In the brief half-minute, a complex cocktail of embarrassment, awkwardness, and discomfort incessantly toyed with Xiang Wan's nerves. She wished a black hole would suddenly open beneath her feet and take her away from this excruciating ordeal.
Zuo Xingyun's patience quickly wore thin. He leaned forward, about to speak, but Xiang Wan, as if she had seen some terrifying beast, retreated in panic with a deathly pale face: "Don't touch me!"
Zuo Xingyun's face grew completely cold: "I'll wait for you in the car. If you want to go home by yourself, that's fine too."
After dropping those words, Zuo Xingyun turned and walked away.
"Wait!"
Xiang Wan truly panicked now and instinctively called out to him.
Zuo Xingyun stopped in his tracks and turned around, his gaze leisurely scrutinizing her without a word.
"That...," Xiang Wan twisted the hem of her clothes tightly with her slender fingers, not daring to look directly at him, but still mustered the courage to speak, "I can't leave right now... Can you help me buy something?"
This was probably the first time Xiang Wan had spoken to Zuo Xingyun in such a soft and gentle tone since they had met again, and moreover, it was with a pleading intent.
A flicker of confusion passed through Zuo Xingyun's eyes, and he squinted slightly to observe her more carefully: "Buy what?"
"It's... that thing girls use..."
When she uttered this sentence, Xiang Wan felt as if she were in a steamer, her head bowed and her face so red it seemed as if blood might drip from it.
She had never imagined that she would one day ask this man for such a favor and was prepared to be rejected.
If only Nanny Zhang were here...
Zuo Xingyun furrowed his brows, looking at her for a while. After a moment of contemplation, he finally understood, his voice carrying a hint of discomfort: "Wait here."
He agreed so quickly?
Xiang Wan hadn't come back to reality when she looked up to see him striding away.
Had he... misunderstood?
Outside the hospital.
Achen, waiting in the car, found it odd to see Zuo Xingyun emerge alone: "Brother Yun, is the miss staying in the hospital?"
As he spoke, he hastily handed a cigarette over.
Zuo Xingyun gave him a chilly glance.
Achen immediately slapped his own mouth playfully: "Look at me, jinxing with my crow mouth."
Zuo Xingyun took the cigarette and lit it, drawing a long breath: "Where is there a convenience store nearby?"
Achen pointed not far off: "See, there's a convenience store right there. What do you need to buy? Should I go buy it for you?"
"No need, I'll go myself." After saying this, Zuo Xingyun walked a few steps toward the convenience store, then suddenly stopped: "Do they sell that women's thing at the convenience store?"
"Huh?" Achen didn't understand at first: "What thing?"
"Sanitary pads, do I need to spell it out?"
Achen: "..."
Why are Brother Yun's ears... turning red?
Under Achen's astonished gaze, Zuo Xingyun 'calmly' went to the convenience store, made his purchase, and then re-entered the hospital.
Xiang Wan finally received her 'savior' after what seemed like an eternity of agony. Looking at the black shopping bag filled with sanitary pads of different brands, materials, and sizes, she was momentarily stunned.
Zuo Xingyun explained indifferently: "I didn't know which kind you used, so I bought them all."
Xiang Wan, still not daring to look at him, blushed and quickly grabbed a pack before hurrying to the restroom.
God knows she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into. She had never felt so humiliated in her life, as though she exposed all her embarrassing moments nakedly before Zuo Xingyun. How would she be able to face him in the future?
After dealing with her situation in the restroom, Xiang Wan spent a full ten minutes psyching herself back up before going out.
Fortunately, Zuo Xingyun was on the phone and hadn't noticed her.
She tried to act as if nothing had happened, casually walking past him in an attempt to leave first.
Suddenly, Zuo Xingyun caught up and reached out to wrap his arm around her shoulder, his body pressing against her from behind. At first glance, their posture looked like an intimate couple, nearly glued together as they walked.
Xiang Wan stiffened all over and her legs involuntarily came to a halt.
The light scent of pine enveloped her from Zuo Xingyun, causing a momentary freeze in her thoughts.
And then, he... he was leaning down closer and closer?
His warm breath distinctly brushed against the back of her neck, slowly grazing her ear. Everywhere he touched seemed to catch fire.
She could even faintly feel the softness of his lips near her ear, making her almost want to jump away as if scorched.
Suddenly, Zuo Xingyun's low voice sounded close to her ear: "Your... pants are dirty..."