n

n

n132 Guilty Conscience

nGuan Lei heard Shen Xi’s voice, his mind drifting to what he had done. Guilt surged like an all-consuming tide, and he could only respond lamely, “I… I fell.”

nGuan Lei could see the wound he had inflicted from his vantage point on the ground. His heart beat wildly as he avoided looking at Shen Xi altogether.

nIt… It was a mistake.

nBleary eyes blinked, gaining clarity in the dimly lit library. Shen Xi wanted to help Guan Lei and tried to get up, but her legs were numb, having sat in that awkward position for so long. She nearly ended up on the floor beside Guan Lei.

nHad it not been for Guan Lei’s quick reflexes, pushing the chairs scattered around him away and spreading his arms wide to break her fall, Shen Xi would have collapsed.

nAt that moment, Guan Lei finally understood what it meant to hold something dear against his bosom.

nShen Xi was grateful for Guan Lei’s timely save. She might have hurt herself if he had not caught her.

n“Thank you,” Shen Xi said as she pushed herself off Guan Lei. However, her numb legs had other ideas, forcing her to sit next to Guan Lei while she massaged feeling back into them.

nGuan Lei smiled knowingly. He believed Shen Xi’s present actions of massaging her legs were an attempt to cover up her embarrassment. After all, a girl would feel bashful if they hugged a boy they liked, wouldn’t they?

nShen Xi eyed Guan Lei in confusion. “Why are you smiling?”

nGuan Lei shrugged. “I’m not. I’m just feeling happy.”

nShen Xi’s brows rose in scepticism. They had fallen due to bad luck. What was there worth being happy about?

nGuan Lei helped Shen Xi out of the library when feeling returned to her legs. It was dark out, and the sky twinkled with starry light.

nGuan Lei was a little surprised. He looked at his watch; it was already eight o’clock in the evening.

nHe had arrived at two o’clock in the afternoon and had slept at least six hours in the library. It was not something that had ever happened before.

nHe usually slept no more than four hours a day, his sleep plagued by nightmares whether day or night. Yet, unexpectedly, he had slept six hours with none of his night horrors waking him.

nGuan Lei suddenly turned to look at Shen Xi, staring at her in disbelief.

nShen Xi frowned, not understanding the look Guan Lei was giving her. Was there something on her face?

n“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?” Shen Xi asked. She touched her skin, wiping at an invisible stain only Guan Lei seemed to see. That was when she brushed against her wounded lips.

nA startled hiss escaped. “Did I bite my lip just now?” She muttered, perplexed.

n“This… this…” Guan Lei recovered from his shock and stammered, “Maybe, you hit something when you fell.”

nShen Xi felt Guan Lei’s words made sense. No wonder Guan Lei stared at her just now. Still, Shen Xi could not think of a time she might have bitten her lip, even when she fell.

nGuan Lei stowed his hands in his pockets awkwardly, brushing against an object in one of his pockets. He fished it out and remembered why it was he had gone looking for Shen Xi in the first place. It was a tube of scar removal cream.

nHe passed the cream to Shen Xi, saying, “I got this scar removal cream for you. Although they aren’t very visible, I didn’t think you’d like the thought of something marring your skin permanently.”

nAs his eyes roved over Shen Xi’s scarred face, he inadvertently caught sight of the wound he had accidentally inflicted upon Shen Xi, guilt gnawing at him from within.

nHis mind drifted to the feeling of those cherry lips against his, and he shuddered. They were so soft, sweet, and supple; nothing could compare. He wanted nothing more than to pounce on Shen Xi and lock her in a passionate kiss.

nShen Xi thanked Guan Lei profusely as she accepted the scar removal cream.

nStaring into Shen Xi’s limpid eyes, those pools of crystalline calm and Guan Lei felt ashamed, like the putrid earth beneath his feet.

nIt was too late to have dinner in the school’s cafeteria; the canteen was closed by this hour. Instead, Guan Lei brought Shen Xi to Auspicious Dragon Hall, which remained open till late.

n“Today, I’ll let you taste the skills of the top chef of Auspicious Dragon Hall, Chef Wang,” Guan Lei said. Before, he had to treat Shen Xi to a meal, but that scoundrel Xiang Cheng ruined his opportunity.

n“Don’t joke like that! Chef Wang isn’t someone who cooks for just anyone. He only cooks on special occasions like the school’s anniversary when important guests arrive. You wouldn’t be able to sample his cooking any other time,” Shen Xi chided gently.

n