Chapter 13 Taking Off Shoes
From then on, Lu Ran's physical contact with Pei Ci reached the point where he could embrace her.
At first, Pei Ci would refuse. She didn't like overly intimate gestures, which made her feel strangely uncomfortable.
"From now on..." Pei Ci looked up from her book, her beautiful face cold, and said to Lu Ran, who was about to pick her up again, "You are not allowed to hug me."
Lu Ran was taken aback, his fingers, which had touched the girl's fabric, withdrew instinctively and rested on his knees. He asked, puzzled, "Why?"
There's no reason why.
"Feeling very uncomfortable?"
"No."
“Then it is.” Lu Ran exhaled a breath of warm air and rubbed her exposed, cool fingers with his palm. “This is what a hug is like. It’s warm, and you’ll breathe rapidly. Especially in a relationship like ours.”
“You’ve been sick for too long, A-Ci.” Lu Ran’s grip on her hand loosened considerably. “That’s why I found it strange.”
"But this is a feeling that normal people would have."
Is that so?
Pei Ci frowned.
She was detached from emotions, so when there was even the slightest inner turmoil, it would easily show subtle traces on her indifferent face. Fortunately, unless one was dazzled by her beauty, simply by looking at her and gazing at her, one could easily discern what she was thinking.
Having undergone years of training, Lu Ran had developed a certain resistance to her beauty. Therefore, Lu Ran could now observe that Pei Ci's aversion was not to being touched, but rather to the strange sensations he felt.
His heart pounded, but he remained calm and fearless as he picked her up and placed the carefully nurtured flower in a more suitable environment.
Pei Ci acquiesced this time.
But Pei Ci took the initiative to ask about the rationale behind doing so.
"Research has shown that humans are social creatures. Integrating into a group of people will cause the body to secrete active factors, which will also make people happier." The doctor said softly, "Ms. Pei Ci, you are too solitary. Appropriate contact with people will help your condition."
After getting the answer from the doctor, Pei Ci, who originally wanted to stop it, chose to endure it to a certain extent.
then……
Hugs have become a regular occurrence.
Lu Ran has classes, but he drives to the Pei family whenever he doesn't have classes.
In public, Lu Ran still maintained the demeanor of a noble young master. Pei's parents, however, were preoccupied with their newly recovered son, and thus paid relatively less attention to Pei Ci. They noticed Lu Ran frequently visiting the Pei residence, only mentioning the engagement date briefly, mainly because Pei Chi was now in charge of the Pei family.
Pei Chi was extremely busy with work, and within seven days, he unexpectedly bumped into Lu Ran once.
While Lu Ran was there, Pei Chi didn't say anything. Only after Lu Ran left did Pei Chi ask Pei Ci about her relationship with Lu Ran and the date of their engagement.
Pei Ci then realized that she and Lu Ran had been spending too much time together these past few days.
“I will be careful,” Pei Ci said to her brother.
Pei Chi was still not satisfied. He took off his expensive watch, removed his coat, and walked to Pei Ci's bedside.
He was a mature and handsome man. Unlike Pei Ci, who was delicate and beautiful like a glass doll, his appearance was more like the sharp features inherited from his parents. Only his eyes resembled Pei Ci's.
They are light-colored pupils that are easily affected by light, and most of the time they have a translucent, jellyfish-like texture.
His pupils, combined with his deep-set features, made him appear even more aloof.
"May I hug you?" the tall man asked.
Pei Ci remained silent, not quite understanding why her brother was hugging her.
Perhaps it was a sudden impulse after seeing Lu Ran's actions?
She nodded.
So Pei Chi gently picked her up; she was very light, like holding a warm ball of snow, almost weightless. After feeling her, Pei Chi put Pei Ci down. His scarred fingers brushed against Pei Ci's hair, and he abruptly asked, "Little sister, will you fall in love with someone else?"
In short, after her brother's reminder, the next time Lu Ran came, Pei Ci used the excuse that she needed to study to send him away.
Pei Ci didn't manage the text messages and phone calls.
Because she has never liked answering phone calls or replying to messages.
She was ignored for several days, and even refused Lu Ran's company on the day of enrollment.
Lu Ran seemed to feel that the pace was too fast and he was not used to it. He got angry for a moment, but then he followed the arrangements.
And so it has come to this day.
Unexpectedly, as soon as they arrived at the infirmary, Lu Ran hugged them tightly.
Pei Ci could feel Lu Ran's warm breath with every breath.
When she came to her senses, she had already been picked up and placed on the bed.
The bed was very soft, like cotton, and Pei Ci was almost completely immersed in it.
Lu Ran wasn't idle either; he knelt down and took off her shoes.
