RMM – Chapter 11 The First Argument

_{T/N: Turned out content was missing from this chapter that why i was confused with chapter title but without any argument. Now, it’s complete.}

Su Ruo woke up in the evening, her hand instinctively reaching for her forehead as she took a deep breath. There was still a faint ache at the back of her head. Feeling the light, warm blanket covering her, she let out a bitter smile—seemed like she wasn’t dead yet.

“You’re awake?”

A sudden voice startled her. Su Ruo frowned slightly and turned to look. It was Xi Yuechen, his face as cold as ever. She was momentarily stunned before realizing what was happening.

Looking around, she finally saw that she was lying in the bedroom of her new home—not a hospital. That was a relief. Su Ruo had developed a strong aversion to hospitals. In her life, she had only been admitted a few times, but every visit had been a disaster. It was enough to make her dislike them entirely.

The fact that she wasn’t in a hospital also meant her fall hadn’t been too serious—at least, not life-threatening.

Xi Yuechen stood at the door, watching Su Ruo, who remained silent, lost in thought. He didn’t seem impatient, nor did he push for an answer. Instead, he spoke again, his voice calm.

“Does your head still hurt?”

“Mm, a little,” she replied, her voice carrying a slight hint of grievance.

In her past life, Su Ruo had always been lonely, yearning for a warm family—someone who would care for her, ask after her well-being, and truly look out for her. But after two failed relationships, she never found that kind of love. Perhaps it was because people who are insecure care too much about their pride. Having nothing, Su Ruo had always tried to appear strong and resilient, terrified that others would see through her to the loneliness and vulnerability deep within.

She had thought that after being reborn, the weakness buried in her heart would have disappeared. After all, her current environment was comfortable, and she had family now. But emotions that had followed her for over twenty years couldn’t just vanish overnight. This second injury had finally forced that deeply hidden vulnerability to the surface.

Xi Yuechen looked at Su Ruo, her pale face showing a rare fragility, her voice low and tinged with grievance. She seemed both delicate and stubborn. Something in his heart trembled—a feeling he had never experienced before, lingering and unshakable.

He had never seen Su Ruo like this before. Striding forward, he sat on the edge of the bed and asked softly, “Is it serious? There’s medicine here—take some.”

As he spoke, he lifted his hand, which had been resting at his side, and gently brushed her smooth forehead before tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. His movements were slow and careful.

Su Ruo stared at Xi Yuechen in a daze, allowing his rough fingertips to glide across her forehead. The contrast between his coarse touch and her soft skin sent a strange sensation straight to her heart. She trembled slightly—this version of Xi Yuechen almost felt… gentle.

“I’ll get some water.”

The quiet atmosphere was broken by Xi Yuechen’s deep voice. He stood up and quickly left the room.

Su Ruo finally snapped out of her daze, listening to his steady footsteps fading into the distance. Her face instantly turned red. She bit her lip, blinking in confusion as her heart pounded faster…

Meanwhile, standing in the dining room, Xi Yuechen frowned in thought.

Why had he acted like that just now?

Having spent years in the military, he had always been strict with himself, his words and actions disciplined. He had never lost control like this. What had just happened?

But he couldn’t deny that her skin had been incredibly soft, like the finest silk, gliding beneath his fingers.

At the thought, Xi Yuechen’s usually clear gaze darkened slightly.

After helping Su Ruo take her medicine—and yes, “helping” was the right word—Xi Yuechen had acted completely naturally. A man who had always been self-sufficient and never allowed others to care for him was now assisting someone else with ease. He helped her sit up, take her medicine, and lie back down—all in one smooth motion.

If not for his ever-present cold expression, he would have looked just like a considerate, doting husband.

Lying in bed, Su Ruo watched Xi Yuechen leave with the empty cup and thought to herself—something was definitely off about him tonight.

Normally, he would have scolded her for being careless and getting hurt again. But instead, he had taken care of her with an unusual level of attentiveness. And those gestures? If anyone had told her before that someone as rigid and aloof as Xi Yuechen could be this gentle, she would never have believed it.

Weird. Too weird.

Later that night, after showering, Xi Yuechen returned to the bedroom and found Su Ruo already asleep, curled up tightly under the blanket with only her head exposed.

He quietly removed his shoes, straightened the blanket she had messed up, and lay down beside her. Just as he was closing his eyes, Su Ruo suddenly rolled over—toward him.

Xi Yuechen stiffened for a moment. The next second, Su Ruo instinctively snuggled into his arms.

Feeling the warmth beside her, she subconsciously scooted closer, burying her face in his firm chest and rubbing against him a few times before settling back into sleep.

Xi Yuechen was completely awake now. He had never been this physically close to anyone before. His first instinct was to push her away, but then he caught a faint, fresh scent from her hair and heard her soft, steady breathing. His hands froze in mid-air.

Her small head rubbing against his chest sent strands of her hair brushing against his chin—feather-light and ticklish. His whole body tensed, and an unfamiliar frustration built up inside him.

Looking down at the woman curled up in his arms, Xi Yuechen took a deep breath. It took him a long while before he finally let his suspended hand drop. Instead of pushing her away, he wrapped an arm around her waist—perhaps a bit roughly—pulling her closer.

