Chapter 54: Buttons
Time froze.
Xiang Er’s eyes sparkled, fixated on Shen Yuhe, like she had discovered a new world, her gaze filled with curiosity and wonder.
And Shen Yuhe… her face expressionless, the fierce aura of the bloodstains fading, her features softening, only her brow slightly furrowed in confusion.
Behind her, the swirling black shadow quickly receded, the countless tentacles retracting, her shadow returning to its normal, human shape.
After a long moment, under Xiang Er’s inquisitive gaze, Shen Yuhe finally… finally nodded slowly.
Her voice, hoarse and strained, finally spoke:
“You… are very clever.”
Xiang Er exhaled, relieved that she had guessed correctly. She knew that someone like her, entangled with a Evil God, would eventually be discovered by some organization.
She knew that in this world of monsters and Evil Gods, there must also be people with special abilities, humans fighting against these creatures, trying to restore order to the world!
She looked up, her voice hopeful and cautious:
“Then, what is your official designation? How should I address you?”
Shen Yuhe seemed lost in thought.
The moon in the sky returned to its normal, silver-white brilliance, the barrier completely gone, the sounds of the city flooding back, the streetlights and car headlights illuminating the scene, the branches of the trees swaying gently in the wind.
The world, washed clean by the rain, was fresh and crisp, the air damp and pleasant, several pedestrians passing by, glancing at them curiously.
Shen Yuhe’s voice finally spoke again:
“Just as you said, a person with special abilities. I can’t reveal any more than that, please forgive me.”
Xiang Er looked at Shen Yuhe and saw that she was avoiding her gaze.
But she understood. Having watched countless movies and TV shows, she knew about confidentiality protocols, it was usually better for ordinary people to know less about these things.
She smiled, her voice light and relieved:
“It’s okay, I understand, you’re here to protect me, that’s enough.”
Shen Yuhe nodded slowly, her response delayed:
“I’m here to protect you.”
Xiang Er smiled, a genuine smile, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders.
She no longer had to be suspicious of Shen Yuhe… Her mind and heart, freed from their burden, felt alive again, as if winter had passed, and she was soaring in the springtime.
She realized they were standing in an alley behind the office buildings, a secluded spot, the bright streetlights illuminating everything.
The road was wide and empty.
The rain had washed away all traces, no bone spurs, no monster, no General Manager Cheng, not even a scrap of clothing or skin.
Was she the only witness to that terrifying battle in the rain?
If Shen Yuhe belonged to some organization, how would she write her report?
But for now, treating her injuries was more important.
Xiang Er reached out and supported Shen Yuhe:
“Let’s go to the hospital!”
Shen Yuhe allowed herself to be led, offering no resistance, obediently following Xiang Er.
They quickly left the industrial park, and Xiang Er hailed a taxi, taking Shen Yuhe straight to the emergency room.
Fortunately, although Shen Yuhe’s wound looked frightening, the bone spur had miraculously missed any vital organs. Her injuries were mostly superficial, requiring only some bandaging and medication.
Xiang Er told the doctor that she had fallen on a piece of rebar, and the doctor nodded understandingly.
Shen Yuhe watched silently as Xiang Er fussed over her, obediently following her instructions, her gaze fixed on Xiang Er’s every move.
By the time they left the hospital, it was almost ten o’clock. Xiang Er went to a nearby clothing store that was about to close and bought a long coat.
She carried the coat back, her voice slightly apologetic:
“It’s too late, there wasn’t much choice, this will have to do for now.”
Xiang Er unfolded the coat, stood on tiptoe, and draped it over Shen Yuhe’s shoulders, her hands reaching around Shen Yuhe’s neck to adjust the collar.
Then, one by one, she buttoned the coat.
Her cold fingertips were still stained with dried blood, but she ignored it, focused on keeping Shen Yuhe warm, carefully fastening each button.
Her movements were slightly slow in the cold winter air, her fingers stiff from the pain and the bloodstains, occasionally pausing before continuing.
Her fingers brushed against Shen Yuhe’s collarbone, a light, fleeting touch, like cool mist, like morning dew.
Shen Yuhe looked at the person before her, her head bowed, her hair slightly frizzy from the rain, her eyelashes casting a shadow on her thin cheeks, which were flushed with an unnatural, cold-induced redness.
She couldn’t see Xiang Er’s eyes, but she could see the care and concern in every line of her body.
Button after button, fastened without hesitation, without pause.
She looked like a stubborn hero.
A powerful surge of emotion coursed through Shen Yuhe’s true form, the human heart she had crafted aching with a strange, unfamiliar pain.
It wasn’t a physical pain, not an injury, not even mental pollution… was this what humans called emotion?
Shen Yuhe suddenly reached out her uninjured hand and gently, yet firmly, grasped Xiang Er’s left hand.
“Hmm?”
Xiang Er looked up at her.
Her eyes, normally a deep brownish-black, now shimmered with gold in the dim light of the streetlamp, her pupils like precious jewels, igniting the god’s desire to collect them, to kiss them.
Her eyelashes fluttered, like butterfly wings, scattering iridescent dust that shimmered and danced in the air. The unconscious beauty of her eyes and the curve of her lips, soft and delicate like flower petals…
Shen Yuhe, her heart aching, pulled Xiang Er’s left hand, drawing her into an embrace.
