Chapter 8
Lin Langli thought he was dirty?
Chen Mian's scalp tingled with disbelief. He hadn't complained about Lin Langli's bed being dirty, had he? But when he glanced at Lin Langli's expression, it was clear he wasn't lying.
"What's with this country bumpkin's pretense of being high-minded and a germaphobe?" Chenmian paused for a moment, then explained with a wronged expression, "Auntie will come and wash them; I don't know how to wash bed sheets."
Lin Langli's expression turned noticeably disgusted, as if he were blaming Chenmian for being so useless. Chenmian shrank back, avoiding looking at Lin Langli's face.
When he fell down the stairs, Lin Langli shielded most of Chenmian's body with his arm, leaving only his elbow, which was more seriously injured. Because of his exceptionally fair skin, the injury appeared more severe.
Chenmian kept groaning that her arms and shoulders hurt, and after howling, she secretly blamed Lin Langli: "You always pinch my arm so hard, it hurt me a lot last time."
Lin Langli's scalp tingled. He wanted to question, "Are we that close? Don't talk to me in such a disgusting tone," but he was also worried that Chenmian would start crying endlessly.
Lin Langli removed the gauze and dipped it in iodine. But as soon as the cotton swab touched the wound on the patient's skin, the person on the bed gasped and cried out, "It hurts!"
"Why would iodine hurt? It's not like alcohol." Lin Langli paused in his movements.
"It really hurts!" Chen Mian tilted her head and glared at him, her eyes still filled with anger. "Did you do that on purpose?"
Lin Langli remained silent, his face cold as he picked up the cotton swab again, but this time he moved it more gently.
But Chenmian persisted. After only a couple of swabs, she pulled her arm back, pushed Lin Langli's wrist, and said with a frown, "Lin Langli, be gentle. It really hurts."
What sins did the Shen family commit to deserve such a spoiled brat? Lin Langli was exhausted and wanted to give Chen Mian a good whack on the head.
Lin Langli's expression was obscure, and his coldness deepened: "Then don't apply the medicine, get out."
He fell silent, tilted his head back, and buried it in the sheets, probably muttering to himself.
He thought for a moment, recalling the way Shen Ci had helped apply medicine to Shen Mian the day he returned. He slowly recalled the scene and helplessly imitated it.
Chenmian stopped howling, frowned and pressed herself against the sheets, occasionally glancing at him with reproach in her eyes—clearly dissatisfied.
"The cotton swab is so hard! You're poking it too hard, don't you think?"
"Iodine solution is so cold. The air conditioning in your room is set too low, it's even colder when it blows."
"You did it on purpose! And you're pretending you didn't hear what I just said!"
Lin Langli ignored it, treating it like a puppy barking, and went about disinfecting, applying medicine, and bandaging the wound himself. He also had to distract himself from capturing the drowsy dog that was pulling its arm back because of the pain. After a lot of effort, he finally managed to treat the small injury on his elbow.
Lin Langli thought this ordeal was over, but as soon as he finished bandaging the wound, the person on the bed, oblivious to his own mortality, pulled up the hem of his pajamas.
"My back still hurts." Seeing Lin Langli turn his head to look at him, Chen Mian lay on the bed and lifted his pajamas up a little, revealing a red and swollen abrasion on his lower back. "Be careful, don't hurt me."
Lin Langli glanced over casually, and his first reaction was that Chen Mian's waist was very slender and her skin was exceptionally white.
Looking at Shenmian's face again, she had just been in pain, half intentionally and half genuinely. Her eyes were still a little watery, and her nose, cheekbones, and jawline were all red, making her look like a pear blossom in the rain.
He suddenly felt very uncomfortable, and a wicked thought emerged. His previous dislike for Shen Mian seemed less pure and now carried a hint of contempt.
She's a born flirt, always acting so familiar and intimate with everyone.
After thinking about it, he felt even more irritated. For Lin Langli, it was a great insult that such an empty-headed idiot could distract him.
There was no movement behind him. After a few seconds, Chenmian raised his voice: "What are you doing?"
Lin Langli snapped out of his daze, snorted coldly, and examined Chenmian's injuries.
Compared to the scars on his arms, the scars on his back were much better; at least the skin wasn't scraped, but there were patches of bruises on his skin that were quite noticeable.
Perhaps sensing the change in Lin Langli's emotions in those few short breaths, Shenmian was much more obedient now, keeping his head down and remaining silent.
Lin Langli was practically seething with anger as he applied the medicine to Chenmian. Why was the air conditioning in the room so high? He was covered in sweat, and the hot, sticky sweat made him feel irritable, so he couldn't continue applying the medicine.
After a few hasty final touches, Lin Langli got up and packed his medicine box.
Chenmian lay on the bed waiting for the medicinal wine to dry. Seeing Lin Langli's actions, she was furious. She thought that her previous antics with Lin Langli had worked and disturbed his peace of mind, and she was secretly pleased with herself.
Yes, he is such a petty person who never forgets to hate Lin Langli. So what if he's a bad guy?
Lin Langli didn't wait long. Seeing that the medicinal wine had lost its luster, he immediately sent the person away.
As she reached the door, Chenmian suddenly remembered something, turned back, and asked in a pleading tone, "Lin Langli, do you really not want me to help you apply it?"
"roll."
“Oh,” Chenmian replied, then added, “Could you please not tell Chenci and my older brother about this? I don’t want them to worry. If they know I’ve caused you trouble, they’ll definitely scold me.”
Lin Langli paused in his act of unwrapping the bedsheets, then looked up at him: "Worried? You're afraid of losing face, aren't you?"
