Chapter 39: You Had It Coming

Sticking your neck out is a knife, shrinking back is a knife too; debts must be repaid sooner or later.

It’s just a slap, she told herself. Endure it and it’ll be over.

Lin Xi kept comforting herself.

After passing through security, Lin Xi leaned against him, feeling sulky and dejected.

“Why don’t you just hit me now?” The wait was too torturous; she’d rather a swift execution and be done with it.

“When did I ever say I’d hit you?” he asked.

“You didn’t say it outright, but that’s what you meant.”

“All your focus is on work every day, isn’t it?”

“What do you mean?” The abrupt change in topic left Lin Xi a little lost, unable to keep up with his rhythm.

Then she heard Qin Yu’s unhurried voice add, “How do you even have time to think about such useless things? Don’t you get tired?”

Lin Xi fell silent.

When she was young, Lin Xi hadn’t been like this. She’d grown up cherished, the center of everyone’s attention—sunny and bright. It was only after things changed that she became sensitive and suspicious. So many years had passed, and though her body had healed, that one flaw still remained.

As she hesitated, unsure what to do, Qin Yu handed her a reassurance: “Stop overthinking. All these years, you’re the only one who’s ever hit me. Have you ever seen me hit you back?”

“I only hit you once. And besides, that slap back then… you deserved it.”

Qin Yu replied, “Yes. Good hit.” There was no emotion in his response, even a hint of ironic mockery.

Lin Xi avoided his gaze, saying nothing more.

The train station was crowded today. Qin Yu carried Lin Xi through, drawing plenty of attention. Fortunately, both had their minds elsewhere and didn’t care much.

In the VIP lounge, Lin Xi finally let out a long breath of relief when he set her down on a seat.

She had just started to adjust her posture when a shadow fell over her. Someone sat beside her in the empty seat.

“Lin Xi, I’m not angry. I do hold grudges, but you had every right to lay your hands on me—both last time and this time, and in the future as well. With me, you can do as you please.”

His voice was low, each word striking heavily against her heart.

Qin Yu always liked to be in control, just as he was now. He’d given her a moment to catch her breath, thoughtfully avoiding topics that might embarrass her. But now, he suddenly snatched that comfort away, leaving her floundering as before.

He really was terrible—one sentence from him could throw her heart into disarray.

——

Once on the train, Lin Xi adjusted her seat and, out of habit, lay down to “play dead.” Qin Yu’s seat was on the other side, separated from her by an aisle. The distance gave her a sense of security.

Back in the capital, Qin Yu took her to her apartment. “I’ve spoken to Cheng Si. Don’t go to the office for the next few days.”

Hearing this, Lin Xi frowned but said nothing.

She wasn’t going to listen to him anyway, so why waste her breath arguing and end up worse off?

Lost in thought, she suddenly felt her injured ankle being held.

The cold air on the way had chilled her legs and ankles, her skin icy. The warmth from his palm was searing, making her shrink back involuntarily.

She tried to pull her foot away from his grasp.

“Don’t move, let me put some medicine on you.”

Afraid of hurting her, he controlled his strength, not gripping too tightly. To keep her still, he pressed his index finger against her calf. When she squirmed, his finger tapped her leg lightly.

It was such a simple action, yet when Qin Yu did it, it somehow carried a different, ambiguous meaning.

Lin Xi pressed her lips together and watched him in silence.

Opposite her, Qin Yu knelt on one knee, gently placing her foot on his leg. He straightened, took the medicinal wine from the table, rubbed it between his palms to warm it, and then applied it slowly to her ankle.

“If it hurts, tell me,” he said softly, massaging her with utmost care, afraid of causing her pain.

“Mm.” Lin Xi responded dully.

It was only a matter of applying medicine, yet Qin Yu looked so focused and serious.

When she was a child, she’d once fallen and scraped her leg. Her brother, standing at a distance, hadn’t seen it happen and assumed she was being dramatic, telling her to get up on her own.

She’d been willful and spoiled back then, a little princess. Her brother was strict, never indulging her.

But that time, she was truly hurt—her knee was scraped and bleeding, and she was in too much pain to move. Even as it got redder and redder, her brother ignored her.

She’d wanted to cry from the injustice, until someone else, always by her brother’s side, stood up and said, “I’ll go take a look.”

He walked over, face cold, and knelt before her just as he did now, lowering himself to her level.

His presence made her even more afraid to cry, her eyes brimming with tears, pitiful and silent.

She remembered he’d said nothing then, just picked her up as he stood.

A princess carry.

She curled into herself, not daring to move.

That day, he carried her straight to get her wound treated.

Perhaps seeing her so scared, he was uncharacteristically kind: “If you want to cry, go ahead. Your big brother isn’t here.”

She pursed her lips, refusing to make a sound.

But when the doctor cleaned her wound with iodine, she couldn’t hold back any longer and burst into tears in his arms. She vaguely recalled he still didn’t say a word to comfort her.

But even as she sobbed, he didn’t leave in disgust; instead, he gently patted her back. In the end, the corner of his shirt was soaked, and he never minded.

Compared to that childhood injury, the hurt on her foot now wasn’t much—especially since he was so gentle, even lighter than she would be on herself.

“Don’t bathe tonight. Walk carefully. I’ll come over in the morning.”

“Ah?” Lin Xi snapped out of her reverie. Qin Yu was already standing. “Aren’t you going to the office?”

He wiped the leftover medicine from his hands with a tissue, answering in a low voice, “It’s nothing urgent.”

“…But I’m busy!” she protested inwardly.

“I’m not going anywhere tomorrow. There’s no need for you to come over, Third Brother. If I need you, I’ll call you.”

At that, Qin Yu seemed amused. He leaned down slightly so they were eye to eye.

His voice was smooth and lazy, ending with a laugh: “Do you believe what you’re saying?”

Lin Xi was speechless.

Giving up, she said, “I have important work, and the office is just across the street. If someone comes to pick me up, I wouldn’t even have to walk much.”

“We’ll see tomorrow,” Qin Yu replied, not refusing outright, leaving her a shred of hope.

But Lin Xi refused to be satisfied, arguing, “If you won’t let me go to the office, then as soon as you leave, I’ll just move into my office and stay there.”

It was nearly a threat. Qin Yu raised his brows, leaned in closer, his warm breath mingling with hers. “If you insist, I’ll just have to bring you to stay with me during this period.”

Lin Xi was stunned.

[Author’s note: Midnight double updates resume.]