He stared into the woman’s unfathomably deep eyes. “Never thought about it.”
Ji Huanlan lowered her gaze and smiled, deliberately brushing her hand against the back of his. “So taking care of you is my responsibility.”
Ji Huanlan didn’t see the shift in Shen Xi’s pupils.
Because she was busy helping Shen Xi take off his clothes.
They were husband and wife after all, and would be sharing a bed for who knows how long in the future. This kind of thing was unavoidable.
There was no need to be shy at all.
It wasn’t until she had slowly moved Shen Xi, who was down to his underwear, bit by bit into the bathtub that Ji Huanlan finally spoke: “Shen Xi.”
The man’s jaw tightened slightly. “Mm.”
Ji Huanlan looked at the scars on his body, her gaze flickering between light and shadow. “How did you get these?”
Shen Xi didn’t hide anything. “Left behind from two years ago.”
That was when the Shen family had undergone its great upheaval.
“Tell me the names?”
Ji Huanlan’s hand entered the water, gently landing on Shen Xi’s calf as she performed the massage movements Guan Qi had written down.
She sat on a small stool beside the ink-black stone bathtub, her beautiful legs crossed. Even while giving a massage, her posture remained elegant and full of aristocratic grace.
Shen Xi averted his gaze, his throat bobbing slightly.
When no answer came, the woman made a sound: “Mm?”
Shen Xi closed his eyes and actually gave the names: “Fifth Uncle, Eighth Uncle, and Shen Shuo.”
When Ji Huanlan massaged him, Shen Xi couldn’t feel anything.
But he still felt uncomfortable, his entire upper body tense.
Ji Huanlan had seen all of his upper body. It was muscular—not subtly hinted at, but truly etched there.
If his legs hadn’t been ruined, he would have been truly striking.
Ji Huanlan held admiration for outstanding people, regardless of gender.
She stopped her hands and suddenly reached out to touch the scars on Shen Xi’s chest.
Her wrist was suddenly seized, and it hurt a little.
Ji Huanlan looked up, her seductive eyes like silk threads. “Not allowed to touch?”
Shen Xi just looked at her.
Ji Huanlan frowned. “Let go of me. It hurts.”
Those soft, gentle words actually made Shen Xi release his grip.
Ji Huanlan continued to cover the scars that still held a faint pink hue. “This one is quite deep. It landed right over your heart. Who did this one?”
“Eighth Uncle.”
Shen Xi didn’t know what had come over him—whatever Ji Huanlan asked, he answered.
Ji Huanlan silently repeated the title “Eighth Uncle” to herself.
“What about the others?”
Shen Xi told her one by one which scar had come from which person.
Ji Huanlan didn’t say anything more afterward, continuing to massage his legs.
Guan Qi had written on paper that the massage needed to last a full half hour, followed by acupuncture to stimulate the acupoints.
When the massage time was up, a thin layer of fragrant sweat had formed on Ji Huanlan’s forehead. She paid it no mind and picked up a bath towel to drape over Shen Xi.
Then—
“Ji Huanlan!”
Ji Huanlan didn’t make a sound.
Even after she had carried him to the bed, Shen Xi’s expression remained dark and gloomy.
Ji Huanlan gasped for breath several times. “Good thing I specifically trained my arm strength at the gym before.”
Shen Xi: …
After resting for a moment, Ji Huanlan rummaged through the bedside cabinet and found the acupuncture needles.
Shen Xi looked at her. “Do you know how? Let the resident doctor do it.”
“I do. Guan Qi wrote it down.”
Guan Qi had written down several acupoint names, and she knew them all. Having lived abroad for many years, her father had kept two experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioners by her side to look after her health, and over the years she had picked up a fair amount of the basics.
Shen Xi was somewhat surprised by how broad her range of knowledge was, and so he actually allowed her to proceed with inserting the needles herself.
If she had even the slightest ulterior motive, he might never have been able to stand again. In the past, no one but Guan Qi could touch his legs.
Somehow, looking at Ji Huanlan’s profile, Shen Xi simply didn’t stop her.
