Volume 1 Сhаpter 24: Вless Xingхing with Наррinеss and Реаcе
Thе first thing that met his еуes wаs a dаzzling whitе, minglеd with an indеsсribablе, subtlе frаgrаnсе.
Нaving finаlly stееled himself to push thе doоr oреn, Fu Нuаixu still felt his brеath cаtсh.
With just оnе glanсe, hе closеd his еуеs.
Аfter аll those yеаrs оf bеing blind, his sеnsitivity to spаtiаl mеmorу hadn’t fаded.
Guided bу mеmоrу, he felt his wау to wherе the little girl hаd fаllеn аnd gentlу hеlped her up. “How cоuld yоu bе sо саrelеss? Did you hurt yоurself?”
Jiаng Xining’s lеgs werе still tangled in one pant leg, making her stand up like a clumsy caterpillar. She said with annoyance, “I was thinking about something and put them on wrong…”
Plus, there was water on the floor, so she had slipped and landed on her bottom.
The shower area was separated from the dry area, and there was a carpet outside. Wearing pajamas, Jiang Xining didn’t feel any pain, but she noticed then that Fu Huaixu had his eyes closed, which immediately made her a little unhappy.
“Xingxing, why aren’t you looking at me?”
Fu Huaixu’s thoughts were dirty and indecent, but his hands remained proper. With his eyes closed, he picked up the little caterpillar, his steps still composed.
“Because a girl’s body shouldn’t be seen by outsiders. Jiaojiao has grown up now.”
“But Xingxing isn’t an outsider.” Jiang Xining didn’t understand his words and emphasized heavily, “You’re my best, best, best friend!”
Best friend?
Fu Huaixu pressed his lips into a thin line. Just friends were far from enough.
Click—the bedroom light turned on. Fu Huaixu set Jiang Xining down, found fresh pajamas, and turned his back to her.
“Your pajamas are wet, Jiaojiao. Take them off first and put on dry ones.”
Jiang Xining tilted her head and watched him for a moment before obediently taking the pajamas and changing into them.
The rustling sounds began, and Fu Huaixu’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. His breathing grew tight, but he restrained himself from making any move.
“Done, I’m all changed!”
Only then did Fu Huaixu open his eyes. Though he had imagined many times how Jiaojiao would look wearing the clothes he chose for her, staying within his territory, at this moment, seeing his beloved completely enveloped in his scent, his heart felt as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, then suddenly released, beating uncontrollably.
Thump, thump—like pounding drums, his heart surged with emotion.
The pain in his arm reminded Fu Huaixu. He tilted his head and closed his eyes briefly before taking the damp clothes from the girl’s hands, very naturally brushing the unruly strands of hair away from his forehead.
“I’ll step out for half a minute and be right back. Jiaojiao, close your eyes first.”
“Okay!” Jiang Xining knew he wouldn’t lie to her. She nodded, snuggled into the bed, and obediently closed her eyes.
The sound of footsteps faded away, then reappeared a few seconds later.
After counting the last two seconds, Fu Huaixu also sat down by the bed. “Jiaojiao, open your eyes.”
“Happy birthday…” my treasure.
After today, Jiaojiao would be twenty-two, already old enough to marry.
Jiang Xining looked at the gift in Fu Huaixu’s left hand and the cake in his right, her eyelashes fluttering with surprise. “”
“Both are for Jiaojiao. Which one would you like to open first?”
Jiang Xining blinked her eyelashes and, after a moment of hesitation, said, “I want to eat the little cake first!”
It was an exquisitely crafted fondant cake.
Shaped like a snowman, leaning crookedly against a snowflake, holding a five-pointed star glow stick in its hand, it looked adorably clumsy—almost exactly like the one Jiang Xining had wanted last time at the “Yihuan” dessert shop, just smaller in size and slightly less refined.”I made it myself. Do you like it?”
“I love it, I love it!” Jiang Xining nodded repeatedly, her eyes sparkling with little stars again as she exclaimed excitedly, “How… how did you know I liked this?”
