The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 178 You want to read it? I'm not willing.

The notification sound was particularly jarring in the quiet night, ringing two or three times in succession, each vibration seemingly carrying some unresolved emotion. Shang Yibo was pulled back to reality from his light sleep by the sudden sound. He frowned; the person he cared about had just left, and it was impossible for them to message him at this hour. It was nothing more than inquiries, greetings, words of comfort, or something else from people who had received the news. Everyone was rushing to message him, afraid of being left behind and appearing negligent. But what did it have to do with him? Just a group of unrelated people.

His right hand instinctively reached for the bedside table and grabbed his phone. The screen glowed faintly in the darkness, but he didn't check it immediately. Instead, he turned it off and tucked it under his pillow, as if doing so would shut out the outside world.

He turned over, his movements revealing a hint of impatience and exhaustion, burying his head deeply in the soft, warm pillow, allowing him to temporarily forget the pain in his body, the pressure of work, and any possible emotional turmoil.

Silence gradually settled in, broken only by the occasional gust of night wind outside the window and the distant sound of passing vehicles. Shang Yibo closed his eyes, but his thoughts continued to churn. He sighed softly, his heart filled with complex emotions.

From his accidental injury to his insistence on moving into Zhou Zihang's home, every event seemed like a clever arrangement of fate. He no longer hid his feelings, realizing that this was the perfect opportunity to get closer to Zhou Yanruo. Although the injury was an accident, it became the first step in his actions. He felt slightly regretful about his various "outbursts" today, but they were also an unconscious expression of a certain vulnerability and dependence deep within him.

Thinking of this, Shang Yibo's lips unconsciously curled into a smile, a warm feeling welling up in his heart. When he needed someone to lean on, someone was there to support him silently; when he felt vulnerable, someone offered gentle comfort. Realizing that his heart was with someone close by, a sense of happiness welled up within him.

Shang Yibo found this feeling strange; despite being in unfamiliar surroundings, he felt unusually at ease. Sleepiness washed over him, and he drifted off to sleep...

The next morning, as sunlight streamed gently through the gaps in the curtains, illuminating his face, Shang Yibo awoke with a contented sleep. He could faintly hear Zhou Yanruo and Zhou Zihang whispering outside the door.

"Where did you get that cane so early in the morning?" Zhou Zihang asked with a hint of curiosity. "I made breakfast, and we'll eat together when he wakes up. But I have to go to the lab this morning. Will you two be able to manage at home? Can you take care of him by yourself?"

Zhou Yanruo lowered her voice deliberately: "I went to the medical equipment store this morning to buy it. How was he last night? We have to go out later too; he has to go to the recording studio this morning."

Zhou Zihang said with some concern, "He's already like this, does he really still have to go to work? You guys are being too harsh."

Zhou Yanruo explained, "There's nothing we can do about it. The schedule is all arranged in advance. Changing it by one day means that everything afterward has to be adjusted, and it will also affect other people's plans. He only injured his arm and foot, and his voice wasn't affected."

Zhou Zihang said, "I'm running out of time, I have to go now. You guys have breakfast by yourselves after he wakes up. My house password is your birthday, don't forget to tell him."

Then, I heard the door close.

At this moment, Shang Yibo deliberately coughed loudly twice.

Then, a soft knock sounded on the door.

Shang Yibo sat up and found that his injured left foot was more swollen than the night before, and the tight bandage made him feel waves of pain. He called towards the door, "Come in." Then, he carefully moved his injured leg and sat on the edge of the bed.

The door slowly opened, and Zhou Yanruo walked in holding a cane, smiling as she said, "You're awake. Try this cane and see if it's comfortable for you."

Shang Yibo laughed and said, "Ha, now you've really become Tieguai Li (a legendary Chinese martial arts master)."

He took the cane, propped himself up under his left armpit, and Zhou Yanruo carefully supported his right arm. Together they stood up.

"Let go of my hand, I'll try to take a few steps myself."

Having well-developed motor skills and good limb coordination is an advantage; even using crutches for the first time was so easy for me.

Zhou Yanruo walked ahead and opened the door wider. "It's easier to move around now. Let's go, Zihang has prepared breakfast, let's go eat together."

Shang Yibo didn't follow Zhou Yanruo, but instead went into the restroom. "I'm going to wash up first."

Zhou Yanruo stopped at the door. "We need to hurry. We need to be at the recording studio by 10:30."

After brushing his teeth, Shang Yibo turned on the shower to wash his hair. "Come in here for a moment and hold the showerhead for me. My right hand is not working properly."

Zhou Yanruo, "..."

Thinking to myself, "If your right hand is inconvenient, then my whole body is inconvenient, okay?"

Although I thought that way, I couldn't really ignore it, so I timidly walked into the restroom.

Shang Yibo watched Zhou Yanruo hesitate as she sidled in, and laughed, "What? Afraid to see? Dream on! Even if you want to see, I don't want to."

Shang Yibo sat sideways on the edge of the bathtub and handed the showerhead to Zhou Yanruo, saying, "You hold it, I'll wash my hair."

Zhou Yanruo took the showerhead and stood behind Shang Yibo. When she saw his neck bones exposed when he lowered his head, two dots protruded on his fair skin, and her heart tightened for no reason.

Shang Yibo's hair had just grown to the length of a buzz cut. He washed his hair and face together with just a couple of quick swipes of one hand.

Zhou Yanruo looked away. "Zihang said you should wear his T-shirt first, it's new. Also, if you need, there are new underwear too. Shall I get them for you?"

Shang Yibo dried his hair and face with a towel. "And, and, and what else?"

"That's all. What do you want?"

Shang Yibo laughed, "I was just kidding you. You don't need to change at all. It's only been one day since I changed, so I can still bear it. After we're done, come with me to the mall and buy everything we need."

The two were having breakfast at the dining table when Zhou Yanruo's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and said, "It's Ding Jiajia." Then she answered, "Hello, Jiajia."

Ding Jiajia's voice came from the other end of the phone, "Sister Yanruo, Yibo hasn't returned to Rushang Garden, has he? I just went upstairs, and no one was home. He's not replying to my messages, and I can't get through on the phone."

“I’m with Shang Yibo. If you’re looking for him, I’ll have him answer the phone.”

"No, I just wanted to ask if he's feeling better, and if he can go to the recording studio today. Where are you? I'll come find you."

Zhou Yanruo pressed the speakerphone button, "I've turned on speakerphone, Shang Yibo is right next to me."

"Yibo, are you feeling better? I'm coming to find you guys."

Shang Yibo said, "I'm fine. Didn't I tell you to take the day off? You don't need to come. Zhou Yanruo can come with me to the recording studio; she should give it her all. Enjoy your vacation." After saying that, he hung up the phone without waiting for Ding Jiajia's reply.

Zhou Yanruo put away her phone. "Zhang Xiaoguang called me early this morning, saying he wouldn't accompany Qi Qingnan to the business meeting today and wanted to come to the recording studio with you. I didn't agree, telling him to focus on the project. You know, it's not easy for an assistant to get involved in a project, this is an opportunity for him."

"Well done." Shang Yibo took a big bite of the fried dough stick, his mouth full of food, and mumbled as he chewed.