Chapter 100 Examination
Xia Fanxing did not expect Xie Jingchen to make such an intimate gesture in the busy corridor.
Her ears turned bright red instantly, and her heart began to race.
She instinctively looked up at him, a hint of embarrassment in her eyes, and scolded playfully, "So many people are watching..."
Xie Jingchen understood her gaze, because her rare shyness deepened the smile in her eyes.
Instead of withdrawing his hand, he took the opportunity to gently pinch her soft earlobe with his fingertips.
After succeeding, he pretended nothing had happened and put his hand down.
It was as if he wasn't the one who had been secretly making trouble just now.
This fleeting yet incredibly bold intimacy brought a blush to Xia Fanxing's cheeks.
She quickly glanced around; thankfully, no one was paying particular attention to them for the time being.
"I'll pick you up first thing tomorrow morning." Xie Jingchen's tone was as calm as usual, but a closer listener would notice a faint smile hidden within.
"Mmm." Xia Fanxing responded with her head slightly lowered, but her fingers quietly reached out.
She slipped her fingertips inside Xie Jingchen's military uniform sleeve and pinched the inside of his wrist, which was hidden beneath the sleeve, lightly but firmly.
As a return gesture.
Xie Jingchen felt pain in his wrist, but didn't even twitch his eyebrows.
Suddenly, he turned around and precisely grabbed Xia Fanxing's mischievous finger.
He clenched his delicate fingers tightly in his palm, hiding them between their bodies and under the cover of his sleeve.
His broad, strong hand completely enveloped her slightly cool fingers, and his thumb even lingered on the back of her hand a couple of times.
The two stood in the bustling hospital corridor, maintaining a normal distance on the surface, but their fingers were intertwined beneath their sleeves, exchanging sweetness and excitement that only they could understand.
Xia Fanxing could clearly feel the scorching heat and unwavering strength emanating from his palm.
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to burst out of her chest, yet she also felt a surge of security and happiness.
All of this was observed by Qin Wanqiu, who was hiding around a corner in the distance.
She watched Xie Jingchen pull Xia Fanxing into his arms so naturally, and saw their intimacy and teasing as if no one else was around. She was so angry that her nails dug deep into her palms, almost drawing blood.
She clearly saw how Xie Jingchen gently tidied Xia Fanxing's hair, and she even seemed to see him pinch Xia Fanxing's ear!
She also saw Xia Fanxing's shy yet reproachful expression, as well as the almost overflowing, intimate atmosphere between the two of them, oblivious to everyone else!
The scene was like a red-hot dagger, stabbing fiercely into Qin Wanqiu's heart, and the poisonous fire of jealousy instantly consumed her.
Xie Jingchen never showed her even the slightest bit of kindness.
Not to mention that the touch was so natural and intimate!
Xie Jingchen always treated her with a cold and distant attitude, as if it were just business.
On what grounds?!
Why does Xia Fanxing, who has no status and no manners, deserve such favor and special treatment from him?
Just as Qin Wanqiu was trembling with anger and about to unleash her fury, a woman's voice rang in her ear, her tone clearly indignant—
"My God, Commander Xie is so reckless! This is in the hospital! Dr. Qin, look at that Xia Fanxing, all she knows is to put on a pitiful act to seduce men, she's shameless! If it were you, you would never do something so unbecoming!"
These words struck a chord with Qin Wanqiu, expressing all the things she wanted to say but couldn't.
Yes, she is noble and well-mannered; she would never do such a despicable thing.
But men seem to fall for this!
Qin Wanqiu watched Xie Jingchen and Xia Fanxing's furtive little actions and saw the undisguised sweetness in their smiles as they looked at each other.
Then she thought about how she had almost fallen flat on her face and how Xie Jingchen had spoken coldly to her.
The huge psychological gap made her feel even more disgusted with Xia Fanxing.
Qin Wanqiu took a deep breath.
She turned her head and saw an ordinary-looking female clerk standing next to her.
Judging from the female clerk's uniform, she should be a member of the joint working group.
She seemed to have just happened to pass by and saw it, her face showing indignation on Qin Wanqiu's behalf.
When Sun Mei saw Qin Wanqiu looking at her, she seemed to suddenly realize something and hurriedly waved her hands to apologize: "I'm sorry, Captain Qin, I... I was just talking nonsense, I didn't see anything! Please don't blame me for being nosy..."
She lowered her head and started to leave.
He perfectly portrayed the character of a timid and cowardly little man who couldn't help but stand up for "righteous people".
At this moment, Qin Wanqiu was burning with jealousy and had nowhere to vent it.
Suddenly hearing that someone shared the same view and dared to say it aloud gave me a strange sense of kinship.
"Wait a minute," Qin Wanqiu called out to Sun Mei, her tone softening. "Which department are you from? What's your name?"
Sun Mei stopped, still keeping her head down, and answered softly, "Reporting to Captain Qin, I am Sun Mei, the clerk of the joint working group."
