After much thought, Lu Yu decided to talk things out with Jiao Yuyin.

She pushed open the door to Jiao Yuyin's mother's bedroom.

Jiao Yuyin leaned back on the sofa, the water glass on the table was just watermarked, clearly he had drunk it all.

Lu Yu sat down next to Jiao Yuyin. His expression remained unchanged, but his aura was somber. Lu Yu explained, "That little girl must have seen the news about Jiao Yuchen's release from prison to act like that. I heard her inner voice; she kept calling for her father. She's very likely a relative of one of the victims of the Shifu mine disaster. What if she had fallen from the Qingbei Building today, and you were in the mall at that moment? How would your father view this? Have you thought about that?"

“Lu Yu, the Jiao family is not important to me. How many times do I have to tell you this? Can’t you contact the mall management or call the police? Why do you have to be the one to play the good Samaritan?” Jiao Yuyin said in a deep voice.

“I’m not a pushover! The situation was critical. If I had hesitated even a moment, that girl would have really fallen. And it wasn’t just for the Jiao family. She was someone struggling in an abyss of pain. She lost her whole world because of a mining accident that buried the truth.” Lu Yu spoke slowly.

When talking about Lu Yu's inner struggles, Jiao Yuyin slowly closed his eyes and said, "Lu Yu... but you are also my whole world."

Lu Yu turned her head and watched as a tear slowly welled up in Jiao Yuyin's eye.

The air was thick with a stifling, oppressive atmosphere, thick with the lingering sorrow of the past years.

Jiao Yuyin said in a hoarse voice, "Of course I know what it feels like to lose the whole world. I experienced it once when my mother jumped off the Jiao family's building. I couldn't hold her hand. I looked down from the top floor window and watched helplessly as her blood spread across her body and stained the earth red."

Through the window at the end of the sixth-floor corridor of the Jiao family mansion, Jiao Yuyin looked at the poplar grove outside the window again and again. He had seen it in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Despite his fear of heights, he still wanted to find his mother there for the last time.

Lu Yu asked in a muffled voice, "You're afraid of heights... is that why? I'm sorry for dragging you on the roller coaster at the theme park back then."

"You...Is what I care about that roller coaster ride? Is that all you wanted to say after hearing that?" Jiao Yuyin said deflatedly, "Lu Yu, don't treat me like this anymore, I really can't take it a second time..."

Lu Yu suddenly turned around, leaned over in front of Jiao Yuyin, wrapped her arms around his narrow waist, pressed her cheek against his warm chest, and said softly, "From now on, I will make sure I am safe before doing anything. Really, for your sake, I will never take such risks again."

Let's bury all our vulnerability.

Jiao Yuyin exhaled, gently rubbed the soft head in front of his chest, then straightened up by supporting himself on Lu Yu's shoulders with both hands, gently lifted Lu Yu's injured right leg, and asked, "Does it still hurt?"

Jiao Yuyin's careful examination of the wound amused Lu Yu. "It doesn't hurt."

"What are you laughing at?" Jiao Yuyin raised an eyebrow and glanced at Lu Yu.

Lu Yu chuckled twice before saying, "I'm reminded of a saying I always hear online: if this wound doesn't go to the hospital soon, it'll heal."

"..." Jiao Yuyin was left speechless, both amused and exasperated by Lu Yu's wildly imaginative ideas.

Lu Yu said gently, "Don't worry, the wound is very shallow and doesn't even need to be bandaged. The doctor also said it will heal soon."

"The doctor also said not to get it wet..." Jiao Yuyin stared at the wound for a moment, sweat slightly dampening it, leaving a thin layer of white residue around the edges. "It's gotten wet with sweat, let's disinfect it again."

Jiao Yuyin didn't exert much effort; he picked up Lu Yu and carried her towards the living room on the first floor.

The disinfectant slid over my skin again, and the pain in my calves was accompanied by a cool sensation that refreshed me.

Jiao Yuyin acted quickly, and the wound was treated in no time.

"Be careful when you shower tonight, don't take a bath, just wipe your body with a hot towel," Jiao Yuyin instructed meticulously. "Just bear with it for one more day, the competition is the day after tomorrow, don't let it get inflamed again. Ugh—"

Jiao Yuyin's words were muffled between the two men's lips.

Lu Yu's kiss was very light...

Her lips are so soft...

This was the only thing Jiao Yuyin could think of.

Just as Lu Yu was about to back away, the back of her neck was suddenly pressed back and locked firmly. Her eyelashes trembled slightly, and Jiao Yuyin's desire rushed into her eyes. She could only passively endure this kiss.

She started it all, so how did it turn into her being forced to sit on the sofa and kissed...?

