"Hmm?"
Fu Hanjiang was taken aback, narrowing his eyes slightly as he leaned closer, holding her hand.
He didn't answer directly. "Given our current relationship, isn't sharing a room normal? Do you not want to?"
"..."
Sheng Xiangsi was silent for a moment, then shook her head. "No."
"Then..."
Fu Hanjiang's lips were almost touching her face. "Can I kiss you now?"
Sheng Xiangsi's breath hitched, and she stiffly pulled her lips into a smile. "Yes. You can."
Then, she closed her eyes and slightly tilted her face up.
Since it was unavoidable, she might as well get it over with quickly.
"Xiangsi..."
Fu Hanjiang murmured, lifting his hand to cup her chin, his fingers brushing her lips.
This unfamiliar touch triggered a strong discomfort in Sheng Xiangsi, but she didn't dare move, only clenching her hands tighter.
The man's Adam's apple bobbed, and finally, he followed his desire, kissing her lips.
The pressure gradually increased, becoming more forceful.
"!"
Instantly, Sheng Xiangsi's entire body stiffened, trembling violently and uncontrollably. She opened her eyes wide, staring at the man in front of her.
Instinctively, she raised her hand to grab his shoulder, wanting to push him away.
But then she realized... No, she couldn't do that!
"Xiangsi?"
Fu Hanjiang noticed her abnormality, feeling her stiffen in his arms, almost turning to stone!
"What's wrong?" He gently stroked her cheek.
Sheng Xiangsi's face grew paler and paler. Suddenly, she got up and rushed into the bathroom.
"Xiangsi!"
Fu Hanjiang was a step too late, left outside the closed bathroom door.
Inside the bathroom, Sheng Xiangsi stood in front of the mirror, trembling all over, her teeth chattering loudly.
No! She still couldn't do it!
She turned on the faucet and splashed cold water on her face.
"Xiangsi?"
Hearing the water running, Fu Hanjiang knocked on the bathroom door. "What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Say something, or I'll come in."
Before he finished speaking, the bathroom door opened.
Sheng Xiangsi stood there with a wet face, forcing a smile that was more like a grimace. "I'm fine."
"Xiangsi..."
Fu Hanjiang stared into her eyes, noticing her expression. Did she know how insincere she looked?
"Why... are you like this?"
He voiced a long-standing confusion.
He had noticed long ago that Xiangsi resisted men's advances. Not just kisses, even physical contact made her react strongly.
"I..."
Sheng Xiangsi looked at him, her face pale without makeup, feigning ignorance and shaking her head.
"I don't know. I just... feel scared. It always feels like it's a terrifying thing."
Scared?
Scared of getting close to him?
"I'm sorry." Sheng Xiangsi forced a smile. "I didn't do it on purpose..."
"No, it's not your fault."
Fu Hanjiang held her hand, pulling her into his arms and gently patting her back. "No rush. When you slowly accept me, you won't be so afraid."
"Mm."
Sheng Xiangsi leaned against him, a smile on her lips, but her eyes flashed coldly.
She looked up at him. "I'm a bit hungry."
"Really?" Fu Hanjiang raised an eyebrow. "Okay, I'll get you something to eat." He pinched her nose as he spoke.
"Who said no late-night snacks? I'll get you something low-calorie."
"Okay."
Fu Hanjiang turned and left.
On his way to get food, he ran into Qin Yanzhi.
Qin Yanzhi glanced disdainfully at the plate in his hand. "Didn't expect you to be so considerate."
"I need to ask you something."
Ignoring the teasing, Fu Hanjiang asked, "Why would someone be averse to... afraid of getting close to others?"
Hearing the question, Qin Yanzhi immediately understood, his smile growing more mischievous.
"What's this? Xiangsi doesn't like getting close to you?"
"Tsk!"
Fu Hanjiang instinctively looked around to make sure no one else was around before nodding and lowering his voice.
"When I get close to her, she always gets... very nervous."
"Oh..."
Qin Yanzhi gave him a meaningful look, putting an arm around his shoulder. "Honestly, are you not very good at it?"
What??
Fu Hanjiang was stunned, instinctively wanting to refute, "How..."
But then he stopped, recalling the past.
When they were married, there had been a few times they slept together. But back then, it was just perfunctory...
In his memory, hadn't Xiangsi cried?
Seeing his subtle expression, Qin Yanzhi almost burst out laughing.
Raising an eyebrow, he said, "So, is it true? When you got married, Xiangsi was only twenty, still a young girl... Maybe you left her with a psychological shadow."
"Get lost!"
Fu Hanjiang pushed Qin Yanzhi away in annoyance. "I shouldn't have asked you!"
Carrying the plate, he walked away.
"Second Master! Keep at it!"
Fu Hanjiang ignored him. Could it be like Qin Yanzhi said?
Unlikely, right? Although their past wasn't ideal, he felt there must be another reason for Xiangsi's strong aversion...
After some delay, he returned to the room to find Sheng Xiangsi had already taken a shower, wearing a bathrobe provided by the bathroom.
"You're back?"
She held out a bottle of water from the fridge. "I didn't know it was carbonated. I don't like fizzy drinks, so I only took a couple of sips. You can have the rest."
"Okay."
Fu Hanjiang took it and drank half of it in one go.
Then he saw Sheng Xiangsi eating a salad. He pointed at her plate, "Don't just eat greens, have some shrimp."
"Here, you have it."
Sheng Xiangsi speared a shrimp and held it to his mouth. Fu Hanjiang smiled and ate it.
He enjoyed her closeness, and as for other things... they could take their time.
Standing up, he pointed to the bed in the middle of the room. "You sleep here tonight, I'll take the sofa."
Then he bent down and pinched her chin. "I won't force you. Take your time."
"Mm."
Sheng Xiangsi nodded with a smile, which quickly faded as he turned away.
...
Late at night.
"Fu Hanjiang?"
After calling out several times and confirming the man on the sofa was asleep, Sheng Xiangsi turned on the bedside lamp and got up.
From her bag, she took out a small kit—inside was a blood sampling set.
Taking a deep breath, she walked to the sofa.
Fu Hanjiang was sound asleep.
Sheng Xiangsi grabbed his arm and rolled up his sleeve, confident he wouldn't wake up—she had put half a sleeping pill in the carbonated drink she gave him.
Holding her breath, Sheng Xiangsi followed the steps Huanyi taught her... applying the tourniquet, disinfecting, inserting the needle, drawing the blood.
Then, she withdrew the needle.
Fortunately, Fu Hanjiang's veins were large, and she completed the task smoothly.
Staring at the vial of blood, Sheng Xiangsi silently prayed... hoping it would be useful.
...
"Xiangsi! Xiangsi! Wake up!"
Half asleep, Sheng Xiangsi kicked out, "So annoying!"