Chapter 96: Chapter 96

Shen Jianian’s side face leaned against the man’s broad and solid chest. He was wearing just a black shirt, and the not-so-thick fabric allowed her to truly feel his body temperature, accompanied by the steady and powerful sound of his heartbeat in her ear.

The scent of tea on him, mixed with a faint tobacco fragrance, made her feel very at ease.

"Why aren’t you talking?"

Feeling her silent obedience, Fu Jichen’s large palm rested on the back of her head. He had taken off his watch, and without the barrier of hard metal, the skin inside his wrist pressed softly against her neck.

Shen Jianian slightly closed her eyes, her lips parted slightly, exhaling warm breath that sprayed through the fabric onto his chest: "Wasn’t it you who said we should talk for a while?"

She didn’t know what to say to him.

"You really have nothing to say to me?" Fu Jichen’s magnetic voice carried a trace of a soft chuckle, his chest slightly vibrating, and the firm muscles beneath the fabric were clearly palpable.

Fu Jichen held her shoulder and pulled back a bit, pinching her cheek with two fingers. She was already slender, and after a trip to the hospital, there was hardly any flesh to pinch: "Does your neck still hurt?"

"Not that much anymore," Shen Jianian said, "though the bruise is a bit frightening."

"Can I take a look at it?"

From when she had her accident until now, Fu Jichen had only heard Qu Mo describe her injury and hadn’t seen it himself.

Shen Jianian’s eyelashes fluttered, looking at him somewhat surprised, wondering what’s nice about seeing a wound: "Now?"

"Won’t you let me see?" Fu Jichen’s gaze was as deep as a framed pool.

Shen Jianian lifted her hand, fumbling for the spot where the bandage was knotted, but before she found it, Fu Jichen leaned in, wrapped his arms around her, and replaced her hands.

His breathing was gentle, and with great care, he untied the knot, though despite that, his fingertips inevitably brushed against her neck’s skin.

A bit ticklish, Shen Jianian shrank her neck to avoid it.

"Don’t move. If you touch the wound, don’t blame me," Fu Jichen’s low, mellow voice brushed against her ear.

Shen Jianian sat still, her fingers gripping the blanket.

Fu Jichen slowly unraveled the white bandage that had been wrapped twice around, revealing the bruise on her neck, a very visible circle of dark blue-black, with many small already scabbed wounds.

Those small wounds were scratched by the barbs on the coarse hemp rope. Her skin was tender white, making the injuries look particularly severe.

"Isn’t it quite frightening?" Unable to help it, Shen Jianian touched it.

When facing the mirror to apply medicine herself, she’d get scared, looking like a hanged ghost. That was why she insisted on having the bandage.

The doctor had said that it wasn’t necessarily to be bandaged; applying medication twice a day would suffice. But she didn’t want others casting strange looks at her, so she’d rather hide it.

"It is quite frightening." Fu Jichen looked at her scarred neck, his gaze cold, not aimed at her but at the person who harmed her.

Shen Jianian was preparing to tie the bandage back but was stopped by Fu Jichen raising his hand. He said, "Let the wound have some air—it’ll heal faster."

"Didn’t you say it was quite frightening?"

Fu Jichen did not respond, holding her back neck into his embrace, slightly tilting his head, his lips landing on her neck.

Shen Jianian’s breath tightened, feeling the damp and scorching sensation on her neck’s skin, both painful and itchy, like countless ants gnawing; it wasn’t pleasant.

Fu Jichen’s lips slowly moved upward, touching her lip corner, then held her lips in a kiss filled with boundless tenderness, with magical powers to soothe the heart.

Her restless heart slowly calmed in this kiss, as if being lifted by a soft cloud, unaware of sinking deeper.

Their bodies pressed together, leaving no gap.

In the midst of confusion, Shen Jianian sensed the tension and stiffness in his body, feeling somewhat helpless, he stepped back first, standing up from beside the bed, taking a deep breath.

He didn’t dare look at her, even deliberately avoiding her gaze, heading to the bathroom.

Leaning against the headboard, Shen Jianian could hear her own heartbeat, thumping faster with each beat, her cheeks hot as if being roasted over a fire.

She tilted her body down, half her face buried in the blanket.

The water in the bathroom stopped, Fu Jichen came out with a white towel wrapped around his waist.

