Chapter 9

Looking at Chen Man, Jiang Xichu opened her mouth, and only after half a day uttered a single sentence: “Can…”

Chen Man moved softly, her gaze fixed on Jiang Xichu, without letting a single thread of her change of mind let go, and after a long moment, that sentence of Jiang Xichu’s finished: “Can you not ask me?”

Chen Man’s expression immediately became rigid, and she stared at Jiang Xichu blankly, her expression some degree of vacant and helpless. Jiang Xichu struggled, and Chen Man let go of her; Jiang Xichu sat on the floor, and she rubbed her aching temples, saying lowly, “I’m fine, it’s just, I need a bit of time to slowly…” As she spoke, she raised her head, looking at Chen Man appealingly, saying, “Don’t ask anymore, alright; if I could tell you, I would already have told you, just…I can’t tell you.”

Chen Man looked at her for a long time, and only then silently nodded her head.

Before, Jiang Xichu had never found out that Chen Man was docile and obedient when it came to her; even if they had diverging opinions on work, in the end in most matters she would still listen to her words, and in the small number of matters, it was Jiang Xichu’s own plans that had problems, and after she would run to find Chen Man to apologise, and only then would Chen Man use her own, original plan. After learning Chen Man had feelings towards her, she naturally realised as well, unintentionally coming across this scene of Chen Man having this much worry, terrified enough to be scared to death, but as long as Jiang Xichu put forward her request, she wouldn’t refuse.

Jiang Xichu’s eyes were red, and she didn’t want Chen Man to worry any more, so she restrained the urge to cry, resting her own chin on the hollow of Chen Man’s shoulder, her head turned in the other direction, not letting Chen Man see her expression. After a good while, Chen Man said, “Not telling me is fine, but tomorrow I want to take you to see a psychologist.”

Jiang Xichu opened her eyes slightly, nodding, her chin rubbing lightly against Chen Man’s skin; Chen Man couldn’t help but hold her tightly. Jiang Xichu hadn’t stood up, and Chen Man hadn’t moved either, the time passing neither quickly nor slowly; who knew what hour it was, and only when Jiang Xichu was about to fall asleep, did Chen Man speak in a low voice, “Xichu, go sleep on the bed.”

Jiang Xichu opened her eyes, her gaze still somewhat indistinct, and only then did she realise that her original position had changed into laying in Chen Man’s embrace. Jiang Xichu stood up very slowly, Chen Man stretching her numb legs, and only then stood up as well; Jiang Xichu turned, wanting to leave, but Chen Man tugged at her. Drawing back, Chen Man said earnestly, “Just go ahead and sleep here; with your condition, I really can’t relax.” Chen Man spoke very sincerely, and in this moment, she truly didn’t have any other thoughts; never mind not knowing before, now that she knew Jiang Xichu’s condition wasn’t stable, she really couldn’t arrange for Jiang Xichu to be a door away from her.

Jiang Xichu was dazed, obediently coming back, and sat on the bed, lifting the quilt back, then laying down under it. Chen Man pressed her lips together and followed after, then turned off the room’s lights.

Chen Man’s bed was very big; two people could lay down on it with more than enough space; afraid that Jiang Xichu wouldn’t feel comfortable, Chen Man laid properly on the right side; it was just, not long after, Jiang Xichu herself moved closer.

In the dark environment, the sense of hearing expanded in an unlimited manner, and the quilts rubbed together, emitting a rustling sound; Chen Man couldn’t help but become anxious, and very quickly, a soft hand crept up onto her arm, and then, shortly after, she felt her own arm being grasped in someone’s embrace, and, in fact, being put onto a bosom.

Chen Man was silent: “...” Oh my god.

“I’m still scared.”

An entirely dependent, murmuring voice dispersed all the romantic thoughts in Chen Man’s mind; Chen Man turned her head; in the darkness, Jiang Xichu wasn’t too distinct, and she could only see that she was laying down by her own side, almost pressed up against her. Chen Man was both soft-hearted and regretful, and she turned her body, embracing Jiang Xichu, wanting to transmit the warmth of her own body to Jiang Xichu’s, and she said, coaxing her softly, “Ah, don’t be scared, I’m here.”

Jiang Xichu’s lips tugged slightly, but very quickly, this smiling appearance disappeared like a night-blooming cactus’ single blossoming. After a long time, Jiang Xichu asked her another question, saying, “Will you leave me?”

Chen Man was startled; this question was asked without any reason, and she thought on it somewhat deeply, and then felt that she had, herself, realised the truth about it. Each of Jiang Xichu’s close relatives, or each of her friends, had left her, so she was greatly affected, and this was also why, in this moment, the reason for her unusualness. Chen Man, having a strategy in mind, answered her question: “I won’t.”

Very quickly, laying by her side, Jiang Xichu’s voice, seemingly looking to confirm something, asked, “You’ll never?”

Chen Man, speaking shamelessly, assured her, “En, never.”

Jiang Xichu’s heart was very warm; she burrowed into the quilts, then gazed at Chen Man’s inclined face, and said, “If…what if an accident happens?”

“Not even then,” Chen Man said, closing her eyes. “I’ll defeat every mishap, and make any accident unable to dare come looking for me.”

This sentence was the type to coax a child, but Jiang Xichu couldn’t help but laugh, asking again, “Then, what if I encountered an accident?”

Chen Man opened her eyes without a sign and tilted her head; the two peoples’ gazes just happened to hit each other, and Jiang Xichu stilled; Chen Man’s gaze then had something strange. Very quickly, Chen Man turned her head back again, and tranquilly closed her eyes, mood light and easy as the clouds and the wind, but her words were as heavy as a thousand jin, ferociously pounding against Jiang Xichu’s heart. “Then I would go looking for you.”

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