clearly outlined the curve of his upper eyelids.

During the recording of the program, although there were only two people, the ubiquitous cameras made them feel somewhat uncomfortable and even physical contact was restrained.

Now their relationship is more intimate and affectionate, like they've entered the honeymoon phase. She has seen his disheveled and weak moments, and she has shed her glamorous appearance and pretense, allowing them to face each other's most authentic selves.

The scalding skin, the profuse sweat, the damp hair roots, the flushed face, the pounding heartbeat in the chest during exercise...

They would tease each other about their contorted expressions amidst muscle spasms, and embrace and kiss each other with disheveled hair when they woke up in the morning.

Life is no longer so refined as to seem fake, but rather rough, real, giving one a sense of peace and groundedness.

It's hard to say whether it's because we spend all our time together, or because we cherish each other even more after experiencing an accident.

Even now, Ye Zhenzhen still wakes up from her dreams from time to time, clutching the man's hand in the darkness and pressing it against his warm chest, calming her frightened heartbeat with the steady vibrations.

In a half-dreaming state, the man tightened his embrace, stroked her back, and kissed her to comfort her.

The fingers running through her hair were a gesture of tender care, but also an inescapable constraint.

Ye Zhenzhen willingly threw herself into his gentle embrace, like a wandering soul finally finding its anchor on a vast sea.

After waking up, she sat at the table, and inspiration surged like waves. Her pen never stopped, and the design slowly emerged on the tablet.

After finishing the drawing, she was more and more satisfied with it, and sent it directly to Song Chengcheng, asking the master craftsman to expedite it for her, as she couldn't wait to see the finished product!

---

The rehabilitation training only took up the morning, leaving the entire afternoon and evening free.

For two busy adults, the amount of free time was almost overwhelming.

Gu Tingshen originally wanted to use work to relax, but Gu Henian was at the peak of feeling sorry for and guilty towards his son, and was determined to make him make up for the vacations he had missed over the years, so he firmly refused.

Song Chengcheng also took care of Tao Yao and Feng Ming's affairs, so Ye Zhenzhen could only give Assistant Song a large red envelope as a token of her appreciation.

The wealthy man would take a nap at noon and then spend the afternoon painting, reading, making tea, or practicing calligraphy, picking up all the hobbies he had neglected because he didn't have time for them before.

Gu Tingshen liked to hold her in his arms, whether they were reading, watching movies, drawing, or reading scripts together. The person in his arms was like a cotton candy, exuding an intoxicating floral and fruity fragrance, clean and warm.

In the evening, we took hands and went for a walk on the beach.

The afterglow of the setting sun spilled onto the sea, painting colors like an oil painting. The two, wearing matching tank tops and beach shorts, walked hand in hand barefoot on the sand. Except for their skin not being dark enough, they looked almost like native islanders.

The fine sand, still warm from the sun, squeezed between my toes, giving me a strange sense of fullness.

The beach wasn't crowded, but it was teeming with fascinating creatures, so it wasn't deserted at all.

At low tide, colorful hermit crabs, like stars scattered across the water, hurried by, carrying their colorful conch shells; occasionally, a silvery glint flashes—those are stranded needlefish; and tiny crabs, no bigger than a fingernail, swim in the water, crawling around in the palm of your hand—harmless and adorable compared to the menacing giant crabs...

Unable to sleep, the two chatted all night, talking about the future, their dreams, literature, painting, and design. In the quiet of the night, under the bright moonlight, their souls seemed to be close. They talked casually, saying whatever came to mind, or saying nothing at all.

Being enveloped in a warm, dry embrace, lost in thought, is also relaxing. Even past pain is permeated with the fragrance of cedar and flowers and fruits, exuding sweetness, making the memories no longer unbearable.

---

A few days later, the doctor relented, and the couple finally got some exercise in addition to walks. They changed into their swimsuits and swam in the pool in the yard.

Ye Zhenzhen waded through the deep end of the pool, leaning over the edge as she watched Gu Tingshen slowly walk down the steps into the water. She then recalled the dream she had about the mermaid prince.

His hair had grown quite a bit longer, and the sea breeze made the ends of his hair flutter, making his face look much younger. Between his half-length black hair, his lowered eyebrows and eyes revealed an almost melancholic fragility.

Like a mermaid born in the deep blue, heartbroken because she cannot return to the ocean.

Ye Zhenzhen looked up and saw his body silhouetted against the last golden light of the setting sun, his smooth muscles possessing a breathtaking beauty.

The feeling of being a child of nature.

She regretted not capturing the stunning moment in the evening, so she simply opened her easel and used her paintbrush to record it.

The next day, she managed to get her hands on a DSLR camera.

She kept taking pictures of everything that caught her attention.

The seawater ranges from tropical blue to transparent.

A sunset as molten as gold.

The magnificent reflection of the setting sun on the sea.

Various colorful, magical and adorable little creatures.

Two sets of footprints, one large and one small, were closely packed together on the beach.

The hem of the shirt was tangled together in the sea breeze.

The one who was photographed the most was Gu Tingshen.

Enduring the pain, practicing calligraphy, stretching out arms to paddle...

Sometimes, upon hearing the continuous clicking of camera shutters, Gu Tingshen would turn his head and see Ye Zhenzhen holding a large SLR camera, the black lens pointed at him, her slender white fingers rapidly pressing buttons.

He paused for a moment, then broke into a smile. He took the camera, adjusted it a few times, and pressed the shutter button on her.

In an instant, all her melancholy and deep sorrow vanished, leaving only tenderness that enveloped her like a sea breeze.

---

As the weekend approached, Gu Henian finally had some free time and took his family directly to the island. After getting off the plane, they went straight to the beach.

Gu Sinan remained silent the whole way, while Kong Shuyun stroked his head and pulled the little boy into her arms.

