Chapter 19 Ignite the Fire, Touch It Directly
Xin Mian quickly let go of her hand, "I didn't."
Blood seeped into the tissue, making the color particularly noticeable. Her expression turned serious as she stared intently at his wound.
Because he had just taken a shower, the area around the wound was clean.
The first-aid kit contained iodine swabs and bandages. She used the swabs to disinfect the wound briefly, and when she took out the bandages, she mischievously picked the one with the cutest color.
The band-aid with cloud and grass patterns was completely out of place with the man's cold and sharp features, not to mention the faint scar on his left eyebrow.
Yet, these elements coexist strangely on his face, without appearing out of place.
Xinmian put the things away, closed the small medicine box, and placed it back under the coffee table. She casually remarked, "You'd better be careful when you shower and wash your face these next few days."
She could see it clearly when she was closer.
He probably didn't pay much attention when he took a shower; the wound had clearly come into contact with water.
Chi Yu, however, didn't seem to care at all. "It's not the first time I've had a scar."
Xin Mian paused, remembering the old scar on his left eyebrow. She felt a little curious, but didn't ask any further questions.
However, it was as if this person had a surveillance device installed in her head.
He rested his elbows on his knees, leaned closer, and a glint of light flashed in his dark eyes. "Curious about the scar here?"
She shook her head in denial, "No."
“Dishonest,” he seemed to chuckle.
After laughing, he stared intently at her, "Scared?"
He recalled their first meeting in the courtyard that day.
She was perched on the tree, and when he approached and saw the scar on his brow, she was clearly taken aback.
Too.
The little girl was clearly a well-behaved girl, gentle and obedient.
Fighting is something that's completely foreign to her life, so it's normal for her to be afraid.
"Are you afraid of me?"
"Are you still afraid I'll get into a fight?"
Pressed by his questions, Xin Mian stood up and tried to go back to the third floor.
But before he could make a move, his wrist was grabbed by a strong force.
The man's long, slender fingers encircled her, using little force, yet enough to prevent her from breaking free.
He leaned back against the sofa in that same position.
Due to inertia, Xinmian was pulled forward two steps by him, and the distance between the two suddenly closed.
Her knees were almost touching his.
Xin Mian's heart skipped a beat. "What are you doing?"
He released his grip casually, as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "Aren't you going to check your package?"
As he spoke, he pulled an unopened package from a nearby shelf.
The recipient's name was clearly written on the delivery slip: Qian Duoduo.
Their gazes fell on the same spot simultaneously.
Xin Mian coughed lightly and then covered the delivery slip with a "smack".
Chi Yu chuckled softly, "Qian Duoduo...?"
"If it weren't for the last few digits of the phone number, I almost let the deliveryman take the package back."
She was a little embarrassed, and said stiffly, "This is just a small... nice wish for myself."
After all, who doesn't want lots of money?
“Yes,” he nodded readily, “indeed.”
The package was opened, and inside was another bag containing a pair of dark blue men's drawstring shorts.
Calling them beach shorts is an understatement; they're more like athletic shorts.
A very conventional style, a very conventional color.
There will be no error.
Xin Mian glanced at him discreetly. "You don't dislike this color, do you?"
She couldn't figure out his preferences, but he wouldn't choose when she bought things before, so she could only buy blindly.
Chi Yu's gaze darted back and forth between the shorts and her for a few seconds. Then, as if he had thought of something, he stood up abruptly, placed his long fingers on his waist and abdomen, and made as if to take off the trousers he was wearing.
Xin Mian quickly covered her eyes, "Chi Yu!"
He responded lazily, "What?"
She was a little annoyed, but didn't dare to raise her voice too much. "What are you doing!"
“Try it on,” he suddenly bent down, his gaze level with hers, grabbed her wrist, and slowly pulled it down little by little.
His long, narrow, dark eyes gave her a slight smile, both unrestrained and languid.
"Xin Xiaomian, you bought these pants, shouldn't you be watching them?"
Xin Mian felt that he seemed a bit off today, ever since he dragged her into the room.
But I couldn't quite put my finger on what was wrong.
"...You can try it yourself," she said, her fingertips digging into her palm, before disappearing faster than a rabbit.
Behind her, Chi Yu slowly straightened up, his deep and mysterious gaze following her back until she was out of sight before he looked away.
The large hand hanging by her side slowly tightened, the fingertips gently caressing her, as if still retaining a smooth and delicate touch.
***
Given Chi Yu's "abnormal" behavior the day before, Xin Mian deliberately woke up an hour late the next morning so as not to run into him at breakfast.
Unexpectedly, as soon as she went downstairs, she met the eyes of the man sitting at the dining table.
Chen Xiulian was also there, waving to her cheerfully, "Mianmian is awake, come quickly."
"The millet porridge is at the perfect temperature, Grandma will serve you some."
Xin Mian withdrew her gaze, came to Chen Xiulian's side, and smiled obediently at her, "Thank you, Grandma, I can do it myself."
At the dinner table, Chen Xiulian asked about their trip to the beach market last night, "Mianmian, was it fun?"
Xin Mian nodded, "It's fun."
Chen Xiulian laughed, "As long as it's fun. I heard that in a while, they're going to hold some kind of... festival?"
"Music festival?"
“Yes,” Chen Xiulian suddenly realized, “it’s a music festival.”
"I can tell just by listening to it that it's something you young people like."
