Chapter 31 : He held her in his arms

Once Chu Qi and Liang Junqiang left the ward, only Liang Qingqing, Fan Yanxing and the nurse remained in the room.

Naturally, Liang Qingqing’s gaze shifted to Fan Yanxing who was in the process of removing his hospital gown. His upper body was exposed, revealing his bare skin, with several bandages and gauze wrapped around, seeping with a bit of blood, which looked quite alarming.

Besides this his impressive physique couldn’t be ignored, broad shoulders, a narrow waist, lean and strong, standing at over 180 cm tall. The muscle definition on his back was alluring, and his abs were clearly defined and tight, adding to his attractiveness.

Even the nurse couldn’t help but comment, “You have a very good physique, so your wounds will probably heal faster than average.”

Fan Yanxing didn’t respond, merely casting a vague glance at Liang Qingqing. Under his gaze, she felt her heart tighten, quickly averting her eyes and blushing slightly, before sitting down on a chair.

The nurse worked quickly, changing the bandages and giving a few instructions before leaving the room.

With the nurse’s departure, the atmosphere in the room suddenly became more intimate and suggestive. The subtle tension and ambiguity in the air seemed to intensify. Liang Qingqing, nervously licking her dry lips, turned her gaze back to Fan Yanxing.

Perhaps due to just having had his bandages changed, his face appeared even paler, with a more pronounced sickly and restrained air, which only made his refined features seem even more captivating to her.

“What are you looking at?”

Fan Yanxing’s steady voice interrupted Liang Qingqing’s wandering thoughts. She looked up to meet his gaze, her once bright eyes now softened with gentleness. She responded with a question of her own, “Does it hurt?”

Seemingly taken aback by her question, Fan Yanxing’s eyes deepened with unspoken meaning and after a moment’s hesitation, he nodded, “Yes, it hurts.”

His tone carried an unspoken hint of vulnerability, though it was unclear who he might be hoping would feel sorry for him.

“Do you want me to blow on it?” Liang Qingqing offered, rising from her seat and walking over to him. She added, “When I was a child and got hurt, my mother used to do this. She said it would make the pain go away.”

It was a way of treating him like a child.

Noticing her approach, Fan Yanxing felt a surge of emotions. As her soft hands rested on his shoulder, the itchiness that had been buried deep within him intensified and his breathing became heavier.

He didn’t say anything, so Liang Qingqing took it as a sign of consent. She bravely leaned in, her long eyelashes fluttering, revealing that she was not as calm as she seemed. The breeze from outside mingled with her gentle breath, landing on the gauze and his skin.

In that instant, Liang Qingqing noticed the tension in his body, which had become rigid.

Her heart raced like a drum, pounding heavily. The sound of his breathing filled her ears, pulling at her nerves like an old windmill, making her breath quicken as well.

“Does it still hurt?”

As soon as her words left her mouth, Liang Qingqing felt that she had achieved her goal and was about to rise. However, before she could move, Fan Yanxing suddenly pulled her into his embrace. The sudden shift startled her and she instinctively clung to his neck. His wide sleeve slipped down, revealing a slender, white wrist that swayed before her eyes, making one want to hold and savor it.

Fan Yanxing felt exactly that and acted on it.

Just as he had imagined, the touch was smooth and extremely pleasant.

Looking down at her, he found himself unsurprised to meet her wide, astonished and beautiful eyes. Her gaze was a mix of confusion and shyness, as if she hadn’t expected him to be so bold and act so out of line.

“Fan, Fan Yanxing?” she stammered, her voice trembling and somewhat faltering.

“Didn’t you call me ‘ Brother Yanxing before?” Fan Yanxing didn’t immediately explain his actions but instead frowned and corrected her address.

It was clear she had initially proposed this term of endearment, yet now she pretended to be unfamiliar with it and called him Fan Yanxing putting more distance between them.

It was as if she had initially stirred him up but now feigned innocence, trembling in his arms as if she had been greatly wronged.

Fan Yanxing narrowed his eyes, recognizing this as her usual tactic. It was reminiscent of how she had seductively enticed him in Daping Village, only to leave calmly once she had disturbed his peace.

Was this her way of getting back at him for his initial poor attitude? After all, she never liked to be at a disadvantage.

Or was it like him, that she had genuinely developed feelings? But the affection hidden in her eyes seemed pitifully scarce.

Fan Yanxing’s mind was in chaos. All he knew was that she was driving him crazy and he wanted to pull her close, ignoring everything else, not wanting her to show any smile to other men.

He wasn’t surprised by this feeling, as he was never a good person. Initially, he had planned to take things slowly, knowing that winning her heart wouldn’t be easy. But Chu Qi’s sudden appearance had disrupted his newly initiated plan.

The image of Liang Qingqing watching Chu Qi had been etched into his mind like a nail. Although he pretended to be indifferent, he was actually consumed by jealousy. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have deliberately revealed his thoughts to Chu Qi.

Unfortunately, Chu Qi was foolish enough to dare to compete with him, forgetting that what he wanted would never fall into anyone else’s hands.

“Let me go first.”

Calling him Brother Yanxing ? Liang Qingqing felt a shiver at the thought and couldn’t believe she had used such an unpleasant term earlier.

If someone saw them embracing each other, all sorts of rumors and gossip might spread. Although she wasn’t overly concerned with her reputation, hearing others discuss her would still make her uncomfortable. Just thinking about such a situation was already a hassle for her.

