Chapter 123: Xie Huaizheng Failed to Protect Her
However, her eyes froze when they landed on the girl in Xu Jiaming’s arms.
"Zhaozhao!" Xu Jiaxin shot to her feet and rushed forward.
But Xu Jiaming immediately shielded Su Zhaozhao, holding up a hand to stop Xu Jiaxin. "Don’t touch her. She’s hurt."
Xu Jiaxin instantly froze, even taking a couple of steps back.
She knew she could be reckless and was worried she might hurt Su Zhaozhao.
Xu Jiaming carried Su Zhaozhao over to his bedside.
He gingerly helped her sit, his movements painstakingly cautious as if he were handling a priceless, fragile treasure.
Su Zhaozhao had no strength at all; she started to slump to the side the moment she was seated.
Xu Jiaming had no choice but to sit down with her, letting her body lean against his for support.
The girl was perfectly still and quiet, looking utterly docile.
In addition to the faint scent of jasmine, the smell of blood clung to her, causing Xu Jiaming’s brow to furrow.
Even for a man like him, who usually found the scent of blood exhilarating, there was no excitement now.
There was only concern for Su Zhaozhao.
Xu Jiaming reached out and gently stroked Su Zhaozhao’s face. Her skin was smooth but ice-cold, so fragile it seemed she might shatter at any moment.
He didn’t dare to touch her with any force. His hand trembled from the sheer effort of being so gentle.
The image of Zhang Fengxia roughly grabbing her face flashed through his mind, and a grim, chillingly menacing light filled his eyes.
’In my mind, Zhang Fengxia and Su Dashan are already dead.’
’I’ll make them regret ever being born.’
Su Zhaozhao’s wound needed to be treated. Fortunately, he always carried a small first-aid kit.
"Zhaozhao, your hand is hurt, isn’t it? I’ll take care of it. Don’t be afraid."
As Xu Jiaming spoke, he had Xu Jiaxin bring over his luggage. He opened the bag and took out the first-aid kit.
Then, Xu Jiaming took hold of Su Zhaozhao’s right hand and gently pulled it from her pocket.
Xu Jiaxin watched from the side. When she saw Su Zhaozhao’s blood-drenched hand, she couldn’t help but gasp.
"Oh my god!" Xu Jiaxin’s brow furrowed, and she clapped a hand over her mouth.
’How is there so much blood?!’
She was so frightened that tears welled up in her eyes.
It was impossible to tell how large the wound on Su Zhaozhao’s hand was, but it was dripping with fresh blood. Her entire palm looked as if it had been steeped in it.
Thankfully, their soft sleeper was the highest class available on the train—a private two-person compartment with facing bunks and a door they could close.
If anyone else saw this, it would be terrifying.
She glanced at her brother. His hand seemed to tremble slightly, and his face had grown even paler.
His hands, however, didn’t stop moving.
He unwrapped hemostatic powder, bandages, and an iodine solution.
He said to Su Zhaozhao, "I’m going to disinfect the wound. It doesn’t look too deep, so it shouldn’t hurt too much."
Xu Jiaxin was dumbfounded. It was the first time she had ever seen her brother treat someone with such tenderness.
Even she, his own sister, had never been treated so gently by him.
Her expression shifted from shock to dawning realization. ’Could it be? Does my brother actually like Su Zhaozhao?!’
’Thinking back to that first time he snatched the hair tie Su Zhaozhao had just done for me... it’s a real possibility.’
’Isn’t this exactly like the love-at-first-sight plots in the novels I read?’
Her brother always seemed so cold, treating everyone with a polite but distant air.
She had originally thought he’d be a bachelor for life. She never expected him to fall for someone like Su Zhaozhao.
Then again, Su Zhaozhao was so beautiful, had such a wonderful personality, and owned so many cute hair ties.
Even she, a girl herself, adored Su Zhaozhao, so it was no surprise her brother would too.
Still, she had no idea what Su Zhaozhao had been through. Her injuries looked severe.
’It must hurt so much!’
Leaning against Xu Jiaming, Su Zhaozhao felt her consciousness begin to fade again.
Was it from the blood loss, or because she had finally relaxed?
She desperately wanted to sleep.
As she watched Xu Jiaming disinfect her hand, her head drooped and she was about to drift off against his chest.
Xu Jiaming’s lips brushed against her ear as he whispered, "Don’t sleep, Zhaozhao. Stay awake."
He was terrified that if she fell asleep now, she might never wake up.
Su Zhaozhao managed a soft hum. Realizing she could speak again, she said slowly, "I’m just... a little tired."
Hearing that she had regained enough strength to speak, Xu Jiaming glanced at her. "I see. How did they hurt you?"
"They covered my mouth and nose with a cloth... they drugged me. I don’t know what it was... then I just felt weak all over," Su Zhaozhao said, her voice faint.
She hadn’t recovered her strength, and her voice was barely louder than a mosquito’s buzz.
Xu Jiaming had to turn his head, his ear almost touching her lips, just to hear her.
"It’s okay. I’ll take you to a hospital as soon as we get off the train. Don’t worry. You’re safe now."
Xu Jiaming used one hand to support Su Zhaozhao’s head, resting it on his shoulder to keep her from slumping over if she lost consciousness.
He was so close to her, it felt as though he could kiss her at any moment.
Every breath he took was filled with her elegant jasmine scent.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. A wild, turbulent emotion churned in the depths of his eyes.
But as much as he desired her, he knew he couldn’t take advantage of her vulnerability. The priority was to treat the wound on her hand.
He’d had a period where he was frequently in and out of hospitals visiting doctors, so he had picked up first-aid skills quickly.
As a result, he was able to treat Su Zhaozhao’s wound with remarkable speed.
He held her hand in his. ’Such a small, soft hand,’ he thought. ’So beautiful.’ But now, the wound in her palm had marred its perfection.
The injury enraged him.
’I hope it doesn’t leave a scar.’
"Zhaozhao," Xu Jiaming said, "no matter what happens in the future, don’t ever hurt yourself."
Su Zhaozhao hummed in agreement.
Seeing her in such a miserable state made his heart ache.
He had always been indifferent to others.
He could step over a dead body without a second glance.
But when it came to Su Zhaozhao...
He wished he could transfer all her pain and injuries to himself. Then she wouldn’t have to hurt anymore.
He blamed himself for not recognizing her sooner.
’Xie Huaizheng is useless,’ Xu Jiaming thought.
’He can’t even protect his own fiancée. In that case, I might as well be the one to take care of her.’
’If she had just come back with me yesterday, she wouldn’t have gotten hurt.’
At this thought, Xu Jiaming reached out and gently stroked her cheek and then her hair, as if petting a small kitten.
His other arm was wrapped around her waist.
The sweet fragrance of her body seeped into him, making his blood boil.
But he had to restrain himself.
’Isn’t this the perfect opportunity to make her fall for me?’
Sensing Xu Jiaxin’s curious stare, Xu Jiaming lifted his gaze to meet hers.
His eyes were glacial, carrying a clear warning.
Xu Jiaxin immediately shot to her feet. "I’m going to go for a walk."
She then left, giving Xu Jiaming and Su Zhaozhao some privacy.