Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Scapegoat
Under Xingxing’s admiring gaze.
Su Jin quietly changed the target of the stone.
She just wanted to shoot it into the bamboo house.
"Don’t praise me too much, or I’ll get cocky," Su Jin said.
"..."
"I’m going to practice the whip," Xingxing said.
Just like that, in the quiet backyard, with a gentle breeze blowing —
One practiced the slingshot.
One practiced the whip.
One couldn’t aim.
One whipped themselves.
When Xie Jingchen entered the backyard, he saw colorful stones scattered all over the ground, shining in the sunlight.
He stepped forward.
Su Jin originally planned to shoot the stone into the wooden bucket on the stone table.
Seeing Xie Jingchen approaching.
She moved the slingshot’s target.
Still couldn’t aim, anyway.
Su Jin aimed at Xie Jingchen.
Let go of her hand.
A beautiful stone flew toward Xie Jingchen.
Xie Jingchen reached out and caught the stone.
If he hadn’t caught it, it would have hit his nose.
Xie Jingchen was flustered, unable to aim at the bucket which was closer, yet she was able to aim at him accurately.
Xie Jingchen flicked his hand.
The stone flew toward Su Jin.
Frightened, Su Jin crouched down holding her head.
But the stone landed steadily in the lunch box beside her.
Su Jin, "...".
A blatant form of contempt.
She couldn’t even shoot accurately with a slingshot.
He casually threw and succeeded.
With a ready-made teacher, there’s no reason not to seek guidance.
Su Jin decided to humbly ask for advice.
She stood up and walked toward Xie Jingchen.
Stepped too far, the skirt hem covered the ground, accidentally stepping on a stone, and she fell forward.
Xie Jingchen swiftly moved to catch Su Jin.
But was tricked by the slippery stones underfoot.
A whole lunch box of stones, imagine the density of stones on the ground.
He caught Su Jin, but Xie Jingchen’s foot slipped, cushioning Su Jin’s fall.
Xie Jingchen collided on the ground, his back hitting the stones, making him groan in pain.
But when he opened his eyes, he saw Su Jin’s bright, watery eyes gazing at him, serene and translucent like fine glass.
A delicate face, skin like creamy jade, hair like ink, exuding a subtle orchid fragrance.
He gazed at Su Jin.
Su Jin gazed at him.
Handsome brows and starry eyes, the brilliance in his eyes reflecting her, shimmering like a radiant moon pouring light.
In the distance—
Xingxing was practicing the whip, turned her head and saw Su Jin had toppled over Xie Jingchen.
She hesitated, forgetting the whip in her hand.
A sudden crack.
The whip lashed her own back.
Pain made her cry out.
The Hidden Guard covered his eyes, unable to bear watching, never seen anyone whip themselves so harshly.
The sound of crying reached their ears, Su Jin snapped back to reality, her ears slightly red.
She struggled to get up, Xie Jingchen held her waist and said, "Your way of delivering an embrace is quite unique."
Delivering an embrace?
Did this guy become dumb after being hit?
A girl like her who would just grab what she wanted.
Could she possibly be playing the damsel in distress now?
"If you want to hug me from now on, just do it without scattering so many stones," his voice was rich like wine.
"..."
The gentle breeze blew, making Su Jin feel a little intoxicated.
"Aren’t you going to get up?" Su Jin asked.
"You’re on top of me, I can’t get up," Xie Jingchen replied.
"You’re holding me, how can I get up?" Su Jin gritted her teeth.
Xie Jingchen silently loosened his hold.
Su Jin got up.
But then, not paying attention to her footing, she took a backward step and fell forward again.
Xie Jingchen was just about to get up, once again cushioning her fall.
Su Jin, "...".
Xie Jingchen, "...!!!"
The Hidden Guard ground his foot against a stone.
It was painful to step on.
He felt more and more sorry for his master.
The Eldest Young Madam not only tripped others, she even tripped herself.
Xingxing grimaced and walked over, kicking the stones far away.
Then she helped Su Jin up.
"Miss, are you alright?" Xingxing asked.
"I’m fine," Su Jin replied.
Xie Jingchen was too pained to speak.
Su Jin quickly helped him up, looking at the dozens of stones scattered on the ground, she didn’t dare to meet Xie Jingchen’s eyes.
Back inside, Xie Jingchen took off his brocade robe, revealing a broad back.
Hmm.
That fall resulted in some serious bruises.
His back was covered in bruises.
Su Jin reached out and lightly poked, Xie Jingchen sucked in a breath.
The muffled sounds of pain made Su Jin feel guilty.
Xie Jingchen couldn’t help but hug Su Jin, saying, "Are you trying to torment me to death?"
"I’m not!" Su Jin defended.
She struggled, but Xie Jingchen wouldn’t let go.
Yet as Su Jin struggled, his brows furrowed, clearly the back pain was pulling.
"Release me quickly," Su Jin said.
"No way!"
"Let go, who knows how you’ll trip me again, only holding you makes me feel secure," Xie Jingchen said righteously.
"..."
Did this guy become a rogue after the bump?
"Is it alright if I just go out?" Su Jin said.
Xie Jingchen looked at her, "You really are heartless, leaving after crushing me like this?"
Su Jin, "...".
Leaving wasn’t an option.
Reaching out to help wasn’t an option either.
What exactly does he want from her?
Su Jin chanted to herself.
He just saved her, otherwise those bruises would be on her, so he had a right to be angry.
"What do you want from me?" Su Jin asked calmly.
Outside, the Hidden Guard came in, "Eldest Young Madam, I’ve brought the ice."
Upon entering, seeing his master holding the Eldest Young Madam, the Hidden Guard quickly turned away.
Su Jin blushed like a rosy sunset.
She struggled a bit, saying, "I’ll give you an ice pack."
Xie Jingchen loosened his arm.
He lay on the small couch, Su Jin prepared the ice for Xie Jingchen.
Soft hands glided across his back, like feathers tickling his heart.
Xie Jingchen said sullenly, "Are you really giving me an ice pack?"
"What else?" Su Jin replied.
"Why do I feel like you’re taking advantage of me?" Xie Jingchen questioned.
Su Jin burst with anger.
She was being gentle because she cared, yet in return, he accused her.
She reached out and poked at a bruise firmly.
Followed by Xie Jingchen’s cries of pain.
The sound was hair-raising and terrifying.
Xingxing stepped onto the porch, stopped by the Hidden Guard.
"Let me take a look," Xingxing said.
"The Eldest Young Madam is treating the master’s bruises, if you have nothing to do, continue practicing the whip," the Hidden Guard replied.
"..."
"I have to rest for a few days before practicing again," Xingxing said, wincing in pain.
Hidden Guard, "...".
The whip she just landed really hurt.
What made it worse was that her clothes were new and she had split them.
She also needed medication.
But she couldn’t reach her back.
Xingxing turned to the bamboo house to get ointment, going to the front yard.
The little maid saw the whip marks on her back and gasped.
The Eldest Young Madam was really ruthless.
She was just a maid, yet got whipped so badly.
"Gently, gently, it hurts," Xingxing yelped in pain.
"Sister Xingxing, what did you do to anger the Eldest Young Madam?" the little maid couldn’t help but ask.
"I didn’t anger her at all," Xingxing replied.
"Then how did those marks get on your back?" the little maid asked, puzzled.
"I whipped myself while practicing," Xingxing said dejectedly.
The little maid, "...".