Ji Zechen’s gaze and fingertips tightened simultaneously, his attractive Adam’s apple bobbing several times, yet his expression remained unchanged.
He didn’t believe Shu Qianzhi’s superficial injury was severe enough to genuinely prevent her from applying medicine herself. Glancing at the person before him, he could only describe her as “affectedly delicate.”
Meanwhile, Shu Qianzhi’s delicate brows were knitted together. Enduring the increasingly sharp stinging pain, she finished applying the medicine before grabbing the gauze and haphazardly wrapping it around her elbow in messy loops.
Finally, hugging her clumsily bandaged arm, she took small, quick steps over to Ji Zechen’s side. Poking him gently, she spoke in a soft, pleading voice, “Brother, could you help me tie this? I can’t manage with just one hand.”
Ji Zechen paused while lighting his cigarette. Seeing her gauze-wrapping technique resembling how one might tie a plastic bag, his current mood: “……”
Simultaneously, Shu Qianzhi casually tossed out another request, “I want a bow.”
“Tch…” Ji Zechen clamped the cigarette between his lips, frowning disdainfully at her. “Who taught you to bandage gauze like this?”
Shu Qianzhi blinked confusedly, “Isn’t this how it’s done?”
So stupid…
Ji Zechen scoffed inwardly. After stubbing out his cigarette, he led Shu Qianzhi back to the sofa. With rough movements, he directly removed the unsightly gauze from her hand. Then taking a new roll, he cut off a section and placed it over her wound, securing it with medical tape.
Though the bandaging was crude and unattractive, it was at least functionally effective.
Shu Qianzhi kept watching him the entire time. Accompanied by the faint scent of tobacco lingering on his fingertips, she observed his every movement – appearing impatient yet proceeding with patience – causing the corners of her eyes to unconsciously curve into a cheerful arc.
Only when Ji Zechen completed the series of actions did he toss over a blunt remark, “If you can’t even manage this, how have you managed to survive until now?”
Shu Qianzhi giggled, seizing the opportunity to lean against Ji Zechen’s shoulder, nuzzling dependently. “Because I have you, brother. You’ll protect me, won’t you?”
Truthfully, she wasn’t incapable of these things. But if she didn’t act this way, how else could she “trick” Ji Zechen into personally bandaging her?
And facts had proven this method quite effective, hadn’t they?
“Wishful thinking.” Ji Zechen’s voice turned cold, showing no intention of staying longer with Shu Qianzhi. After bandaging her wound, he stood up to disentangle himself from her and returned to the window to light another cigarette.
He seemed quite annoyed with her.
But actually, not that annoyed.
“Brother, does this mean you’re not angry anymore?” Shu Qianzhi sat obediently on the sofa, stealing glances at Ji Zechen from a distance as she posed the question.
He was truly handsome, with exquisite features and distinct contours. Particularly his Adam’s apple was especially attractive, making one unconsciously want to touch it.
Ji Zechen suddenly turned his gaze toward Shu Qianzhi, just in time to meet her slightly dazed eyes. His own eyes narrowed slightly, as if trying to discern the hidden desires within hers.
“You’re being presumptuous.” Ji Zechen stared at her with slight danger, his expression carrying a hint of warning. “What makes you think I’d be angry because of you?”
“But brother clearly still cares about Ze Xi, don’t you?”
Instead of avoiding being caught red-handed by Ji Zechen, Shu Qianzhi looked at him even more openly. Tilting her head subtly, her expression couldn’t appear more innocent.
As if these words merely referred to ordinary sibling affection, equally pure.
Ji Zechen didn’t answer her, merely withdrawing his gaze first and taking a deep, frustrated drag of his cigarette.
“As long as Brother doesn’t stay angry, Ze Xi is willing to do anything.” Shu Qianzhi said cheerfully, seizing the moment to emphasize her loyalty while subtly closing the distance between herself and Ji Zechen.
Ji Zechen flicked the ash from his cigarette. Though silent, a cold smirk hung on his lips.
Anything?
If it really came to that, he doubted she could handle it.
He offered no response to Shu Qianzhi, but she didn’t seem to mind in the slightest.
Knowing when to quit while ahead, she stood up, brushed herself off, and launched into another cheerful spiel: “As long as Brother isn’t mad at Ze Xi anymore, that’s all that matters! I won’t disturb you further then. Remember to rest early, Brother! Good night!”
After saying this, she skipped out of the study with light steps, closing the door gently behind her like a well-behaved child.
Inside the study, Ji Zechen didn’t turn around, but his attention followed the sounds behind him until he heard the door click shut. Only then did he rise and settle into his chair.
His gaze fell upon the potion and gauze on the desk. The cigarette between his fingers had just burned out, so he pulled another from the box but didn’t light it, merely twirling it between his fingertips.
Recalling every one of Shu Qianzhi’s actions, only two words came to his mind: annoying.