“Sun Mei.” Qin Wanqiu looked her over.
Qin Wanqiu felt that although the girl was timid, her words were quite pleasant to hear.
She was worried because she didn't have anyone at the regimental headquarters who could talk to her and understand the situation.
"What you just said wasn't entirely wrong." Qin Wanqiu sighed, feigning modesty, and then advised hesitantly, "It's just that you shouldn't say such things outside in the future, it has a bad influence."
"Yes, yes, Captain Qin, you're right. I'll definitely pay attention in the future!" Sun Mei nodded repeatedly.
She knew in her heart that the fish had taken the bait.
Qin Wanqiu turned her head and continued to stare at Xia Fanxing and Xie Jingchen.
Even after all this time, the two of them still hadn't let go of each other's hands.
Sun Mei's words echoed in her ears, fueling her anger even more, her eyes practically spitting fire.
Suddenly, Qin Wanqiu left with heavy footsteps, without even saying goodbye to Sun Mei.
Sun Mei didn't care at all.
She saw Qin Wanqiu's rapidly heaving chest and her gloomy, distorted expression, and knew that her provocation had worked; that was enough.
She lowered her head, concealing a smug, cold smile from the corner of her mouth.
·
The next morning, as dawn broke.
A military jeep drove out of the regimental headquarters and headed towards the corps division headquarters.
There were only Xie Jingchen and Xia Fanxing inside the car, and the scenery outside the window gradually changed from the farmland of the regiment to the vast Gobi Desert.
After the car had driven some distance, Xia Fanxing opened the cloth bag she had prepared.
The cloth bag contained freshly baked pancakes, boiled eggs, and some homemade pickled vegetables and chili sauce, and the aroma immediately filled the car.
"Are you hungry? Have something to eat," she asked softly.
Xie Jingchen focused intently on the road ahead and explained, "The road conditions are bad. We'll eat when we reach a flat section."
Xia Fanxing nodded and waited patiently.
After a while, the car entered a relatively flat section of road.
She picked up the food again, this time breaking off a small piece of biscuit, spreading hot sauce on it, and then feeding it to Xie Jingchen.
"Open your mouth." She was going to feed him.
Xie Jingchen clearly hadn't expected Xia Fanxing to do this.
His hands on the steering wheel paused slightly, and his ears turned red at a visible speed.
He instinctively tried to avoid it, saying, "I'll do it myself..."
“You’re driving.” Xia Fanxing insisted on holding it up, her eyes filled with a smile.
Xie Jingchen's gaze remained fixed straight ahead, but his Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
After a long while, he opened his mouth slightly, a little stiffly, and quickly bit into the piece of bread.
"Is it good?" Xia Fanxing looked at his slightly puffed-out cheeks and his still-calm profile, and couldn't help but smile.
“…Hmm.” Xie Jingchen responded vaguely.
His chewing motions seemed somewhat deliberate, as if he were completing a serious task.
Xia Fanxing started eating too.
The food she brought was quite flavorful, with sour, salty, and spicy dishes—all of which are her usual favorites.
While eating, she casually remarked, "People say sour foods indicate a boy and spicy foods indicate a girl. I love both sour and spicy foods, so I don't know if I'll have a boy or a girl in the future."
After she finished speaking, she turned to Xie Jingchen as if by accident, her eyes sparkling, "Xie Jingchen, do you prefer boys or girls?"
Xie Jingchen tightened his grip on the steering wheel, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He was silent for a few seconds, then his voice was deep but unusually clear and firm: "Whether it's a boy or a girl, I'll love them."
These words were like a warm current, instantly flowing through Xia Fanxing's entire body, and she couldn't help but smile slightly.
Even after the meal, the aroma of the food had not completely dissipated, and a warm atmosphere lingered inside the car.
Xia Fanxing suddenly had a mischievous thought.
She moved her body little by little, quietly approaching the driver's seat.
Although Xie Jingchen was focused on looking ahead, all his senses seemed to be tied to the person beside him.
He immediately noticed her subtle movements, his fingers tightening slightly on the steering wheel, but he didn't make a sound, only keeping an eye on her out of the corner of his eye.
After a while, Xia Fanxing finally moved close enough.
She reached out her finger and touched the back of Xie Jingchen's right hand as if brushing it with a feather.
Xie Jingchen's hand muscles tensed instantly, but he still gripped the steering wheel firmly.
Seeing that he didn't react, Xia Fanxing became a little bolder.
Her fingertips slowly slipped between his fingers, tentatively scratching him lightly.
The next second, her fingers were suddenly gripped.
Xie Jingchen's large hands were warm and dry, covered with a thin layer of calluses.
He completely enveloped her slightly cool fingers, his grip a little too tight, as if afraid she would run away, his voice trembling with a mixture of nervousness and tenderness.
