After showering.
"Tonight's incident, Zheng Yan was responsible, wasn't she?"
On the bedroom sofa, Chen Ziming sat beside Su Yue, resting her legs on his, carefully applying herbal ointment to her.
Su Yue looked at his profile, so beautifully unreal.
It was this beauty that allowed her heart to feel secure, which in turn let her emotions show completely.
At this moment, her face held a hint of grievance, and after hesitating for a long time, she finally voiced her inner question.
His hand, applying the ointment, paused. A shadow flickered across his handsome face when he heard Zheng Yan's name.
"Yueyue." He fell silent for a moment, then turned his face to look at her, his eyes filled with earnestness.
"Hmm?" She also became a little nervous.
"I will definitely make her pay the price."
So it was indeed Zheng Yan.
A sour wave of grievance welled up in her heart.
If it were in the past, she might have suppressed it quietly, not revealing it.
But today, she couldn't do that at all; she just wanted to vent it all to him.
She wanted to get angry at him, to act spoiled towards him...
Chen Ziming waited patiently for her to speak.
But unexpectedly, in the next second, she moved her legs from his lap and sat down at an arm's length from him.
Then she hugged her knees, buried her head in her arms, her face stern, not looking at him, and making no further sound.
Seeing this, he furrowed his brow, put down the ointment, moved closer to her, and gently embraced her.
"My dear, aren't you feeling wronged anymore, okay?"
"What is there to feel wronged about? There are so many people who like you. If I feel wronged over one person, then how am I supposed to live?"
Her feigned indifference was evident in the full measure of sourness in her voice.
He quickly caught this sentiment.
A faint smile then appeared on his face, understanding her little game.
But he didn't expose it, following her lead.
"My dear is right, it's all my fault."
His voice remained gentle, but a fire began to build up in her heart.
She admitted that, more than getting angry, she now wanted to throw herself into his arms and act spoiled.
Not the kind of spoiledness she showed when teasing him.
It was the sweet, heart-capturing spoiledness reserved for someone you truly love.
The man's warm embrace surrounded her, and the scent of her post-shower fragrance lingered around her, making her feel even more restless.
She remembered his words again: being with him, she had nothing to fear.
Conflict, hesitation, awkwardness.
Her face displayed a multitude of such emotions.
He didn't rush, continuing to hold her like this, his warm hand gently patting her back.
Finally, she relented.
"Chen Ziming."
The girl's soft voice called his name.
"Yes, I'm here," he replied, loosening his hold.
She looked up at him, her brows slightly furrowed, her innocent eyes still carrying the lingering hint of tears, also holding affection, making her appear exceptionally alluring.
She looked utterly pampered.
He didn't speak, looking at her with eyes full of doting and tolerance, waiting for her next move.
Finally, she pouted her lips, knelt up from the sofa, and straddled him.
Then she wrapped her arms around him, her entire body pressing against his chest, the source of her peace of mind.
"I want a hug," she said, burying her head on his shoulder.
Her voice carried a soft, clingy tone, mixed with a childlike innocence and shyness.
The man's Adam's apple slid down silently, but he didn't give her much more response, only saying softly:
"My dear, you can hug however you want."
The beginning is always the hardest; once started, it becomes easier.
Su Yue looked up at him, her eyebrows drooping, and called his name again: "Chen Ziming."
"Yes, I'm here."
"I was so scared tonight."
"I won't let my dear be scared like this again. Trust me."
"How can I trust you? There are so many girls who like you, you meet one every few steps."
Upon saying this, a hint of spoiled petulance appeared on her face, like a gentle chiding.
The man's lips curved into a handsome arc. He reached out and caressed her cheek, gently rubbing with his thumb, and replied:
"My dear, you call the shots."
"You're just appeasing me," she pouted, her face showing displeasure.
His smile deepened. He placed his hands on her waist, then moved downward...
Stopping at her upturned rear, he applied slight pressure, drawing her closer to himself.
He did not move his hands away.
"Then, how about this?" he asked, his voice becoming much more serious.
Hearing this, Su Yue's face showed confusion as she waited for him to continue.
"When we get back, we'll get engaged and announce it publicly, so they can see how much we value my dear and our family's commitment. That way, they won't dare to do this again."
Su Yue: ???!
No, no, this is absolutely unnecessary!