The domineering CEO male lead who was physically impaired (20)

Shen Huai intended to take Si Jiu for a physical examination, but she repeatedly diverted the topic. Given that she had seemed energetic these past days and hadn't shown signs of prolonged lethargy, he didn't insist. Day by day, Shen Huai could keenly sense the improvement in his own health. His mood brightened, and his smiles became more frequent.

The villa, once cold and lifeless, now seemed to brim with vitality.

He loved accompanying Si Jiu on the terrace, basking in the sun. They could sit quietly without speaking—she reading, he reviewing documents—or sometimes chatting for a while.

Neither of them had a happy childhood, so they avoided discussing the past and talked about the future instead.

"When the new year passes and the weather warms up, I'll have someone put a swing in the flower garden for you."

Si Jiu murmured in assent, shrinking her neck. Shen Huai reached out to touch her cheek, "Cold?"

"A bit."

He moved his wheelchair beside her, wrapped the small blanket more tightly around her, and cupped her hands in his own, hoping to share some warmth.

"What flowers do you like? I'll ask the gardener to plant more of them in the garden."

He had spoken of planning the future more than once, and Si Jiu felt she shouldn't let him continue.

"Huai, about the documents I took from your safe last time..."

Shen Huai's grip tightened. "There's no need to discuss that anymore."

"But I did intend to sell your information for a good price." She tried to pull her hand away, wincing at his grip, but couldn't. Resigned, she said, "I'm not a good person. I approached you only for money."

She laid bare what Shen Huai wanted to avoid.

"See? If I could sell your information for five million, I could sell your life for even more."

"Stop."

"I just want to tell you, I'm really not a good person. You shouldn't bother with me."

System: [Host...]

Si Jiu: [Silence.]

A long silence settled. Just as Si Jiu thought he might have accepted it, Shen Huai said, "You like money. I have it. However much you want, I can give it to you."

Si Jiu: "!!!"

[Is this really okay? Is the protagonist supposed to be so humble?]

System: Heh.

Shen Huai moved closer and hugged her tightly, saying, "As long as you don't leave me."

No reply came.

His good mood from the past few days vanished completely.

He still couldn't bring himself to believe that Si Jiu would betray him for money. The intercepted documents had only contained evidence of Shen Zhe's embezzlement; the confidential Shen Corporation file folder had been empty.

He believed his Tangtang had acted out of necessity, and refused to believe she had no feelings for him at all.

After so many nights of sleeping in each other's arms, after all his care for her, how could she not feel anything?

Yet Shen Huai could not find comfort in this; on the contrary, he felt uneasy.

"In a... few days, I have something important to tell you."

His legs had recovered well, sensation returning more clearly with each passing day. According to the doctors, he could stand again at any time.

He wanted to wait until he could stand, to tell her his feelings and decision at the first moment.

...

That day arrived sooner than Shen Huai expected.

Late at night, he was jolted awake by a sharp pain in his legs. As if sensing something, he slowly shifted his legs to the edge of the bed.

Bare feet touched the floor, a chill seeping upward. He glanced sideways unconsciously—Si Jiu was still fast asleep.

He pressed down slightly with his legs, braced his hands against the bed, and in the next moment, Shen Huai stood up.

[Golden Finger collected. Do you wish to leave the current world?]

Si Jiu silently opened her eyes, seeing Shen Huai struggling to stand upright, bracing himself against the wall.

[Wait until he falls asleep before leaving.]

System: [Understood.]

After some time, Si Jiu felt the bed sink beside her. She was embraced once more in warmth, Shen Huai’s chin rubbing lightly atop her head, and his gentle laughter, "Tangtang, sleep. Wake up early—I have something very important to tell you."

He held her close, content, and closed his eyes.

When his breathing grew steady, Si Jiu sighed and said to the system, [Let's go.]

System: [...Exiting world. Ten, nine, eight...]

...

When Shen Huai awoke, a smile lingered on his lips.

Warm sunlight streamed through the gap in the curtains, casting slender beams across the pillow.

"Still asleep? How can you sleep so much? Are you a little pig?"

He lowered his head and kissed the top of the woman’s hair, calling to her, "Tangtang."

Silence.

Shen Huai paused, suddenly noticing how cold she felt in his arms.

His heartbeat faltered.

"Tang... Tangtang?"

His smile stiffened, as if some dreadful beast was about to burst forth from his chest. He slowly reached out, feeling beneath Si Jiu's nose.

A long, long time passed.

Shen Huai gently tightened his embrace around the woman who no longer held warmth.

"How much longer are you going to sleep?"

"You need to wake up early."

"I'm waiting for you."

His voice, choked with emotion, drifted away, light as a whisper, vanishing instantly into the air.