Mother Song put the things in the kitchen and began to prepare lunch. Song Qingqing obediently helped her.
On the other side, Song Zhe and Chen Xiaoru had had enough of their affection.
"Husband, are you okay?"
Chen Xiaoru gently pushed Song Zhe, her voice lazily hoarse.
"Well, hold me for a while longer."
Song Zhe hugged Chen Xiaoru tighter, his voice low and nostalgic, as if he wanted to rub her into his body.
"Am I a hug pillow? I've been hugging you for so long and it's not enough. If your classmates knew you were like this, they would laugh at you."
Chen Xiaoru couldn't help but joked, with a hint of teasing in her tone.
"They won't know."
Song Zhe's muffled voice came from Chen Xiaoru's neck, with a hint of childish stubbornness.
Chen Xiaoru seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "Husband, can I ask you a question?"
"Well, you go." Song Zhe's voice was still low, with a hint of imperceptible nervousness.
"Why did you become like that in the first place?"
Chen Xiaoru asked cautiously, she knew that this was the deepest scar in Song Zhe's heart.
Song Zhe's body stiffened noticeably. He hugged Chen Xiaoru tightly and buried his head deeply in her neck, as if he was trying hard to hide his pain, or as if he was seeking a little comfort.
After a long while, just when Chen Xiaoru thought Song Zhe would not answer, he spoke, his voice low and hoarse, with a hint of suppressed pain.
"I... I remember it very clearly. It was the day before the imperial examination. My good friend and classmate Lu Chen insisted on taking me out for drinks. I've never been a heavy drinker, and I had an exam the next day, so I didn't want to go... but he begged me so much, saying so many nice things, and I... I couldn't bear to lose face, so I went.
I remember that I only had one drink during the meal, and I felt dizzy and dazed... When I woke up, it was too late. The expedition was over, and I was paralyzed. I tried to move my hands and feet, but I couldn't feel anything. My body felt like it was falling apart, and the pain was unbearable. At that moment, I felt extremely desperate.
"It was the restaurant owner who took pity on me and called a carriage to send me back... I, I still can't figure it out. Why did Lu Chen treat me like this? We, we are best friends..."
Song Zhe's voice became lower and lower, and finally almost turned into sobs. Every word seemed to be squeezed out from the depths of his throat, carrying endless pain and despair, like a blunt knife, cutting his heart again and again.
His body was shaking violently, as if he was trapped in an endless nightmare and couldn't extricate himself.
Chen Xiaoru's heart ached suddenly. She could feel the deep pain and confusion in Song Zhe's words. She patted Song Zhe's back gently and comforted him softly:
"My dear husband, don't be sad. Everything will be fine."
Song Zhe didn't say anything, but just hugged Chen Xiaoru tighter in his arms, as if he wanted to rub her into his bones and blood, afraid that she would disappear if he let go.
He knew that he had to cheer up and find out the truth. He secretly made up his mind to find out the truth about Lu Chen framing him.
"Thank goodness I have you, Xiaoru."
Song Zhe's voice sounded in her ears, low and hoarse, with a hint of relief at surviving the disaster and an indescribable dependence.
Chen Xiaoru felt as if something hit her heart hard, sour and soft.
She gently hugged Song Zhe back, stroking his back gently and firmly, again and again, as if she was comforting a wounded trapped animal, or as if she was silently transmitting her strength.
"Husband, it's all in the past. Everything will be fine in the future. I believe you will find the truth, so you have to cheer up."
Song Zhe took a deep breath, as if to expel all the depression in his chest. He nodded, and a low and powerful "hmm" sounded.
"My husband, you are so heavy. I am almost crushed to death by you."
Chen Xiaoru suddenly frowned and pushed Song Zhe in an exaggerated manner, with a hint of coquettishness and a hint of joking in her tone.
Song Zhe then realized that he was still pressing on Chen Xiaoru. He quickly propped himself up and slowly sat up. There was a hint of apology on his face, but his eyes softened. He looked at Chen Xiaoru and asked softly, "Xiaoru, do you still want to write?"
"No, I'm tired."
Chen Xiaoru shook her head and refused decisively like a child. She stretched her body and a tired look appeared on her face.
"No more writing, let's go out."
Song Zhe stood up from the edge of the bed, reached out and pulled up Chen Xiaoru, who was still lying on the bed, with a hint of pampering in his tone.
Chen Xiaoru stood up, yawned loudly, rubbed her sore wrist, and replied softly, "Yeah, okay."
She suddenly seemed to remember something and asked with concern, "Oh, by the way, how do you feel after taking the medicine? Are you feeling any discomfort?"
If she hadn't said it, Song Zhe wouldn't have paid much attention. After this reminder, Song Zhe tried to move his hands and feet, and was surprised to find that the lingering stiffness had disappeared without a trace.
"Xiao Ru, I seem to be really well now! I feel really good now, without any discomfort at all!"
Song Zhe's voice was filled with irrepressible joy.
"That's good, husband." Chen Xiaoru also breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile on her face.
Song Zhe hugged Chen Xiaoru excitedly, his voice trembling:
"Xiao Ru, can you tell me where this medicine comes from? If you don't want to tell me, you don't have to. I'm just... too curious."
Chen Xiaoru hesitated for a moment, but decided to tell Song Zhe what happened:
"Husband, you may not believe this, but this medicine... was given to me by an old man. The other day, I went up the mountain to pick mushrooms and happened to come across a seriously injured man. He was covered in blood and looked scary, but I still mustered up the courage to help him stop the bleeding.
To thank me, he gave me a pill, saying it was a detoxifying pill that could cure all poisons. Your condition was critical that day, and I wasn't sure if the pill would work, so I gave you half first. You should take the other half today."
"Xiao Ru, I believe everything you said. I just didn't expect you to give me such a precious medicine..."
Song Zhe's voice was choked with sobs. He hugged Chen Xiaoru tightly, as if he wanted to merge her into his body. "Do you know that this medicine may be more important than my life..."
"What's the big deal? You're my husband! We're family. You're sick and I have medicine, so who else should I give it to if not you?"
Chen Xiaoru patted Song Zhe's back gently, her tone relaxed but with unquestionable determination, "Let's go! Let's go out."
Listening to Chen Xiaoru's words, Song Zhe felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He felt so lucky to have such a wife who loved him wholeheartedly. He secretly vowed to cherish her, protect her, and make her happy forever.
"Okay, Xiaoru, let's go out." After saying that, Song Zhe took her hand and walked out of the room.
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