Chapter 187 A Gift for Xu Zhili
"Ah Li, wait for me a moment."
Xie Yunze's voice was deep. Before Xu Zhili could respond, he easily opened the car door and strode around to the back of the car.
Through the rain-blurred car window, Xu Zhili watched his tall figure open the trunk in the dim rain and bend down to rummage through something inside.
A hint of doubt, mixed with a touch of curiosity, crossed her mind.
What is he trying to do?
Soon, he returned with two small packages carefully wrapped in brown paper.
As I sat back in the driver's seat, I was greeted by a refreshing, damp scent after the rain and a faint smell of earth.
The color of his military uniform on his shoulders had darkened, clearly indicating that it had been soaked by the rain again.
He handed over the three small paper packages, but his gaze seemed to be focused on the slippery road ahead, and his tone was deliberately calm and natural.
"I heard you've been staying up late lately working on your designs. Here, take these three things."
Xu Zhili accepted it in surprise.
When you touch the paper package with your fingertips, you can feel the different shapes inside.
She carefully opened the package and found a bag of crystal-clear fruit hard candies, each one separated by transparent cellophane, emitting an enticing sweet aroma.
The other box contained an elegant white magnolia snow cream. The white porcelain bottle felt warm to the touch. She gently lifted the cap slightly, and a light and elegant fragrance quietly wafted out, instantly dispelling the original gasoline smell in the car.
There's another watch. From the dial's texture to the case's polishing, you can see the effort put into every detail. The design is both classic and elegant, possessing the stability of older models while also being simple and stylish. It keeps accurate time, performs reliably, and will be dependable for a long time.
Back then, this was an extremely rare and sought-after item; it required not only money, but also connections and ration coupons.
"this……"
Xu Zhili was speechless for a moment, a surge of warmth welling up in her heart. This gift was truly beyond her expectations and far too precious. "It's too much trouble, Xie Yunce... how can I accept it..."
"I bought it on the way, it's not worth much."
Xie Yunze kept his eyes on the road, started the car, and spoke casually, as if it were just a small trinket he was casually picking up, rather than a gift that needed careful preparation and planning.
However, just as he turned the steering wheel, Xu Zhili noticed with her sharp eyes a dried mud mark on the back of his right hand, with the edges still faintly red and even a tiny bit of blood from the abrasion.
The marks were clearly from pushing the car too hard in the mud earlier, causing excessive friction and scratches.
He wasn't "on the way" at all.
He must have gone to buy it on purpose.
Perhaps it was prepared secretly before coming to the county and kept in the trunk.
Or perhaps during my brief stop, I saw the supply and marketing cooperative and went out of the rain to buy it.
Regardless of the type, this thoughtfulness and consideration hidden beneath the cold exterior made Xu Zhili's heart feel as if it had been gently bumped by something, leaving her feeling tender and bittersweet.
An indescribable warmth quietly flowed through my body, completely dispelling the chill brought by the downpour.
She stopped refusing, carefully put away the paper package, her fingertips lingeringly caressing the smooth cellophane and the cool porcelain box, and lowered her head, her voice soft yet crystal clear.
"Thank you, Xie Yunze. I...I really like it."
In the dim light inside the car, she seemed to see Xie Yunze's Adam's apple move almost imperceptibly, and he responded with a very soft "Mm".
The sound was deep, almost drowned out by the engine noise, but she heard it.
The jeep continued its bumpy journey along the dirt road, getting closer and closer to the familiar village.
The rain had almost stopped, and the air was filled with the fresh scent of earth and grass.
Just as they were about to reach the familiar threshing ground at the village entrance, a small commotion suddenly broke out ahead.
A docile ox was slowly blocking the middle of the road, ruminating as if no one else was around. The old man driving the ox waved his slender willow branches and shouted, but he couldn't get the stubborn animal to move.
Xie Yunze slowed down and honked the horn briefly.
The ox merely flicked its tail and remained unchanged.
Just then, something unexpected happened.
A half-grown calf, seemingly startled by the horn, suddenly darted out from behind a tall stack of firewood by the roadside and charged straight into the middle of the road.
Xie Yunce reacted extremely quickly, almost instinctively swerving sharply to the left to avoid the obstacle.
The jeep narrowly missed the terrified calf, but due to the slippery road, it inevitably hurtled towards the tall stack of firewood piled up by the roadside.
"careful!"
In the blink of an eye, Xu Zhili felt a shadow quickly envelop her. A large, warm, and powerful hand swiftly yet gently protected her forehead and the back of her head with astonishing speed, and a firm and steady force came from her.
She was gently pressed against the seat back, minimizing the impact from sudden braking and potential collisions.
Immediately following was the screeching sound of tires rubbing against the ground and the rustling sound of the woodpile being knocked down.
The front of the vehicle gently rested against the soft straw and came to a steady stop.
The anticipated violent collision did not occur.
Xu Zhili was still in shock, her heart pounding like a drum. The burning touch and protective force of that large hand seemed to still be imprinted on her skin.
She felt the hand pause slightly, then quickly and restrainedly withdraw, so fast that she almost thought it was an illusion.
Are you alright?
Xie Yunze's voice came quickly, still calm, but if you listened carefully, you could detect a hint of tension that he was trying hard to hide, as if he had only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming her safety.
"N-nothing."
Xu Zhili subconsciously touched her still pounding chest and shook her head.
My heart was pounding, not only because of the sudden danger I had just experienced, but perhaps more so because of that hand that was so decisive and protective, and the calm that its owner was trying so hard to maintain.
Xie Yunze didn't say anything more, pushed open the door and got out of the car to check the situation.
The old man driving the cattle ran over with a guilty look on his face, apologized repeatedly, and quickly worked with Xie Yunce to tidy up the scattered pile of firewood.
Fortunately, the vehicle was not traveling fast to avoid the calf, and the jeep was not seriously damaged, except for some grass clippings and mud on the bumper.
Xu Zhili watched quietly through the car window as he had a brief conversation with the villagers.
He stood ramrod straight, his profile appearing sharp and clean in the evening light, and his movements as he checked the tires and bumpers were professional and swift.
However, as he tilted his head slightly to listen to the old man speak, Xu Zhili clearly noticed that his jawline was unconsciously tense, and...
The barely perceptible blush that crept up to the back of his ears contrasted sharply with his usual aloof demeanor.
Was he uncomfortable with his subconscious, overly intimate protective gesture just now?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
