The carriage turned around at the entrance of the Xie residence and slowly walked into the empty and quiet alley.
It was pitch black outside the car, but the two lights inside did not affect visibility.
The carriage moved very smoothly, and the lights did not flicker, but Shen Ning's heart was not at peace.
Struggling to suppress the ripples in her heart, she opened her mouth and tentatively asked, "Is there something you need from me, young master?"
Qin Zhuo's gaze slowly fell on her: "If there isn't one, can't I call you?"
Shen Ning wanted to answer that it was natural; it would be strange for a lone man and woman to always be together.
But Qin Zhuo was her savior. He didn't ask her to repay the favor and always gave her things. If she answered like that, it would be too ungrateful.
After hesitating for a while, he carefully replied, "If you need someone to accompany you, that is certainly possible."
She was grateful for his life-saving grace and was willing to do anything for him. Chatting with him was nothing to her, but it felt a little awkward, especially since he had just held her hand, whether intentionally or unintentionally, which made her feel very uncomfortable and unsure of what to do with her hands and feet.
Shen Ning was still struggling with her thoughts when suddenly a familiar warmth touched the back of her hand.
Shen Ning's entire body stiffened, and she dared not move an inch.
However, she dared not move, but the other party was unceremoniously taking advantage of her, completely enveloping her hand with his palm, and then directly interlocking their fingers.
Shen Ning's nerves snapped completely. She looked up abruptly and tried to pull her hand back, but failed and instead pulled the other person towards her.
Seeing Qin Zhuo suddenly approach, Shen Ning was dumbfounded, forgetting what she wanted to say.
Their noses were so close that they could only see the color in each other's eyes and smell each other's scent.
A cool object was placed in her palm, and a pleasant yet peculiar scent overwhelmed all her senses. She heard his slightly husky and alluring voice: "Reject me, remember to use this."
A kiss landed, not hard, a gentle touch, feeling each other's warmth and softness, restrained yet brimming with desire.
Shen Ning clenched her fist, but then loosened it, and the dagger fell to the ground.
Before she could free her hand to push him, Qin Zhuo had already stood up.
"Sorry, I startled you."
Shen Ning looked at him, her throat feeling like it was stuffed with cotton, and it took her a while to find her voice: "Why are you doing this?"
Qin Zhuo lowered his head, his fingertips gently tracing her cheek, his expression serious: "I just want to confirm something."
Before Shen Ning could ask, he continued, "I am not a soft-hearted person, nor would I be so kind as to save people casually. If I take action, I will definitely have an ulterior motive."
Shen Ning had never been moved by love, but that didn't mean she was stupid. Moreover, Qin Zhuo's words weren't about love, but rather an explanation of his intentions.
He had saved her life, and Shen Ning had begged him for help. Every single thing he had done was a favor, but he didn't want half of the Shen family's wealth. All he wanted was a purse that she had embroidered herself. She had no way to repay the life-saving grace, but he had Green Plum and the others send her something that would be good for her health.
If she could pretend to be clueless before, she could no longer pretend not to understand now.
Was he after her for real?
But this is so strange.
"You always... why are you suddenly like this today..."
Shen Ning couldn't find a good adjective, but Qin Zhuo could understand why she had restrained herself before, but suddenly attacked her today.
He raised his hand and brushed a strand of her hair with his fingertips: "I saw you three times today, and you didn't turn around even once."
Shen Ning: "......" When and where, she had no idea at all?
Qin Zhuo: "If I don't show up on my own initiative, do you even remember me, let alone take the initiative to contact me?"
Well, this is less of a problem and more of a fact.
Shen Ning has been in business for many years across two lifetimes, and he is used to weighing the pros and cons of everything.
Qin Zhuo helped her, and she wanted to repay the favor. Because she had received so much benefit, and Qin Zhuo didn't want her to repay him, she felt uncomfortable and helpless. Without even realizing it, she developed an escapist mentality.
Her smooth interpersonal skills were useless with Qin Zhuo, and she couldn't give him a gift. She didn't know what she could do by seeing him. She remembered his kindness, so she would never refuse if he asked, but there was really no need to meet him on ordinary days.
She hoped that he would have something to ask her every time they met, so that she could repay some of his kindness and feel a little better.
A small favor is appreciated, but an excessive one breeds resentment; favors that are too heavy and impossible to repay can become suffocating.
"I'm sorry, it was my fault..."
Qin Zhuo raised his hand, their hands still clasped together: "At this time, you're apologizing to me?"
He leaned closer, his brows furrowed, as if he had encountered some problem: "So, even after I kissed you, you still don't have any feelings for me?"
Shen Ning wanted to back away, but there was only the carriage wall behind her, leaving her nowhere to retreat.
Forced to look closely at Qin Zhuo's face, which was already incomparably handsome, it was even more mesmerizing in the dim light.
Even considering both lifetimes combined, even facing this situation for the first time, Shen Ning could maintain at least half of her rationality—at least half, probably...
Suppressing the urge to kiss him, she turned her head to the side and said, "I...I've never encountered anything like this before. Please give me some time to think about it..."
She felt that her current state was very wrong; how could she possibly want to initiate a kiss...?
I hadn't thought of it before, but the sensation of our lips touching still lingered, causing a strange flutter in my heart and an inexplicable attraction.
Qin Zhuo looked at her earlobes, which were so red they looked like they were about to bleed, and then at her trembling, wet eyelashes, and a smile crept onto his lips.
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