Chapter 5: Gravely Ill, Borrowing Him to Heal

Hold her tight with all your strength…

More requests could only swirl around in Miss Xu Nanyin’s heart, too difficult to speak aloud.

Even those four words from earlier grew softer and softer, almost inaudible, yet her body couldn’t help but draw closer, her hand clutching the man’s shirt at his waist.

Before this, whenever Miss Xu Nanyin got close to him, she would always sense an oppressive feeling.

It wasn’t something he did deliberately, but a mysterious danger that came from the man’s long-held authority and the height difference between a man and a woman.

But this time, being so close felt just like the Ebony Incense on him—restrained yet alluring.

The pearls on the mask pressed against the man’s chest, her softness and the pearls’ hardness grinding together, an invisible sentence with no end in sight.

“Don’t move.”

A low voice sounded above her head.

As soon as he spoke, the continuous vibration in his chest made her cheek, which rested there, tremble as well.

Not far away, Secretary Jiang Chen had been waiting, but he hadn’t heard any movement for a long while.

Boss always kept his distance from women.

Even if he hadn’t expected someone to throw herself into his arms today, he should have pushed her away by now—yet there was no reaction at all.

Finally unable to resist, he turned his head, only to see the man’s hand fall on the girl’s slender back, stroking lightly.

Soft skin, separated only by the thin fabric of her dress, melted into Mr. Song Huaixu’s palm.

Miss Xu Nanyin trembled slightly, taking a deep breath.

With that breath, his intense aura gradually changed, inexplicably swirling a sweet desire into her nose and mouth, as if she were suffocating.

“Mm…” Miss Xu Nanyin’s mind went blank for a moment, a tingling sensation she’d never felt before making her unconsciously arch her back.

After quenching her thirst, her body kept urging for more.

It wasn’t until her thoughts returned that she finally realized what was happening. Nervous, she slowly withdrew her hand.

Then, she braced herself against the man’s chest, retreating slightly.

“…S-sorry, I mistook you for someone else.”

Her long hair brushed past Mr. Song Huaixu’s hand, slipping away between his fingers.

The door slammed shut.

Miss Xu Nanyin’s whole face was burning hot.

She pressed the back of her hand to her cheek to cool down, lips slightly parted, silently annoyed with herself.

It took her a while before she took off her thin nightgown.

She didn’t know if her sense of smell was malfunctioning, but she kept feeling as if the lingering scent of Ebony Incense clung to the air.

She had never been like this before!

She must be incurably ill, her mind muddled, to have said such a shameful request!

***

Mr. Song Huaixu was still standing outside the door in the same posture.

Mistook him for someone else?

The corridor was silent, and nothing could be heard from behind the door.

He withdrew his hand and yanked at his tie roughly.

She had pressed far too close at the end.

Mr. Song Huaixu’s gaze swept over his shirt buttons, where a faint trace of red could be seen.

“Secretary Jiang Chen.”

The man turned his head.

Secretary Jiang Chen had already turned his back, but as soon as he heard the voice, he immediately popped out from around the corner. “Boss.”

“Go open a room.”

Secretary Jiang Chen accepted the order and left, still puzzled—just a moment ago they were holding each other, and now he was locked out.

Men and women were so complicated; work was much simpler.

Inside the room.

Miss Xu Nanyin walked in on the carpet, took off her mask, then remembered something and went back to the door.

No sound outside.

She was only staying here temporarily.

Besides the Waiter from before, no one else knew.

How did Mr. Song Huaixu come to knock on this door?

Was he looking for someone else?

And then, by some twist of fate, she’d used him to treat her illness?

Lost in thought, her mother’s call woke her up: “Zhuzhu, did something happen over there?”

Miss Xu Nanyin remembered her real business and told her what she’d overheard at the banquet.

“Mami, I don’t want to marry Song Tingchuan. Can we call off the engagement?”

He never came to Port City, never looked for her, and had unclear relationships with others for more than a year—any one of these alone was unacceptable.

There was even suspicion that the gifts were exchanged by both sides.

Thinking this way, the guilt she’d felt for using Mr. Song Huaixu to relieve her Craving Skin Syndrome seemed to fade a bit.

Miss Xu Mother had already guessed as much.

After all, if someone never came to see Pearl, what other reason could there be?

“Alright.”

She made the decision quickly.

