Clenching his jaw, he choked down painkillers before lurching back to his bedroom, collapsing onto the bed with a groan.
But the fire in his left leg burned hotter—like a swarm of fire ants gnawing under his skin, the searing pain spreading through every nerve until his whole body trembled.
Gu Mochuan instinctively curled into himself, digging his fingers into the knotted muscles as he rubbed in clumsy, jerky motions.
Back in those days, whenever storm clouds rolled in or his old injury flared up, Shen Qing'an would appear like clockwork, pressing a steaming towel against his leg.
She'd settle beside him, working the tension from his left leg with practiced hands, melting the pain away stroke by stroke.
He'd always assumed she was just naturally nurturing—never questioned it.
Now it