Pei Ci did not refuse, watching Lu Ran's actions.
Her shoes were somewhat retro-styled soft-soled leather shoes with Chinese knot buckles.
Lu Ran clearly hadn't done this much before, his movements were very stiff, and it took him a long time to unbutton one shoe. But the other shoe buckle got stuck and he couldn't unbutton it, making Lu Ran's whole body hot, and a faint blush rose from his exposed neck and cheek.
This seems to be putting this young master in a difficult position.
Of course, as difficult as it was, Pei Ci would have just watched indifferently in the past.
However, Pei Ci needed his help now, so she felt she should treat him better.
"Lu Ran," Pei Ci called out.
Lu Ran immediately raised his face. His face was so handsome that even Pei Ci was stunned for a few seconds. Realizing that Lu Ran was also looking at her, Pei Ci shook her foot, signaling him to let go of her shoe.
Lu Ran seemed lost in thought, or perhaps he was thinking about something else. He pursed his lips, his brows furrowed, and a rare expression of humiliation appeared on his handsome face.
humiliation……
……What?
Pei Ci felt confused and wiggled her feet again. Seeing that he didn't react, she was about to give him a command to let go when Lu Ran's hand was as hot as iron in a furnace, holding her firmly.
He lowered his head.
Time flies.
It might be a minute.
It might take two minutes.
Or it could take several minutes.
"despair."
The leather shoes that were fastened to her ankles fell to the ground.
Lu Ran, who was squatting on the ground, raised his head. His lips were strangely red, his eyes were deep black, and his chest rose and fell in waves.
He glanced at Pei Ci a few times, then quickly got up and ran to the water dispenser to rinse his mouth.
With each rinse of her mouth, Pei Ci seemed to awaken from a dream.
The black-haired girl stared at the leather shoe with the button bitten off, then looked at her own socks.
...that hot, wet feeling swept over me.
Pei Ci pursed her lips.
She was usually calm and collected, but she had never encountered anything like this before. She clenched her fists, bit her lip, and shouted Lu Ran's name.
His voice was filled with suppressed anger.
Lu Ran kicked the water dispenser, his mind unsettled. The black and white uniform of Anta Academy accentuated his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and tall, upright figure. His chest heaved rapidly with each breath. His brow furrowed, a deliberately listless expression on his face.
"Didn't you tell me to do it?"
Lu Ran's Adam's apple bobbed, a drop of sweat fell to the ground, and his fingers went numb.
How could a young master like him do such things?
Not yet...
Not yet.
He glanced cautiously at the girl on the bed, then quickly looked away, his ears filled with the pounding of his own heart.
At this moment, Lu Ran was shattered by what he could possibly accept.
Lu Ran couldn't stay there any longer, so he made up an excuse to leave the infirmary.
After calming down his chaotic emotions, he returned to the infirmary, pretending to be composed.
At this moment, the doctor and nurses in the infirmary were giving Pei Ci an injection.
Pei Ci leaned against the bed, being swayed like a lifeless, motionless doll. Her clothes were rolled up high, and through the numerous red needle marks, a gloved doctor found a clean spot, punctured the skin, and slowly injected the liquid from the syringe.
Pei Ci's face was expressionless, her eyelashes sometimes trembling.
Lu Ran's body heat cooled down a bit. He watched the scene quietly, standing there, making it etched in his mind. Only after he had watched the entire treatment process unfold did Lu Ran enter, snatch the food the doctor had given Pei Ci, and shoo everyone else out.
Pei Ci opened her eyes groggily after receiving the injection, noticed the food in Lu Ran's hand, and knew that he was going to feed her.
Pei Ci didn't care who fed her, but seeing Lu Ran take off her shoes, she asked worriedly, "Can you do that?"
Lu Ran: "..."
“Taking off my shoes was an accident!” Lu Ran’s ears turned bright red. “I’m studying for my nursing license.”
To be honest, he started taking the nursing certificate exam in high school, but he always got stuck on the practical exam.
The main reason was that the arrogant young master felt that no one except his future wife was worthy of his care.
Hearing Lu Ran's eagerness to prove himself, Pei Ci said no more. Fortunately, this meal didn't turn into any trouble with taking off her shoes. Pei Ci ate her usual portion, and Lu Ran finished the rest.
After finishing her meal, Pei Ci felt drowsy. She had intended to mention the rescue to Lu Ran, but the injection was too strong, and she fell asleep immediately.
This sleep lasted for two hours.
When Pei Ci woke up, the warm sunlight gilded the cold infirmary. Pei Ci blinked, felt something warm under her hand, and looked down to find her palm resting on Lu Ran's dark hair.
Lu Ran lay down beside her bed.
He was fast asleep.
A note from the author:
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