“I’ll go to Ning City next week and handle it in person. But all this is just what you heard. Did you see it with your own eyes?”

Miss Xu Nanyin thought seriously.

Yue Yajun hadn’t shown up at that time, so maybe those men were just talking nonsense.

“I’ll go in and check again later. By the way, I have an exam on Friday. I’ll go back first in a couple of days, then come over with you.”

Not long ago, Miss Xu Nanyin had passed the Written Exam for Port City Traditional Medicine.

There was still an Oral Exam scheduled for this Friday.

Miss Xu Mother said, “Alright, I understand.”

The matter of breaking off the engagement would need to be discussed with the Song Family in advance.

After her daughter finished the exam, the two families would sit down together.

“Has your Father contacted you these past two days?” she asked.

“He tells me every day to eat and drink well, nothing else. Says he’s busy.”

Miss Xu Nanyin answered honestly.

“Why?”

“It’s nothing.”

After the call, Miss Xu Nanyin couldn’t help but suspect her parents had quarreled.

For example, her father hadn’t been home for half a month, only contacting her occasionally, always saying he was busy with business.

But to say he was betraying the family—she didn’t quite believe it.

In all of Port City, among so many men with lovers, he cared the most about home.

Worried, Miss Xu Nanyin sent her father a message.

Suddenly, there was another knock at the door. Her heart skipped a beat.

“Who is it?”

A Li’s voice sounded: “Zhuzhu, it’s me.”

Miss Xu Nanyin breathed a sigh of relief, opened the door, and pulled A Li in, linking arms with her.

“Why did it take you so long?”

“It’s almost half an hour from there to here. That place has great scenery and it’s quiet, but it’s a bit far.”

“…Alright.”

“Zhuzhu, you’ve been really clingy lately, especially tonight.”

A Li said casually, “Is your illness getting worse?”

When she asked the first part, Miss Xu Nanyin’s professional training made her subconsciously think it was just because her period had ended not long ago and her body was craving more contact…

But when she heard the second part, she immediately nodded several times.

It was all because of Craving Skin Syndrome.

A Li hugged her and patted her back, even though she was only a year older.

“Good thing I’m here.”

Miss Xu Nanyin smelled the familiar scent of body wash, feeling a little guilty.

This embrace was completely different from Mr. Song Huaixu’s.

Outside, the sound of rain tapped against the glass.

In the room next door.

The sound of running water suddenly stopped.

The man pushed open the bathroom door, a towel wrapped around his waist, and picked up the clean clothes Secretary Jiang Chen had prepared.

His gaze lingered on the mirror.

Under the dim light, the man’s upper body was reflected, water droplets sliding along his muscles and disappearing beneath the towel at his waist.

Just like that pearl that had pressed against him, it left no trace.

***

“Why are you changing masks again?”

A Li changed Miss Xu Nanyin’s Princess Half-Up Hairstyle into an updo, then took the Silver Butterfly Mask from her bag and put it on her.

Miss Xu Nanyin didn’t dare tell the truth, so she made something up: “Since I brought it, it would be a waste not to wear it.”

She reminded, “Don’t tell anyone.”

A Li: ?

She didn’t understand why she couldn’t tell anyone, but since Princess said so, she would listen.

This Butterfly Silver Mask was irregular in shape, completely different from the previous Lace Pearl Mask.

This one was a little seductive, while the last one was pure and holy.

She just had to do something unholy with the holy one…

Miss Xu Nanyin’s cheeks instantly flushed, her half-hidden face beneath the Butterfly Silver Mask even more captivating.

“Alright, I’m leaving now.”

“When you come back, we’ll have a big feast!”

A Li waved.

Miss Xu Nanyin responded, picked up her dress, and looked around.

Good, no one was there—just herself.

She walked toward the elevator hall.

She hadn’t expected to run into Mr. Song Huaixu as soon as she turned the corner.

This hotel couldn’t compare to the Feilan Hotel, but it was still high-end.

The elevator hall was very spacious, paved with expensive tiles, and bathed in golden light.

The dazzling lights shone on the man’s figure.

He leaned by the window, his side profile sharp and defined, left hand in his trouser pocket, right hand holding a half-burned cigarette between his fingers.

His long fingers were slightly bent, joints distinct, his expression indifferent as faint white smoke rose before him and slowly dispersed.

