Chapter 1: Reborn to the Moment My Wife Shattered My Legs​​

"Take fifty million. Leave my daughter."

A cold command echoed, triggering a vivid replay of a memory in his mind.

Wang Shikong sat on the hospital bed, gazing at the familiar faces before him. He took a deep breath, his eyes drifting towards the window. The sky after the rain was a flawless mirror, utterly pure. Gentle sunlight, like countless golden threads, pierced the thin clouds, showering down and illuminating the whole world.

White light filtered through the glass, refracting into colors that danced across his pale, handsome face. A smile touched his lips.

He was back. Five years back.

Not quite before this particular disaster, but it didn't matter. Calculating the time… three days remained until the Infinite Continent connected with Earth.

"Has your brain been knocked out too? Dad's talking to you. Fifty million. Get away from my sister."

A beautiful, crisp voice rang out in the white hospital room.

Wang Shikong looked towards her. Jet-black hair was loosely tied into twin ponytails. Her face was a perfect oval, features soft and graceful. Her eyes were pure obsidian, occasionally flashing with a spark of intelligence. Her voice was like a silver bell.

Ning Qingrou.

Then he looked back at the middle-aged couple before him, their brows tightly knit. Recalling the scenes etched in his memory, Wang Shikong adjusted his silver-rimmed glasses and spoke softly. "Can't leave."

"Kid, fifty million will guarantee you a life of luxury. We'll add another ten." The man in the center, also bespectacled, projected an air of refined calm, yet his gaze was glacial as it fixed on Wang Shikong. "Sixty million. I suggest you don't make this difficult."

Wang Shikong heard the number and looked down at his own lower body. "Can't walk. How am I supposed to leave?"

"You..." Ning Tianxiong choked on his words.

Days ago, his daughter, driving home in the rain and momentarily distracted, had struck this young man. The collision had left his legs permanently paralyzed.

Learning later that he was utterly alone had deepened Ning Tianxiong's guilt. His daughter decided she must marry him, to care for him for the rest of his life.

The news nearly made the father collapse.

His daughter was exceptional. Wealthy heirs lined up, vying for her attention, playing the fool for her favor. And yet, because she'd accidentally hit this nobody, she wanted to marry him?

True, his daughter bore full responsibility for the accident. But the Ning family was wealthy. Matters solvable by money should never necessitate sacrificing a daughter's lifelong happiness! He wasn't deeply entrenched in outdated class prejudice, but he absolutely could not allow his daughter to marry a man doomed to a wheelchair!

"Sixty million," Mrs. Ning interjected. "We'll hire round-the-clock nurses to care for you. We'll arrange to move you out of Mo City."

"Then forever..."

Bang!

"Dad, Mom! What are you doing?"

The sudden, forceful swing of the hospital room door interrupted Mrs. Ning.

A graceful figure strode in. Her makeup was immaculate, her eyebrows fine arches like distant mountains. Deep, compelling eyes looked out beneath them. Below a straight, high-bridged nose, her thin lips were pressed into a firm line. She wore a perfectly tailored burgundy dress in soft velvet that highlighted her long, shapely legs. Right now, she glared at her parents, displeasure etched on her face.

"Ah, Qingya?" Mrs. Ning stammered, flustered. "You… you weren't supposed to be at the office?"

"You really thought you could fool me?"

Ning Qingya marched in, her own brows furrowed with anger directed at her parents. She pulled out two red marriage certificates. "My future with Shikong is settled. If you have nothing better to do, go home. Prepare dinner tonight. Your son-in-law will be waiting."

"I... Holy shit! Marriage certificates? What the—? Qingya, my dear girl..." Ning Tianxiong snatched one, looked it over, and felt darkness swim before his eyes. "You... How could you...?"

"Huh? Sis?!" Ning Qingrou gasped, disbelief clear in her voice. "You really married this cripple?"

"No respect. Call him brother-in-law from now on." Ning Qingya tapped her sister’s forehead firmly with a knuckle. "Now scram. Go home."

"Ai... This... Oh dear..." Mrs. Ning sighed deeply, her face a picture of helpless misery. Seeing the deed was done, she conceded weakly. "Fine, fine. Let's go home. Home."

"Hmph!"

Ning Qingrou puckered her adorable little mouth, gave a soft, defiant snort, and glared at Wang Shikong before spinning on her heel. Her twin ponytails swung high as she strode out.

The three members of the Ning family filed out, defeated and resigned.

Wang Shikong watched the deeply familiar scene replay itself, watched Ning Qingya standing before him. He drew a deep, steadying breath, suppressing the surge of emotion welling inside. Memory after memory surfaced.

After shattering his legs with her car, Ning Qingya had pledged herself to him, bringing him into the Ning family. Their marriage began: hers out of guilt, his consumed by resentment. From strangeness, they found familiarity, then affection, leading ultimately to a life-and-death separation.

Recalling it all, warmth bloomed in Wang Shikong’s chest.

Still...

"I need to use the restroom," he stated.

"Huh?"

Ning Qingya froze. Her assertive demeanor evaporated instantly. A blush crept onto her cheeks. She fumbled slightly. "I... I'll help you."

Wang Shikong gave a slight nod.

Ning Qingya spotted the wheelchair nearby and pushed it next to his bed. She walked over, the flush extending to her neck, and awkwardly opened her arms towards him.

Seeing her expression caused a flutter in Wang Shikong’s own heart. In his past life, in the immediate aftermath of losing his legs, he had been full of rage and bitterness towards Ning Qingya.

He hadn’t considered then that trading his mobility for a beautiful, wealthy CEO wife was any kind of bargain.

Honestly, most people wouldn't.

Wang Shikong raised his arms. The scent of her perfume washed over him. With Ning Qingya maneuvering clumsily, he shifted onto the wheelchair.

"Whew!"

Ning Qingya exhaled softly and pushed him into the spacious restroom attached to the high-end hospital room. A support railing stood before the toilet.

Wang Shikong braced himself on his arms, hoisting his torso up. He turned his head to look at her.

"I..." Ning Qingya met his gaze. Her eyes immediately darted away as realization hit her.

"Huff... Huff..."

Ning Qingya took two sharp breaths. "I... I'll help you. You... don't worry. I'll take care of you from now on."

She squeezed her eyes shut and fumbled blindly towards the waistband of his pants.

Wang Shikong watched her endearing clumsiness. Unlike his past life self, who would have tormented her, he felt no desire to cause her difficulty now.

"Hold me. Support my body," he instructed.

"Oh! Okay, okay."

Ning Qingya nodded. Hesitating for just a second, she wrapped her arms around his torso from behind. Standing around five foot seven, she was considerably shorter than Wang Shikong, who was well over six foot. His legs were paralyzed, not amputated. He weighed over 150 pounds.

When Wang Shikong released his grip on the railing and his full weight settled back, Ning Qingya strained. She pressed herself flush against him, struggling to bear his weight.

"..."

Wang Shikong felt the soft pressure against his back. He pressed his lips together.

"I... I can't hold on," Ning Qingya gasped out, the effort obvious. "Please... use your arms..."

Wang Shikong felt himself wobbling precariously. Seriously? My pants are already down.

He quickly braced himself against the railing again. He turned his head to look at her, expression tinged with incredulity but lacking anger. "Alright. You do it then."

Ning Qingya's refined face was flushed a deep crimson, whether from exertion or another reason was unclear. She gave a stiff nod.