Ji Han Zhuo had not gone to the company for nearly a week, claiming that a fever had left him weak and lacking the energy to work, requiring him to recuperate at home. To this end, he even (threatened) Rong Ye to issue him a rest certificate to show Jiang Xizhi.
Although Ji Han Zhuo had not often gone to the company before, and the two of them often stayed together, they usually just occupied the same space. He would hold her, but they rarely spoke. Most of the time, she would watch TV or scroll through her phone while Ji Han Zhuo handled work matters, each busy with their own things. At first, Jiang Xizhi had found it a bit uncomfortable, but she gradually got used to it, simply treating Ji Han Zhuo as invisible.
But now Jiang Xizhi was uncomfortable again because Ji Han Zhuo insisted on sticking close to her every day. Wherever she went, he followed, holding her and talking to her constantly. And she couldn’t ignore him—if she did, her lips would be bitten into a swollen mess the very next second.
Jiang Xizhi felt somewhat exhausted.
On Friday afternoon, it was time for Jiang Xizhi to receive her third dose of the rabies vaccine.
The doctor administering the vaccine was the same female doctor who had treated her leg last time. Jiang Xizhi had thought that after two shots, she wouldn’t be as afraid anymore, but when the syringe was brought out, she instinctively shrank back.
Seeing this, Ji Han Zhuo stepped forward and pulled her into his arms, burying her face against his chest while using his other hand to steady her arm, then signaled the doctor to proceed.
Almost the moment the needle went in, Jiang Xizhi—a notorious needle-phobe—bit down on Ji Han Zhuo’s chest again. There was no helping it; she was simply terrified of injections.
When Jiang Xizhi bit him, Ji Han Zhuo didn’t show any change in expression. Instead, he soothingly stroked her head and whispered gently, “It’s okay, it’ll stop hurting soon.”
In that moment, Jiang Xizhi suddenly felt that Ji Han Zhuo having a mouth wasn’t entirely a bad thing.
After the female doctor left, Jiang Xizhi finally emerged from Ji Han Zhuo’s embrace. Glancing apologetically at the damp mark on his shirt, she asked, “Does it hurt?”
Ji Han Zhuo shook his head. “It doesn’t hurt.”
Compared to last time, it really didn’t hurt, and this time it was through his clothes. From the looks of it, it probably hadn’t drawn blood.
Jiang Xizhi wasn’t an unreasonable person, and she did feel a bit guilty. She reached out and tugged at Ji Han Zhuo’s collar to check the wound. There was no bleeding, but there was a ring of red tooth marks, quite pronounced in color.
But how could it not hurt?
“Let go of me, I’m going upstairs to get something,” Jiang Xizhi mumbled.
Although Ji Han Zhuo didn’t know what she intended to do, he released her.
When Jiang Xizhi came back down with the ointment, Ji Han Zhuo raised an eyebrow. This little heartless one actually knew to care about him now.
Jiang Xizhi waved the ointment in her hand. “Pull your shirt down a bit.”
Ji Han Zhuo gave her an ambiguous look before starting to unbutton his shirt.
Jiang Xizhi felt a bit helpless. There was really no need to unbutton it, but since he wanted to, she couldn’t stop him.
The man stared intently at Jiang Xizhi while slowly unbuttoning his shirt with one hand, one button after another. As each button was undone, the appealing scenery concealed by the white shirt gradually came into view.
First came the fair and firm, powerfully built chest. Jiang Xizhi knew that further down were the eight-pack abs she loved most. But before those distinct, bony fingers could fully reveal those toned abdominal muscles before her, they paused. Ji Han Zhuo looked at the utterly captivated girl with a half-smile and said slowly, “Weren’t you going to apply medicine for me? Come here.”
Jiang Xizhi felt a mix of embarrassment and flustered annoyance. She had actually gotten lost in staring! And if he was going to unbutton it, why not finish the job? What was the point of leaving it half-open like this? He was clearly trying to tempt her on purpose.
