Chapter 438: Chapter 438: Shocked and Uncertain
"Honey... will you wait at the Mu Family’s for me to come get you?" Su Shuochi asked uncertainly.
He didn’t want her to stay at the Mu Family’s home for too long. He’d wanted to take her with him to the site on several occasions.
He watched her, unable to shake his unease. She was his beloved wife, the woman he wanted by his side every single moment.
He would follow her to the ends of the earth without a second thought, as long as they could be together.
’But more than anything, I want to give her a happy life,’ he thought. ’And to do that, I have to keep working and striving.’
Gu Jiaojiao saw the hopeful look in his eyes, and a warmth spread through her heart. But she knew he was very busy.
She had already taken up most of his day, and besides, he really disliked spending time at the Mu residence.
She spoke with exceptional gentleness. "Don’t come and get me. Mr. Li should be coming to the Mu Family’s for his acupuncture treatment later. I’ll head home after I’m done with them. The vegetables in our garden still need watering."
"I already watered them this morning. If you head home early, just take a nap. I’ll cook for you when I get back."
Su Shuochi said gently, inwardly pleased that she didn’t want to stay at the Mu residence either.
At his words, Gu Jiaojiao beamed. "Alright then. Just be sure to come home early."
Su Shuochi nodded. After watching her get out of the car, he drove away.
Hearing the car, Old Mu hurried out of the courtyard, only catching a glimpse of the back of Su Shuochi’s car as it drove off.
He was dressed in a military-green Zhongshan suit today and looked to be in high spirits. "Jiaojiao, have you eaten yet?"
"Old Mu, I’ve eaten already. Let’s go inside and give Ziquan his acupuncture treatment. I need to head home a bit early today."
"Of course. After you finish Ziquan’s treatment, I’ll have someone get you a bite to eat before you leave."
"The Great Lady is here! Please, come in." Knowing Gu Jiaojiao had arrived, Mu Ziquan had also wheeled himself out to greet her.
When Gu Jiaojiao heard Mu Ziquan call out to her, she looked up and smiled. "What are you doing out here?"
"Heh heh, I heard the car and came out to take a look. So, it was the Great Lord himself who brought you over. Why didn’t he come in?"
"He has so much to do, but even in the midst of his busy schedule, he always wants to stick to my side. He’s so exasperating."
Mu Ziquan and his grandfather were speechless.
As Gu Jiaojiao spoke of Su Shuochi, her eyes crinkled with a smile. It wasn’t a humblebrag—she truly felt for him.
The three of them chatted as they headed inside. Gu Jiaojiao didn’t even pause for a sip of tea, immediately calling Mu Ziquan into the room for his treatment.
"Mu Wu, boil these herbs in water. After his treatment, your young master will need it for a foot soak."
"Understood." Mu Wu took the packet of herbs and left.
’If I just gave Mu Ziquan the spiritual spring water for his foot soak, he’d probably be up and walking in an instant, just like Su Shuochi was,’ Gu Jiaojiao thought.
’But she felt that wasn’t necessary. There was more of a sense of accomplishment in healing people step by step.’
After the acupuncture treatment, Mu Ziquan was drenched in sweat. Mu Shan helped wipe him down, and then Mu Ziquan soaked his feet for half an hour.
He broke out in another sweat. Mu Wu dried his feet and was about to move him to the bed as usual.
"Hold on," Gu Jiaojiao instructed. "Go get a pair of slippers and put them on him."
Mu Ziquan looked down at Gu Jiaojiao, his eyes wide. ’It can’t be what I think it is, can it?’
His expression softened, a hint of guilt in his eyes. "Great Lady, thank you for all your hard work."
’If I weren’t such a burden, she would probably be spending Sunday with the Great Lord.’
"What’s so hard about it? I’m getting paid to treat your legs. Since I’ve taken your money, how can you call it hard work?"
Gu Jiaojiao spoke nonchalantly, casually moving the foot basin aside to clear a small open space.
Quick on the uptake, Mu Shan carried the foot basin out of the room. "Great Lady, I’ll be right back."
"Okay, hurry back. And you all listen to my instructions. Don’t go complaining that I’m ordering you around, alright?"
"We won’t, Great Lady. Feel free to command us," Mu Wu said, rubbing his hands together eagerly as he stood by Mu Ziquan’s side.
Gu Jiaojiao didn’t hesitate to give the order: "Mu Shan, Mu Wu, one of you on each side. Help him stand up."
Surprise flashed in both men’s eyes, and they asked in unison, "Great Lady, the Young Master can stand up?"
"Yes, standing shouldn’t be a problem. But walking will require a lot of practice."
Supported by the two bodyguards, Mu Ziquan shakily rose to his feet. He had absolutely no sensation of control over his legs.
His mind willed his legs to move, but they felt like they weighed a ton, completely immobile and unresponsive.
He had always thought it would take much longer before he could even attempt to stand up.
Drawing on their Inner Strength, Mu Shan and Mu Wu possessed extraordinary physical power, so supporting their master was effortless for them.
And just like that, for the first time in three years, Mu Ziquan stood with his feet planted firmly on the ground.
It was something he hadn’t done in over three years.
The moment he stood up, Mu Ziquan felt as if he’d grown taller.
He could see higher and farther, and even the air drifting in from the open window smelled fresher, sweeter.
It was the first time he had stood up since his severe injury over three years ago. Even though it wasn’t through his own power, he was still overjoyed and deeply content.
Gu Jiaojiao couldn’t tell if Mu Ziquan was leaning completely on the two bodyguards or supporting his own weight.
So she asked him softly, "Mu Ziquan, tell me, what do your legs feel like right now?"
The elation and joy that filled his heart began to subside at Gu Jiaojiao’s question.
He concentrated, trying to sense any feeling in his legs, only to realize with a jolt that there was nothing at all.
Though deeply disappointed, his expression remained neutral as he shook his head. "I don’t feel anything."
His legs still felt as if they didn’t belong to him. Even standing, he couldn’t feel them bearing any weight.
A sense of disappointment crept in, pulling him out of the euphoria of simply being on his feet.
"Hmm, let’s have you stand for a while longer," Gu Jiaojiao replied calmly, seeming unconcerned.
But Mu Ziquan spoke, his voice hoarse, "Great Lady, maybe we should just stop. I won’t stand any longer. My legs don’t feel anything, anyway."
"Why stop? Are you tired?" Gu Jiaojiao asked, her voice low with a hint of disappointment.
’Can he not endure the hardship of rehabilitation?’
’I’ve put so much effort into healing his legs. How can he just talk about giving up so easily?’
"I’m not tired. Not at all. I can’t feel anything, so how could I possibly be tired?!"
"If you’re not tired, then stand for another half hour." Gu Jiaojiao understood why Mu Ziquan had lost his initial enthusiasm, but she offered no words of comfort.
Mu Ziquan had assumed that would be the end of it for the day, that his legs would feel nothing beyond their usual numbness.
But after he had been standing for fifteen minutes, a flicker of shocked disbelief crossed his face.
As if in disbelief, his expression grew serious as he focused more intently, trying to perceive the changes in his body.
Gu Jiaojiao, sitting opposite him, saw his expression shift and could tell his emotional state had changed.
’This man is usually so stoic,’ she thought. ’For his feelings to be so obvious now... it must mean he can feel his legs.’
