Chapter 56: Can I Kiss You?

Luo Qianyun’s face flushed crimson as she instinctively covered her chest. “I…I’ll go change.”

Watching her flee in a fluster, Lu Yunzhen shifted his attention to her room to distract himself.

Some items in the room looked familiar—they were brought from the Luo family home.

Stopping at the display cabinet, Lu Yunzhen picked up a photo. It was a picture of Luo Qianyun and Luo Qi.

In the photo, the two looked a little younger. Luo Qianyun wore her high school uniform, and despite its baggy fit, it couldn’t hide her beauty and grace.

Next to her, Luo Qi was beaming with a bright, sunny smile. Anyone unaware of his circumstances would assume he was just a cheerful, carefree young man.

Looking at the photo, they seemed perfectly matched.

Before he realized it, Lu Yunzhen had been staring at the picture for a long time.

It wasn’t until Luo Qianyun came back and approached him that he placed the photo back in its spot.

“You and Luo Qi seem close?” Lu Yunzhen asked.

“My brother is the person who treats me best in the Luo family,” Luo Qianyun replied firmly. No one else came close—he was the best.

When Pei Qianqian returned, Luo Qianyun had appeared indifferent, but deep down, she had felt lost and unsure.

At that time, her brother had gone out of his way to protect her in his own way.

To him, she wasn’t a replacement for anyone—she was simply his sister.

Thinking of her brother, Luo Qianyun’s face lit up with a smile. “You wouldn’t believe it—after Pei Qianqian came back, many of my so-called friends turned their backs on me. Some talked behind my back, and some even said things to my face. But every time my brother heard about it, he would stand up for me and confront them.”

“My brother’s usually very mild-tempered, but that time, he even fought someone for me. It showed everyone I wasn’t to be messed with, and they stopped gossiping behind my back.” Luo Qianyun chuckled.

“He really is great. He’s protected you well,” Lu Yunzhen said.

“Of course. My brother is the best.” Luo Qianyun smiled, but her heart ached slightly as she remembered everything her brother had sacrificed for her.

---

“Can you help me with the medicine now?” Lu Yunzhen interrupted her thoughts.

“Oh, I almost forgot…” Luo Qianyun quickly turned and pushed Lu Yunzhen onto the sofa. “Sit down.”

Realizing how tall he was even when seated, she knelt on the sofa to apply medicine to his back.

Looking closer, she noticed numerous old scars on his body. It was a silent testament to the danger he faced in his profession.

Having done this many times before, Luo Qianyun treated his wounds skillfully and quickly.

As she finished, Lu Yunzhen turned around and pulled her into his arms.

Caught off guard, she found herself kneeling against him, her face inches from his.

“Don’t lean against the sofa—it might press on your wound,” she said softly, looking down at him.

“Alright,” he replied. “Qianqian…”

“Hmm?” she responded softly.

His voice was hoarse. “Can I kiss you?”

With her hands resting on his shoulders, she could feel the raw power in the muscles beneath his skin. Even just touching him made her fingers tingle.

He waited patiently for her answer.

Instead of replying, Luo Qianyun leaned down and kissed him.

His passionate kiss set her senses ablaze, leaving her breathless. The fiery warmth between them felt almost scorching, as if she stood next to a blazing inferno.

Before she knew it, she found herself on his lap.

The heat of his thighs against her sent waves of warmth through her body, and his relentless kisses left her mind in disarray.

When he finally let her go, all she could do was gasp for air.

Leaning against his neck, she clung tightly to his shoulders, unaware that her nails had left two scratches on his skin.

Noticing the marks, she murmured apologetically, “I think I scratched you. My nails weren’t trimmed properly.”

But Lu Yunzhen only chuckled, his voice low and indulgent. “It’s fine. I like the marks you left.”

Her face turned crimson. “You don’t like the color—you’re just—”

“Just what?” His deep voice was filled with amusement.

“You’re shameless!” she blurted.

“I won’t deny it,” he said with a smirk. “Especially when it comes to you. I’m shameless, selfish…”

Before he could finish, she covered his mouth with her hand, glaring at him. “Who gave you permission to talk about yourself like that?”

“The truth is, I’ve had feelings for you all along. I even let you stay by my side, knowing my intentions from the start,” he confessed softly.

“Then…I guess I share some of the blame,” she said after a pause. “After all, you’re good-looking and in great shape. If I were to get married, it wouldn’t just be to anyone random off the street.”

“You’re bold,” he said, smiling. “But luckily, you ended up with me.”

Hearing this, Luo Qianyun grew curious. “What if I didn’t like you and wanted a divorce? Would you agree?”

She hadn’t forgotten that military marriages were different—divorce required the consent of the military spouse unless there were exceptional circumstances.

“Do you want the truth?” he asked.

“Why would I want a lie?” she replied.

“I’d let you go,” he said. “If I tried everything and you still didn’t love me, there’d be no point in holding on.”

Hearing his answer, she cupped his face with both hands and looked into his eyes. “If you put in effort, I doubt many girls could resist.”

“Then I’m lucky,” he said.

“No, I’m the lucky one,” she replied, kissing him lightly. “I think all my luck was spent on meeting you. Without you, I wouldn’t even be alive.”

“Double the luck—that’s why we found each other,” he said.

She smiled, resting in his arms, feeling a deep sense of peace.

---

Each day, Luo Qianyun visited Luo Qi in the hospital, sometimes chatting about the past, other times reading him his favorite stories.

As time passed and Luo Qi remained unconscious, their mother’s visits became less frequent, giving Luo Qianyun more time alone with him.

One day, as she reminisced about nearly being bitten by a dog as a child, she failed to notice Luo Qi’s fingers twitch on the bed.

After she left, Luo Qi, through sheer determination, finally opened his eyes.

“Sister…” His blurry gaze slowly focused. “Qianqian…”