Chapter 59: Pressed Against His Cheek
They were standing incredibly close. Xie Huaizheng had pinned Su Zhaozhao in the shadows, his tall frame looming over her, creating a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Su Zhaozhao looked up at Xie Huaizheng. "What are you doing? You startled me."
He really had frightened her just now. For a moment, she’d thought even the guest house wasn’t safe.
She breathed a sigh of relief when she realized it was Xie Huaizheng. ’But why is he pinning me against the wall?’
He still had one of her wrists in a firm grip, pinned against the wall.
The man’s hand was dry and scorching hot. His thin calluses scraped against her skin, making her a little uncomfortable.
She tried to struggle, but couldn’t break free.
The cool scent of pine from his body enveloped her.
Xie Huaizheng’s gaze was cold as he stared at the delicate girl before him.
He didn’t know what had come over him.
He had come looking for Su Zhaozhao after training, only to find she wasn’t at the guest house. He waited for ages, and then she returned.
But she returned talking and laughing with another man.
A faint streetlight illuminated them.
A faint smile blossomed on the girl’s fresh, radiant face.
Lin Shumo was also gazing down at her, his smile gentle.
Walking together, they looked like the perfect couple—a handsome, talented man and a beautiful woman—a match made in heaven.
’So, was Su Zhaozhao not at the guest house because she went to find Lin Shumo?’
"What were you doing with Lin Shumo?" Xie Huaizheng demanded.
"The hospital asked me to help with a therapy session."
After a pause, it belatedly dawned on Su Zhaozhao what was happening. She immediately rose onto her tiptoes and leaned in close to Xie Huaizheng. "Are you jealous?"
’The first thing Xie Huaizheng did was ask what she was doing with Lin Shumo. It was obvious he cared about her.’
’Isn’t this how it always goes in novels? The male lead sees the female lead with another man and immediately goes feral—no, not feral, jealous—and drags her back to a room, closes the door, and goes wild...’
’Would Xie Huaizheng be like that too?’ Su Zhaozhao found herself inexplicably excited by the prospect.
As the girl’s face drew near, the light, elegant jasmine scent on her grew more intense.
Her dewy eyes, framed by long, thick lashes, fluttered like a butterfly’s wings.
His reflection was captured within them.
She was so beautiful, like a fragrant flower in full bloom, inevitably drawing the attention of others.
Xie Huaizheng pressed his lips into a thin line and averted his gaze. "I was just worried you’d be deceived."
Lin Shumo was very good-looking. He’d heard plenty of nurses at the hospital were infatuated with him.
A lot of girls fall for that gentle type, but many of them are just wolves in sheep’s clothing. They wouldn’t even know they were being duped.
"So you *were* worried about me," Su Zhaozhao said, beaming.
’She was so happy. It seemed like Xie Huaizheng was really, truly starting to like her, little by little.’
’See? Hard work really does pay off.’
"You came all this way to find me. Isn’t it only right for me to be concerned? If something happened to you here, I’d be the one in trouble," Xie Huaizheng explained, his lips curling into a cold smirk.
"You have a point," Su Zhaozhao said with a grin. She didn’t argue. She knew he cared.
Su Zhaozhao relaxed, forgetting they were at the edge of the stairs. The moment she lowered her feet, one of them missed the step, and she pitched forward.
Su Zhaozhao cried out in alarm.
’Oh no, if I fall like this, I’m definitely going to twist my ankle!’
Xie Huaizheng hadn’t expected her to suddenly lose her balance and fall.
But his reflexes were swift. He snaked an arm around her waist, gave a sharp tug, and pulled her into his embrace.
Then, in a single motion, he spun and braced himself against the wall, using his own body as an anchor.
Su Zhaozhao was thin and didn’t weigh much. Even now, holding her completely off the ground, he could do it effortlessly with one arm.
But in the next moment, something warm and soft brushed against his cheek, carrying with it a faint trace of jasmine that seemed to etch itself into his very soul.
Xie Huaizheng’s mind went completely blank. His eyes narrowed slightly as he lowered his gaze to see Su Zhaozhao’s lips pressed against his cheek.
In that instant, it felt as if he had stopped breathing.
Su Zhaozhao also froze the moment her lips touched Xie Huaizheng’s cheek.
Although she’d always had improper thoughts about Xie Huaizheng, the man looked so fierce that she never dared to provoke him.
She was afraid he’d beat her up.
This kiss on the cheek had been a complete accident.
When she came to her senses, she immediately tried to pull back, her eyes wide as she stared at Xie Huaizheng.
They were still so close. With Xie Huaizheng holding her up, they were now at eye level.
The dim light seemed to soften his features, erasing some of the sharp, intimidating intensity he usually carried.
But on closer inspection, his expression was cold and heavy, his dark eyes sharp and ready to snap at any moment.
Su Zhaozhao immediately blurted out, "I’ll take responsibility for you! Don’t worry, I won’t run away."
Xie Huaizheng: "..."
He was so exasperated he almost laughed. ’Was that really something a young woman like her should be saying?’
Xie Huaizheng carried Su Zhaozhao up the stairs and set her down on the landing.
Then he pinned her against the wall again, leaning down to stare at her. "Take responsibility? Can you even handle that?"
With that, he gave her cheek a mischievous pinch.
He still found her cheeks incredibly pinchable—soft, smooth, and pleasantly plump.
This time, he used a little more force, making Su Zhaozhao gasp. "Ouch!"
’Doesn’t this man have a single gentle bone in his body?’
’To pinch so hard!’
Seeing her pitiful, aggrieved expression, Xie Huaizheng’s heart softened once more.
A slight smile touched his lips. "Let this be a lesson. Watch where you’re going from now on."
"Well, would I have been in any danger if you hadn’t suddenly grabbed me and interrogated me in such a treacherous spot?"
Su Zhaozhao said softly, her voice full of grievance.
When she was being forceful, she seemed invincible.
But when she was soft and vulnerable, it made others’ hearts soften along with hers.
"You’re right. It was my fault," Xie Huaizheng admitted, thinking of how impulsive and angry he had been just moments ago, all because he’d seen her with Lin Shumo.
He rarely lost control of his emotions, but just now, he had lost it because of Su Zhaozhao.
Just as Su Zhaozhao had said, he was jealous. He just wasn’t willing to admit it.
He remembered the phone call from earlier that day and began to speak. "Actually..."
Just then, Su Zhaozhao’s stomach let out a loud rumble.
The sound echoed in the quiet stairwell.
Su Zhaozhao: "???"
’She hadn’t eaten much for dinner, but there was no way she was this hungry already!’
Hearing her stomach rumble, the man who had looked so serious and cold couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.
Su Zhaozhao’s face instantly flushed red. She glared at Xie Huaizheng. "What are you laughing at!"
"Didn’t get enough to eat with Doctor Lin?" he asked, his teasing gaze delivering the merciless sarcasm.
Xie Huaizheng was getting on Su Zhaozhao’s last nerve. ’Why hadn’t she ever realized how infuriating he was before?’
’Even though he was even more handsome when he smiled... he was still infuriating.’
Su Zhaozhao gave Xie Huaizheng a shove and started walking upstairs.
’She had plenty of food in her space, anyway. The black soil had even started growing new things these past few days—tomatoes, her favorite.’
’She’d just go back and snack on some sweet potatoes, apples, and tomatoes.’
But in the next moment, Xie Huaizheng grabbed her hand.
He effortlessly halted her movement.
"Come on," he said. "I’ll take you to get something to eat."