0015 Apply ice
Song Ning woke up at the slightest sound from beside her pillow. She opened her eyes and noticed that there were still damp marks on the pillow.
Shen Yuxiu sat with his back to the edge of the bed, wearing the black shirt he had worn the night before, which still had wrinkles from sleeping all night.
Hearing the noise, he turned to the side and said, "You're awake? I'll take a shower first, then I'll take you home."
His warm, clean hands unbuttoned the shirt from the bottom up, gradually covering his fair skin until they reached his long, slender neck and concealed his undulating collarbone.
Everything seemed like it was all after the fact, but Shen Yuxiu's calm tone and leisurely demeanor made it seem like it wasn't.
Song Ning propped herself up, feeling the need to explain: "I didn't unbutton your clothes, and you didn't leave the marks on my neck."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Song Ning couldn't tell if she wanted to explain or something else. Perhaps she hoped that Shen Yuxiu would be jealous, but he wasn't.
Shen Yuxiu looked at the hickeys on Song Ning's neck, his eyes dark and emotionless, and simply said, "I know. Apply a cold compress later, it'll heal faster."
Song Ning lowered her eyes and hummed in response through her nose.
Shen Yuxiu got up and left the room, going to the bathroom in the living room.
The water cascaded down.
Song Ning stood naked in front of the mirror, looking at the hickeys on her neck.
Cheng Yanchu had used excessive force last night, and the hickeys had turned into purplish-red bruises, with teeth marks still faintly visible. A sense of self-loathing spread through Song Ning's body, making her feel disgusted by every single one of them.
When Song Ning finished washing up, she came out wearing Shen Yuxiu's shirt with her bare legs and her hands on her trousers. Shen Yuxiu was putting ice cubes from the ice bucket into a clear glass, with a folded towel next to her.
“Your pants are too long, they’re uncomfortable to wear.” Song Ning walked towards him, casually tossing his trousers onto the back of a chair.
"Okay, I'll find you a shorter one later." Shen Yuxiu put down the glass in his hand, went to the living room to draw the white gauze curtains, and then came back to continue making ice.
Song Ning sat down, crossed her legs, and propped her head up to look at him: "You were drunk last night."
Shen Yuxiu paused in his hand gesture: "I met with some friends, and we got a little tipsy in the process."
Song Ning looked up and stared at his face, trying to find a clue: "What kind of friend could make you so happy?"
Shen Yuxiu revealed a faint smile, as if he was laughing at her little thoughts or something else. He walked to Song Ning's side and placed the glass on the side of her neck.
Caught off guard by the cold, Song Ning instinctively turned around and shrank her neck, complaining, "It's so cold!"
Shen Yuxiu remained calm, reached for a towel, wrapped it around the cup, and placed it back on Song Ning's neck: "Is this any better?"
"Hmm," Song Ning replied, muttering to herself.
Did you forget just now? Because you just woke up from being drunk and your memory is bad?
But she hadn't forgotten the question Shen Yuxiu had avoided earlier, and pressed on, "What friend? Why won't you answer me?"
"Sheng, Jack, and Nan Qiao and her boyfriend. I was going to ask you if you were going, but when I saw you going to the freshman dance with your boyfriend, I didn't invite you." Shen Yuxiu moved to another spot to apply ice.
Song Ning said "Oh." She probably wouldn't have gone if he had called her last night, but—
Who knows?
After a long silence, Shen Yuxiu placed the cup in front of her: "Apply the rest of the medicine yourself, I'll go get the aloe vera gel."
"No need, I can't see it anyway." Song Ning looked down and glanced at the hickey near her chest with disgust.
Just as Song Ning was about to get up, Shen Yuxiu suddenly turned her around so that she was facing him directly.
Song Ning saw Shen Yuxiu pick up the cup and squat down.
Because it was so sudden, their posture became somewhat—
ambiguous.
