Aiden scraped his hand on steel while moving materials. He cursed softly, pain sharp and sudden.
Li Yueran was there immediately, gloves in hand, antiseptic ready, but she never touched him without consent. "May I?" she asked softly.
He hesitated, then nodded. Her gentle care soothed him, more than he expected. Her voice was calm, her eyes unwavering. She cleaned and bandaged the wound, her hands hovering just above his, careful and tender.
For the first time, he realized her presence brought safety, warmth, and a strange sense of comfort he could not name.