Shen Jianian lay on her side in bed, catching a glimpse of the man’s slim waist and abdomen with the corner of her eye, the well-defined lines like engraved with pen, sexy and strong, yet not bulging.

Fu Jichen wasn’t aware of her gaze, going straight to the next bedroom, returning shortly after in a set of black loungewear.

He knelt on one knee by the bedside, pulling the duvet flat again, then lay down, holding her fully in his embrace: "Exhausted from the flight, right? Sleep for a bit. I’ll stay with you."

Shen Jianian, smelling the fresh, clean fragrance of him after his shower, felt slightly dazed, realizing he hadn’t obeyed his body’s desire earlier because he considered her condition.

A peculiar feeling crossed her heart; she buried her head, closed her eyes, and went to sleep.

In this unfamiliar environment, having a familiar person beside her wrapping her entirely, all previous wild thoughts vanished, making it easier to fall asleep.

Shen Jianian was awakened by a buzzing sound, her eyes not yet open, hearing the man beside her speaking in a slightly hoarse, lowered voice: "What’s up?"

The man on the other end had a voice lighter compared to Fu Jichen’s deep tone: "Didn’t see you at home after waking up from a nap, where did you go?"

"Nothing urgent." The person chuckled, "How about we go out for dinner tonight? Jing Hui called me earlier, asked about you, said it’s been a while since we all gathered."

The person in his arms was still asleep, Fu Jichen didn’t want to talk much: "We’ll see."

"Hey, give me a straight answer so I can reply to Jing Hui..."

Fu Feibai’s words weren’t finished, but Fu Jichen had already cut the call short, casually tossing the phone aside, looking at Shen Jianian waking in his arms, her expression somewhat dazed.

"Did I wake you?" Fu Jichen stretched out his hand, the pad of his finger gently rubbed against her chin, the gesture intimate.

"No..." Shen Jianian said, realizing her throat felt hoarse and clearing it. Seeing the dim light in the room, she asked him, "What time is it now?"

Fu Jichen picked up the phone by the pillow, flipping the screen on, squinting: "Almost dinner time. Are you hungry?"

Shen Jianian shook her head, pulling one hand from the blanket to cover her eyelids, having slept too deeply, her head felt a bit dizzy.

The content of Fu Jichen’s phone call with someone had reached Shen Jianian slightly muddledly, he seemingly had a dinner appointment tonight. She removed the hand from her eyelids, looking at his deep eyes under thick lashes, and said: "If you’ve got things to attend to, go ahead. Don’t worry about me. I’ll let Auntie know if I’m hungry."

She’s already at an age she doesn’t need others to take care of her.

"Nothing needs attending to," Fu Jichen’s fingers played with her hair spread on the pillow, his voice low and amused, "A few friends have dinner plans tonight. Since you have nothing to do, how about gracing us with your presence for a bite?"

Since it was a dinner plan arranged by Chen Jinhui, it wouldn’t be just him, presumably Ye Xu, Zhou Zhizhen, and the others, a group of buddies who had grown up together.

Shen Jianian remained silent for a while, thinking he was joking.

"Did you bring any clothes? If not, we can head out now and buy a few outfits—it’s not too late."

Fu Jichen’s slender fingers slid into her hair, the warmth of his fingertips heating her scalp, ticklish and numbing.

Shen Jianian squinted her eyes, feeling so comfortable she was about to fall asleep again.

Before setting off from Yicheng to the airport, Fu Jichen had called her, telling her there was no need to pack much, to travel light, and shop in Beicheng upon arrival. If there were any clothing she didn’t want to part with, mailing was an option.

Uncertain, Shen Jianian asked: "Are you serious?" Was he going to introduce her to his friends?

"Do I look like I’m joking with you?"

Fu Jichen smiled, turned over, and sat up, reaching for the light switch.

The crystal lamp shed bright radiance, filling the room.

Fu Jichen’s dark eyes focused on Shen Jianian who was still lying in the blanket, her porcelain-white face illuminated under the light, with lips like cherries, freshly awakened holding a kind of pure and tender beauty.

"Do you want to get up now or later?"

Asking meant he had already decided; regardless of her answer, he would take her along.

Not for anything else, at least going out could clear her mind.