Shen Shuangjian was completely unaware of the conflict he had started; he only felt that the fingertips of his hand holding the water glass were getting cold and numb.
He was a little slow to react, so the phone on his lap rang several times Shen Shuangjian remembered to look at it.
It was Shen Sixian calling; before that, all his messages had gone unanswered.
Three seconds after the call connected, Shen Sixian remained silent until Shen Shuangjian called out "Brother" in confusion, at which point he finally spoke.
"I sent you a message, why aren't you replying?"
Shen Sixian's voice was low, but he didn't show any anger, as if it was just a casual question and he was just casually listening.
"I didn't see it."
Shen Shuangjian her eyes and scooped some rice from the self-heating pot. Her already weak appetite was further diminished by Shen Sixian's interruption.
Then silence fell again. Shen Sixian didn't speak, and neither did Shen Shuangjian. Both of them were extremely silent, yet neither of them hung up the phone.
What are you talking about over there?
Shen Sixian frowned slightly as he listened to the commotion coming from Shen Shuangjian's side.
What kind of nonsense are they talking about, talking about men and all that?
Shen Shuangjian hadn't really been listening to what they were saying, but since Shen Sixian had asked, he looked up and extracted the key words from Yu Sheng and Xie Qingchi's words.
"They say it's better for a man to get older, or better for him to be young," Shen Shuangjian relayed verbatim.
After he finished speaking, Shen Sixian fell into a brief silence.
"..."
After a long while, Shen Sixian's voice came again, his tone sarcastic and unabashed.
"Men are all the same, none of them are good."
She took the phone away from her ear, which was automatically playing on speakerphone, and relayed Shen Sixian's words verbatim. Everyone around the campfire fell silent instantly, especially Yu Sheng and Xie Qingchi, who crossed their arms and looked at Shen Shuangjian.
Yu Sheng: "?"
Xie Qingchi: "?"
Shen Shuangjian: "..."
Song Shi exchanged a glance with Gu Xuanlin, then gave a wry smile in silence.
If he remembers correctly, he has already been scolded twice today.
Shen Sixian's indiscriminate firing left Shen Shuangjian speechless.
Shen Shuangjian, "I need to rest, brother." After saying that, he hung up the phone and got up to pull himself closer to the thin blanket.
"Sorry, I want to go to sleep."
Shen Shuangjian turned and walked towards the tent. After that, Xie Jinghui also stood up, glanced at Xie Qingchi briefly, and then followed him away.
Taking a bath in the desert is inconvenient, and the temperature is too low, so Shen Shuangjian couldn't even change her clothes. She could only take off her coat and huddle under the covers.
When Xie Jinghui pulled up the tent and looked back, Shen Shuangjian that she had just shivered twice because of a gust of wind.
Xie Jinghui silent, then moved closer. "Are you cold?"
Shen Shuangjian wanted to speak, but an itch rose in his throat, so he couldn't help but cough lightly twice and extend his hand.
Xie Jinghui paused for a second before realizing that Shen Shuangjian meant he couldn't speak, so he should let Xie Jinghui feel it for himself.
He himself was completely unaware that, without realizing it, he had become much less subconsciously distant from Xie Jinghui.
This realization stirred Xie Jinghui Jinghui's heart, and a wave of tenderness and heartache washed over him. He took Shen Shuangjian's hand and gently lowered his eyes.
"Do we absolutely have to record this episode?"
Xie Jinghui held his cold, porcelain-like hand, and finally spoke the words that had been weighing on her heart for so long, "The desert might be too much for your physical condition."
Xie Jinghui at Shen Shuangjian, who was huddled under the covers and looked pale. He finally spoke slowly.
" Shuangjian, it breaks my heart."
The faint sound, muffled by the blanket, reached my ears, carrying a gentle tenderness, and stirred subtle ripples in my heart.
" Mr. Xie... I'm alright."
Kind sympathy, not pity—this was an emotion Shen Shuangjian had never felt before.
As Xie Jinghui's body drew closer to Shen Shuangjian, the distance shortened, and a heat source appeared simultaneously. Shen Shuangjian was not yet overwhelmed by the drowsiness, but he also forgot to retreat.
Shuangjian.
The wind was as still as inside the tent. Xie Jinghui's low whisper went unanswered. In the dense darkness where even moonlight couldn't penetrate, he couldn't see Shen Shuangjian's expression.
But the next second, in the endless silence, he heard a very faint and brief chuckle from beside him.
Xie Jinghui was stunned for a moment before he realized that Shen Shuangjian been smiling just now, and it was only for him, a genuine smile from the heart.
Even though he hadn't actually seen it, this image had appeared in his mind more than once.
With her lowered eyelashes trembling slightly, Xie Jinghui slowly reached out and, for the first time before Shen Shuangjian took the initiative to approach her after falling asleep, pulled her into his arms.
The slender, delicate body nestled in her arms seemed still quite uncomfortable with being touched.
When Xie Jinghui, Shen Shuangjian was stiff for a moment, but he did not push her away. In fact, after a short period of getting used to it, he slowly relaxed.
Shen Shuangjian's indulgence always makes one's desire overflow.
At that moment, Xie Jinghui really wanted to hold his hand and then place a light, gentle kiss between his brows and eyes.
The desire he felt for Shen Shuangjian made him want to get closer to her, and he wanted more of Shen Shuangjian indulgence and accommodating treatment.
Yet, the love he Shen Shuangjian made him want to restrain himself, so he hooked the long hair that was wrapped around his fingertips, and when he lowered his head, he lightly touched it with his lips.
Xie Jinghui never imagined that one day she would fall into the trap of happiness, feeling satisfied and joyful because of a little bit of sweetness.
A moment, more precious than a lifetime.
The next morning, at exactly 8:30.
Xie Jinghui got up, pulled the quilt tighter, and leaned down to whisper in Shen Shuangjian's ear.
Shen Shuangjian's leg had been treated with medicine, and the bruises had faded considerably by the next day, but Xie Jinghui still chose to apply the medicine again.
Taking advantage of her still-drowsy state, Shen Shuangjian much less shy and resistant.
Xie Jinghui applied the medicine quickly and rationally this time. Even after applying the medicine, he was able to tidy up the clothes Shen Shuangjian Shen Shuangjian up, and then pull up the tent and went outside to wait.
This is their second day in the desert. The team will start setting off at 9:00 AM, passing through an oasis, and after about ten kilometers, they will reach the development zone.
Xie Jinghui didn't wait long, only about ten minutes, before Shen Shuangjian opened the tent and came out.
Perhaps having learned his lesson from yesterday's disheveled hair, he had tied it up high today, making him stunningly beautiful. His flawless, jade-like face was presented without any concealment, and he exuded a cool and aloof air than usual.