So What If the Beautiful Campus Belle Loves Money? (43)

"Because sooner or later, you were going to find out, baby."

Shi Zheng looked at him, her tone gentle. "Rather than have you hear it from someone else, or suddenly discover it one day and feel like I'd fooled you for so long like an idiot—I'd rather tell you now."

"At least I didn't keep lying to you."

"Ha... hahaha..." Hua Jinchen was so furious he laughed. "So I should thank you? Thank you for telling me yourself?"

"I'm leaving the choice to you. You can decide," Shi Zheng said. "You can stay with me, or..."

She didn't finish, but her gaze swept toward Gu Yanshen.

Hua Jinchen followed her gaze.

He saw it.

He saw the hint of anticipation in Gu Yanshen's eyes.

Like a wolf that had lain in wait for a long time, waiting for him to make a mistake, waiting for him to fall apart, waiting for him to say, "Let's break up."

Then he could naturally take his place.

For the first time, Hua Jinchen realized that everything he took pride in—his family background and his looks—could be so fragile before her, unable to withstand a single blow.

"...You're really cruel."

Hua Jinchen lowered his head, his voice barely louder than a murmur to himself. "Baby, you actually did this to me."

She asked, "Then are you going to give me up to Gu Yanshen?"

Hua Jinchen jerked his head up.

His bloodshot eyes were full of obsession.

"Never!" he said without hesitation.

He took a step forward and seized Shi Zheng's wrist.

"You're mine."

"I won't give you up to anyone."

"Get that thought out of your head."

"You have to... stay with me forever."

That evening, Shi Zheng didn't return to her dorm.

Hua Jinchen's villa stood halfway up a mountain on the outskirts of the city. Built against the mountainside, it offered excellent privacy.

Shi Zheng asked, "Where do you keep your first-aid kit?"

Hua Jinchen pointed her in the right direction.

Shi Zheng stood up and took the first-aid kit down from the cabinet by the entryway.

"Hold out your hand."

"No need. It's just a little injury..."

Hua Jinchen tried to pull his hand back.

Shi Zheng ignored him. She sat down on the sofa across from him and looked up at his bruised, swollen face and split, bloody knuckles.

"Come sit over here."

As if possessed, Hua Jinchen stood up and walked over to sit beside her on the sofa.

The distance between them suddenly shrank to less than half an arm's length.

Shi Zheng opened the first-aid kit and took out some povidone-iodine and cotton swabs.

She lowered her head and lifted his battered hand.

A cotton swab dipped in antiseptic brushed gently over his wounds.

Hua Jinchen's whole body stiffened.

The touch was so light, like a feather brushing against him, yet every nerve in his body instantly drew taut.

He lowered his eyes and watched her intent profile, her long eyelashes casting delicate shadows beneath her eyes.

She was too close to him.

Close enough that he could count her eyelashes, close enough to feel the air from her breathing brush gently over the back of his hand, bringing a faint tickle.

"Your hand's done." Shi Zheng put down the cotton swab.

She didn't stop there. Instead, she raised her hand, gently took his chin and turned his face toward the light.

"Lift your head, baby. Let me look at your face."

Hua Jinchen obediently let her hold his chin.

He turned his face, exposing the shocking injury on his left cheek to the light.

Shi Zheng frowned slightly.

The area around his left cheekbone was badly swollen, and purple bruising spread from his cheekbone to the corner of his eye, making his face look even more battered.

She said softly, "You took quite a hard hit there in the fight."

Hua Jinchen said stubbornly, "Gu Yanshen came off much worse than I did."

Shi Zheng ignored him. She picked up a fresh, clean cotton swab, dipped it in antiseptic and gently wiped the wound on his left cheek.

She was practically leaning over him, her face very, very close as she tried to see the wound clearly.

Hua Jinchen's breath caught.

"Does it hurt? Tell me if it does." Shi Zheng looked up at him.

Caught off guard by her eyes meeting his, Hua Jinchen felt a sudden jolt in his chest.

"...No." His voice was a little hoarse.

Shi Zheng said nothing and lowered her head to continue tending his wound.

When an alcohol swab passed over one of his wounds, he couldn't hold back after all and let out a soft hiss.

"Didn't you say it didn't hurt?" Shi Zheng's lips curved upward, but she didn't look up.

Hua Jinchen flushed red and wanted to retort, but then he saw her blow gently on the wound.

His breathing grew heavier and heavier.

"...Baby." His voice was completely hoarse now.

"Hmm?"

She raised her eyes and found his face leaning down toward hers.

They were so close that their breaths mingled.

If he lowered his head another inch, he could kiss her.

Shi Zheng didn't pull away.

She simply watched him in silence, his unrestrained state reflected in her clear eyes.

Time seemed to stand still.

One second.

Two seconds.

Hua Jinchen's hand suddenly clenched around the sofa cushion.

"...You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?" he said through gritted teeth.

"Doing what on purpose?" Shi Zheng tilted her head, looking utterly innocent.

She tossed the bloodied cotton swab into the trash. "The medicine's on."

Hua Jinchen said nothing.

He just stared at her.

A moment later, the strength suddenly went out of him, and he rested his forehead against her shoulder.

"...Fine, you win."

His voice was muffled, tinged with a hint of helpless resignation.