Love in the Midst of Mistaken Identities

"En, she's sleep," Xia Ruoxin replied softly. She looked at the clock on the wall, sending a clear message. It was late and time for him to leave.

"I'm leaving now." Chu Lui put his hands in his pockets and picked up his coat from the couch before putting it on. He then walked to the door and changed his shoes. He opened the door and was about to leave when there was loud thunder outside.

"You…" Xia Ruoxin thought about it and spoke.

"It's fine, you can stay."

She felt like slapping herself immediately after she spoke.

However, the words were already out, and she could not go back on her word and throw the man out. Plus, there was a storm raging outside, and it was not safe for him to leave. The roads here were not particularly nice to tread, and she could never make it up if anything happened to Chu Lui.

Even though he was despicable and not a good man, but he only had one life… just like any other man.

"Thank you." Chu Lui closed the door, his body a little stiff. Xia Ruoxin just thought that he was not used to it, but she did not catch the smile on the corner of the man's lips.

Chu Lui was a calculative man.

Xia Ruoxin thought that she was smart, but in reality, she was still rather slow like she was before.

There was a guest room in the house. It was usually unoccupied since there were only Xia Ruoxin and her daughter. When she was done tidying up the other room, Chu Lui was seated on the couch outside.

"It's tidy now; please make yourself comfortable." Xia Ruoxin rubbed her left arm. It ached whenever it rained.

"What's wrong?" Chu Lui stood up and walked over to her side. He bent down to her height. Xia Ruoxin was not short; she was 163 cm. She was not the tallest, but she was of average height. However, the man's height was way over-average so when they were together, the man had to bend over to talk to her all the time even though their height difference was not the greatest.

Xia Ruoxin did not reply as she gently pinched her left arm. There was soreness in her arm. She was not sure whether it was from the bones or from the muscles, but the doctors said that it might be like that for the rest of her life.

"Is your arm in pain?" Chu Lui frowned as he reached out towards her arm.

Xia Ruoxin stepped away from his hand and found a seat. She looked outside the balcony and wondered when the rain would end.

Undeterred the man walked over, squatting down before her.

"I heard that bone injuries might hurt when there are changes in the weather. So I learned a set of massage techniques from an old Chinese doctor. It might not work, but it's worth a try."

As he spoke, he pulled Xia Ruoxin's left arm aside and set it on his leg, gently pinching her acupoints with his fingers. For some strange reason, there was a tingly sensation where the man was pressing. It was not uncomfortable. Otherwise, she would never have any contact with the man.

The man's warmth passed from his fingers into her skin. His technique seemed to be working, and Xia Ruoxin felt more relaxed.

"Are you redeeming yourself?" A cold voice came out from her.

"Or is this another sugar-coated bullet?"

Chu Lui pursed his lips. Xia Ruoxin's words cut him really deep.

He only knew now how damning the words he said to her were. However, given the way things were, was it too late for him to change?

"Ruoxin, I want to change." He managed to blurt out, but his words were tinged with bitterness.

He would change; he really would. He swore to treat her doubly well and make up for everything that he owed her, okay?

"Change?" Xia Ruoxin pulled her arm out from his hands.

She lowered her head and rolled up her sleeves. It was clear from one look that the arm was abnormal. The doctor had suggested realigning her bones after re-breaking it or living with it for the rest of her life. The amount of pain would have been immeasurable. She could put up with the pain, but she did not want to. Even if the bone did heal properly and looked normal, her arm still did not work. If not, Gao Yi would have mentioned the surgery. Then again, he did not since there was no point.

Since it was not necessary, why would she go under the knife again and go through immeasurable pain?

"Chu Lui, we will never be okay." She laughed, but it was rather hollow. "I'm serious. Don't waste any more time on me. Not every divorced couple can get back together; neither can every broken arm recover to the way it was before." She rolled down her sleeves and hid her wound as if hiding her past.

Some things were forgotten but never forgiven.

They could become friends, but they would never be husband and wife again.

She shut her door, oblivious to the man's despair.

The storm was raging outside. It was destined not to be a quiet night. Perhaps many would lay awake, stirring in their bed till dawn.

When Xia Ruoxin woke up, it was already bright outside. She did not know what time she slept yesterday, but it must have been late. She struggled to keep her eyes open.

She reached out her hand to the other side of the bed habitually, but it was empty.

She startled awake, breaking out in cold sweat.

Who took her Rainy from her? She would reflexively fear that her daughter was stolen from her if she did not see her the moment she opened her eyes.

She hurriedly jumped out of bed. When she opened the door, she saw Chu Lui seated with Rainy. The child had a milk bottle in her hands, and one of her feet was on the man's leg. Chu Lui held the child's fair leg in his hand as if admiring a treasure. He was wiping the child's feet with his hand.

As she stood at the door, a complicated feeling arose in her.