24 – Chapter 24
He’s inviting you
Xie Zhi’s voice remained as gentle as ever, asking Si Nian if he had hurt her, yet the grip of his palm showed no sign of loosening. His fingers dug into her soft, slender waist, with increasing pressure.
For a moment, Si Nian felt as if she were being targeted by some cold-blooded reptile, coiled around like prey.
“Xie Zhi?” Si Nian’s soft hand covered his knuckled one, patting lightly. “Why are you so strong? It feels like you’re going to leave marks on my waist.”
There was no anger in her tone; instead, her pouted lips seemed almost coquettish. Xie Zhi had no intention of letting go—he only wanted to clutch that softness tightly in his grasp.
He wondered how it would feel if marks really did appear. Jade-like skin adorned with bluish-purple bruises might possess a unique beauty…
But he was also afraid of scaring her away.
“Sorry…” Xie Zhi finally released his grip, explaining, “I was lost in thought just now and didn’t notice my strength.”
“Are you still thinking about Bai Yanlin?” Si Nian shook her head and sighed. “He’s just jealous that you’re younger and more handsome than him. Don’t pay him any mind.”
“Mm.” Xie Zhi nodded, seemingly comforted.
He didn’t know when it started, but he found it easy to lose control around Si Nian. The restlessness within him desperately sought an outlet, making it hard to restrain his impulses—to draw closer, to touch.
He hadn’t felt this way even at 17 or 18.
Her body held an indescribable Demon-like allure, drawing him in…
Suddenly, Si Nian shifted closer. If he just lowered his head slightly, he could see the light pink dress beneath her coat.
The fitted style accentuated her lovely figure.
Just like during their first meeting on the variety show, he wasn’t sure if she did it intentionally for him to see, but he was more than willing to take it all in.
“If you get closer, you won’t feel cold anymore,” he said.
Hearing this, Si Nian immediately wrapped her arms around Xie Zhi’s without hesitation.
A man’s body temperature was indeed higher than a woman’s, and Si Nian soon felt warmth spreading through her chest.
“Host!!” The little system’s voice suddenly rang out, extremely excited. “He’s inviting you! And you just settle for hugging his arm? Shouldn’t you strike while the iron’s hot and do something more?”If you want to save the villain, isn’t spiritual communication more important? Don’t worry about—”
Before the word “me” could even form, Si Nian heard that familiar—”Beginner’s Guide: Right into His Arms!”
With the mechanical sound, Si Nian’s entire body suddenly lunged into Xie Zhi’s embrace, her head colliding with his firm abdominal muscles, leaving her dizzy.
She tried to sit up while rubbing her head but found herself unable to move—a large strand of her hair had tangled around his belt buckle.
“Uh…”
“Hiss… don’t move just yet.” Xie Zhi was probably dazed by the impact too, taking a long moment to react before placing his palm on the back of her head.
At that moment, Si Nian had one hand gripping the swing rope and the other braced against Xie Zhi’s thigh, her upper body completely pressed against his lower abdomen…
Meanwhile, the system, having accomplished its task, had already muted itself, ignoring Si Nian’s calls no matter how much she tried.
Driven by instinct, Si Nian began trying to free her hair, but the tangled spot was somewhat sensitive. The moment her hand touched the buckle, she realized something was off. Just as she was about to speak, Xie Zhi said,
“Let go… I’ll untangle it.”Xie Zhi removed her hand from his belt before lowering his head to adjust the buckle, though his furrowed brow remained tense.
His already unsettled state made it impossible to resist such provocation—an indescribable part of him had stiffened unmistakably…
Si Nian noticed it too. Apart from apologizing, she didn’t know what else to say. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”
“Why so impatient…” Xie Zhi’s voice was deeper than usual, laced with restraint, as if murmuring to himself or to her.
Si Nian’s mind buzzed, too distracted to catch his words clearly. She only felt the hands untangling her hair slow down, one occasionally brushing against the nape of her neck…
A long moment passed like this.
“Is it done?” Si Nian asked.
“It’s tangled quite tightly.”
“Mm, then hurry. If someone comes by, it won’t look good…”
As if summoned by her worry, an angry voice cut through the air just as she finished speaking.
“What are you two doing!”
With the grandfather’s birthday cake about to be cut, Si Lin had been searching for his missing younger sister. Following the servant’s directions, he found them on the swing in the small garden behind the corridor, engaged in who-knows-what. His neck flushed red with fury.
Suddenly, Xie Zhi’s movements quickened. In just a few deft motions, her hair was freed. Released from the tangle, Si Nian lifted her head and hurried to explain, “Brother, it’s not what you think! Let me explain… My hair got caught…”
Si Lin frowned, his expression skeptical as he eyed the young pair. “Hmph…”
Yet he couldn’t bring himself to scold his sister. Grabbing Si Nian’s arm, he urged her to go find their grandfather. Slowing his pace, he fell into step beside Xie Zhi.
“Do you realize what you’re doing?” Si Lin glared at the handsome young man, whose satisfied demeanor only fueled his anger. “I know you’re young and impulsive, but have some sense of occasion! My sister doesn’t deserve to be treated so carelessly!”
Having navigated business circles for years, Si Lin could be intimidating even to elders when angered. Now, his lowered voice carried undeniable pressure.
Xie Zhi bowed his head slightly, adopting a chastised posture. “It’s my fault.”
“What good is regret after the deed is done?” Si Lin’s frown deepened. “How can I trust you with Si Nian if this is how you act?”
It wasn’t that he looked down on Xie Zhi—he simply couldn’t fathom how the two had grown so close so suddenly. To him, Xie Zhi was likely just captivated by Si Nian’s beauty.
And his sister? A hopeless romantic, always chasing after men without a second thought.
If he didn’t intervene, who knew how she might be taken advantage of.
After a moment of silence, Xie Zhi spoke slowly, as if offering a suggestion: “If you’re worried, Elder Brother, you could check on Si Nian anytime.”
Si Lin’s eyebrows rose. Xie Zhi’s words sparked an idea—if he was truly concerned about Si Nian being mistreated, why not place a trusted servant in their marital home?
Not only would they care for Si Nian, but they could also keep a watchful eye on the couple.