Suppressing his unease, Fang Zhou handed the bracelet forward just enough for Chu Xinran to reach.
“This is from my sister. She asked to give it to you.”
Chu Xinran’s eyes flickered, shifting her gaze to the blue bracelet, recalling Fang Wenjing, his endearing sister.
Fang Wenjing really is quite lovable.
She didn’t resist, taking the bracelet from Fang Zhou’s hand and examining it closely, saying softly, “It’s quite lovely.”
Other than that, she said nothing more.
It seed like a routine complint, or perhaps she simply didn’t want to talk to Fang Zhou.
Fang Zhou didn’t get upset, just sat quietly in a chair, pulling out a pair of sleeves and so thread to sew, like he was part of the air.
For a mont, the only sounds in the room were birds chirping from the garden below and their shallow breaths.
Chu Xinran was upset but couldn’t bear to ignore him. In a short while, she wanted to speak but rembered what her mother had taught her and held back, her mind in turmoil.
Even though she had done irrational things, couldn’t he at least comfort her?
Even if he lied...
Or was she so unimportant to him that he wouldn’t even lie to show concern?
The more she thought, the more it hurt, feeling like all her previous grievances were flooding back, becoming part of her.
She turned away, staring at the white wall, sulking, even thinking: If I knew it would be like this, I’d rather not have been saved.
Sothing seed to itch inside her, pushing her to speak.
‘What if he leaves if you ignore him?’
But Mom said he must apologize first; that way, the next part of the plan could proceed smoothly.
She said, “There’s a difference between asking for sothing and a man offering it on his own.”
Finally, as Chu Xinran battled with herself, Fang Zhou got up.
He took a few steps forward, asuring sothing on her.
She turned to see it was a white sleeve cover.
The kind girls wore to match their outfits.
“It should fit your arm now.”
Fang Zhou spoke, but Chu Xinran heard him clearly.
“What are you doing?”
She couldn’t help but finally speak.
Fang Zhou held up the sleeve cover, explaining, “I was worried it might be too big, so I adjusted it a bit.”
Chu Xinran was even more confused, not understanding what he was doing.
“If you need to go out later, you can’t always wear long sleeves.”
He spoke softly, his gaze on her bandaged arm.
Chu Xinran was startled, finally understanding.
He was trying to hide her self-harm scars.
Her heart ached, feeling a surge of emotion.
Fang Zhou’s first response wasn’t to scold or lecture her, but to accept what happened and find a solution.
She had thought... he would bla her first.
Chu Xinran felt a tickle in her throat, the emotions she had suppressed bubbling up.
She opened her mouth to speak.
But Fang Zhou acted first.
“Let help you try it on.”
He gently placed the sleeve cover on her exposed hand. It fit perfectly, not too loose, not too tight.
Chu Xinran’s gaze followed his movents from the sleeve cover to his face.
His eyes were incredibly gentle, treating her like sothing fragile.
He had this magic, doing little things to ease her anger.
But he probably didn’t realize that this gentle blade, coated in honey, was the most lethal.
Fang Zhou created a beautiful bubble for his ex-girlfriends, making the ti together so wonderful that even after breaking up, they reminisced fondly.
Making people willingly sink in, even drown in it, didn’t matter.
Like a utopia, non-existent, yet people longed for it.
As Fang Zhou was about to remove the sleeve cover, she pulled back her slender hand.
Looking up, he saw her red eyes and pursed lips.
“Weren’t you never going to see again? Why do you care whether I live or die?”
For the first ti in front of Fang Zhou, the usually gentle girl spoke willfully.
Fang Zhou paused, tilting his head and looking at her with a mix of helplessness and concern, “It was my fault. I didn’t consider your feelings. I’m sorry.”
In the face of life and death, everything else must take a backseat.
Chu Xinran’s eyes welled up, her lips trembling, feeling her grievances finally had an outlet.
But she stubbornly turned away, refusing to look at him.
Fang Zhou sighed slightly, patiently asking, “Xinran, what can I do to make you feel better? Tell .”
Given her current state, it wouldn’t be right for her to stay upset.
Having a chronically ill family mber made Fang Zhou empathetic towards patients.
Their physical pain was already a lot to bear; if their hearts were burdened too, recovery would be even harder.
Chu Xinran’s eyes shifted to the sleeve cover.
This cunning man.
Did he think a pair of sleeve covers would earn her forgiveness?
Hmph, not a chance, unless...
Her lips twitched slightly, forming a faint smile.
“Be my boyfriend for three more days, and I’ll forgive you.”
Fang Zhou stood frozen, not expecting this request.
“You...”
“What? Is it too hard? Fine, don’t worry about whether I live or die. You can leave.”
Chu Xinran suppressed her excitent, following her mother’s advice step by step.
She couldn’t soften. If she backed down, he wouldn’t agree.
Fang Zhou battled within himself, feeling conflicted.
If he agreed, it might cause problems later.
If he didn’t, what if Chu Xinran did sothing drastic again?
Eventually, Fang Zhou said, “Alright, but I have one condition.”
“Tell .”
Chu Xinran suppressed her joy, pretending to be indifferent.
“You must promise never to do this again.”
Fang Zhou silently told himself: If there’s a next ti, I can’t help anymore.
Life and death are beyond one’s control. He couldn’t carry others’ burdens forever.
This ti, he’d consider it paying a debt.
Chu Xinran slowly smiled, softly agreeing.
“Okay.”
As long as you’re willing to be with again, I’ll agree to any condition.
Brother Fang Zhou.
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