Shang Lu struggled to walk with the support of crutches, but it couldn’t really be called walking. He moved slowly and stiffly, almost like a robot, and his movements were somewhat awkward and ungraceful.
Su Banxia slightly parted her lips, her eyes trembling with intensity. There was a pang in her heart, a painful and indescribable emotion quickly filling her chest.
Shang Lu had returned from abroad a long time ago, and she had subtly probed, hoping he would go see a doctor for treatment of his legs. He did not respond directly.
She felt frustrated in her heart but also felt that she couldn’t force him.
Shang Lu had been living with his leg disabilities for many years. He didn’t want to pursue treatment anymore, fearing another failure.
In this world, there are many people who have experienced failure and fallen to the bottom. Trying to climb back up is incredibly difficult, and even taking a single step feels exceptionally challenging.
Fearful of grasping onto only faint hope and dreading failure, all their efforts seem futile.
She thought Shang Lu was unwilling, and not even she could sway him. However, she didn’t realize that he had already taken the first step secretly, regaining his confidence.
The room was very quiet, and Shang Lu walked step by step. The rhythmic sound of his crutches tapping on the ground was particularly clear.
Su Banxia covered her heart, tears streaming down.
No wonder he came home late every day; he had actually been coming to this hospital for rehabilitation. She had never noticed it all this time.
It was deep autumn, approaching early winter, and the temperature was very low. She could see that Shang Lu’s clothes behind him were soaked, indicating how hard he had been working.
As long as Shang Lu had been practicing, she had been standing outside the door watching. Perhaps she was so focused that he didn’t notice her presence.
Su Banxia’s feet were stiff and sore from standing for so long. She didn’t go inside; since he didn’t want her to know out of pride, she pretended not to know and waited for the day when he would recover, anticipating the surprise he would give her.
Following the doctor’s schedule, Shang Lu finished his rehabilitation and stood in place for a while before sitting in his wheelchair.
Every day during his rehabilitation, the pain in his legs became unbearable, as if sharp drills were ruthlessly stirring around, causing him to break into a sweat.
Gritting his teeth, he endured the torment of pain, persisting in his rehabilitation.
He had to persevere, not just for himself but for the glimmer of light in her eyes. No matter how difficult and painful it was, he had to succeed in standing up.
He imagined standing by her side like a normal person, rather than being looked at with strange eyes and mocked by others, as if she had a disabled husband.
The foreign doctor introduced by Qi Jiashu was very professional and gave him a realistic assessment. After the surgery and rehabilitation, there was a more than fifty percent chance that he could stand up.
This time, even with just a fifty percent chance, he would not give up.
Seeing Shang Lu stop, Su Banxia knew it was time for her to leave. She quietly left and returned to her apartment.
After taking a shower, she sat at the bedside, holding a book in her hand, but the exciting content couldn’t capture her attention.
After waiting for about fifteen minutes, she heard the sound of the door closing outside. She quickly pretended to be reading a book, and as she heard the faint sound of a wheelchair approaching, she tightly gripped the book with both hands.
Shang Lu entered the bedroom and saw Su Banxia sitting at the bedside. He said, “You haven’t slept yet?”
He knew that she had been busy with her studies recently and often visited her mother Su, so she usually slept like a little piglet when he returned home every night. However, tonight, she was still awake.
Su Banxia put down the book and revealed a slightly reproachful expression, saying, “I haven’t slept yet. I was waiting for you. Why are you back so late again?”
Hearing her tone of complaint, Shang Lu wheeled his chair over to her and said, “Work has been a bit hectic.”
Su Banxia’s heart fluttered slightly, and she lowered her long eyelashes to conceal the pain in her eyes. She asked, “When will you be done with work then?”
Shang Lu pursed his lips and replied, “It will take a long time.”
He didn’t know when he would fully recover, so he couldn’t give her a specific timeframe.
Su Banxia acknowledged with a soft “Hmm” and then hid under the covers, saying, “You should go take a shower and get to bed early.”
Shang Lu stood by the bed and watched her for a moment before turning to go to the bathroom.
Su Banxia wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. Her acting skills were not very good, and perhaps Shang Lu was just too tired to notice her unusual emotions.
After a while, the bed beside her sank, and a man with a cold breath lay down next to her. Out of habit, he reached from behind and pulled her into his arms.
Su Banxia made a few grumbling sounds, as if she was being stubborn.
Shang Lu held her tightly, not letting her escape, and his thin lips touched her earlobe. “Banxia.”
Su Banxia’s earlobe grew warm, and his deep and slightly magnetic voice was irresistible. She replied softly, “What is it?”
Shang Lu gritted his teeth, determined to come home and pretend to be normal in front of her. With his tired body and mind, he had no energy for anything else. Thinking that they hadn’t done it in a long time, he gently massaged the girl’s soft hand.
“I…” He found it hard to speak.
Su Banxia understood, turned to hold his face, and leaned down to kiss him.
A gentle kiss dissipated all the fatigue in his heart, bringing comfort, closeness, and sweet love.
Her clear eyes looked at him. “Here’s your goodnight kiss.”
Shang Lu hugged her tightly, kissed her forehead, and said, “Goodnight.”
…
Su Banxia had anticipated that Su Baiyang would get into trouble sooner or later, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon.
The voice on the other end of the phone sounded very anxious, “Sis, please come to the police station and bail me out. I didn’t do it, it wasn’t me…”
His voice trembled, as if the sky was falling, and he urged her to hurry.