She had taken a fancy to it last time and originally planned to ask the shop owner to make one for her, but it ended up being delayed.
She never expected Xingxing to make an identical one for her!
“Perhaps it’s telepathy,” Fu Huaixu said softly, his eyes gentle. “Jiaojiao, you can make a wish now.”
Like a magician, he produced candles and inserted them into the cake. The bright lights were turned off, leaving only the flickering candlelight illuminating her fair face, reflected in Fu Huaixu’s dark eyes.
Tendrils of affection quietly spread throughout his heart, intertwining and inseparable.
Jiang Xining closed her eyes, clasped her hands together in front of her chest, and made a wish seriously. Then she opened her eyes and blew out the candles with two quick puffs.
“What did Jiaojiao wish for?”
“I…” Jiang Xining’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, her gaze evasive yet earnest. “I can’t say. Wishes won’t come true if you say them out loud.”
“Can’t you tell me secretly?”
Jiang Xining shook her head firmly. Xingxing was the last person she could tell.
Fu Huaixu gently tapped her upturned nose and sighed softly. “Jiaojiao really has become naughty, keeping little secrets from me now.”
He was too greedy, wanting to occupy every part of her—even the tiniest secret was not allowed.
Looking into Fu Huaixu’s bright, smiling eyes, Jiang Xining felt as if a mischievous little butterfly had taken up residence in her heart, fluttering and fluttering, willingly flying into the net.
Actually, besides wishing for her family’s health, she had made an extra plea to the heavens:
[Bless Xingxing with happiness and safety, and keep his eyes healthy for a lifetime.]
…
The cake wasn’t large, and Jiang Xining finished it all by herself.
Fu Huaixu tucked her in and placed the gift on the bedside table. “It’s very late now, Jiaojiao. Time to sleep. You can open the gift tomorrow.”
Only her head peeking out from under the covers, Jiang Xining clutched the blanket with both small hands.
“Okay, I’m going to sleep now. Goodnight, Xingxing!”
After Fu Huaixu left, Jiang Xining, who appeared to be fast asleep, suddenly opened her eyes. She scrambled up and secretly opened the gift box.
Inside was a wooden carving.
Jiang Xining froze for a moment, then carefully picked it up. Though small, it was exquisitely crafted and clearly recognizable—it was her.
Did Xingxing carve this himself?
…
Fu Huaixu walked into the bathroom and casually removed the bandage wrapped around his arm. Due to his earlier exertions, the white cloth was now stained with blood, and the sutured wound showed signs of reopening, seeping crimson.
Yet he paid it no mind, walking naked under the showerhead, his well-defined abdominal muscles fully exposed.
The sound of trickling water mixed with fresh blood quietly flowed down the drain.
Even so, the fire in his chest showed no signs of extinguishing. Two flames danced in his pupils, burning brighter and fiercer.
Finally, the tightly wound string in his mind snapped abruptly. Fu Huaixu murmured softly, “Jiaojiao…”
…
When he emerged from the bathroom, Fu Huaixu radiated the satisfaction of a predator after a meal, lazily leaning against the headboard.
Beside him was another wooden carving. Compared to the one in Jiang Xining’s hands, this one appeared much rougher in craftsmanship.
Though not exactly crooked or misaligned, it had a somewhat “simple” look to it—likely a practice piece.
Even so, the carving was held reverently in his palm, slowly and gently caressed.Finally, Fu Huaixu gently kissed it and placed it on the top shelf of the transparent display cabinet. “Goodnight, Jiaojiao.”
In the winter night, all was silent, with only the faint hum of the humidifier at work.
Fu Huaixu lay quietly in bed, but his thoughts drifted far away. He wondered if Jiaojiao was having trouble sleeping in an unfamiliar bed, or if she might kick off her blankets at night…
The darkness stirred an unusual impulse within him. He longed to walk next door and check on her, but reason and emotion wrestled within him. In the end, Fu Huaixu closed his eyes and resisted the urge.
Unexpectedly, the next moment, he heard a soft knock at the door—”tap, tap—”
Followed by a small, tentative voice, “Xingxing, are you asleep…”