And she hated dealing with hassles the most.

Now, facing Fan Yanxing’s deep, intense gaze, she felt a twinge of regret for her previous flirtation.

Who would have thought that Fan Yanxing, who had always been so proper, would suddenly turn into a wild beast and take such liberties with her? This was the first time she had been embraced so intimately by a man, and she felt uneasy all over, with her ears slowly turning red and hot.

This situation was completely different from the time she had deliberately jumped into his arms to avoid a dog.

When Liang Qingqing saw that he didn’t respond but only tightened his hold around her waist, she realized he was doing it on purpose and couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed. Her voice rose as she said, “Let go.”

“Ugh.”

A sudden, suppressed groan came from his side, and Liang Qingqing stopped struggling as she saw his face turn even paler, clearly because she had accidentally touched his wound.

“Who told you not to listen to me?” Liang Qingqing muttered with some guilt but didn’t move further. Instead, she resignedly settled into his embrace, thinking that physical contact could only benefit their relationship development, not hinder it.

She thought this way, but the blush that had crept to her ears was now spreading to her cheeks.

Fan Yanxing gave a wry smile, his gaze fixed on her profile. His actions had annoyed her, and she turned her neck away, refusing to face him directly. Her delicate collarbone was partially visible, and her large hospital gown couldn’t hide the springtime allure. Looking further down, he suddenly turned his head away.

“Blame me.”

Unexpectedly, he admitted it so readily. Liang Qingqing turned her head abruptly and he happened to turn towards her as well. Her lips brushed against his jawline, creating a fleeting, intimate moment.

The sudden change left both of them stunned.

“You took advantage of me.”

Liang Qingqing’s fair face had turned crimson, her eyes filled with embarrassment. Her whole demeanor was lively and charming. She merely pursed her lips and then promptly accused him, threatening fiercely, “I’m going to tell my brother.”

Fan Yanxing wasn’t intimidated at all and his lips even curved into a faint smile. “Good. If you do, I’ll come directly to your house to propose.”

In these times, some scoundrels who can’t find a wife resort to dirty tricks, taking advantage of girls and ruining their reputations. After getting beaten up by the girl’s family, they still boldly bring a matchmaker to propose. Though the girl’s family is angry, they often agree in the end to avoid further trouble.

Fan Yanxing’s comment was clearly hinting at a similar approach.

Liang Qingqing was surprised by how quickly Fan Yanxing had come to this idea. Her heart raced, and she looked at him in disbelief, her voice trembling, “You want to marry me?”

“Only now do you know? Didn’t I say that yesterday?” Though it was different back then, when he spoke of responsibility, he hadn’t realized his feelings for Liang Qingqing. But now, he genuinely wanted to marry her and stand by her side with a legitimate status.

Upon hearing this, Liang Qingqing was momentarily stunned, then a hint of excitement surged within her. Was her long-held dream of marrying a big shot and enjoying a luxurious life about to come true so soon?

But then she reconsidered. The time they had spent together was still short and Fan Yanxing’s feelings for her were not very deep. What if these words were just a momentary impulse, spoken in the heat of the moment?

If Fan Yanxing regretted it later, how would she deal with it?

Moreover, if she agreed so easily, it might give Fan Yanxing the impression that she was “easy.”

If Fan Yanxing knew what Liang Qingqing was thinking, he would probably be so angry he might spit blood.

Neither of them knew each other’s true feelings. Ultimately, as Liang Qingqing had said, they hadn’t known each other long enough for Fan Yanxing to make such a proposal, and she didn’t dare to accept such sudden wealth and glory.

Fan Yanxing waited nervously for Liang Qingqing’s answer, his patience unusually strong at this moment. However, as time passed, his gaze slowly dimmed and a hint of appeared at the corners of his lips. He didn’t want to force her to make a decision right away, so he loosened his grip, trying to release her as she wished.

But the next moment, the hands around his neck tightened and before he could react, she pulled his head down. Their faces were suddenly very close, almost touching noses.

“I’m not agreeing to that.”

Upon hearing this, Fan Yanxing’s expression became ambiguous. He placed his large hand over her fingers, slowly wrapping his hand around hers. Despite her refusal, he didn’t seem disappointed. Instead, he laughed softly and said, “Then why are you holding onto me?”

“Is it okay for you to hold me without reason, but not okay for me to hold onto you?” Her complaining tone was soft and gentle, lacking any real threat. It sounded more like a playful tease, with a hint of flirtation.

As if to compete with him, she pulled him down further.

This time, their lips were almost touching.

Fan Yanxing’s Adam’s apple moved uncontrollably a few times, his gaze deepening. He suddenly curled the corner of his mouth, saying, “You can do whatever you want.”

His heavier breathing brushed against her face, causing a tickling sensation which was even more pronounced with his words.

Hearing this, Liang Qingqing’s long eyelashes fluttered. She lifted her flushed, fair face and removed her hand from his neck, placing it on his chest. She created a slight distance between them and during the process, her fingers intentionally or unintentionally slid over his skin, making him shiver.

She blinked her beautiful eyes innocently and reproached him in a muffled voice, “Why are you getting so close?”

It was clear she had been leaning in repeatedly first and he hadn’t moved at all. Yet she was brazenly blaming him, which was both frustrating and amusing.

Fan Yanxing looked at Liang Qingqing, his romantic words flowing effortlessly as if they were free “I just want to be close to you.”

Even Liang Qingqing blushed deeply from his words.