Xu Youyou did not refuse. She raised her head and looked at his well-defined fingers holding the fruit knife. His movements were elegant and skilled. Her eyes that were usually sparkling seemed to be covered in a layer of fog as she looked at him, lost in her thoughts.

Mo Shenbai looked at her silently as he handed the peeled apple to her. “Eat it.”

Mo Zhiyun: “???”

“I was peeling it for Zhiyun to eat,” Xu Youyou said.

Mo Shenbai glanced at the depressed Mo Zhiyun before he said lightly, “She doesn’t like apples. You eat it.”

Mo Zhiyun: “…”

Xu Youyou looked at Mo Zhiyun.

Mo Shenbai also looked at Mo Zhiyun. However, his gaze was as sharp as knives.

Mo Zhiyun smiled immediately and said, “Yes, I don’t like apples. I like watermelons.”

“Oh.” Xu Youyou nodded before she took the apple. She lowered her head and began to munch on the apple.

Mo Shenbai took a banana from the fruit plate and handed it to Mo Zhiyun, exhausting his last bit of humanity.

Mo Zhiyun also accepted Mo Shenbai’s last bit of humanity. As for peeling the banana, she did not have such wishful thinking. She was not worthy of such treatment, after all.

After Xu Youyou was done eating the apple, her palms were a little sticky. Just as she was about to go to the kitchen to wash her hands, Mo Shenbai took a piece of wet wipes and carefully wiped her hands for her. If it were not for Mo Zhiyun’s presence, he would have already kissed her a few times.

“Zhiyun, I’m leaving. I’ll visit you again another time,” Xu Youyou said. After a beat, she added, “I’ll bring watermelons next time.”

Mo Zhiyun smiled and nodded. “Okay.”

Mo Shenbai held Xu Youyou’s hand and left the ward. The duo did not speak at all even after they left the hospital.

When they entered the car, Mo Shenbai told the driver to wait outside.

The windows were shut, and there were only two of them in the car now. The small space was extremely quiet, amplifying their breathing noises.

Mo Shenbai’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he considered how he should start. However, before he could speak, Xu Youyou suddenly leaned over and hugged him.

Xu Youyou’s voice was soft and filled with distress as she said, “Mr. Bai, it’s not your fault. You can’t blame yourself. It was an accident.”

Mo Shenbai’s breath hitched for a moment as his eyes surged with emotions.

“Don’t worry. I’ll definitely give birth to a child for you in another two years! Let’s have two children!” Xu Youyou said. After hearing Yun Youwei’s words, she did not think Mo Shenbai was at fault at all. Instead, she only felt her heart ache for him when she thought about how he might be bearing the guilt of his friend’s death. Her heart ached for the times he had to face Yun Youwei and Xie Yumu.

Mo Shenbai’s body was stiff. After a moment, he held her slender hands on his waist and swallowed the words hanging from the tip of his tongue. Instead, he said in a voice that was slightly gloomy, “However, he died because of me…”

For so many years, many people criticized him, resented him, and even told him he should have died instead. No one had felt sorry for him or comforted him like Xu Youyou did. He longed for this kind of feeling and this warmth. He selfishly wanted her to care for him a little more.

Xu Youyou tightened her arms around him and said softly but confidently, “It was an accident. Even if you didn’t call him out, who could guarantee nothing would happen? You don’t have to care about what others think. You just have to remember that you didn’t cause Xie Tingxi’s death! You didn’t do anything to let him down!”

To Xie Tingxi’s family, Mo Shenbai might be the murderer who caused Xie Tingxi’s death, but to Xu Youyou, it was just an accident. At most, Mo Shenbai was related to his death, but they could not push all the blame on him.

Mo Shenbai could not help but kiss her face before he asked in a low voice, “Do you really think so?”

Xu Youyou nodded slightly before she loosened her hold around him. She said, “If it’s your fault, then the deaths of those people around me are my fault as well.”

Xu Youyou often saw other people’s futures in her dreams, but she had no way to change everyone’s fate. She knew about things that were going to happen, but she had no way of stopping them. For example, her Grandma’s death, and Mo Zhiyun’s accident.

“Don’t say that,” Mo Shenbai said as he covered her lips, “Everyone has their own fate. You can’t bear the fate of so many people alone. Don’t take responsibility for it.”

The stronger the sense of responsibility, the more painful it would be when she was powerless to change the fate of the people around her. He did not want her to be tortured by this kind of pain.

“Then, you shouldn’t take responsibility for Xie Tingxi’s death as well,” Xu Youyou said. It was rare for her to reason with him in such a serious manner. She said comfortingly, “I believe that if you could save him back then, you would’ve risked your life to save him, right?”

Faced with her extremely pure eyes, all the filthy and dark thoughts in Mo Shenbai’s heart vanished as he nodded honestly.

At that time, he did try to save Xie Tingxi. He even almost died in the process.

Humans were too insignificant compared to the sea, after all. Xie Tingxi was swept away by the strong currents. The search and rescue team searched the sea for three months, but they did not find anything. After that, they announced his death.

Xu Youyou hugged him again and said softly, “So don’t blame yourself!”

Xu Youyou’s face was pressed against his chest. Seeing this, a smile appeared on his face, chasing the frosty expression on his face away. His frown eased, and his voice was very gentle as he said, “I understand.”

…

As night fell, lights lit up one after another, giving the summer night even more warmth.

The sound of running water rang in the bathroom as Xu Youyou lay on the bed, exhausted. She was so exhausted that she could even move her fingers. Her pink face was half buried against her pillow as she closed her eyes.

At this time, Mo Shenbai came out of the bathroom. He only had a white towel wrapped around his waist. He walked to the side of the bed and sat down, lowering his head to kiss her face before he asked, “Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?”

After his desire was satiated, Mo Shenbai could not hide the joy in his voice at all.

Xu Youyou glared at him as she said, “I don’t want to eat! I’d rather starve to death!”

As soon as they arrived home, Mo Shenbai had carried her up to the bedroom. The butler and helpers witnessed everything. How could she still go downstairs to eat? She was embarrassed to death.

Mo Shenbai brushed the hair away from her face. His voice was gentle and affectionate as he said, “I don’t care if other people starve to death, but my wife isn’t allowed to starve.”

Xu Youyou’s cheeks burned when he called her his wife. She wanted to refute and say she was not his wife when she remembered they were legally married. Annoyed, she turned to the other side, ignoring him.

Mo Shenbai pulled her into his arms and gently stroked her ear as he said, “Don’t be angry. We’re husband and wife. It’s a conjugal duty.”

Xu Youyou glared at him. “Must you make it so obvious though? How can you do it in broad daylight?”

It was so embarrassing when everyone knew about it.

Mo Shenbai lowered his head and kissed her cheek. “Alright, alright. So it’s fine as long as it’s at night, right? It’s dark outside now…”

Xu Youyou felt her body go limp. She quickly pushed his face away and said, “I’m hungry. I want to eat dinner.”

Mo Shenbai’s burning thoughts were immediately extinguished by her. He smiled and asked, “Okay, what do you want to eat?”

Xu Youyou thought about it for a moment before she said, “I want to eat something barbecued!”