Ning Xi tilted her head, interrupting him. “He Kezhou, I’m already really full. I can’t eat anything else today. None of what you mentioned sounds good to me. Your cold seems worse—your voice is really hoarse.”
“Don’t go deliver food tonight, okay?”
The way He Kezhou looked right now made it obvious he was getting ready to head out for deliveries.
The weather forecast said there would be a heavy storm tonight.
Ning Xi grabbed his arm. “There’s going to be a heavy storm tonight. I’m scared of thunder. Can you stay home with me?”
Her arm brushed against a soft, cloud-like bundle.
He Kezhou’s breathing suddenly faltered.
He lowered his gaze and met her clear, sweet eyes.
“Keep that six thousand for yourself. I’ll figure out the rent.”
His voice was thoroughly hoarse.
Ning Xi looked up at him, pleading. “The rent was spent because of me anyway. It makes perfect sense for me to find a way to make it up now.”
“Don’t be so macho.”
He Kezhou said nothing.
Having his girlfriend sell her bags to pay the rent—this was the first time in He Kezhou’s life that he felt a desire for money. He even felt he needed money, needed a lot of it.
Ning Xi wasn’t letting He Kezhou out that door tonight, no matter what.
She switched to hugging his waist, acting coy. “He Kezhou, I won’t let you go out~”
He Kezhou’s throat tightened.
Ning Xi figured hugging his waist would be too easy for him to break free from, so she hopped up onto him.
She’d been on her feet all day—she really couldn’t stand anymore.
Her feet hurt, her legs were weak.
He Kezhou’s large hand instinctively caught her bottom.
Ning Xi wrapped her arms around his neck, her face flushing.
She didn’t know if it was because of that kiss during their argument—after that intimate contact, the atmosphere now was very subtle.
So subtle it made the air feel hot and heavy.
Ning Xi’s voice was soft, her lips close to He Kezhou’s ear. “He Kezhou, my legs really hurt. I really want to go take a shower, but I’m afraid that if I do, you’ll sneak out to deliver food.”
He Kezhou’s breathing was completely thrown off.
Ning Xi bit her lip, realizing her voice had come out too soft, carrying an indescribable hint of seduction.
She cleared her throat, face red. “He Kezhou, I want to get down now.”
He Kezhou carried Ning Xi with his large hands and brought her to the bathroom.
The bathroom door was closed by the man.
Ning Xi clearly saw He Kezhou as he left the bathroom—that area was bulging…
Her mouth went dry. She turned on the faucet and splashed a handful of cold water on her face.
Ning Xi finished her shower half an hour later.
Wrapped in a wide white towel, she slowly padded toward the room.
He Kezhou looked up the moment her foot crossed the threshold.
The man was sitting cross-legged on a black yoga mat, with a folded T-shirt and pants resting on his legs.
Ning Xi walked slowly toward He Kezhou, wrapped in the wide towel.
Moisture clung to her soft hair, her skin flushed a delicate pink. The towel gaped slightly at her calves, revealing her slender ankles and smooth lines.
The sweet scent of body wash curled into He Kezhou’s nose, wisp by wisp.
Ning Xi tucked her hair back. “I’m done showering. You can go now.”
He Kezhou left the room so fast that Ning Xi was stunned for a moment.
Was she some kind of monster or something?
Ning Xi changed into a camisole nightgown.
Although she really wanted to sleep on the big bed, given He Kezhou’s reaction just now, she rolled over to the sofa and flopped down.
Having a reaction proved He Kezhou was a normal man.
It didn’t mean he wanted to touch her.
When a person is exhausted to the limit, they don’t even want to look at their phone.
The sound of water in the bathroom stopped, replaced by the sound of the faucet running.
About seven or eight minutes later, He Kezhou finally pushed open the bathroom door.
Ning Xi quickly closed her eyes, pretending to sleep.
The man’s footsteps grew distant.
Ning Xi thought of something and suddenly opened her eyes.
Her underwear that she’d changed out of—she hadn’t washed it yet.
She struggled up from the sofa, slipped on her slippers, and trotted to the bathroom.
The underwear she’d put in her pink piggy basin was gone.
Ning Xi instinctively looked toward the room.
Out of the corner of her eye, He Kezhou was hanging up the washed clothes on the balcony.
He Kezhou had already washed them for her.
The image of the man washing her clothes with a cold face flashed through her mind.
Ning Xi hurried back and flopped onto the sofa before He Kezhou could catch her staring.
He Kezhou looked up, took down the hanger, and smoothed out the soft little garment before hanging it again.
He walked out of the room.
Ning Xi lay lazily curled on the sofa, eyes closed, her lashes unconsciously fluttering.
He Kezhou wiped the water marks from his fingertips, silently crouched down by the sofa, and gently placed his palm—still faintly damp—over her calf.
Ning Xi’s eyes flew open.
His slender, well-defined fingers were gently kneading the tense muscles of her calf.
The soreness and swelling were easing.
Ning Xi couldn’t believe it.
He Kezhou was massaging her legs.
The man kept his eyes lowered, his expression focused and earnest, all sharpness stripped away—warm and gentle.
An extreme contrast.
Ning Xi’s heart pounded violently.
She drew her leg back.
He Kezhou gripped her ankle. “Don’t move.”
“I’ll massage it for half an hour. It won’t hurt as much when you get up tomorrow.”