Chapter 48: Heavy Rain

The masculine scent hit Xu Jiaojiao, making her feel a little dazed.

When did he get here?

She had planned to go back after he fell asleep, but she didn’t expect to be caught.

“It’s so hot, you’re coming out for some air too?”

Xu Jiaojiao said this, her feet unconsciously taking a step back.

However, her trembling voice betrayed her attempt to appear calm.

“Did I hurt you?”

Seeing her looking like she was about to run away at any moment, Qin Shuo didn’t take another step forward. He only asked with concern.

Hearing this, Xu Jiaojiao finally felt the pain in her poor nose.

“A little.” Her voice carried a hint of complaint, “You bumped into me several times.”

“Sorry.”

The man apologized in a straightforward manner, leaving Xu Jiaojiao completely speechless.

“No, uh, it’s okay!”

This interruption relaxed her tense nerves.

Looking at the man’s serious expression, Xu Jiaojiao felt that she had probably overthought things in the afternoon.

“Then you enjoy the breeze, I’ll go back.” She couldn’t wait to go back and try out her new skill.

Just as she was about to go around him, she saw him move to the side, blocking her path again!

Xu Jiaojiao: ?!

“What’s wrong?” Xu Jiaojiao asked in confusion.

“They’re lighting a mosquito repellent inside, wait a bit before going in.”

Xu Jiaojiao: …

This thing was made by her.

She used to light it every night before bed, but these past two days, she had been too busy dodging him to even remember.

“Oh, then I’ll wait.”

Although she said this, Xu Jiaojiao didn’t want to stand here staring at him.

But the man seemed completely oblivious to her thoughts.

He continued to block her path, firmly and unyieldingly.

They stood facing each other, but neither spoke. For a moment, Xu Jiaojiao felt the urge to scratch the floor.

“The stars are beautiful tonight.”

Seeing the atmosphere getting increasingly awkward, Xu Jiaojiao made a clumsy attempt at conversation.

Hearing this, Qin Shuo looked up at the sky, only to see dark clouds rolling towards them.

Xu Jiaojiao: …

She was now absolutely certain that she and Qin Shuo were incompatible.

She was definitely the one who was being suppressed.

To make things even more embarrassing, a bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky.

Xu Jiaojiao jumped in fright!

The next moment, she heard a rumble.

“It’s going to rain, let’s go back.” Qin Shuo frowned at the suddenly cloudy sky.

Xu Jiaojiao had already taken off running.

As soon as she entered the door, a brighter flash of lightning came, making Xu Jiaojiao’s face turn pale.

Sure enough, a moment later, a loud “boom” echoed, as if it had struck right next to her.

Xu Jiaojiao, who had just returned to bed, couldn’t help but shiver.

“Don’t be afraid.”

Qin Shuo followed her in, seeing the woman curled up on the bed, he comforted her.

“I’m not afraid.” Xu Jiaojiao said, but her teeth were chattering.

Qin Shuo: …

Xu Jiaojiao: …

Suddenly, there was a crackling sound from the roof.

It was pouring!

Having lived here for so long, this was the first time she had encountered such heavy rain. Xu Jiaojiao was completely flustered.

Qin Shuo’s brow furrowed.

He turned to go back to his folding bed, but another flash of lightning illuminated the window.

The next moment, Qin Shuo felt something tugging at his pants leg.

“Don’t leave…”

Xu Jiaojiao’s voice trembled even more, her small hand tightly gripping his pants leg, refusing to let go.

That dependence, like a tiny kitten, made Qin Shuo feel a pang of something both sour and swelling in his chest.

“I won’t leave, don’t be afraid.”

The man’s low voice held a calming power, and Xu Jiaojiao finally regained her composure.

Through the layer of fabric, she felt the intense heat radiating from him. Xu Jiaojiao realized where she was grabbing.

Her face flushed instantly, burning like fire.

“I, I’m sorry.” Xu Jiaojiao stiffly withdrew her hand.

“It’s alright.” The man’s voice was rough, almost a whisper.

A sense of danger emanated from him, making Xu Jiaojiao instinctively step back.

But the man remained like a statue, standing by the bed, unmoving.

It was as if he was simply guarding her.

Xu Jiaojiao suddenly felt a pang of something bittersweet.

Even though she was technically his wife, she was letting him sleep by the wall.

Outside, the wind howled, the rain poured, and thunder roared.

Inside, one person sat on the bed, the other stood by the bed.

Xu Jiaojiao unconsciously twisted the thin blanket in her hands.

Two little people in her mind were engaged in a fierce battle.

Suddenly, she felt a chill on her leg.

Xu Jiaojiao was a little confused.

She reached out and touched it, feeling damp.

“Is it leaking?” Qin Shuo’s voice came from the darkness.

Xu Jiaojiao realized that the roof was leaking. She quickly pulled the blanket over herself and huddled inside.

“It’s leaking, what should we do?”

“I’ll go get a bucket.” Qin Shuo said, turning to leave.

As soon as the door opened, a gust of wind carrying moisture rushed in.

Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but shiver.

The lightning outside continued to flash.

The thunder, sometimes near, sometimes far, made Xu Jiaojiao’s already pale face even more bloodless.

Her mind flashed back to the small, lonely figure in the dilapidated house.

The flashes of lightning seemed to be trying to pierce through the window and strike the house.

After what seemed like a long time, the tall figure reappeared at the doorway.

Xu Jiaojiao breathed a sigh of relief.

It was as if she had seen a loved one, her heart filled with joy.

Qin Shuo, carrying a basin in one hand and a bucket in the other, entered the room and locked the door behind him.

He turned towards the bed.

“The leak is here.” Xu Jiaojiao groped around and pointed to a spot.

“Okay.”

Qin Shuo placed the bucket in place, then turned to go to the other side.

A moment later, two “thump, thump, thump” sounds echoed in the room.

It was the sound of rainwater dripping into the bucket and basin.

The room was very poorly lit.

In the occasional flashes of lightning, Xu Jiaojiao could vaguely see that he had placed the basin on his folding bed.

And it seemed like the leak was worse on that side.

Once he had placed the containers, Qin Shuo turned back to Xu Jiaojiao’s bed.

The humid air around him showed that he was still wet.

“You… should change your clothes first.”

Xu Jiaojiao couldn’t help but speak.

It was uncomfortable to stay in wet clothes, not to mention the risk of getting sick.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, Xu Jiaojiao regretted it.

Especially thinking about the scene of the man changing clothes in this small room, Xu Jiaojiao’s face burned.

“Okay.”

Without giving her a chance to change her mind, the man agreed.

His scorching gaze seemed to burn her.

Xu Jiaojiao’s heart was racing uncontrollably, thumping as if it would leap out of her throat.

A moment later, she heard him walk towards the wall.

Xu Jiaojiao quickly turned around and focused her gaze on the other wall.

To avoid seeing anything she shouldn’t.

Behind her, not far away, came a rustling sound.

In the dark room, it sounded a little ambiguous.

Although she couldn’t see, Xu Jiaojiao’s mind clearly pictured those sculpted muscles, those long, straight legs.

When she realized what she was thinking, she was horrified.

She shook her head, trying to shake off those inappropriate thoughts, when she heard that magnetic voice behind her.

“Jiaojiao.”