Tim walked into the kitchen as stiffly as a robot.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidxuH8PnDb
His movements were neither fast nor slow, as if every step had to be pushed forward by sheer willpower.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAAAHBul7n
He turned on the faucet and filled a glass of water. The surface of the water rippled gently, like the unease in his heart.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnRNXhfrgi
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjYYU0hQ5b
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTNrCfqU0C
He didn’t say a word. Instead, he quietly sat down behind her.
He pulled her gently into his arms, silently becoming her support.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALkK1qH0Du
Then, he opened the painkillers and carefully poured them into her palm.
Nora didn’t refuse.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOroT7xPDz
She leaned against Tim’s chest, holding the glass with one hand, and drank the water, swallowing the pills along with it.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPAPDftA3Eu
After taking the medicine, she let out a faint sigh and closed her eyes.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweuxagPtwY
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,124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9cgIBkqHl
“Why did you leave the hospital?”
He wasn’t expecting much.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEmjG4g5iC
He knew their relationship hadn’t reached the level of trust.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcrgQHfz2b
To her, he was just a stranger who had once broken into her home at night.
But to his surprise, Nora answered.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡec5QmOg1y7
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmol1LayTn
Not because of her answer, but because—she had actually answered.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBcwsqrKNY
He hadn’t expected her to give him that much explanation.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwSQp9VEXo
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3hSPfxECO
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKviUOHEH6K
He really liked this situation.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehWaDoQ6C9
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWkF2w3Pi6
“You handed over the wheel to me without hesitation that day, so… do you trust me?”
This time, Nora finally opened her eyes.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe30NL7xF47
Her green eyes looked at him with a trace of exasperation, taking in the clearly greedy Red Robin.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6ojzYJFcG
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKVgSKoMpA
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMCtb0FqGl
“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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvq4PjmD6M5
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡob99nYH5bw
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaYnVgtq4G
“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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxfSbxIwSx
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yjXWAyZzo
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6r6pXuDK6d
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJyMNNQkVR
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.124Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1JIOLYgtV
and then Add to home screen.