The night draped a layer of coldness over him.

His dark satin shirt had a slight sheen, adding a touch of lazy elegance to his noble aura.

He had changed clothes, and Miss Xu Nanyin noticed.

“How long do you plan to keep staring?”

Miss Xu Nanyin had been lost in thought, staring at him, and didn’t expect him to suddenly speak to her.

She snapped back to reality.

The man by the window turned his head to look at her, casually extinguishing the still half-long cigarette, his eyes calm.

Miss Xu Nanyin slowly walked over.

Mr. Song Huaixu leisurely put on the suit jacket that had been draped over his arm, returning to his usual restrained and deep demeanor.

Miss Xu Nanyin’s thoughts were all over the place.

He changed his clothes, and now even to get close to a woman he needed to put on his jacket. Did he dislike being approached that much?

“Not even going to say hello now?”

“…”

Miss Xu Nanyin panicked a little.

“You can still recognize me like this?”

Mr. Song Huaixu’s gaze finally settled on her lively eyes, not answering her question.

“This mask suits you.”

He spoke lightly, as if it were just a gentleman’s compliment.

Miss Xu Nanyin’s heart raced—she’d never been this nervous before.

She’d changed masks, put on a new dress, even her hairstyle was different—there was no way he could recognize her.

“Huai Xu-ge, are you here for the banquet now?”

She thought he’d changed his mind.

“But you—” Her slender finger pointed at the man’s bare face.

Mr. Song Huaixu watched the changing expressions on her face and gave a faint smile.

“Why not lend me a mask?”

Miss Xu Nanyin held her breath.

“I only have this one, and I need it myself.”

Besides, it wouldn’t fit him—too small.

Didn’t he say he wasn’t interested in these events?

Why did he change his mind?

Surely he didn’t come to see her make a fool of herself.

Mr. Song Huaixu stared at her.

“I thought Miss Xu would have a spare.”

Miss Xu Nanyin pretended to be calm and obedient.

“Huai Xu-ge, who brings two masks to a banquet?”

“Is that so.”

***

Inside the Banquet Hall.

Yue Yajun, as the host, appeared at the opening, glancing around the room without a hint of emotion, but she didn’t see that man.

The Master of Ceremonies had already said that Mr. Song’s invitation had been used by a girl wearing a Pearl Lace Mask and a white dress, but after coming out, Yue Yajun had looked at everyone—there was no such girl.

What kind of girl could make him act like this?

Yue Yajun suppressed her disbelief, thinking maybe they’d mistaken the name.

“Yajun, happy birthday.”

Song Tingchuan approached, handing her a box and gesturing for her to open it.

“You’ve worn last year’s gift for a whole year. Time to change to a new one.”

Inside was a Ruby Necklace.

Quite a few people glanced over, some envious, and the smile on Yue Yajun’s face grew even brighter as she let him help her put it on.

Someone nearby coaxed, “You two are a perfect match.”

“None of our gifts combined can compare to the Second Young Master’s.”

Song Tingchuan thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere, complimenting her, “It’s because Yajun is so beautiful—she looks good in anything.”

“You have good taste.”

Yue Yajun smiled, then casually brought up, “I heard your elder brother is about to have some good news?”

“Impossible.”

Song Tingchuan thought her idea was ridiculous.

“He’s a total workaholic. Even the mosquitoes around him are male. Besides, he probably hasn’t even come back from Port City.”

“Maybe I heard wrong.”

“Who told you that? Who’d believe something so absurd?”

Song Tingchuan then remembered her invitation.

“That invitation of yours is just for show. These kinds of banquets aren’t even on his radar.”

Yue Yajun sighed.

“Given our relationship, not sending your elder brother an invitation would make me look careless.”

Song Tingchuan said, “I’m not blaming you. It’s just that everyone here knows—even if you gave him one, he wouldn’t come. He probably didn’t even look at it…”

Just then, the atmosphere in the Banquet Hall suddenly shifted.

All the previously scattered, playful gazes turned in one direction—shocked, envious, everyone’s expressions out of control.

Yue Yajun, for some reason, had a guess in her heart, a surge of delighted surprise rising as she quickly turned her head.

“Let me see who’s here…”

Her words froze as she caught sight of the two figures.

Song Tingchuan didn’t even notice her daze, staring over there, both amazed and stunned.