Chapter 96
Instead of withdrawing his hand because of Su Zhelan's evasion, Xiao Qiyun leaned forward even more urgently, forcefully supporting Su Zhelan's trembling shoulders due to the pain, preventing him from completely shrinking into the corner.
"What's wrong?! Does it hurt a lot?!" Xiao Qiyun's voice trembled with genuine panic, but his gaze quickly swept over Su Zhelan's neck as she moved slowly and her clothes became slightly disheveled due to the intense pain, and then his breath hitched.
Xiao Qiyun's breathing seemed to stop for a moment, and a thick, unyielding gloom and icy anger surged deep in his eyes, but the expression on his face was pure, almost tearful "heartache".
"It's your waist... right? The place I just touched?" He deliberately looked away, focusing only on Su Zhelan's reaction, as if he only cared about the discomfort caused by the touch.
He abruptly withdrew his hand, his face filled with deep regret: "It's all my fault! I was so careless! I didn't expect... your back to hurt so much..."
He leaned closer, almost enveloping Su Zhelan in his breath, his voice extremely low and soft, carrying a hypnotic concern and a cautious probing.
"It hurts so badly... Mr. Su Yan, he..." Xiao Qiyun's voice carried just the right amount of confusion and a hint of barely perceptible inquiry. His gaze swept over the medicine bottles scattered on Su Zhelan's bed with utmost naturalness, as if he were only concerned about her medical condition, "...After he looked at it, he didn't say... whether to apply something or do anything to help relieve the pain?"
His tone was filled with genuine confusion, as if he were worried that Su Zhelan had not received a more effective pain relief solution.
Xiao Qiyun tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over Su Zhelan's pale, sweaty cheeks and tightly clenched lower lip, his voice carrying a coaxing gentleness.
"It hurts so much... Don't you really need someone to help you? Even just... rubbing the medicine on your back would be helpful?" He offered to help, saying it was to relieve his back pain, and his tone sounded very earnest.
His fingertips hovered a few inches from Su Zhelan's temples, which were damp with cold sweat. He didn't touch her, but stared at her with his worried eyes, waiting for her response.
As for the slight dishevelment of her clothes, in his current context, it seemed as if Su Zhelan had simply wrinkled them unintentionally due to feeling unwell.
Su Zhelan was enveloped by his concern, which seemed to focus only on her "back injury".
The intense pain deep within her body continued, and the discomfort caused by Xiao Qiyun's touch had not dissipated.
Xiao Qiyun's seemingly sincere heartache and his "irresponsible" hints towards Sheng Xuan... were like an even thicker, more inescapable net, trapping him firmly.
“…I…” Su Zhelan’s voice was dry and hoarse, with a heavy nasal tone and undisguised weakness, “…I have medicine…” He managed to utter a few words, his eyes darting away, not daring to look Xiao Qiyun in the eye.
"It's good that there's medicine..." Xiao Qiyun seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, a faint smile of "gratification" appearing on his face.
He leaned slightly closer to Su Zhelan's ear, his warm breath brushing against her sensitive earlobe. His voice was a very low whisper, yet it carried an undeniable force and seduction, packaging the suggestion as purely medical assistance: "...How about I help you?"
Before he finished speaking, he naturally reached out to Su Zhelan's slightly disheveled clothes, seemingly just to help him tidy up so that he could apply the medicine.
Su Zhelan's heart leaped into his throat! Just as Xiao Qiyun's fingers were about to touch his clothes, he jolted violently as if scalded by boiling water!
Almost instinctively, she crossed her hands in front of her chest, clutching her clothes tightly, her posture full of resistance.
"N-nothing! It's really nothing!" Su Zhelan's voice rose due to extreme tension, with obvious cracks and panic, and she spoke so fast it sounded like she was about to bite her tongue.
"Just...just a minor ailment, no need to trouble Your Highness! I...I can manage on my own!" he said hurriedly, his body instinctively shrinking back, trying to create distance. The sudden movement caused him to gasp again from the soreness in his lower back, and his face paled.
Xiao Qiyun's outstretched hand did not stop despite Su Zhelan's fierce resistance. His fingertips barely touched the back of Su Zhelan's hand, which was tightly covered by her clothes. The icy touch sent a shiver down Su Zhelan's spine!
"Don't be afraid... Don't be afraid..." Xiao Qiyun's voice deepened, carrying a peculiar magnetism that could soothe any agitation, like the gentlest jade striking each other.
The faint smile of "gratification" still lingered on his face, but a resolute glint flashed deep in his eyes.
"It's just applying medicine, nothing else..." His words were as gentle as a feather, full of reassurance and promise.
However, his hand gestures were the complete opposite of this gentle assurance!
