Tim walked into the kitchen as stiffly as a robot.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzV2JGVntLY
His movements were neither fast nor slow, as if every step had to be pushed forward by sheer willpower.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8fcxIagi2
He turned on the faucet and filled a glass of water. The surface of the water rippled gently, like the unease in his heart.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MYbUun6wP
He carried the glass back to the living room. As he knelt down, his eyes remained fixed on Nora.
She noticed the water had arrived and gave a slight nod, then braced her elbow against the floor, trying to sit up.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bKGA6v48K
But Tim immediately saw her struggle. The wound on her abdomen was still affecting her—her movements were slow, and her breathing was shallow and broken from the pain.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52epTl7n7w
He didn’t say a word. Instead, he quietly sat down behind her.
He pulled her gently into his arms, silently becoming her support.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUKDrduGHI
Then, he opened the painkillers and carefully poured them into her palm.
Nora didn’t refuse.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6rHPI9uBw
She leaned against Tim’s chest, holding the glass with one hand, and drank the water, swallowing the pills along with it.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvOssUkNp3
After taking the medicine, she let out a faint sigh and closed her eyes.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPBSL2Qp4b
But she didn’t move away. She continued leaning against Tim, as if waiting for the medication to take effect—or perhaps just quietly cushioning herself through this unexpected reunion.
After a few seconds, Tim finally spoke in a low voice,121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEq7ehuTSFY
“Why did you leave the hospital?”
He wasn’t expecting much.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11mUuJt5eZ
He knew their relationship hadn’t reached the level of trust.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4UAFAnxto
To her, he was just a stranger who had once broken into her home at night.
But to his surprise, Nora answered.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLsuiN002n
Her voice was still hoarse, and she didn’t open her eyes, like she couldn’t be bothered to put too much emotion into the reply.
“My body heals fast,” she said, her tone as calm as stating the weather. “I’d rather not become a medical miracle.”
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Tim froze.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjoqlLl28u
Not because of her answer, but because—she had actually answered.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi0nQcYrud
He hadn’t expected her to give him that much explanation.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsVmfRzRad
To him, that was a luxury.
He lowered his head for a moment, then asked again, “Then why not stay in bed?”
Nora kept her eyes closed, her tone steady: “Because the wound was bleeding. I didn’t want to stain my sheets.”
Tim nodded, finding the logic a little sad.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAfuc9b6MV
He paused again, then asked tentatively, “Do you want me to handle the hospital’s side of the explanation for you?”
She still didn’t open her eyes, but her tone now held a hint of approval: “Of course. If you can take care of it, I’d be grateful.”
Tim nearly laughed.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTrLwiUT5y
He really liked this situation.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQte5j0Sgd
For a control freak like him, being able to handle a series of issues all at once felt like executing a flawless operation.
So he pushed his luck.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQwVAZiGS5
“You handed over the wheel to me without hesitation that day, so… do you trust me?”
This time, Nora finally opened her eyes.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUajDOhmMEB
Her green eyes looked at him with a trace of exasperation, taking in the clearly greedy Red Robin.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzJ1ATwXEg
He was acting like she was a genie in a lamp—asking questions, expecting answers, wanting approval, even trying to fish for affection—
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Nora stared into those expectant blue eyes without blinking.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPC4tz55zr5
She was silent for a beat—maybe the painkillers were kicking in. Finally, her focus shifted, and the corners of her lips lifted ever so slightly.
She decided to tease this overly serious man in front of her.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jWoBQZ0Qc
“Of course, Tim,” she said slowly, her voice warm and playful. “We already went on a date, didn’t we?”
Red Robin jolted like he’d been electrocuted.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtr4MKH6JAt
It looked like he almost jumped off the floor, but immediately remembered he was half-embracing an injured person, so he froze awkwardly in place.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0SYUTcDJh
He remained silent for quite a while, a flustered expression spreading across his face.
Nora gently closed her eyes again, leaning back into his chest as if she hadn’t said anything at all.
“So… you figured it out long ago?” Tim finally asked.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlNiFvTwD3
“Mhm,” Nora replied casually, eyes still closed. “I knew even before I met you.”
Tim was stunned, and the memory of breaking into her house that night immediately resurfaced. His expression darkened.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenZjwfiFEy
He lowered his voice: “I’m sorry… about your house… last time.”
Nora opened one eye to glance at him and said softly, “It’s fine. You helped me. Let’s call it even.”
Tim fell silent again, as if making some decision.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP87h654oQn
He said, “Since you’re not blaming me for what happened before… and since you even trust me… then maybe… could you…”
His voice got quieter and quieter, until it was barely a whisper.
Nora opened her eyes again, noticing that Red Robin’s face was now completely red—like a boy who just got caught with a crush.
She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTtuG0g5LV
His eyes flickered, as if wanting to run away but also determined to stay put.
Nora smiled, said nothing, and instead lifted her left hand to gently touch his cheek, guiding his face toward hers—
Their lips met in a soft kiss.
No warning. No dramatic emotion.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BT1kiA8kr
Just a quiet, honest kiss.
In that peaceful living room, during what was supposed to be a patient’s recovery, Red Robin’s world came to a complete stop.121Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08q2jkeE6h
and then Add to home screen.