◎It hurts, it hurts so much.◎

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, so close that they could clearly feel each other’s body heat.

Behind her was a body as hard and unyielding as a bronze wall—scorching hot, domineering, and rough as it restrained her. The slightest struggle from her only made him tighten his grip. In the process, their contrasting forms tangled together, leaving behind ambiguous red marks.

The enticing sweet aroma of food in the air gradually dissipated, replaced by an unmistakable tension and danger.

The man used a grappling technique common in the military—a move designed to subdue an enemy in one strike. Given the disparity in their strength, escape was impossible.

Song Shixi had seen this move demonstrated by a drill instructor during her university military training. She remembered it vividly because of how smooth and commanding it looked, but she never imagined she would experience it firsthand in her lifetime.

Recalling the book’s description of Qin Yue’s military background—how he had served in a special forces unit where high-pressure training had sharpened his vigilance and defensiveness beyond ordinary levels, and how he had struggled to carve out a place for himself in the chaotic landscape of Shenzhen—she realized that her sudden approach from behind had likely triggered his instincts, causing him to react as if she were an enemy.

Thinking this, Song Shixi pushed past the pain and hurriedly spoke: “Brother, it’s… it’s me.”

“Song Shixi?”

Recognizing the person pinned beneath him, the fierceness and gloom in Qin Yue’s eyes vanished entirely. A flicker of astonishment passed through his gaze before he immediately released her and took two steps back.

What met his eyes next was an indescribable scene of dishevelment. Her long dress had ridden up during the struggle, bunching around her thighs and revealing a pair of long, pale, and beautifully shaped legs.

Her loosely tied hair had mostly come undone, hanging precariously at the back of her head. A few strands had slipped free and fell against her rapidly rising and falling chest, hinting at a flush that invited wild imaginings.

Qin Yue averted his gaze just in time, but his peripheral vision caught sight of the large red patches on her wrists and arms where he had restrained her. Faint bruises were already beginning to form—she must have been hurt quite badly.

His time in the military had ingrained in him a habit of constant vigilance. After leaving the army and moving to Shenzhen, he found himself in a newly developed city where all sorts of people mingled. To make a name for himself there, he had to be tough and rely on his fists—it was just the way things were.

So when Song Shixi suddenly approached him from behind, his instincts had taken over, and he’d subdued her without thinking.

Who could have predicted it would turn out to be such a mistake?

“Have you lost your mind?”

Once freed, Song Shixi struggled to climb down from the table. Her chest, hands, waist, and legs ached—there wasn’t a part of her that didn’t hurt. Her tears had dampened her eyelashes, blurring her vision. Unable to see clearly, she missed her step and nearly fell.

Thankfully, someone grabbed her arm at the critical moment, saving her from a fall.

The calloused fingertips on her skin were rough and scorching, grinding against her wounds and sending sharp pains mixed with an inexplicable tingling sensation through her. She gasped sharply and was about to pull away when the hand thoughtfully moved upward to grip her shoulder, steadying her before letting go.

Song Shixi had vented her anger freely, but out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Qin Yue’s expression was darker than she had ever seen it. Her heart sank. Qin Yue had probably never been pointed at and scolded like this in his life. What if he became enraged and decided to beat her to death?

A shiver ran through her. She quickly seized the initiative, sobbing as she accused him, “I made this dinner for you. You ate my food, and then you hit me. Isn’t that going too far? I worked on it for so long, and I haven’t even had a bite, yet you…”

Her voice trembled uncontrollably by the end, sounding utterly pitiful.

Hearing this, Qin Yue followed the direction of her finger and noticed the food arranged on the dining table. The silver ear soup was clear and glossy, the purple dumplings round and adorable—each dish exquisitely crafted, clearly unlike anything Aunt Yang would usually make.

Under normal circumstances, he would have noticed the difference immediately. But he had been busy all day and had finally found some time to return home to rest. As soon as he stepped through the door, he was greeted by the sweet aroma. Hunger had taken over, and he hadn’t paid attention to anything else.

After all, this is his house. What’s the big deal if he ate it?

He just never expected that these soft, sweet, and not-too-cloying little treats were actually made by her.

A rare hint of awkwardness flashed across Qin Yue’s face. “I’m sorry. I’ll have Aunt Yang make another portion later. For now, let’s go to the hospital to have your hand checked.”

This was his mistake, so he ought to apologize and handle it properly. He wasn’t an unreasonable person.

The food was a minor issue; the real concern was her hand. Although he hadn’t used his full strength, if left untreated, it would undoubtedly be badly swollen by tomorrow.

Hearing Qin Yue’s words, Song Shixi’s eyelashes fluttered. She definitely needed to go to the hospital—she wouldn’t joke about her health.

She had been too impatient earlier, rushing up to him from behind without thinking, so she couldn’t place all the blame on Qin Yue.

Now that he had apologized promptly and proposed a solution, most of her anger had already subsided.

But the dinner she had worked so hard to prepare had indeed been eaten by him, and she had to get even.

Besides, whether it was her imagination or because Qin Yue knew he was in the wrong, he seemed surprisingly easy to talk to right now.

Thinking this, Song Shixi squeezed out two more tears, deliberately putting on a fragile, wavering act. “I’ll do whatever you say, Brother.”

She paused before continuing, “But Aunt Yang has already gone home, and you ate my dinner. You wouldn’t just stand by and watch me go hungry, would you?”

The first five soft-spoken words struck Qin Yue’s ears, making his eyebrows rise slightly. His heart felt as if brushed by a feather, stirring ripples within, and the corners of his lips couldn’t help but tilt upward. But upon hearing the latter part, that slight curve smoothed away.

He remained silent, quietly waiting for her to continue.

“I remember the food Secretary Xu bought last time was really good. How about you pick up a portion for me on the way?” Song Shixi said, cautiously glancing up at Qin Yue.

Though she had only tried it once, she could still remember how delicious that meal was. Just the thought of it made her mouth water.

“…”

Qin Yue had waited, expecting that given her nature, she would seize the opportunity to make all sorts of outrageous demands. He had already prepared to settle things with money, but in the end, all she asked for was a meal.

Was that all she had in her?

But she certainly had no trouble bossing him around. She didn’t even know where the restaurant was located, yet she dared to call it “on the way.”

Qin Yue didn’t respond. He stared at her for a couple of seconds before turning and heading toward the door. But after taking a few steps, he noticed she hadn’t followed. When he glanced back, she was still standing in the same spot, her head bowed, revealing a slender, pale neck that seemed to glow, exuding a sense of loneliness and disappointment.

Qin Yue’s hand, hanging at his side, clenched slightly. A trace of impatience surfaced on his face, but his tone when he spoke carried a tenderness even he himself hadn’t noticed. “Aren’t you coming? Does your hand not hurt?”

As soon as he finished speaking, he saw her immediately lift her head and look toward him. Her glistening eyes shone brilliantly, but in an instant, they turned soft and vulnerable again. She looked as if she had been crying pitifully, delicate enough to be blown over by a breeze.

“It hurts, it hurts so much.”

Perhaps afraid he wouldn’t believe her, she repeated it several times.

But that didn’t stop her from secretly pocketing two purple dumplings to take with her before leaving.

Qin Yue pretended not to notice. He picked up the car keys from the entryway and continued toward the door. As he passed the passenger seat, he opened the door for her—after all, her hand was injured, and she would have fumbled with the door, wasting time.

“Sit in the front.”

Hearing this, Song Shixi, who had been heading toward the back seat, changed direction and reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat.