He Yao felt goosebumps rise all over her body, a current of electricity surging towards her forehead. The feeling…
Zhan Jingrui felt it even more intensely, and soon they couldn't continue their kiss.
"You sleep first, I'm going to the bathroom."
He hurried to the bathroom and stayed there for quite some time before coming out.
Entering the room again, seeing him looking as though he hadn't had enough, He Yao couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.
"Where did you go? Why did it take so long?"
"Do you want the truth or a lie?"
"The truth, of course."
"The truth is," Zhan Jingrui made a gesture and lay down beside her again.
"I couldn't help myself. The moment I see you, I lose all self-control."
He Yao didn't know how to interpret his words.
Was it because she was more expressive, giving him the feeling that these emotions could arise at any time? Or was it that Chu Xi alone couldn't comfort him?
Although it wasn't the time to mention Chu Xi, she couldn't help herself.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Zhan Jingrui knew what she was going to ask just by thinking about it.
"You might not believe me if I told you. The truth is no. I never touched Chu Xi. Not even once."
He Yao indeed didn't believe him.
He was like a wolf when he was with her, and after seven years, how could that be possible?
Seeing her expression, Zhan Jingrui couldn't help but sigh.
"Do you think I'm the same with everyone as I am with you? Besides you, I've never truly relaxed in front of anyone."
"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore. The more we talk, the less I'll be able to sleep. You should hurry and sleep."
After saying that, as if to force He Yao to sleep, he patiently patted her, gently and repeatedly, until she fell asleep again.
Zhan Jingrui went to work at half past two and returned just before five.
The two of them chose two more dishes for dinner. After eating and washing the dishes, He Yao leaned in his arms, and they watched a movie together.
His large hand held her small hand, feeling each other's warmth. They watched one movie, then another, and then went to sleep together.
It wasn't that late, and neither of them could sleep. They discussed the plot of the movies they had just watched for a long time. He then helped He Yao to the bathroom and went through a series of bedtime preparations before falling asleep together.
On this day, they met several times and spent more than ten hours together, with time stretching infinitely. He Yao also experienced her first dreamless sleep in seven years.
Without thinking of anything, she slept soundly beside Zhan Jingrui until dawn.
As soon as she opened her eyes, he woke up too.
They looked at each other, and then, unable to help themselves, they pouted and kissed simultaneously.
Zhan Jingrui asked her if she had slept well last night.
"Yes, and you?"
"I slept well too. It's still early, do you want to sleep a little longer?"
"No, are you still sleepy?"
"Not sleepy. What do you want to do?"
"Let's talk. There's something I've never told you. I like listening to your voice."
Zhan Jingrui picked up her hand and placed it on his Adam's apple: "Okay, then I'll talk to you more."
He Yao hadn't showered last night because Zhan Jingrui didn't feel comfortable letting her shower alone, and he couldn't help her either.
He also wouldn't allow He Yao to look in the mirror, so she had no idea what she looked like.
"Don't you find it scary to be holding a bald woman? Why aren't you afraid?"
"What's there to be afraid of? Your hair was shaved by the doctor at my request, and it wasn't very long to begin with."
Zhan Jingrui pinched her cheek: "Only your face can pull off these hairstyles."
"Oh, you asked the doctor to shave it for me? How dare you? Aren't you afraid I'll find trouble with you when I wake up?"
Zhan Jingrui laughed again.
"I'm not afraid. I know you well enough; you don't care about anything. Besides, hair is a renewable resource; it'll grow back in a while, so you have no reason to be angry about something so minor."
He Yao said, "You really don't understand women. A significant portion of women consider their hair their life. They cry if a hairdresser accidentally cuts a little too much. And you shaved mine completely."
"They are them, and you are you. You don't belong to the majority."
He Yao was very happy to be appeased: "How come I never noticed you had such a sweet tongue before, Little President Zhan."
Zhan Jingrui kissed her finger: "If you like it, I'll say more to you in the future."
Both of them deliberately ignored the agreement to spend only a week together.
After talking for a while, Zhan Jingrui got up to make her breakfast.
He didn't dawdle today. After breakfast, he said a few words to He Yao and then went to work.
It was past nine o'clock when he sent He Yao a WeChat message, deliberately sending a long voice message.
"Don't be scared when you hear a knock on the door later; it's the delivery person. Call me when the person arrives so I can hear the commotion while you go get it."
He Yao asked him what he had bought.
"That's a secret for now."
He Yao listened intently for sounds at the door. About ten minutes later, Zhan Jingrui called.
"The person is at the door. Go open it."
They remained on the call. After He Yao collected the package, the delivery person left.
"Okay, it's safe now. You can hang up. I'm going to unpack the delivery."
Zhan Jingrui didn't hang up. "Just go ahead and unpack. I won't disturb you."
He Yao put the phone on the coffee table and opened the package. It turned out to be two wigs.
One was similar to the short, heroic hairstyle he had before shaving his head.
The other was similar to what she used to wear when she was studying: long, black, straight hair with bangs.
"Why did you suddenly think of buying me wigs?"
"I took the initiative to have the doctor shave your head, so this is my compensation for you."
He Yao knew he was joking and played along.
"Alright then. Since you're compensating me, I'll accept it. Is work a bit busy today?"
Yesterday, she had sent too many messages, so He Yao assumed there would be many today as well and asked casually.
Unexpectedly, Zhan Jingrui interpreted it differently.
He Yao was home alone and felt quite bored, missing him.
Not long after she hung up the phone, he returned.
He Yao was surprised again, "Why are you back?"
"Work is finished. Staying there is just for show, so I might as well come back to keep you company. You still need your anti-inflammatory injection today, I'll accompany you to the hospital."
Indeed, the doctor had said she needed an anti-inflammatory injection every day for the first few days, and the stitches would be removed a week later.
He Yao was also worried about the wound getting infected, so she obediently followed him.
The nurse directed He Yao to the infusion room, and Zhan Jingrui sat beside her to keep her company.
They watched a suspense drama that Zhan Jingrui had saved in advance.
Although there were only six episodes, he had never had the time to sit down and watch it properly for years.
With He Yao accompanying him, he found he had more patience for anything he watched.
They watched four episodes in one go, and her IV drip was finished.
Since returning to the country, Chu Xi hadn't decided what to do, so she hadn't started working yet.
Today, her younger brother accidentally sprained his ankle during gym class. Having nothing else to do, she and her mother brought him to the hospital.
While her brother was undergoing examination, she remembered that He Yao was also at this hospital. Out of courtesy, she decided to go and see her.
However, on the surgery floor, she not only saw He Yao but also Zhan Jingrui, who was by her side.