The day after the car accident, they left in a hurry without taking the children with them. Uncle Li and Gu Sinan moved back to the old house.

When Gu Sinan returned home at around 2 a.m., she was still awake, sitting in the living room with Black Panther in her arms.

Upon hearing the door open, both the man and the dog looked up at the same time. Kong Shuyun's eyes immediately reddened, and she hugged him for a long time to calm him down.

During this time, Gu's parents took over the company's affairs again, which inevitably kept them busy. Gu Sinan became more and more sensible, but also more and more silent and precocious.

Over the past year, under Ye Zhenzhen's influence, her lively personality faded away overnight.

Kong Shuyun saw it all and felt heartbroken. This time, she was determined to bring him along no matter what.

When they drove over, Gu Tingshen was getting a massage from the doctor, while Ye Zhenzhen went out alone and waited under a parasol by the roadside, standing on tiptoe and looking at the distant horizon.

Since transmigrating, apart from business trips, I've spent almost every day with the kids. Initially, it was for the mission, but feelings are built through spending time together. After being separated for so long, I really miss him.

The car stopped in front of them, and Gu's parents led Gu Sinan out of the car.

Ye Zhenzhen greeted the elders and then looked down at the children.

The first sight of him reminded her of how he looked when she first met him at the old house.

She had lost weight, and her large, clear eyes looked at her quietly, like a little adult, completely lacking her former liveliness, which made her heart ache.

She crouched down, opened her arms, and the child flew into her arms like a little cannonball.

Ye Zhenzhen hugged his small body and felt him trembling slightly. After a while, he raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, his mouth pursed, and he forced back his tears.

"Mom, how is Dad?"

"Dad is much better! He can walk and swim now!" Ye Zhenzhen forced a smile. "The doctor is giving him a massage and said Dad is in good health and recovering quickly!"

She took the child's hand and walked into the villa.

Upon entering the training room, the training had already ended. Gu Tingshen was sitting and resting, while the doctor was packing up the equipment.

Gu Henian and Kong Shuyun surrounded the doctor, asking about the progress of the recovery. Ye Zhenzhen pulled the child to Gu Tingshen's side.

"Dad," Gu Sinan had never seen her father so weak, "does it hurt a lot?"

“A little,” Gu Tingshen took the towel Ye Zhenzhen handed him, pulled his sweaty hair back, wiped the sweat off his hands, and then rubbed his head. Seeing the tears in his eyes, he paused, “A man shouldn’t shed tears so easily.”

Ye Zhenzhen glared at him. "Everyone has the right to shed tears. As long as you cheer up after crying and continue to work hard to overcome difficulties, that's fine."

The child, probably hearing this argument for the first time, widened his eyes, which amused both of them.

---

They stayed here for a day.

In the afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Gu sat in the yard, watching the three of them swim in the pool.

Ye Zhenzhen has made great progress in freestyle swimming recently. Her leg kicks and arm strokes have become much more rhythmic, and swimming is less tiring for her.

She and Gu Sinan set off at the same time, splashing water everywhere, while Gu Tingshen swam slowly by.

He swam for a while and then went ashore. He took the towel that Gu Henian handed him, wrapped himself in it, and sat down next to his father.

The two chatted for a while about the group's recent business. Gu Henian took out a small box from his pocket and handed it to his son. "A gift for Zhenzhen? Why are you being so mysterious?"

Gu Tingshen took it and stroked the deep red satin on the box. "It's just a little trinket. I was planning to give it to her as soon as I got home, but I ended up being delayed here for so long."

A smile played on his face, but there was also a hint of shyness in his eyes, as if he didn't want to say much.

This son has always been precocious; he never showed this side of himself, not even during puberty.

After Wan Ning passed away, she became like a work machine, silent and withdrawn, with little human warmth left in her body.

Now, this is the kind of youthful energy I see.

Gu Henian patted his shoulder and turned his head to look at Ye Zhenzhen and Gu Sinan splashing and playing in the pool. His gaze fell on Gu Sinan's happy little face, and he felt very gratified.

---

In the evening, the family went for a walk on the beach. Ye Zhenzhen and Gu Sinan took advantage of the low tide to look for surprises on the beach and used their DSLR camera to record the children's adorable appearance.

After taking many photos, Ye Zhenzhen finally remembered her Weibo account, which she hadn't opened in a long time, and started sharing her work on it every now and then.

So, her fans enjoyed the beautiful island scenery together through her Weibo account.

Most of the photos are landscapes, with the occasional portrait or two, all of which are blurry close-ups of light and shadow, or backlit profiles, or fluttering skirts, creating a strong sense of atmosphere.

The only photo of the two people is of them standing on the beach from behind.

Ye Zhenzhen tied Gu Tingshen's shoulder-length hair into a small bun at the back of his head. The tank top hugged Gu Tingshen's broad shoulders and narrow waist, paired with a pair of beach shorts printed with coconut leaves.

His tanned arms were broad and strong, and the veins on them seemed to be surging with a hot life force.

Ye Zhenzhen's workouts have paid off. During this time, she has been swimming with the man, and a thin layer of muscle has appeared on her shoulders, back, and arms. She has worked hard to sculpt her figure and nodded to herself as she looked at the photos she had taken.

That's it, I'm so handsome!

She secretly placed a photo of herself showing off her muscles in the very center of a nine-grid photo collage, hoping her fans would notice her cool muscles. But after finishing dinner and opening the comments section, hmm? ? Hmm? ?

[Author's Note]

Tao Tao: Building muscles is so hard! But I've built them all up, look at my biceps! So cool!!

Peach Fan: Wow, Mr. Gu is so big! He makes Peach look like a paper doll! Baby, eat more!

TaoTao: I'm tired, I don't want to post any more photos...