As she inserted the needles, Ji Huanlan kept her eyes lowered. “How did your legs get like this?”
After all, they were already husband and wife.
Shen Xi was silent for a moment.
“Shen Jin.”
Ji Huanlan didn’t know who Shen Jin was.
“He’s dead.”
She raised an eyebrow, nodded, and understood.
Soon, the entire pack of needles was in place. Ji Huanlan was quite satisfied with her work.
“I’m going to take a shower.”
The bathroom door closed again.
Shen Xi stared at that door, unable to look away for a long time.
Half an hour later, Ji Huanlan came out.
She didn’t bother covering up much, wearing the sheer nightgown she’d brought with her. “Ready to remove the needles?”
Shen Xi, who had closed his eyes, slowly opened them. “Mm.”
He had nearly fallen asleep.
Ji Huanlan’s hair was half-dried. She wiped her hands and deftly removed the needles from Shen Xi.
Without a word, she turned to pour two glasses of water, placing one on each of their nightstands, and set the ashtray on Shen Xi’s side as well.
“Sleep. Call me if you need anything.” She was thoughtful and attentive.
Shen Xi was silent for a long time.
Ji Huanlan had been exhausted lately, and today especially so.
She lay down on the far side of the bed, each of them with their own blanket.
The air was filled with the scent of fir wood.
Shen Xi smelled nothing else.
Ji Huanlan must have used his body wash, not opening any new one.
This meant…
They were one.
She was on his side.
That realization kept Shen Xi, who hadn’t thought much of this arranged marriage, from falling asleep.
The next day.
When Ji Huanlan woke up, she heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling away.
Shen Xi had left before her.
Ji Huanlan stretched, got up to wash up, changed into work attire, and headed downstairs.
“Madam.”
Ji Huanlan, who hadn’t quite gotten used to that title, responded after a few seconds. “Mm.”
“The master said you should have breakfast before you leave.”
Ji Huanlan hadn’t planned on eating breakfast.
Being a proper lady was just a front—she was a workaholic, and it was precisely because her father valued that trait that he had quietly nurtured her for so many years.
Fastening the button on her wrist cuff, Ji Huanlan changed direction and followed the housekeeper to the Xitu Lanya dining room.
The Xitu Lanya dining room was spacious enough.
Even someone like Ji Huanlan, who had never lacked money growing up, couldn’t help but marvel at the Shen family’s wealth.
“Madam, please try this. The master specifically arranged for it to be flown in overnight.”
Fresh ingredients of the highest quality were placed before her, and Ji Huanlan was momentarily taken aback.
She guessed that Shen Xi was repaying her for taking care of him last night.
Ji Huanlan didn’t stand on ceremony. Since it was brought to her, she might as well enjoy it.
The Shen family’s servants all noticed that their new mistress, despite being in a hurry, still ate everything the master had instructed to be prepared.
Her movements were quick, yet her demeanor remained graceful and composed.
Ji Huanlan’s beauty was completely different from her younger sister Ji Yaoqing’s. With the same face, when she didn’t smile, she carried a sharp, striking edge; but when she smiled, there was a deeply deceptive charm to it.
After the meal, she stood up. “Thank you for your hard work.”
The housekeeper and servants were pleasantly surprised. “You’re too kind, Madam.”
Ji Huanlan left the Shen residence.
Wang Huo was already waiting for her at the door.
“Good morning, Madam.”
A greeting made Ji Huanlan shift her gaze over. She nodded. “Hello. You are…”
“Second sister-in-law, I’m Shen Ran. I’m second brother’s cousin.” Shen Ran looked sunny and smiley, bearing a three or four-tenths resemblance to Shen Xi.
Ji Huanlan took note of him.
Watching the Maybach drive away, Shen Ran let out a sigh of relief.
Yesterday he had been on the plane and hadn’t yet returned home, dodging a bullet. But from what those people said, this second sister-in-law had given the Shen family a direct show of force yesterday.
His mother had told him to keep a low profile.
So here he was, waiting early to greet this newly minted second sister-in-law.