Chenmian looked back innocently: "Don't tell them."
"Get back here and take the sheets and duvet covers to wash."
Chenmian tried to run away, but Lin Langli caught her in three quick steps, grabbed her by the collar and pulled her back: "You're filthy, take it apart yourself."
"No, I'll pay you back. I don't know how to do housework."
Lin Langli's gaze remained cold, but his disdain only intensified: "When you're kicked out of the Shen family, you'll have to learn these skills even if you don't know them yet."
Chenmian glared at him hatefully: "So you really want to get rid of me."
"Otherwise what? Do you think you're something likable? You're pretentious, malicious, stupid, and frail," Lin Langli said mercilessly, his gaze sweeping over Chen Mian's entire body with obvious scrutiny. "You're such a piece of trash, ha."
Chenmian didn't believe it. He found Lin Langli's gaze annoying, as if he were being completely objectified. His words were the same, belittling him to nothing.
Yes, slumber is an admission that he has some bad intentions. But is it really necessary to go to such lengths?
Lin Langli clearly harbored malicious intentions, which is why he attributed these things to him.
If he were to argue back, he would only be playing into Lin Langli's hands. As the saying goes, you can't let the other person drag you into their limited thinking when you're arguing. Chen Mian was so angry she felt like she was going to vomit blood, but she took two deep breaths and put on a smiling face: "How could you say that to me? My parents never thought of kicking me out."
"Lin Langli, don't be so mean to me. Can't we get along better from now on? I've already apologized to you today. It's okay if you don't forgive me. I'll show you my remorse in the future. From now on, you'll be my good little brother, okay?"
Lin Langli's gaze swept over Chenmian's face inch by inch. Chenmian was born with a beautiful face, as lovely as peach petals. Even with a wicked heart, her eyes still looked incredibly clear, and her incessantly chattering, watery red lips were a stark contrast to her inner self. He was somewhat mesmerized by her appearance. It wasn't until a long time later that Lin Langli slowly spoke: "Chenmian, you shouldn't have come to provoke me. Don't worry, if you have even the slightest wicked thought again, I won't let you off the hook."
Lin Langli didn't believe his few words, which was within Shen Mian's expectations. However, the other party's attitude did not soften at all, but instead became even more stern, which made Shen Mian freeze.
Then Lin Langli spoke up, "Alright, my good brother, now let's help your good brother apply the medicine."
The emphasis was deliberately placed on certain words, with a clear hint of sarcasm.
Chenmian suddenly felt a little flustered and forced herself not to answer, but Lin Langli pinched her chin and rubbed it with his fingertips: "What? You won't even pretend for a moment."
Chenmian forced a smile: "Lin Langli, it's okay if you don't believe me. I really want to be good to you."
The air conditioner temperature was lowered again, and Chenmian felt cold, but she didn't dare to stop Lin Langli's actions.
Lin Langli sat on the edge of the bed and took off his pajamas.
He was already considered a mature man. Chen Mian only knew that Lin Langli was tall and thin, but she did not expect that there was a layer of muscle hidden in his body, and his figure was exceptionally smooth with just the right amount of beauty.
When Chenmian thought of Lin Langli's mockery of his "delicate and weak body", he couldn't help but feel ashamed. But then he thought that since he was in poor health, he could never become strong and healthy. Why should he compare himself and feel inferior?
Shenmian felt that Lin Langli was clumsy when applying medicine to him, even worse than Shen Ci. But when it came to himself, he was truly clumsy.
His injuries were far more severe than his own, a mass of bruises, many broken skin, and in some places, even raw, bloody flesh was visible. Chenmian felt somewhat relieved.
He applied the medicine to Lin Langli, but he was clumsy to begin with, and he deliberately used too much force in some places, pressing the cotton swab repeatedly into the flesh.
Lin Langli grunted, his tone icy: "You did this on purpose?"
"I didn't!" Chen Mian smiled behind Lin Langli, but her tone was flustered. She quickly withdrew her hand. "I didn't mean to. I just never apply medicine to anyone else before. Little brother, please bear with me."
He looked aggrieved, as if he had meant well but was instead blamed by an ungrateful wretch.
Lin Langli didn't say anything more, letting Shen Mian continue to apply the medicine haphazardly. Even when applying the gauze, he didn't wash his hands again, just carelessly wrapped it up, which was very perfunctory.
"Alright." After finishing her work, Chenmian got up and packed her medicine box. "Thank you for helping me apply the medicine tonight, little brother. Dad would be so happy if he knew we help each other out."
Lin Langli looked at Chen Mian's earnest self-talk, his eyes filled with mixed emotions, and his annoyance grew stronger.
Looking at Lin Langli's expression, Shenmian knew he was unmoved and clicked her tongue inwardly, thinking to herself that he was really difficult to deal with.
But her expression remained warm and welcoming as she earnestly instructed, "Remember, don't get the wound wet. If you suddenly feel any discomfort anywhere, be sure to go to the hospital."
Lin Langli ignored him. Chenmian carried the medicine box and walked out. When he reached the door, he turned back and smiled slightly, like a night-blooming cereus in the night, pure and beautiful, exceptionally moving.
Lin Langli heard Chenmian say softly, "Thank you, little brother. I made a mistake today because I was thinking the wrong thing. It's all my fault. You protected me back then. Whether you believe it or not, I am grateful to you. Good night, Lin Langli."
When calling his name, she deliberately drew out the syllables, her tone muffled and soft.
It's like seduction, or it's just an illusion.
A note from the author:
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