Zhang Ma, after all, was getting on in years, and with the early summer came a body often scented with mosquito repellent. The smell of pine scent definitely couldn't have come from Zhang Ma! And furthermore... within the pine scent, there was distinctly a mix of tobacco, it was Zuo Xingyun!
What was he doing here in the middle of the night?
Xiang Wan simply couldn't think of anything good. The only thing that came to mind was how she had annoyed him in the evening, leading him to potentially want to silence her in the middle of the night...
The thunder outside the window kept striking in tune with her speculation, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a movie scene where a murder takes place and a body is thrown away. Fear instantly took over her heart, her body uncontrollably tensed up, and she could only try hard to breathe steadily and feign sleep.
She felt Zuo Xingyun's hand move from her cheek to a position slightly above, as though cradling her entire head. Was this... was he going to twist her neck?!
She was extremely scared, her hands and feet even beginning to tremble slightly.
Just when she was about to lose it, the large hand lifted the band-aid from her forehead???
She was momentarily lost, but the next second, a fragrant breeze caressed her face and blew gently over the wound, then he carefully applied some medicine, and meticulously tucked in the covers...
Zuo Xingyun even petted her cat before leaving, and she heard Nianniian's affectionate 'meowing', a sound only made when comfortably stroked.
The next morning dawned.
Xiang Wan was awakened by Nianniian rubbing against her, and she sat up unwillingly, stretching her arms and back.
Suddenly remembering last night... She reached up to touch her forehead, the band-aid was indeed gone; it wasn't a dream, Zuo Xingyun had really been in her room.
An odd feeling inexplicably rose in her heart. She thought their relationship was one of fierce confrontation, at least in her view it was that way, but Zuo Xingyun... why did his actions not match her expectations?
The ripples in her heart were quickly swept away. She couldn't harbor goodwill for someone who had caused her family's ruin and her own destitution—who knew if Zuo Xingyun's behavior last night was just bait laid out before the hunt?
Xiang Wan left for school and passed by the courtyard, noticing Zuo Xingyun sitting on a wicker chair, making a phone call. At home, he tended to wear a comfortable white house outfit, his entire demeanor exuding a touch of languor and casualness.
Catching a glimpse of the black glove on his right hand, Xiang Wan involuntarily thought of last night's touch on her cheeks, the sensation of bare skin; she couldn't help but be curious, why did he usually cover his right hand so meticulously?
Not sure if it was a response to her gaze, Zuo Xingyun suddenly turned his head and looked over at her.
As their eyes met, the curiosity and inquiry in hers had no time to hide before she hastily lowered her head and hurried away.
Behind her, the man watched her retreating back, lips unintentionally curving into a faint smile, his cold eyes briefly softened, but it was fleeting.