"Does it really hurt?"

"Hmm." Yan Jili's expression remained unchanged.

Shen Zhiyi sighed.

"Such a grown adult, and still so careless..."

As Yan Jili watched her chatter on and on, his heart felt as if it were soaking in a soft honey pot, so sweet that his eyebrows relaxed.

"That's not right..."

Shen Zhiyi suddenly frowned suspiciously and looked up at him.

"Didn't Grandma say that you're the most tolerant person?"

"She said that when you were learning to ride a horse, you fell off and had to get several stitches in your back, but you didn't complain of pain."

Now……

She looked down and glanced at the wound on his palm.

There were a few shallow cuts.

Compared to the scar on his back, it was nothing.

Yan Jili lowered his eyes and stared at her intently.

"Did she tell you this on her own initiative?"

His fall and injury was a major worry for his grandmother.

She would never bring it up on her own initiative.

so……

She asked her grandmother.

Yan Jili's slow-moving heart suddenly began to beat rapidly.

"You asked her about me."

He was speaking in a declarative sentence.

His deep gaze fell upon her, and a rare tenderness appeared on his usually cold and hard face.

He just stared at her like that.

Like a silent, deep pool, it could stir her up into a whirlpool at any moment.

Shen Zhiyi blushed and let go of his hand.

"I'd rather you die of pain."

She bit her lip. "I haven't even told you yet, you just kissed me too hard..."

She feels that her lips are still a bit swollen.

The kiss just now was fierce and brutal.

She was completely unprepared.

"What is this..."

She lowered her head and muttered, "He doesn't love me, yet he kisses me so casually..."

"Yan Jili, you've really gone too far."

Her soft complaints softened his heart.

Yan Jili hadn't quite figured out what she said yet.

His hand had already acted first, instinctively pulling her close and holding her in his arms.

The faint scent of gardenias in her hair instantly stripped away all his thoughts, interrupted his logic, and made him involuntarily lower his head and touch her hair with his lips.

"What are you doing?" Shen Zhiyi asked shyly.

She squirmed and struggled in his arms.

But then her gaze fell on his bleeding wound, and she abruptly stopped moving.

"Don't move." Yan Jili spoke slowly amidst the warmth, "Consider it... compensation for hitting me just now."

"After the kiss, isn't a hug still needed?"

"Shen Zhiyi, don't renege on your debt."

Shen Zhiyi was stunned for a moment.

After regaining her senses, her cheeks suddenly flushed red.

What the heck...

But she stopped resisting and obediently let him hold her.

Yan Jili looked down at the person in his arms.

A soft and delicate bundle.

When you don't oppose him, you can't help but feel affection for him.

His gaze fell on her crimson lips, her small, adorable lips slightly pouting and glistening with moisture.

His Adam's apple bobbed.

I just tasted her flavor.

You've only been apart for a short while, and you're already starting to miss each other again?

Yan Jili's expression darkened as he pulled her hand to his face.

"If you're still angry..."

He pulled her wrist firmly and gently patted her face.

Shen Zhiyi looked up, staring blankly at him.

"Does this make you feel a little better?" Yan Jili tightened his grip on her.

His palms were burning hot.

Their gazes were intense.

Shen Zhiyi's heart suddenly raced.

She lowered her head and leaned against his chest, her neck flushing pink.

I can't be bothered with you.

Yan Jili's heart almost melted when he saw her coquettish expression.

While still holding her, he took a silk handkerchief from his suit pocket and gently wiped away the bloodstains on her wrist.

"Why didn't you bandage yourself?" Shen Zhiyi stared at the handkerchief, slightly stunned.

This is the first time...

His movements were so gentle.

Yan Jili held her wrist, letting his body heat soothe her.

He lowered his eyes and stared intently at her.

A surge of tenderness welled up in his chest, a feeling unfamiliar to him, yet he couldn't help but be captivated by it.

"Worried about me?" he said softly.

"Just asking." Shen Zhiyi snorted and pouted. "Do you really think I want to care about you?"

"Stop being so narcissistic."

"Hmm." Yan Jili looked at her deliberately angry face and gently raised the corners of his lips. "Have the family doctor come home and bandage me later."

"Now... don't get yourself dirty."

He carefully wiped her clean.

Only when her fair wrists and delicate hands turned snow-white again did Yan Jili put away the silk handkerchief and place it in his pocket.

What do you mean by getting dirty or not...?

As Shen Zhiyi pondered his words, her cheeks began to burn again.

After getting out of the car, she confirmed that the family doctor was already waiting in the living room, then ignored Yan Jili and fled back to her room.

Yan Jili watched her retreating figure and smiled.

While the family doctor was bandaging him, Zhang Ma carried a beautifully packaged cardboard box to Shen Zhiyi's room.

"Madam, this was just sent by your friend through a messenger."

friend?

Shen Zhiyi accepted it with some surprise.

She glanced downstairs and asked Zhang Ma softly, "Has his wound been bandaged?"

"What did the doctor say? Is it serious?"

Aunt Zhang covered her mouth and laughed.

"Don't worry, madam. The doctor said it's nothing serious, just some scratches. Once it's treated and doesn't get infected, it'll be fine."

"It should be better in the next couple of days."

"Hmm." Shen Zhiyi finally felt relieved.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!