Lu Yu stuck out her little tongue, and the other person's breath suddenly caught in their throat.

The ravages of the storm made Lu Yu forget to think. She could only smell the faint scent of patchouli on him, and his breathing sounded like a plectrum strumming a guitar string, with a barely perceptible tremor amidst the turbulent current.

Until a new sensation came from the softness on her chest, causing every cell in Lu Yu's body to tremble. This was a touch she had never experienced before.

So, the palm of the hand can hold fire, that was Lu Yu's final thought.

All movement came to an abrupt halt.

Jiao Yuyin propped himself up and silently straightened Lu Yu's clothes.

Lu Yu watched helplessly as Jiao Yuyin gritted his teeth and got off her. Although the fire in his eyes had not yet been extinguished, it was gradually covered by regret and remorse.

"I'm sorry..." Jiao Yuyin's voice was hoarse.

"Pop—" Lu Yu hooked her arm around Jiao Yuyin's neck, leaned over and gave him a kiss.

"You—" Jiao Yuyin's breathing became heavier, "Stop fooling around."

"No." Lu Yu leaned over and pecked Jiao Yuyin's lips again.

Her captivating eyes were both alluring and a blatant invitation.

"You—don't—regret—it." Jiao Yuyin maintained his last shred of rationality, his breathy words squeezed out from between his teeth.

Lu Yu blinked her almond-shaped eyes, smiled, and shook her head.

Her almond-shaped eyes were stunningly beautiful, striking the last chord in Jiao Yuyin's heart.

Jiao Yuyin let go of his last bit of restraint and covered Lu Yu's eyes with one hand. "You know, when you look at me like that, you look like a lost little deer."

His deepest desires were shattered by the stray deer, turning into starlight that spread and filled his entire being.

The spring breeze outside the window rustles the branches of the crabapple tree, scattering the crabapple blossoms in April.

White petals, imbued with love, carpeted the ground.

...

Steam rose in the bathroom as Jiao Yuyin carefully wiped Lu Yu's body with a warm towel, as if she were a precious treasure that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Jiao Yuyin forced himself to maintain the remaining restraint.

With the finals just around the corner, this is a crucial match for Lu Yu after his return to the court.

He could only repeatedly remind himself: "Jiao Yuyin, don't go too far..."

*

The nights in Yunan City are a bit drier.

Jiao Yuyin finally arrived at the hotel where the Qingbei team members were staying in Yunan City at 1 a.m. When he opened the hotel room door, Lu Yu was already curled up in bed, fast asleep.

Jiao Yuyin put down his suitcase, took off his suit jacket, and quickly washed his hands. He walked a few steps to the bedside, lifted a corner of the quilt, and looked down to examine Lu Yu's calves.

Jiao Yuyin breathed a sigh of relief that the wound had not become infected.

"Hmm...you've finally arrived..." Lu Yu wasn't sleeping soundly; her inner voice was disturbing her sleep, and she could only drift in and out of sleep. When Jiao Yuyin lifted the corner of the blanket, she regained consciousness.

"Did I wake you up?" Jiao Yuyin asked softly.

"I wasn't sleeping soundly to begin with," Lu Yu's voice still carried a soft, nasal tone.

“Cen Li has some important clues, but we can only meet with Brother Dong, which has caused some delays.” Jiao Yuyin smoothed Lu Yu’s hair.

Lu Yu stretched and said, "Cen Li? Any new developments?"

Jiao Yuyin chuckled and said, "It can't be explained in a few words. I'll tell you later. It's too late now."

After he finished speaking, he suddenly remembered something and said, "By the way, the little girl who jumped off the building last time was indeed a relative of the victims of the Shifu Mining disaster. Her father was among those buried. Her mother died early, and she and her father depended on each other for survival. She was not yet an adult, so the compensation could only be given to her guardian, who was her uncle. After that, most of the compensation was not used for her. She also became ill and suffered from depression."

Jiao Yuyin sighed and continued, "This matter can only be handled according to procedure. We really can't directly intervene in how the compensation money for the mining accident is spent. However, the charitable foundation under Yuhua has taken over this matter, and the girl will receive psychological intervention, so don't worry. Yuhua will also continue to pay attention to the issues of other families affected by mining accidents, and we are investigating and reviewing the specific situations."

After listening, Lu Yu hugged the blanket and patted her legs twice.

Jiao Yuyin knew she was happy, and said, "I've never reported everything to anyone like this before. My little darling, don't worry, go to sleep early. I'm going to take a shower and I'll be in bed soon."

The sound of rushing water came from the bathroom.

Lu Yu felt a sweet warmth overflowing from her heart.