Chapter 144: The Injured Little Wolfhound

Lu Beiqin was pondering how to explain his sudden return when he saw Shen Chutang rushing down anxiously. “You’re hurt!” she exclaimed.

Lu Beiqin paused. “No, I’m not.”

“But your face—”

Instinctively, Lu Beiqin wiped it. A small streak of blood had somehow appeared there, though he wasn’t sure when.

“That’s someone else’s,” he said.

Yet Shen Chutang’s gaze had shifted to the back of his hand, where his knuckles were marked with red bruises, some even bleeding.

She grew worried. “You say you’re not hurt!”

Knowing Lu Beiqin’s temperament, she was certain he wouldn’t admit to being injured and would quietly tend to his wounds alone in his room.

Without hesitation, Shen Chutang began unbuttoning his shirt to look inside.

Lu Beiqin’s movements faltered briefly, but he didn’t object as the small head at his chest continued its inspection, seemingly unbothered by the intimate gesture.

Clearing his throat, he said, “Just a little scuffle, nothing serious.”

“A little fight is worth you going out in the middle of the night?”

Shen Chutang shot him a fierce, playful glare, then took his hand and led him to the sofa. She was about to fetch the first aid kit but nodded toward his room. “Go take a shower first. After you’re done, I’ll dress your wounds. Otherwise, the water might wash away the medicine.”

It was already late, and Lu Beiqin didn’t want her staying up waiting on him.

“I can do it myself.”

“You’ll probably be too lazy or careless about applying the medicine. Hurry up and shower—I’ll be waiting.”

Unable to refuse, Lu Beiqin stood and headed to the bathroom.

He quickly took a battle shower, worried that those waiting outside might grow impatient.

When he came out, he found Shen Chutang sitting on the sofa, scrolling through her phone. Seeing him, she immediately set the phone aside. “Sit down.”

Obediently, Lu Beiqin extended his hand. Shen Chutang carefully held it, her expression serious as she applied the medicine.

He was about to explain when she spoke up, “You don’t go out every night taking private jobs, do you?”

Lu Beiqin hesitated, but her brief silence was taken as a tacit admission.

“I figured something was off when your phone kept buzzing at dinner. You must be sneaking out to take private gigs without telling me. Did you get into a fight over one of those jobs tonight?”

Not knowing how to respond, he nodded. “Yeah, they were poaching clients.”

Shen Chutang looked at the man before her—tall and imposing, yet now acting like a wounded little wolf, quietly licking his wounds.

“Do you... really need the money?”

If not for that, she couldn’t understand why he pushed himself so hard. “If you do, you can tell me.”

Lu Beiqin looked at her. “Saving up to support my future wife.”

Shen Chutang understood. In the capital, marrying well certainly required a hefty sum. No wonder he had such concerns.

After dressing the wound, she wrapped gauze around it to prevent the ointment from smearing while he slept.

“We met by fate, so when you do get married, remember to invite me. I’ll make sure to give you a big red envelope!”

Lu Beiqin was momentarily speechless. “Alright.”

After finishing, Shen Chutang handed him a small bottle of powder. “This is an itch powder. Just a little causes the other person to itch all over for three days. If you get into another fight and can’t win, use this.”

Lu Beiqin chuckled softly. “Aren’t you worried I might be the one doing the hitting?”

“If you really throw the first punch, it means the other person crossed a line. Oh, and if you accidentally get it on yourself, just take some vinegar—it helps.”

As Shen Chutang spoke, she yawned uncontrollably. Seeing this, Lu Beiqin quickly said, “I’ll take it. You should get some rest.”

She nodded, rubbing her eyes as she headed toward her room. Unexpectedly, she stubbed her toe on the leg of a chair, crying out softly in pain.

Lu Beiqin hurried over. “What’s wrong?”

Covering her foot, her eyes reddened. “It hurts.”

Her sleepy, nasal whisper made his heart skip a beat.

Fortunately, her foot was only reddened, nothing serious.

As she tried to stand, Lu Beiqin surprised her by lifting her into his arms.

“I can walk back myself!”

“Don’t move. Be careful you don’t fall.”

His face remained expressionless, but the movement of his Adam’s apple betrayed his nervousness.

After fighting fiercely with a group of men, Lu Beiqin hadn’t flinched once. Yet holding this delicate, fragrant body made his spine stiffen; he dared not move carelessly, afraid of hurting her.

When they reached Shen Chutang’s bedroom, he gently laid her on the bed. After a pause, he spoke softly, “Good night.”

Somewhat embarrassed—having never been carried before—she replied shyly, “Good night.”