The bus had traveled halfway when the road suddenly became bumpy.
Wen Wan Ning turned to glance out the window, then turned back to Shen Jia Yan. “This stretch of road isn’t great—full of potholes,” she said, her tone tinged with helplessness as she reminded Shen Jia Yan to be careful.
Shen Jia Yan immediately lowered her head upon hearing this, reached out gently to tug at Wen Wan Ning’s seatbelt, and confirmed it wasn’t loose before whispering softly, “Don’t move around. Sit still.”
The motion was so natural, as if she’d done it countless times, and her tone was so gentle that it softened the heart.
Wen Wan Ning watched her serious and tense expression and couldn’t help but smile, her lips curving slightly as her gaze softened on Shen Jia Yan. “Do you always get this nervous on buses?”
Shen Jia Yan froze for a moment, then whispered a bit embarrassedly, “I’m just… afraid you’ll be unsafe.”
With that, she lowered her head and pretended to organize the things in her bag, but a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
Wen Wan Ning gazed at her profile, her smile deepening.
Suddenly, the bus jolted sharply with a muffled thud, causing everyone in the cabin to sway involuntarily.
Wen Wan Ning was just about to say, “That was a real bump,” when a loose suitcase from the overhead rack slid down—straight toward her head!
Almost on instinct, Shen Jia Yan whipped her head around. In that instant, her pupils contracted sharply.
She yanked Wen Wan Ning toward her with all her strength while raising her arm to shield her head.
Thud—the suitcase smashed heavily onto her arm with a dull sound before rolling to the floor.
Pain exploded instantly, radiating from her shoulder to her fingertips.
Shen Jia Yan gritted her teeth to keep from crying out, her face paling in a flash.
“Jia Yan!” Wen Wan Ning cried out in alarm, immediately supporting her arm, her voice full of panic. “Are you okay? Did it hurt you? Let me see!”
As she spoke, she anxiously inspected Shen Jia Yan’s arm, her fingers trembling slightly.
Shen Jia Yan was sweating at her temples from the pain but forced a smile and joked lightly, “I’m fine. Probably no fracture.”
She tried to move her arm, but the motion tugged at a sharp sting, making her draw in a cold breath.
Seeing her wince, Wen Wan Ning felt her heart wrench as if gripped tightly.
She quickly rummaged through her carry-on bag, pulling out a bottle of mineral water and some tissues. Gently cradling Shen Jia Yan’s arm, she carefully wiped away the dust that had rubbed onto it.
“Are you silly?” Her tone was gentle but carried a hint of reproach. “Why didn’t you dodge? What if it hit hard?”
Shen Jia Yan looked at her anxious and heartbroken expression, and the corners of her mouth curved into a smile despite herself. “Dodge so I could watch it hit you instead?”
Wen Wan Ning froze, her eyes suddenly heating up.
She lowered her head to look at Shen Jia Yan’s arm, a complex surge of emotions welling up inside her.
The attendant hurried over upon hearing the commotion, first aid kit in hand, and asked with concern, “How is it? Do you need help?”
Wen Wan Ning nodded quickly. “A suitcase just fell. She blocked it with her arm, and it seems like her arm got hurt.”
The attendant carefully examined Shen Jia Yan’s arm and found no obvious swelling or abrasions, though Shen Jia Yan still felt some discomfort when moving it.
“It’s probably a mild sprain or muscle strain,” the attendant said while retrieving a bottle of cold spray from the kit. “Ice it first and try not to use the arm too much. If it still hurts after we arrive, I suggest getting an X-ray at the hospital to confirm.”
After confirming they were otherwise fine, the attendant left the remaining supplies and departed.
Wen Wan Ning took the spray and gently applied it to Shen Jia Yan’s wrist and forearm, her movements as delicate as if handling something fragile.
Her fingers trailed slowly along Shen Jia Yan’s arm, and suddenly, on the inner side of her wrist, a faint scar appeared.
It was a thin, long mark whose color had faded considerably.
Wen Wan Ning’s movements halted.
Her gaze fixed on the scar, as if struck straight to the heart.
She remembered clearly how that scar had come about.
Back in their first year of high school, they’d gone out for a group meal and been held up by thugs. Shen Jia Yan had arrived just in time, taking on several of them alone. During the fight, her arm had been slashed.
She’d thought she’d long forgotten about it.
But now, the scar lay quietly under her fingertips, silently reminding her of how many injuries Shen Jia Yan had endured to protect her.
She gently traced the scar.
“Does it hurt?” Her voice was soft, like a breeze blowing into Shen Jia Yan’s heart.
The question referred both to the arm just hit by the luggage and to that faded yet never truly gone wound.
Shen Jia Yan looked at her downcast eyes and pursed lips, her heart trembling slightly.
She shook her head and comforted her softly, “With you taking care of me like this, I’ve almost forgotten the pain.”
Wen Wan Ning looked up and glared at her, though she couldn’t hide the worry in her eyes. “Even now, you’re cracking jokes.”
Laughter filled Shen Jia Yan’s eyes.
