Tim walked into the kitchen as stiffly as a robot.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2FJhskMkXj
His movements were neither fast nor slow, as if every step had to be pushed forward by sheer willpower.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvnvwXpH5h
He turned on the faucet and filled a glass of water. The surface of the water rippled gently, like the unease in his heart.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkWQpGbIcK
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaYwT7k3Ib
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZo3ypwid8
He didn’t say a word. Instead, he quietly sat down behind her.
He pulled her gently into his arms, silently becoming her support.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20G4xxr7qS
Then, he opened the painkillers and carefully poured them into her palm.
Nora didn’t refuse.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEvr9eXQ7p
She leaned against Tim’s chest, holding the glass with one hand, and drank the water, swallowing the pills along with it.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOMroRXqWK
After taking the medicine, she let out a faint sigh and closed her eyes.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6pYP7wOuP
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,125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxvL3DJOrC
“Why did you leave the hospital?”
He wasn’t expecting much.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMEAOtdih8
He knew their relationship hadn’t reached the level of trust.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9kW0NsHIM
To her, he was just a stranger who had once broken into her home at night.
But to his surprise, Nora answered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn675oRB0Xc
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJtzHcCJoH
Not because of her answer, but because—she had actually answered.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZXlAPVR63
He hadn’t expected her to give him that much explanation.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1d5DHwYoW
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1F1r8zk2tQ
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5m5S2Qv8Z
He really liked this situation.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLSLyQOcYa
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzHaQIQs3w
“You handed over the wheel to me without hesitation that day, so… do you trust me?”
This time, Nora finally opened her eyes.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFUgT7cdiy
Her green eyes looked at him with a trace of exasperation, taking in the clearly greedy Red Robin.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzX1nllIwH
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM4cLbfOrg
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OwQZHoX3b
“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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCAdOgjWrL
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvp04T23ra
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRboBxqDGK
“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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26uk2IDefY
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyv4Quxp7E
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqjDX8bpbN
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdF4w8aL5y
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.125Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykvNAM9x4A
and then Add to home screen.