The finger that touched the back of the hand did not retract; instead, it moved with undeniable force, attempting to approach Su Zhelan's arms, which were crossed in front of her chest. The movement revealed a strong probing intent!
His fingertips, slightly cool in temperature, approached Su Zhelan's body, which was heaving with tension. Even through their clothes, the atmosphere instantly became heavy!
"Look at you, so scared..." Xiao Qiyun's tone carried a helpless and complicated sigh, as if Su Zhelan's reaction had exceeded his expectations.
At the same time, his hand continued to move, with an irresistible gesture, trying to relax Su Zhelan's tense state, his movements revealing a resolute determination!
His movements appeared gentle, yet they carried an irresistible force. Su Zhelan tried her best to protect herself, but her body trembled violently from the intense pain and tension, and cold sweat soaked her forehead.
"Let... let go, no!" Su Zhelan's voice was hoarse with despair. Every breath pulled at the injury in her lower back. Her vision blurred, and her strength was rapidly draining away as if it were being ripped out.
The excruciating pain in his lower back, like wildly growing vines, clung tightly to his consciousness. Looking into Xiao Qiyun's seemingly concerned yet undeniably forceful eyes, he felt all resistance was futile—rather than endure more pain in a pointless struggle, perhaps… it was best to let it be…
Su Zhelan's fingers, which were tightly gripping her clothes, gradually loosened, and her arms, which had been tightly crossed in front of her chest, fell limply to her sides.
Xiao Qiyun paused slightly the moment Su Zhelan suddenly gave up resisting.
He watched as Su Zhelan completely let down her guard—her eyes were tightly closed, her shoulders trembled, and in the dim light, she exuded an aura of fragility…
A surge of emotion welled up in Xiao Qiyun's eyes, instantly overwhelmed by a strong sense of control.
But the expression on his face remained unchanged. That faint smile of "gratification" even deepened slightly, transforming into a more intense tenderness filled with heartache and pity.
“That’s right… Good boy.” Xiao Qiyun’s voice was deep and magnetic, as if he were coaxing a child who had finally obeyed.
His hand rested naturally beside Su Zhelan, carrying an invisible sense of pressure.
Su Zhelan closed her eyes tightly. It was as if this shameful reality wouldn't exist if she couldn't see it.
However, the shutdown of his vision made his other senses more acute—he could clearly feel the warmth of the sunset, hear his own rapid heartbeat and breathing, and even sense the gaze fixed on him!
Xiao Qiyun's fingertips were slightly cool as they approached his side, and the sensation made Su Zhelan's body stiffen abruptly.
Su Zhelan's body trembled violently! As if coiled by a cold, venomous snake, his body stiffened like a stone, with only a slight, uncontrollable shiver revealing the turmoil in his heart.
Xiao Qiyun ignored this and focused only on the situation at hand.
His fingers moved slowly, with a scrutinizing quality.
The movement of her fingertips carried an unmistakable force, making Su Zhelan feel extremely uncomfortable.
"Are you still feeling unwell..." Xiao Qiyun's voice was filled with deep, unbearable tenderness, as if she were heartbroken for his discomfort.
His gaze fell on Su Zhelan, his expression complex and unreadable.
Then, he released his grip on Su Zhelan's shoulder and gently, with a soothing touch, stroked Su Zhelan's sweaty temples, brushing aside the messy strands of hair on his forehead.
"Don't be afraid..." Xiao Qiyun's voice was low and deep, like a sigh, with a peculiar magnetic quality that could soothe any agitation.
His fingers, which had been resting on Su Zhelan's temple, slid down very gently along the taut lines of her face, carrying a soothing meaning, and finally stopped at Su Zhelan's chin, which was trembling slightly with nervousness.
Then, his kiss remained gentle, lingering lightly on Su Zhelan's lips, with a clear intention to soothe her. Su Zhelan's breathing became somewhat erratic; in this restrained intimacy, her initial fear and resistance were stirred up by a strange emotion.
As Xiao Qiyun slowly parted his lips, his forehead remained pressed against Su Zhelan's, their noses touching.
He was breathing slightly heavily, his deep eyes swirling with complex emotions, all concealed by a gentle veil.
Gazing at Su Zhelan—those eyes suddenly opened during the kiss, veiled by a thin layer of mist, carrying a hint of astonishment and lingering disorientation; her cheeks were flushed with warmth; her lips were slightly parted, moist, the cut appearing somewhat fragile in the moisture.
This sight caused a deep emotion to flash across Xiao Qiyun's eyes.
He extended his fingertips and gently, with tenderness, brushed Su Zhelan's lips, his voice low and husky, carrying an undeniable air of authority.
"See... isn't that enough?" His fingertips gently caressed the area, the movement carrying a lingering aftertaste.
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