Her younger brother had been pampered and spoiled since childhood, and his character had become quite indulgent. Besides their father freezing his bank cards, there was no one who could control him.
The phone call was too brief to explain everything clearly, and it was quickly disconnected.
Since Shang Lu hadn’t returned, she changed her clothes and headed out.
Xiong Da was driving, and Xiong Er updated her on the situation. “Miss, from what I know, Second Young Master and his friends were using some substance at the club, and it was quite a serious scene.”
Su Banxia’s expression changed. Although gathering and using prohibited substances in a group didn’t constitute a crime, it could lead to detention and fines. If that was the only issue, Su Baiyang shouldn’t have panicked so much.
When they arrived at the police station, she walked in with a serious expression.
“Who are you in relation to Su Baiyang?” the police officer asked.
Su Banxia replied, “I’m his sister. Can I see him now?”
After some connections were made, she was allowed to meet Su Baiyang. Through their conversation, she learned that someone had reported Su Baiyang for providing a venue for group drug use, and they had even arrested two or three addicts.
What was even worse was that a homicide case had also emerged.
Su Banxia had a splitting headache. Apart from the troublesome homicide case, just the charge of accommodating others for drug use could result in a sentence of up to three years in prison.
He was a teenager under eighteen, and if he ended up with a criminal record or in jail, his life would be ruined.
“Sis, please bail me out quickly.”
Su Baiyang didn’t dare to contact his parents. When he was arrested, he was still somewhat arrogant, but upon learning that he might go to prison, he became panicked.
He tried calling Mu Ruxue, but her phone was turned off. He then turned to Su Banxia, his only hope for salvation being his own sister.
Su Banxia had married Shang Lu, a man with a disability, but who held immense power in Haicheng. She would surely find a way to save him.
“I haven’t done anything, how could I possibly use drugs? They’re framing me, they’re all a bunch of scumbags, conspiring against me…” Su Baiyang ranted.
Su Banxia looked at him, her face grim. “Did you rent the room and invite them?”
“Sis, I…” Su Baiyang’s eyes turned red with desperation. “Yes, I rented the room, but it was for a gathering. I didn’t provide those substances.”
“Get me a lawyer quickly and have him apply for bail, use money to smooth things over, and get me out of here,” Su Baiyang urged.
Su Banxia stared at him. “Do you really think money can solve everything?”
“Are you just going to watch your own brother go to jail?” Su Baiyang became frustrated. “Are you even still my sister?”
Su Banxia coldly chuckled. “Aren’t you the one who considers Mu Ruxue your real sister?”
Su Baiyang’s face turned red and then pale, unable to utter a word.
Su Banxia turned and left the room.
Su Baiyang anxiously pounded the table, shouting, “Sis, don’t go!”
An hour later, Su Banxia emerged from the police station, wearing a dark and troubled expression.
The situation with Su Baiyang was extremely tricky. It was true that he had rented the room where they were caught using drugs publicly, and he had even allowed others to use drugs there. Moreover, a woman with a special profession had died in the room.
This situation needed to be resolved quickly before it escalated further, and the first step was to contain the information.
As she walked to the street, she saw a familiar license plate number. She approached, and a person in a suit stepped out of the passenger seat and opened the rear door.
In the spacious car, Shang Lu, dressed in a suit, looked composed with a hint of concern in his cold black eyes.
Su Banxia got into the car, and the luxurious yet low-key vehicle pulled away.
“Don’t worry too much about Su Baiyang’s situation. I’ve already instructed a lawyer to investigate and get him released as soon as possible.”
“No need,” Su Banxia said with a hint of coldness in her eyes. “Let him stay in there a few more days. Nobody should visit him.”
“If he doesn’t experience a little hardship, he’ll never learn his lesson. He always thinks that someone will clean up his mess when he gets into trouble.”
Shang Lu hugged her waist and said in a low voice, “Don’t be angry. If he doesn’t listen, I can teach him for you.”
Su Banxia leaned against his shoulder and said, “My parents must not find out about this.”
She knew that with Su Mother still recovering, Su Baiyang’s arrest would cause her to worry and lose her appetite. And if Su Father found out about his only son getting into trouble, he would definitely try to get him out.
Su Baiyang easily got out of the police station this time, but she was sure he would repeat his mistakes in the future. Who could guarantee that the next time he made a mistake, it would be as easily resolved?
First, let Su Baiyang spend a few days in the police station to temper his character and make him more cautious. After that, they could work on getting him released.
Su Baiyang was a playboy in the social circles, but deep down, he had a good heart and had never indulged in vices like drug use. He was not a liar.
Shang Lu instructed the lawyer to investigate and gather evidence. The challenge was that there were no surveillance cameras in the room on that night, and the individuals who were caught all claimed that Su Baiyang provided the venue and the prohibited substances.
Without any evidence to prove that he was framed, he would bear responsibility for the death of the woman involved.
A few days later, Su Banxia went to see Su Baiyang again.
Su Baiyang, upon seeing her and Shang Lu by his side, looked excited and tried to stand up. These past few days in the police station had been tough on him, and he felt as dirty as a beggar.
He couldn’t bear it any longer and wanted to get out immediately.
Su Baiyang looked disheartened. “Sis, you have to believe me. It really wasn’t me. I was deceived into taking just one puff by them, and then I was arrested. Please, get me out of here quickly.”
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