He finally turned his head and glanced at her quickly, his eyes dark and warning, yet also filled with an intense and unyielding affection.
The blush from the base of his ears quietly spread to the side of his neck.
“Sit still, it’s dangerous.” His voice was lower and hoarser than usual, as if he was trying his best to restrain himself.
Xia Fanxing, however, went a step further. Instead of pulling her hand back, she gently drew circles on his taut palm with her fingertips.
A sly smile curved her lips as she deliberately asked, "Commander Xie, why are your palms sweaty? Is it too hot in the car?"
Xie Jingchen's Adam's apple bobbed violently.
The next second, he suddenly pulled Xia Fanxing's hand over and pressed it onto his thigh.
He gently warmed her slightly cool fingertips with his own body heat, his voice lower and carrying a hint of danger: "...Stop fooling around."
Xia Fanxing felt the heat and strength emanating from his strong leg muscles, as well as the rare, tense feeling in his words, as if he were being pushed to the edge.
Her heart suddenly started racing, and her cheeks flushed.
She finally behaved herself, obediently letting him hold her hand, her fingertips resting quietly between his hot palm and thigh, as if she could feel his surging heartbeat.
The two stopped talking.
It was as if a subtle electric current was flowing between their tightly clasped hands, quietly coursing through the cramped carriage.
The wind, sand, and turbulence outside the window seemed to have faded away, leaving only the intertwined breaths and the ever-increasing temperature in my palms.
Xie Jingchen kept his eyes fixed on the road ahead, focused on driving, but the corners of his tightly pursed lips couldn't help but curl upwards into a slight smile.
He would occasionally rub her wrist very lightly with the pad of his thumb.
Each touch sent a subtle tremor through Xia Fanxing's fingertips.
However, Xie Jingchen's actions stopped there.
Holding Xie Jingchen's hand, which gave her a sense of security, Xia Fanxing gradually felt sleepy in the bumpy carriage.
The temperature inside the car wasn't high, and she unconsciously curled up a little.
Xie Jingchen immediately noticed her movements.
He didn't say anything, but simply found a smooth stretch of road and slowly stopped the car.
"What's wrong?" Xia Fanxing asked sleepily.
"It's alright." Xie Jingchen deftly took off his military overcoat and gently covered her with it.
He carefully tucked in the corner of his clothes to ensure it was completely sealed, a meticulous action that revealed a tender side to his tough exterior.
"Go to sleep." Xie Jingchen's deep voice was gentle.
After doing all this, he restarted the car and continued on his way.
Xia Fanxing, wrapped in his military overcoat that still carried his body heat, felt enveloped in a warm and safe aura.
She secretly opened her eyes a little and looked at his profile as he focused on driving.
His cold, hard face looked exceptionally handsome and reassuring in the light streaming through the window.
She quietly reached out and gently hooked her fingertips around the corner of his military uniform.
Xie Jingchen didn't look at her, but covered her fingertips with his large hand.
It was like comforting someone, and also like silently protecting them.
Xia Fanxing closed her eyes and drifted into a sweet dream.
Outside the window, the world was cold and desolate, but inside the car, it was not only warm but also filled with a silent yet intensely sweet atmosphere.
The jeep bumped along the way and finally drove into the division headquarters compound.
Unlike the open and rugged farms of the Production and Construction Corps, this place appears more orderly and solemn, with people in military uniforms walking briskly everywhere.
Xie Jingchen parked his car in front of an inconspicuous office building.
Xia Fanxing woke up and let out a big yawn.
"We're here, this is it." He said, naturally reaching out to help Xia Fanxing unbuckle her seatbelt.
His fingertips touched the buckle, and the two of them instantly closed the distance. With a click, the seatbelt popped open.
Xie Jingchen subconsciously looked up and almost bumped noses with Xia Fanxing.
The two were so close that they could feel each other's breath.
Xie Jingchen's heartbeat became a little erratic, and his gaze involuntarily shifted downwards, landing on Xia Fanxing's pink and full lips.
“Someone is here…” Xia Fanxing placed her hands on his chest, her face slightly flushed, and got out of the car first.
Xie Jingchen quickly got out of the car.
He regained his usual aloof demeanor, but the lingering blush on his ears betrayed the lingering warmth of the intimate moment in the carriage.
Xie Jingchen led Xia Fanxing into the building.
They arrived at the door of the office with the sign "Technical Inspection Department".
The door was open, and a young soldier in a white coat was fiddling with instruments with his back to them.
Xie Jingchen knocked on the door frame.
The young soldier turned around and his eyes lit up instantly when he saw Xie Jingchen.
A huge, extremely enthusiastic smile spread across his face. "Hey Lao Xie, has the sun risen in the west? You actually came—"
Before he could finish speaking, he saw Xia Fanxing behind Xie Jingchen.
His voice stopped abruptly, and his expression instantly became extremely interesting.
From surprise to inquiry, and then to a sudden realization that "I understand."
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