Su Ruo frowned slightly but didn’t wake up.

Holding her slender waist, Xi Yuechen noticed how small it was—his hand could almost wrap around it completely. Ignoring the unfamiliar stirrings in his body, he closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep.

Since Su Ruo’s injuries weren’t serious, only requiring rest, Xi Yuechen didn’t inform their families to avoid unnecessary worry. When his mother, Shen Liang, called to invite them over for dinner, he casually made an excuse to decline.

Shen Liang didn’t think much of it. She assumed her son simply wasn’t used to big family gatherings yet. Besides, if he was willing to spend more time alone with his wife, that was a good thing—it would help them bond and, hopefully, give her some grandchildren sooner rather than later.

Watching his mother’s barely concealed excitement, Xi Yuehui shook his head and sighed.

Mom, your imagination is way too optimistic. Reality is nothing like what you’re picturing.

Of course, even if you gave him ten times the courage, he wouldn’t dare say that out loud. His older brother had made it clear they were to keep Su Ruo’s accident a secret from the family. And even if Xi Yuehui had been there when she fell, he wouldn’t have dared tell their mother—otherwise, she would’ve skinned him alive.

Meanwhile, in bed, Su Ruo was bored out of her mind. She wanted to get up and walk around, but Xi Yuechen had coldly forbidden it, insisting she rest properly.

Wanting to play games? No—he said it would expose her to radiation.

Reading a book? No—he said it would strain her eyes.

Staring at the ceiling in frustration, Su Ruo sighed heavily. Was she just supposed to lie here forever?

Each time she tried to move, Xi Yuechen would appear like clockwork, stating flatly, “No.” Then he’d leave again.

Fuming, Su Ruo grumbled to herself. How was it fair that she had to listen to him just because she fell? Even the doctor had only advised basic caution—who gave him the right to restrict her like this?

She was just thinking about how annoying Xi Yuechen was when he suddenly walked in, holding a steaming cup of water in one hand and three bottles of medicine in the other.

“Take your medicine.”

Hearing his cold voice, Su Ruo flinched. Then, seeing the very man responsible for her suffering walking around freely with his usual indifferent expression, her irritation spiked.

Why should she be the one to suffer while he got to act all high and mighty?

And so, in a moment of defiance, she snapped:

“I’m not taking it!”

“Take your medicine.”

Xi Yuechen picked up the cup and handed it to Su Ruo after listening, his expression unwavering from start to finish.

Su Ruo choked for a moment, unable to believe that Xi Yuechen completely ignored her words and still acted as if nothing had happened, insisting she take the medicine. A surge of anger flared up within her. How could he be like this? No matter what, he should at least have some kind of reaction! Take medicine? Take your head!

“I’m not taking it!” Su Ruo glared at Xi Yuechen, provoking him.

Xi Yuechen didn’t get angry. He simply continued holding the cup out in front of Su Ruo, his intent clear.

“Either way, I have to lie here without moving, so why bother taking medicine? Commander, go mind your own business. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Su Ruo’s face was filled with displeasure. She looked at Xi Yuechen sideways, her tone sharp.

Xi Yuechen finally moved, setting the cup down and speaking in a calm but serious voice, “Sulking? Provoking me?”

Su Ruo lowered her head and remained silent.

“Su Ruo, can’t you take responsibility for your own mistakes? You were careless—what right do you have to throw a tantrum? Do you still think you’re a child?”

Xi Yuechen’s steady tone made Su Ruo’s face flush red. A thin layer of mist welled up in her eyes as a mix of emotions surged in her heart—embarrassment, grievance, regret—but above all, sadness.

Xi Yuechen was no fool. He had long since honed a sharp eye for reading people, and Su Ruo was practically wearing all her emotions on her face. A flicker of doubt crossed his mind—had he been too harsh?

Before he could reflect further, Su Ruo lifted her tear-streaked face and snapped, “Yes! I deserve it! I deserve to die! But what gives you the right to talk to me like this? I’m not your soldier! My parents married me off to you, not so you could reprimand me! I got hurt—why shouldn’t I be allowed to throw a tantrum? Yes, it was my own carelessness, but I’m not a machine! Why can’t I have emotions? I don’t know anyone here, and that’s bad enough, but now I have to see your cold face every day, listen to you scold me? What did I even do to deserve this? Why are you treating me like this?”

As she spoke, her tears fell uncontrollably. She grabbed the medicine and swallowed it in one go, taking a sip of water—but ended up choking. A violent, painful cough wracked her body.

Xi Yuechen felt a pang of guilt at her words, and when he saw her break down in tears, his heart clenched. Just as he was at a loss for what to do, she started coughing badly. Seeing her in distress, he quickly reached out and patted her back to help her breathe.

When her coughing finally subsided, Su Ruo turned away from his hand, lying down with her back to him. Her voice was cold as she said, “I’ve taken the medicine. I know my place now. You can go. I wouldn’t want to be an eyesore and ruin your mood.”

Hearing the dismissal, Xi Yuechen withdrew his half-raised hand. He opened his mouth to say something, hesitated, then pressed his lips together. He took one last deep look at her trembling shoulders before standing up, walking out, and closing the door behind him.