“Ah…”
A soft sigh escaped Xiang Er’s lips. She didn’t resist, letting herself fall into Shen Yuhe’s soft embrace, despite the lingering scent of blood and antiseptic.
She was like a drop of water merging with the ocean, even though Shen Yuhe’s body wasn’t warm, she felt the warmth of the sun.
Shen Yuhe held her close, lifted her left hand, and held it before her face, exhaling softly.
Xiang Er felt a cool breeze against her hand, then a tingling, itchy sensation on her fingertips.
Quickly, her entire hand felt warm, comfortably so, like soaking in warm water, the lingering pain in her wounds fading.
But Shen Yuhe’s breath was cold, and her body was also cold, why did she feel so warm?
Shen Yuhe lowered her left hand and picked up her right hand, exhaling softly against it, the sweet fragrance filling the air.
Xiang Er, her curiosity finally piqued, looked down at her hands. Both of them were now… smooth and clean, no trace of injury, perfectly healthy.
It was… magical.
Xiang Er looked up at Shen Yuhe, her eyes wide with surprise, and whispered:
“You healed my injuries? Is this… your special ability?”
Shen Yuhe, even in a cheap, brown coat, standing casually under the streetlight, her shoulder bandaged, was still as beautiful as a goddess in a classical painting.
Especially when she looked at someone with such tenderness in her eyes.
Xiang Er felt overwhelmed by the gentleness, submerged in it – the dim, suggestive light, the soft breeze, the stars and moon above… the atmosphere was so beautiful, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
Shen Yuhe nodded slowly:
“Something like that.”
Her magnetic voice sent shivers down Xiang Er’s spine.
She looked at Shen Yuhe intently and concluded:
“You must be a very powerful person with special abilities.”
Shen Yuhe didn’t confirm or deny, just continued to stare at her, her gaze deep and unwavering.
Xiang Er smiled and continued buttoning Shen Yuhe’s coat. Her fingers, now nimble, quickly finished the task.
They hailed a taxi and sat in the back, the open space suddenly shrinking around them, the close proximity making Xiang Er slightly uncomfortable.
Her recently healed fingertips were still a little cold, and as soon as they were in the car, Shen Yuhe took both of Xiang Er’s hands and held them in hers, warming them.
Perhaps because of the car’s heater, Shen Yuhe’s hands, usually cold, were now warm, and as she held Xiang Er’s hands, they quickly grew warmer.
As if she had been a doll before, and now, finally, she was real. Warm blood flowed through her veins, emotions stirred within her, her world filled with color.
Her hands were warm, so warm.
Xiang Er felt drowsy, her exhaustion compounded by the warmth of Shen Yuhe’s hands, her head nodding.
“Come here.”
Shen Yuhe whispered, leaning closer.
Xiang Er, barely conscious, instinctively leaned against the warm body beside her, her head resting on Shen Yuhe’s shoulder.
Shen Yuhe tucked both of Xiang Er’s hands inside her coat, freeing her only good hand to adjust Xiang Er’s collar.
She simply mimicked Xiang Er’s earlier actions, carefully adjusting the collar, her fingers gently brushing against Xiang Er’s hair.
Shen Yuhe suddenly realized, with surprise, that… Xiang Er’s hair was cold, as cold as her own fingers had been.
She hadn’t paid attention to temperature before.
Until today, she suddenly realized that Xiang Er’s warmth towards her had always been… fiery.
A fiery warmth that made Xiang Er create countless excuses and justifications for her, defending her, refusing to let her go.
A warmth that… burned the unreal Shen Yuhe.
That fiery trust made her heart ache, and she didn’t know what to do.
This wasn’t a solution, it was a trap, Shen Yuhe realized clearly.
But she couldn’t find the real solution.
When Xiang Er regained consciousness, she felt her body swaying, she was outside, the sounds of wind and trees surrounding her.
She opened her eyes and quickly realized: Shen Yuhe was carrying her, like a sack of flour, towards her apartment building.
Shen Yuhe, using her one good arm, was carrying her over her shoulder, her pace swift.
This… this position, it was so embarrassing!
Xiang Er almost screamed, her hands slapping Shen Yuhe’s back:
“Aaaah! Put me down, what if the neighbors see us!”
Shen Yuhe said softly:
“They won’t.”
She didn’t put Xiang Er down, instead… she shifted her grip, lifting Xiang Er higher.
“Aaaah! What are you doing!”
Caught off guard by the sudden shift in weight, Xiang Er almost fell, her arms instinctively wrapping around the only thing she could grab – Shen Yuhe’s neck.
Her upper body now hanging onto Shen Yuhe’s neck, she felt slightly more secure, but she still tried to look back at Shen Yuhe’s face:
“Put me down! Your body isn’t… you’re injured…”
Shen Yuhe suddenly chuckled, turning her head:
“What’s wrong with my body?”
She paused, her sweet fragrance filling the air.
Their faces were inches apart, and they both instinctively licked their lips.
Shen Yuhe suddenly leaned closer, her beautiful face, illuminated by a soft glow, impossibly close!
Xiang Er’s heart almost stopped, her mind a blur.
Those full, luscious lips were right in front of her, the whole world reduced to those lips, and Xiang Er, with all her willpower, resisted the urge to kiss them.
But they were so close, their bodies pressed together, their breaths mingling, their hair intertwined…
A wave of fragrance washed over her, Xiang Er’s eyelashes fluttering, her eyes wide.
Shen Yuhe kissed her.
The world turned upside down.
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