A match made in heaven.

Once they set it down by the bedside, Chen scooped from the bowl of porridge and lifted it to her face.

"Open."

Lily reasoned "I have my hands you know,"

"What hands?" Chen shifted his eyes down. They were completely bandaged from her forearms all the way to the tips of her fingers.

"My fingers are not stuck toge--mmm!" Right when her lips parted, he took the chance and fed her.

"Be good and just eat."

He made sure all the food she ate was only appropriate for a patient. Lily was a little disheartened that it had very minimal flavor, but it couldn't be helped under Chen's strict regulations.

Since his home was so close to the palace, he got a reply from the king right away.

'Okay!!! Do you want a whole month? maybe a year? Being sick is a serious problem after all! ;)' Was written in the letter.

"..."

"What is it, Chen?" Lily sweetly voiced behind him.

He immediately tore the handwritten letter to pieces and let them dropped like flies. "Nothing. Let's have you get a checkup again."

"But didn't you say I was fine?"

"Still, I can't help but worry."

"..."

She reluctantly obeyed. It's not like he'll have it any other way.

After her check-up, Chen didn't trust to put Lily on anything, not even crutches, so he personally carried her to the garden in the back house.

Indeed training with the soldiers has its perks. He did it so smoothly and easily, it shocked Lily. Of course, he was strong before, but she could feel his strength was different. His muscles were firm yet flexible; it cushioned her well.

"Chen! Our vegetables are growing so well!" Lily's eyes lit up.

In the back garden, the two had decided to do some planting a while back. Chen had suggested flowers but Lily insisted on vegetables so they can cook with them. Of course, he gave in but in the end planted both.

"Mhm." He gazed lovingly at her. "I take care of them myself."

"Oh?" She smiled. "But you're so busy!"

She kissed his cheek. Her heart melted at his words instantly.

When she was gone, he would always try his best to maintain them personally. If he was busy, he would strictly order them to care about it before any other task.

This was confirmation for the servants that Lily would most likely be the future madam of this home. No one was ever treated this nicely as a guest! Not even Anne.

The maids brought in tea as the couple sat next to each other in a gazebo.

"Why are you staring at me so much?" Chen asked her.

Aside from brief glances at other things, she's been super attached to him whole time today. It's not like he hates it, but it worries him.

Lily looked at him intently. "You look so haggard since the last time I saw you and you're still sick but you're taking care of me."

His dark circles were obscenely visible and it also looked like he had lost some weight. He looked so tired and stressed.

"Because of who?" He gently sounded to her. "You make me go crazy and worry about you."

She grabbed his hand and rubbed it against her cheek. "I won't go anywhere unless it's with you from now on."

"En." He leaned forward to silently embrace her. Hearing those words made him feel such inexplicable happiness.

Lily rubbed his back, "...I'm sorry I can't tell you yet."

She feared that he would be angry. It was still a hard topic to voice. Even if she wanted to tell him, she just wanted to wash it all away, forget about it, leaving it behind her.

He knew what she was talking about, even if she doesn't say it outright, but even so, it doesn't mean he'll step aside and let her get hurt again.

"En. I don't care, you don't have to tell me as long as you're safe and sound by my side." Chen told her. "Just like this."

Her eyes turned red as she buried deep into his neck. It felt like someone had pressed softly on her heart. He seemed to always know what she wants the most. This foolish man.

"Don't cry again," Chen helplessly sighed. "You know I don't know what to do when you cry."

"How can you tell that I'm crying or not when you're hugging me like this?"

"I can know everything if it's about you." He tightly hugged her. The warm tears soaked his shirt, he could feel her tears coming out slowly. "You idiot..."

After his small break, Chen resumed back to work and would hurriedly come back timely every night. He only allowed the garden as the farthest she could go fearing she would injure herself without him.

Lily was already bored out of her mind since she was temporarily crippled. All she could do was eat and sleep aside from reading and talking to the servants. Eventually, She kept pestering Chen about it until he gave in and asked the doctor if it was okay.

Since a professional agreed, he bent down on one knee in front of her by the front door.

"What are you doing?"Lily raised her brows.

"Get on."

"The whole day?"

"Why not?" He responded with confidence.

She leaned on his back, wrapped her arms around his neck, and sighed. "I guess you don't love your arms anymore." He's been carrying me the whole time! I'm not that useless!

Chen chuckled, "I don't if they let you fall."

She lightly slapped his shoulder and said. "Come come, out the door we go."

He could tell how she answers when she gets shy now. Chen laughed again with his deep milky chocolate voice.

__________

Once they got onto the road he turned to his left and glanced behind his shoulders. "What do you want to do?"

"I just want to go outside and take a stroll so there's no destination."

Chen had been so busy they were unable to do anything aside from having dinner and sleep.

They wandered in one long road for a while so Lily rested her head on one of his broad shoulders and looked at the passing scenery.

The buildings were filled with different colors. The residential area slowly shifted to stalls and small shops surrounded with a variety of aromas.

It was so beautiful.

The slow rocking as he carried her, brought her to sleep.

The doctor had accelerated the healing process of Lily's leg and it's taking a toll on her energy. The wounds are healed, but the pain was also still there.

She needed to recover yet she insists on going out. Now she's sleeping when they barely started. Chen shook his head helplessly and dotingly smiled at the figure lying peacefully on his back.

Eventually. He decided to have a pit stop at a small tea shop.

As he drank his tea, he had to put her down and let her lean on his shoulder to comfortably nap.

A woman suddenly came by and gave him a smaller stool for Lily to rest her injured leg before asking, "Is she okay? Would you like some more refreshments for her later?"

The mentioning of Lily made his entire being go soft. "Yes, can you pack some dessert? I'll pay when she wakes up."

The lady had feared he would immediately be scornful, but as a host of this shop, it was only natural to have good customer service regardless of anyone. Who would've thought he was like that. She was dazed at by the gentleness in his eyes when she approached closer.

His eyes were clear but it looked like it was blinded by flowers.

"Your wife is so lucky to have you," She smiled.

He let out a small chuckle and leaned his head on Lily's. "Aren't I more of the lucky man to have this lovely woman?"

A very different look compared to citizens here. Her facial features were so delicate. Both of them look like they match perfectly. "She is indeed a beautiful woman."

After taking a glance, the lady turned around to pack their stuff.