Alright, she admitted she was indeed tempted. Even though she had just touched them last night, who could blame her when Ji Han Zhuo’s abs were her favorite?
Ji Han Zhuo might be a questionable character, but his physique was beyond reproach.
To be honest, she was even a little worried. If she ever really left Ji Han Zhuo in the future, where would she find another handsome man with a body like his?
With an expressionless face, Jiang Xizhi walked over and sat down beside Ji Han Zhuo. Focusing solely on the task, she began applying the medicine, silently chanting to herself: Hold back, absolutely don’t look down, or your lifelong reputation will be ruined, and Ji Han Zhuo will have another hold over you.
What she didn’t know was that Ji Han Zhuo had long since figured out all her preferences perfectly.
As soon as she finished applying the medicine, Jiang Xizhi immediately darted to the other side of the sofa as if avoiding a plague, turning her head away and saying, “You can button up now.”
Ji Han Zhuo let out a soft chuckle, shifted closer to Jiang Xizhi, and then pulled her into his embrace. This pull was no small matter—Jiang Xizhi’s face ended up pressed directly against someone’s abdominal muscles.
Jiang Xizhi was completely unprepared and never expected Ji Han Zhuo to do such a thing, so the moment she made contact, her mind went blank.
All she knew was that this move, this sensation, was somewhat against the rules.
Meanwhile, Ji Han Zhuo feigned a muffled groan, a wicked smile spreading across his face—one Jiang Xizhi couldn’t see—though his voice sounded perfectly serious. “You bumped into me and it hurts.”
Blushing furiously, Jiang Xizhi immediately sprang up from Ji Han Zhuo’s body, covering her reddened face and muttering, “I didn’t do it on purpose. Who told you to pull me like that?”
Without changing his expression, Ji Han Zhuo continued his deception. “I don’t care. You have to make it up to me. Rub it for me.”
Jiang Xizhi’s eyes lit up. Wasn’t this letting her take advantage?
But on the surface, she still wore an unwilling expression. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly agree.”
Ji Han Zhuo’s tactic was clearly to first whet someone’s appetite and then give them a taste of sweetness—undoubtedly the move of an old fox.
Just as Jiang Xizhi was pondering whether to rub over the clothes or directly on the skin, Ji Han Zhuo directly took her hand and placed it inside his shirt, instructing, “Begin.”
Suppressing the smile at the corner of her mouth, Jiang Xizhi moved her hand freely, unable to help but marvel once again at the undeniably excellent feel.
While Jiang Xizhi was marveling, Ji Han Zhuo was actually quite enjoying it too. Jiang Xizhi’s hands were soft and tender, very comfortable, but the downside was that it was easy for things to get out of hand.
So, before things could escalate, Ji Han Zhuo pulled Jiang Xizhi’s hand out and said in a lowered voice, “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Help me button up.”
Jiang Xizhi was somewhat reluctant because she hadn’t had her fill of touching yet, but she obediently helped Ji Han Zhuo button his shirt.
After buttoning up, Ji Han Zhuo pulled Jiang Xizhi back into his embrace and brought up a serious matter. “Next month is your birthday. What birthday gift do you want?”
Jiang Xizhi’s expression froze. After a dazed moment, she tentatively asked, “Anything?”
Ji Han Zhuo had changed quite a bit these days, but she wasn’t sure whether he was still as domineering as ever when it came to her freedom.
Ji Han Zhuo neither confirmed nor denied it. Instead, he pinched Jiang Xizhi’s soft, fair fingers and asked in return, “What do you think, Xi Xi?”
His deep, dark eyes stared intently at her, carrying a somewhat eerie intensity.
Jiang Xizhi instinctively lowered her head to avoid his gaze, unable to decipher his meaning.
Then, with a charming laugh, she flattered him, “You’re so generous—you’ll definitely agree. Besides, a birthday gift can be anything, right?”
As always, Ji Han Zhuo responded better to softness than to force.