"Also, if you like the beach, you can ask Ayu to take you beachcombing next time."
Xinmian's hometown is an inland city. Even though she knows what beachcombing means, she has never experienced it.
Seeing that she was interested, Chen Xiulian said a few more words.
Xinmian listened with great interest as she recounted the amusing stories of taking Chi Yu to the beach.
Finally, Chen Xiulian spoke with some emotion about the changes on Wangshui Island over the past few years, her face beaming with a kind smile.
Xinmian sat beside her, responding gently and patiently, making sure her words didn't fall to the ground.
On a midsummer morning, the sunlight outside was already so bright it was almost blinding.
After finishing the small yellow croaker, Fatty Orange lay back in its little nest, contentedly basking in the afterglow of its meal.
The living room was at a comfortable temperature due to the air conditioning. The sounds of conversation around the dining table were intermittent, punctuated by occasional clear and gentle laughs.
Chi Yu had finished breakfast, but did not leave immediately. After wiping his mouth with a tissue, he casually rubbed his cheekbone hard with his right hand.
He then took a cup of soy milk and sat lazily, his gaze lingering on Xin Mian across from him.
Noticing his gaze, Xin Mian instinctively looked up and saw that the band-aid on his face was gone.
The bloodstain seemed even redder than yesterday.
Your injury...
She spoke instinctively.
Chen Xiulian also looked over, leaning closer, and when she saw the injury on Chi Yu's face, she slapped his arm, "What's wrong with you, you brat?"
How did you get injured?
How come I didn't notice it while I was sitting here for so long?
Chi Yu said casually, "The light at the alley entrance was broken. I broke it by accident."
This might fool the naive old man and young boy in front of you, and even then, it might not be enough to fool them.
Chen Xiulian examined his wound carefully and snorted, "You don't even care about your own injury. Don't come back crying when you can't find a girlfriend in the future."
He already had a bad temper; his only redeeming quality was his face.
"If you get a scar, no girl will want you."
Xinmian: ......
Grandma, it's not that serious.
She silently got up, went to the living room to find the first-aid kit, took out a band-aid, returned to the dining table, and handed it to Chi Yu, "You should put this on, the wound looks even redder than last night."
Chi Yu didn't take it, looking at her, "What if you can't find a girlfriend because of this scar in the future?"
Without thinking, Xin Mian replied blankly, "But I don't know many people, so I can't introduce you..."
Chi Yu was almost laughing in exasperation at her.
On the first floor, Chen Xiulian had already left at some point.
The weather has been too hot and humid these past few days, a prelude to an approaching typhoon. She wanted to take out the dried seafood at home to dry before the typhoon arrived.
Worried that the fat oranges would steal some if I left them to dry in the yard, I could only take them to the fourth-floor platform to dry.
They were already carrying the bags upstairs.
Only Xin Mian and Chi Yu remained at the dining table.
The two sat facing each other, at a distance that was neither too close nor too far.
The man's gaze shifted from the band-aid in her hand to her face, and he suddenly smiled, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
Without any warning, he stretched out his long leg, hooked it around the chair leg, and pulled hard.
She and her chair were moved directly in front of him.
The two men were almost knee-to-knee.
Xin Mian was propelled forward by inertia, and instinctively raised her hand to stop herself, pressing it directly onto his strong pectoral muscles.
How many times had she pressed her hand against his chest?
She herself couldn't count them all.
Chi Yu's deep voice lazily came from above her head, accusing her unhurriedly, "Xin Xiaomian, are you taking advantage of me again?"
"I don't..."
Her denial sounded weak and unconvincing.
Although she didn't do it intentionally each time, she did press it several times.
I must say, it feels really good.
Xin Mian enjoys drawing and participated in figure drawing activities in the school's art club during her university years.
A person with a poor physique cannot become a model for an art club.
Chi Yu's figure is better than any model she has ever seen.
"No?" Hearing her answer, he said lazily, "Do you need me to help you remember how many times you touched me?"
Xinmian: ......
I really wanted to rush up and cover his mouth.
She just pressed it by accident, she didn't touch it.
There was a moment of silence between them.
On a summer morning, bright sunlight streams in through the window near the dining table.
Behind her, silhouettes were divided into pieces by the window frame.
From his angle, he could clearly see the fine downy hairs on her ears.
It looks cute and fragile in the sunlight.
Chi Yu stared at her intently, watching her ear tips gradually turn red, his eyes deepening in color.
Xin Mian quickly withdrew her hand, and the band-aid she was holding loosened and fell off.
He caught it with lightning speed.
He then handed it back to her, his handsome face with sharp features brought close to her face.
His Adam's apple bobbed. "Tieba."
His mature masculine aura swept over her with his movements, blatantly invading her senses.
Without thinking twice, Xinmian quickly tore off the band-aid and stuck it on firmly.
She pressed down a little harder to make it fit more snugly.
This elicited a soft hiss from the man, whose brows furrowed slightly.
She was about to apologize when Chi Yu said smugly, "You're taking advantage of me again."
"Xin Xiaomian, can we tone it down a bit?"
He sat up straight, looking at her with a half-smile, his tone very generous.
"Or, next time I want to touch it, I can just touch it directly."
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Author's Note: "Money galore!" is also a beautiful wish of mine [shy]. I hope all of you can realize this beautiful wish soon too [sprinkling flowers]
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