Zhi Yao stood rooted to the spot, forgetting even to cry, and just stared dumbly at Pei Chiyao.
Pei Chiyao raised his hand, covering the spot over his heart, and spoke weakly, "Yao Yao, don't look at me, don't look..."
He finished speaking and then broke into a violent coughing fit, as if he was about to cough up his internal organs.
Zhi Yao finally snapped out of her daze. She transformed back into human form and hurriedly reached out to support Pei Chiyao. "Pei Chiyao, what's wrong with you?"
She trembled as she helped Pei Chiyao to sit up, letting him lean against her.
"It was just a little accident," Pei Chiyao took a deep breath. Zhi Yao's embrace had a faint milky scent that he found intoxicating. Especially the soft, comforting spot where he was resting, which greatly eased his discomfort.
He reached out and tightly grasped Zhi Yao's delicate, boneless hand, saying, "Yao Yao, I'm fine, let me just lean on you for a while, okay? Just let me rest quietly for a bit."
Zhi Yao nodded slightly, but her gaze kept darting down, searching. However, the scales she had seen earlier had mysteriously disappeared. Could it have been her eyes playing tricks on her? Impossible!
The young girl instinctively reached out, wanting to investigate further, but Pei Chiyao quickly grasped her hand again.
"Yao Yao, don't move, the wound is too gruesome, it will frighten you."
But Zhi Yao was determined. "No, just let me take a look, please? Just a quick look, okay?"
Seeing her persistence, Pei Chiyao could only sigh and release his grip.
What met her eyes was a patch of fresh blood and reddened skin, with not a single scale in sight. Could it be... that she had indeed been seeing things?
Just as Zhi Yao started to doubt herself, Pei Chiyao suddenly spoke, "Yao Yao... it hurts..."
Zhi Yao snapped back to attention. "Where? Are you hurt in the chest? Okay, I'll take you to the hospital right now."
She started to struggle to her feet, but Pei Chiyao immediately stopped her. "No, my head hurts. Can you rub it for me, please?"
Head hurts? Zhi Yao raised her hand and gently massaged Pei Chiyao's temples. "How can your head hurt? Where are you actually injured?"
He was covered in blood, and it was completely dark here, so Zhi Yao couldn't see Pei Chiyao's wound.
Pei Chiyao didn't say anything. Zhi Yao's hands were so soft, and the pressure she applied to his temples was just right, making him feel incredibly comfortable.
After a while, Pei Chiyao finally spoke up. "It's nothing, the injury isn't serious, I'm just a little weak."
The young girl was not only soft-handed, but her entire body felt pliant and cottony, like a human cushion. Pei Chiyao raised his hand and embraced Zhi Yao's slender waist, unable to resist burying his face in her bosom and nuzzling...
If only the buttons on her shirt weren't in the way.
He cleared his throat and spoke hoarsely, "Yao Yao, the buttons are bothering me."
Zhi Yao blinked, not quite understanding what he meant. "What's wrong?"
"Can you unbutton them?" He looked at Zhi Yao weakly, his lips a pale, ashen color. "Leaning on you makes me feel much better."
Zhi Yao hesitated, "But... but..."
This didn't seem quite right, did it?
"Your scent helps ease my headache," Pei Chiyao continued to coax her. "No one will come here, my darling..."
Zhi Yao didn't notice that the man who had seemed so weak just moments ago now looked revived, practically pouncing on her.
Their gazes met, and Zhi Yao saw vulnerability in Pei Chiyao's usually shining eyes.
This sight made Zhi Yao feel an immense tenderness. "Then you can lie in my lap?"
Even if no one was around, she still felt too self-conscious to unbutton her shirt here.
Seeming to sense Zhi Yao's embarrassment, Pei Chiyao grew even more mischievous. He gently kissed Zhi Yao's long neck, making her squirm with ticklishness. "Stop it, Pei Chiyao..."
"Darling, you don't have much flesh, it won't be comfortable for you." There was a hint of petulance in his voice that Zhi Yao had never seen before.
Somehow, Zhi Yao detected a touch of distress in Pei Chiyao's words. She had never seen this side of him before.
"It hurts so much..." His voice sounded genuinely pained, hoarse and his eyes reddening.
Zhi Yao truly didn't understand how leaning on her could ease his discomfort.
But Pei Chiyao's persistent pleading left Zhi Yao with no choice. The young girl slowly raised her hand and hesitantly undid the first button of her collar...
By the time Zhi Yao realized she had been completely duped, an hour had already passed.
Pei Chiyao's vibrant, energetic behavior was in no way that of an injured man!
Transforming back into a fox, Zhi Yao sulked in the corner, deeply and solemnly reflecting on her own mistake!
She was such a fool to have believed Pei Chiyao!
"Still angry?"
The man efficiently picked up the suit that had been discarded on the floor and put it on.
He bent down and lifted Zhi Yao, cradling her in his palms. "Don't be upset, my darling. I was truly injured, it's just that... by the time you came in, I was almost fully healed."
Seeing Zhi Yao's distress, Pei Chiyao suddenly felt the urge to tease her, and ended up going too far.
Zhi Yao closed her eyes in frustration, refusing to look at him.
How could she have been so worried! So afraid! So anxious!
And he had the audacity to trick her like that?!
She was absolutely fuming!
Seeing Zhi Yao still ignoring him, Pei Chiyao sighed. "Don't you want to know whose blood that was on the floor? And what happened?"
At this, Zhi Yao opened her eyes slightly, looking at Pei Chiyao. "Whose?"
"I'll take you to see. But you have to transform back into a human first."
He hadn't brought a fox with him, and if someone spotted her, it would be problematic.
Zhi Yao thought about it for three seconds and then agreed.
When she transformed back into a human, her body still felt a bit weak.
But before she could take a step, Pei Chiyao immediately scooped her up into his arms. "I know you don't have the strength, darling. Let me carry you."
She angrily punched him once, but didn't refuse.
Seeing Zhi Yao's docile behavior, Pei Chiyao's heart stirred. He captured her chin and kissed her. "I'll buy you a bubble tea when we get home."
The young girl's eyes suddenly lit up. "Really?"
"Really."
Pei Chiyao looked at Zhi Yao's priceless expression and felt a bit worried.
Was his wife too easy to appease? A single bubble tea could win her over.
He was afraid she might be tricked by someone else.
As Pei Chiyao carried Zhi Yao out of the room, the outside was in complete chaos.
Clinging to Pei Chiyao's neck, Zhi Yao looked around in bewilderment. There were people everywhere dressed in black, looking like bodyguards. She couldn't understand what had happened.
