"Hiss..." Qin Wan gasped softly, her body suddenly swaying and collapsing to the ground...

"careful!"

Sheng Yue exclaimed in surprise and instinctively reached out to help Qin Wan.

Unexpectedly, just as she stretched out her hand, a long, slender hand with distinct knuckles beat her to it...

Her slender waist was firmly embraced by a large hand, and the other person's arm tightened slightly. In the next second, the direction in which Qin Wan fell was forcefully changed...

After a brief gasp, Qin Wan fell into a broad, warm, and strong chest.

At the same time, a faint, cool fragrance lingered around my nose, and my chest pounded powerfully and rhythmically below my cheeks.

[Sheng Si's favorability increased by 2, current favorability 41.]

The soft warmth in his embrace made his rapid breathing falter for a second.

But in just a second, he returned to normal.

After all, it was his first time being so close to a member of the opposite sex, and he thought he would feel uncomfortable, but to his surprise, he didn't.

"Are you alright?" Sheng Si's deep, magnetic voice sounded above his head.

The moment Qin Wan looked up, her slightly reddened eyes met Sheng Si's gaze. Sheng Si's eyes darkened, his thin lips tightened, and his tone carried a hint of concern.

Where are you injured?

"I twisted it." Qin Wan looked down at her ankle. "It hurts a bit."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Yue, who was standing next to him, was initially worried, but soon, as if she had thought of something, she looked at Sheng Si and winked at him.

"Oh dear, your ankle is all swollen, it looks really bad."

"You definitely can't walk now..."

Then, Sheng Yue pretended to complain to Sheng Si, "Brother, it's all your fault. I asked you to arrange bodyguards for us, but you just wouldn't agree."

"Now look what's happened, Qin Wan is injured, how is she going to get to the infirmary without bodyguards..."

As soon as Sheng Yue finished speaking, Qin Wan's slender body was suddenly lifted up in her arms.

"I took her to the infirmary."

After saying this, Sheng Si carried Qin Wan and strode away.

Behind the two, Sheng Yue watched with an excited expression.

There's hope!

There's definitely a chance!

She had previously thought that the two of them were just arranging a blind date for a political marriage.

It now seems that Qin Wan wasn't entirely indifferent to her brother.

And then there's his brother. He seems to have little reaction to Qin Wan, but in reality, everything he's shown so far is enough to demonstrate that he treats Qin Wan differently from others.

You should know that over the years, apart from Sheng Yue and Chu Yan, that innocent white lotus and green tea, no other woman has appeared in his brother's life.

But when facing Qin Wan, although he hadn't yet discerned anything, he clearly showed signs of being different from others.

"...I can walk by myself."

On the way to the infirmary, a fleeting look of panic flashed across Qin Wan's eyes.

She tried her best to remain calm, showing no emotion or surprise.

But her stiff body betrayed her truest thoughts at that moment...

If nothing unexpected happens, this should be her first time having such close contact with a man.

She seemed very uncomfortable, her body taut like a bowstring...

Originally, Sheng Si felt a little uncomfortable.

Upon noticing Qin Wan's adorable reaction, he relaxed, a faint smile quickly flashing across his eyes.

[Sheng Si's favorability increased by 2, current favorability 43.]

On a hospital bed in the infirmary.

As soon as Qin Wan was put down, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing her subtle actions, Sheng Si's eyebrows curved into a smile.

It seems... kind of cute?

[Sheng Si's favorability increased by 2, current favorability 45.]

The school doctor stepped forward to examine Qin Wan, and Sheng Si automatically stepped back.

The moment her long skirt was lifted up, exposing her swollen ankles to the air, her usually carefree and relaxed brows furrowed instantly.

How could it be so serious?

Sheng Si pursed his thin lips slightly, and unconsciously took a step forward.

"Dr. Lin, should I take her to the hospital?" Sheng Si suddenly said.

Upon hearing this, the school doctor, who was examining Qin Wan's ankle, was taken aback and looked at him with a strange expression.

"She just sprained her ankle, it's not serious, there's no need for her to go all the way to the hospital."

Upon hearing this, Sheng Si pursed his thin lips and remained silent.

In his opinion, Qin Wan's ankle was clearly red and swollen in a frightening way, and it was very necessary to go to the hospital!

"I'll go get an ice pack, you can apply it to her so it's cool."

As he spoke, the school doctor got up to get an ice pack, which he wrapped in a towel to prevent frostbite before handing it to Sheng Si.

"I can do it myself."

As she spoke, Qin Wan reached out to take the ice pack from Sheng Si's hand.

Unexpectedly, Sheng Si grabbed her hand and stopped her.

"Sit still properly." Sheng Si looked at her with disapproval.

Qin Wan was still unwilling to give up, appearing resistant to his kindness and unwilling to get too close to him.

"...It's just an ice pack, I can manage on my own."

Seeing this, Sheng Si narrowed his dark eyes and tightened his grip on Qin Wan's hand.

Are you resisting me?

"I didn't..." Qin Wan retorted instinctively.

"Then why did you reject me?"

"You should know that we are currently getting to know each other through blind dates. If nothing unexpected happens, we might even get married."

“You’re injured right now, which is exactly when you need me to take care of you, but you’re resisting and refusing me…”

At this point, Sheng Si paused, his dark eyes staring intently into Qin Wan's eyes, as if trying to see into the depths of her heart and discern her truest thoughts.

"Qin Wan, do you have a problem with me or are you dissatisfied with me?"

"Is there something I'm not doing well enough?"

Sheng Si asked very seriously, so seriously that Qin Wan almost had the illusion that the man in front of her loved her very much.

But the 45% favorability rating clearly told her that Sheng Si didn't love her.

This man was more serious and responsible towards her, and felt that she was a good marriage prospect.

There might be a slight liking, but definitely not much.

Perhaps it's different for her, but that's all.

"...I'm just not used to it." After clearing her thoughts, Qin Wan seemed to calm down.

She seemed to be infected by the fervor, and her expression even became serious.

"You should know that I have a rather introverted personality and am used to being alone. Not to mention boys, I don't know or associate with many girls either."

"I know you're nice to me because you think I'm a great match for an arranged marriage, so you're taking it very seriously to get to know me and connect with me..."

At this point, Qin Wan paused, and after a brief silence, she looked up and stared intently at Sheng Si, her face full of seriousness.

"Although for thousands of years, our wealthy families have habitually chosen to intermarry to strengthen each other's families, in fact, we are not limited to this path, are we?"

"Arranged marriages are common, but we can live according to our truest desires, and we don't have to follow the crowd."

"Putting everything else aside, just considering you and me, you are not controlled by your family."

"I am the only daughter in my family and doted on by my parents. So I know very well that my parents will never force me to do something I don't want to do."

Yes, in this world, marriage alliances between powerful families are the norm.

It's almost impossible for a slum girl to rise to a high social status and become a phoenix.

There is no such thing as a "phoenix man" who marries a rich heiress and achieves the pinnacle of life without having to struggle for a lifetime.

Except for... Chu Yan, that oddball.

But Chu Yan is, after all, the female lead of this world, and the only one, the only anomaly.