The cabin fell quiet again, filled only with the sound of tires over the road and the faint whistle of wind through the gaps.
Wen Wan Ning looked at Shen Jia Yan, her tone suddenly serious. “After we get off, I’m taking you to the hospital first.”
Before Shen Jia Yan could object, she pulled out her phone and sent a message home: [Mom, something came up. I might be late. No need to pick me up.]
After sending it, she turned to Shen Jia Yan with a earnest gaze. “No refusing. If your arm’s really injured to the bone, it’s no small matter.”
Shen Jia Yan gazed at her resolute expression and felt a warmth bloom in her heart.
She didn’t push back anymore, just smiled. “Okay, I’ll listen to you.”
Wen Wan Ning nodded in satisfaction but frowned again anyway. “Next time something like this happens, don’t block for me.”
“Should I not block and just watch you get hurt?” Her tone was gentle but carried an unquestionable resolve.
Wen Wan Ning looked at her matter-of-fact demeanor, feeling a mix of exasperation and indescribable tenderness.
She sighed softly, softening her tone. “That’s not what I mean. I’m just… afraid you’ll get hurt.”
Shen Jia Yan turned her head, her gaze landing tenderly on Wen Wan Ning’s face. “Me too. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
She said it earnestly, her eyes firm, as if revealing a long-buried secret or reaffirming an unchanging promise.
Wen Wan Ning’s heart trembled, her eyes growing warm.
She felt the emotions she’d buried deep inside were about to break through the soil.
An hour later, the bus pulled slowly into Star City Bus Station.
The doors opened, and a cool evening breeze mixed with the city’s clamor rushed in. Wen Wan Ning and Shen Jia Yan got off one after the other. Instinctively, Shen Jia Yan used her injured arm to shield Wen Wan Ning’s back—a motion so natural, as if done countless times.
Wen Wan Ning glanced at her but said nothing, simply taking hold of her wrist gently. “Come on, to the hospital.”
The taxi drove steadily toward the hospital, the interior quiet and warm. Wen Wan Ning occasionally turned to check on Shen Jia Yan, who leaned against the window, ensuring she wasn’t uncomfortable.
“If you keep staring at me like that,” Shen Jia Yan noticed her gaze and said shyly, “I’ll get embarrassed.”
Wen Wan Ning huffed lightly. “I’m afraid you’ll tough it out and say you’re fine later.”
Shen Jia Yan smiled without rebutting. She truly didn’t want to worry Wen Wan Ning, but being cared for so attentively filled her with an indescribable softness and contentment.
They arrived at the hospital.
The two entered the emergency hall, registered, got checked, and had X-rays done efficiently.
The doctor examined the films carefully, flipping through the report as he explained, “Some soft tissue swelling—likely a mild sprain. No bone issues. Avoid straining it for a few days, apply the medication on time, and it should recover quickly.”
Hearing “no bone issues,” Wen Wan Ning finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She looked down at the diagnosis report in her hand, her fingers tightening slightly, as if a heavy weight had lifted from her chest.
“Good thing there’s no bone problem,” she murmured, as if reassuring herself.
Shen Jia Yan watched her tense expression finally relax and couldn’t help laughing. “You were more nervous than me.”
Wen Wan Ning shot her a look, her tone full of heartache. “If you’d really been hurt, I’d blame myself so much.”
Shen Jia Yan’s heart warmed at the sight.
Her brows lifted as she said softly, “With you caring this much, I’m almost willing to get hurt.”
Wen Wan Ning glared at her. “Shen Jia Yan!”
Then, she picked up the ointment, read the instructions carefully, and tucked it gingerly into Shen Jia Yan’s bag.
Shen Jia Yan watched her serious demeanor and teased, “Are you going to personally supervise my medication?”
Wen Wan Ning raised a brow. “Of course.” She paused, then said earnestly, “If you don’t apply it properly, I’ll watch you every day.”
Shen Jia Yan paused, then broke into a smile, her eyes full of tenderness. “Then I’ll have to stick to you.”
Wen Wan Ning laughed too, her eyes curving beautifully.
Shen Jia Yan gazed at those smiling eyes, feeling her heart gently filled.
She checked the time. “It’s getting late. You’ve been running around with me—let me treat you to dinner.”
Wen Wan Ning glanced at her watch. “Let’s go. If anyone’s treating, it should be me.”
Shen Jia Yan didn’t argue further, just smiled and looked into the distance.
Suddenly, something occurred to her. She turned to Wen Wan Ning. “The hospital’s not far from our high school. How about that stir-fry place nearby? The food was pretty good last time.”
Wen Wan Ning thought for a moment and raised a brow. “The one where we ‘ran into’ each other, and you secretly paid for us?” And quietly ordered my favorite blanched vegetable hearts.
Shen Jia Yan chuckled “hehe” twice. “Yeah.”
“Mm~~~” Wen Wan Ning nodded meaningfully. “Sure, their food is pretty good.”
The two walked side by side along the street, the night breeze brushing lightly, carrying the unique warmth and slight chill of early spring.
