The car interior was quiet, with the air conditioning blowing out a gentle breeze.

Xia Zhining took out a spare sewing kit, worried that Gu Huaiye would catch a cold with his collar open. In her haste, she didn't care about anything else and leaned close to sew it up for him.

Gu Huaiye cooperated by leaning back into the soft leather sofa to allow her to move.

This position brought the two of them extremely close instantly. Xia Zhining could almost feel the warmth of his chest and his steady, hot breath coming from above her head.

Her heart was pounding so hard that her fingers trembled uncontrollably. She struggled to thread the needle through the eye of the needle, holding the thin thread for ages, but couldn't manage it.

Gu Huaiye lowered his eyes, taking in her flushed ear tips and trembling eyelashes. His gaze darkened, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

But when he spoke, his voice remained calm and composed, with a hint of hidden hoarseness: "What's the panic?"

As he spoke, his well-defined knuckles covered hers, firmly enveloping her trembling fingers, and guiding her precisely through the tiny eye of the needle with the unruly thread.

His palms were warm and dry, and his movements were unhurried, a stark contrast to her panic.

Xia Zhining felt as if she had been electrocuted by his touch, her whole body stiffened, her mind went blank, and she could only passively feel the force he was guiding.

He slowly let go of her hand only after the thread was threaded.

Xia Zhining forced herself to remain calm and began sewing on the buttons. But the way she was leaning over was far too suggestive, and she belatedly realized how awkward it was—

That's too hasty. He should have taken the shirt off and sewed it...

Wait! Take it off?

Wouldn't Gu Huaiye be sitting here shirtless?

It seems... even stranger!

This thought involuntarily reminded her of that night, the scene in the video where he came out of the bathroom wearing only a towel...

The heat instantly rushed to her cheeks, Xia Zhining's breathing became erratic, her hand trembled, and the sharp needle tip accidentally pierced her fingertip.

"hiss……"

Xia Zhining subconsciously pulled her hand away; the slight sting was nothing to her. But the next second, her fingertips were gently enveloped by a warm, dry palm.

"Lemon."

Gu Huaiye's soft voice was close to his ear.

The two were so close that when Xia Zhining looked up, she met his deep eyes directly—

The concern and heartache in those words were so clear that it made her heart skip a beat.

"It's nothing," she said, looking at the tiny bead of blood on her fingertip and shaking her hand dismissively. "I just accidentally pricked myself."

"If we don't take him to the hospital soon, he'll get better on his own."

Gu Huaiye gently stroked the back of her hand with his fingertips, his voice low and gentle: "But I'm worried."

Xia Zhining's breath hitched, and she froze.

Gu Huaiye had already bent down and taken out disinfectant wipes and bandages from the medical kit under his seat.

He gently held her hand and carefully disinfected the small wound.

The cool touch and the warmth of his palm felt like a feather brushing against me, a tingling, numb sensation.

Gu Huaiye lowered his eyelids, his long eyelashes casting a small shadow beneath his eyes:

"I can get distracted even when sewing a button."

He looked up, his gaze falling on her still flushed cheeks: "What were you thinking about so intently just now?"

Xia Zhining's ears burned from his question, her eyes darting around, and she stammered in a low voice, "N-nothing..."