Song Ning's legs were slightly apart, one leg slightly bent and supporting her on the chair leg, while the other leg, out of habit, rested on Shen Yuxiu's knee. Shen Yuxiu, on the other hand, was kneeling between her legs.
He wore a white shirt of the same type as hers, with all the buttons on his chest neatly fastened except for the neck button. From Song Ning's angle, she could vaguely see the hollow of his shirt and his straight, strong collarbone.
He carefully lifted Song Ning's loose collar, trying not to touch her skin, but this deliberate action only made the movement more provocative and alluring.
Song Ning wasn't wearing anything under her shirt. She didn't dare look at the area he had opened, nor did she know how much he could see.
He applied ice to the hickey below Song Ning's collarbone, a spot Song Ning knew well, where there was a very obvious teeth mark, and it was also the place she disliked the most.
The blanket was still a bit cool through the towel, but Song Ning's body was burning up.
Her heart was pounding, her breathing became cautious, yet she still couldn't control her long, deep gasps. She felt her chest heaving violently in his hands, causing her face and chest to pound restlessly.
Song Ning couldn't help but swallow hard: "Even if it's not enough, it will be fine in a few days."
Song Ning's voice was hoarse and slightly trembling.
"Next time, don't leave him in such an obvious place."
Shen Yuxiu kept his head down, whether to avoid looking at her or to prevent her from looking at him, it was unclear.
“I didn’t do it with him. I regret it, I don’t want him, so there won’t be a next time.”
Shen Yuxiu didn't speak; only his long, thick eyelashes fluttered slightly, a very subtle yet captivating movement.
Unable to contain herself, Song Ning ran her hand through his still-damp bangs and slowly combed them back: "Are you angry?"
Shen Yuxiu pulled Song Ning's hand away, stood up, and said softly, "Apply it to yourself again, I'll go get the aloe vera cream."
After saying that, he put down the cup and walked towards the medicine box in the TV cabinet.
Song Ning looked at Shen Yuxiu's retreating figure, feeling puzzled.
This looks like she's angry.
But was he angry that she didn't cherish herself, or that someone else had left marks on her? Was it out of tenderness, or out of love for her?
She could never understand his thoughts about his feelings for her.
Soon, Shen Yuxiu returned with the medicine box, took out aloe vera cream from it, and applied it to her with a cotton swab.
He applied the paint quickly, but not carelessly.
A cotton swab dipped in aloe vera gel was applied to Song Ning's neck; it felt cool and refreshing, Song Ning couldn't help but think.
What would it feel like if he used his fingers to apply it to her? Would it be even more arousing than before?
Without a second thought, Song Ning grabbed Shen Yuxiu's hand as he applied the medicine, her tone somewhat commanding: "The cotton swabs hurt too much, use your hand to apply it for me."
The owner of the hand was clearly startled and stopped moving. Song Ning turned her head and called out softly, "Brother."
When Song Ning heard Shen Yuxiu sigh softly, a sound that seemed both resigned and helpless, she knew that she was tormenting Shen Yuxiu again.
Shen Yuxiu squeezed out some aloe vera, placed it on his index fingertip, and then gently massaged it onto Song Ning's neck.
So this is what it feels like—both cool and hot, making your mouth dry and your heart itchy.
Song Ning lowered her head: "Don't forget, there's also this area. If we don't apply it, it'll probably stay there for a long time, and it might even leave a scar. I don't want to leave a scar."
"It won't leave a scar, it didn't damage the dermis." Shen Yuxiu said, but still used his fingers to open her collar and apply the medicine.
For a moment, both of them fell silent.
Shen Yuxiu's fingers traced the red teeth marks on her neck, gently massaging her skin, his face remaining calm.
Too calm.
Song Ning remained indifferent, as if the commotion and enthusiasm from just moments ago had been doused with cold water in an instant: "That's enough."
Shen Yuxiu gave a soft "hmm" and packed his medicine box: "It's almost time. I'll go find you some suitable clothes, put them on, and take you home."
This time, Song Ning did not refuse and agreed.
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