Chapter 28: Not Knowing Him Well Enough

"I know you're skilled—she's hurt her back, could you help take care of it?" Shen Yanlie gently pushed Mai Xijun forward.

Zhou Jingyi stared unblinkingly at the woman standing before her, as if scrutinizing her carefully. She was certain she’d never seen her before. Was this his new flame? But if so, why hadn’t she heard anything about it?

"Oh, sure! If Young Master Shen asks, Jingyi will take care of it, no problem. Only… do you want to watch, or would you rather step outside?" Zhou Jingyi said with a touch of mischief, pointing first at the sofa and then toward the door. Shen Yanlie curled his lip, lowered his head, and from his angle could only see Mai Xijun’s lashes—long and thick as brushes, veiling her dark eyes, glimmering faintly in the starlight.

Only after Shen Yanlie had left the room did Zhou Jingyi turn her gaze to Mai Xijun. "Where are you hurt?"

"Here…" Mai Xijun pointed to her side, then, with Zhou Jingyi's help, lay face-down on the bed.

Shen Yanlie waited patiently outside. The lighting in the corridor was much brighter than the room within; the luxurious chandelier cast a vivid glow, yet the walls were a deep rose, lending the space an intoxicating, ambiguous atmosphere.

Looking at the bruising around her waist, it was no wonder Shen Yanlie’s first instinct was to call her. Massage could stimulate the body’s pressure points, regulate meridians, promote circulation, and ease pain; indeed, finding her for this was the right choice.

But when Zhou Jingyi caught sight of the scattered red marks on Mai Xijun’s back and nape, her cheeks flushed involuntarily. Though inexperienced, she knew well enough what those meant.

After mulling it over, she couldn’t help but ask, "What’s your relationship with Young Master Shen? Friends?" To make it sound casual, she adjusted Mai Xijun’s position as she spoke, as if the question were nothing more than an afterthought.

"Yes… friends." But as Mai Xijun uttered those words, an unusual light flashed in her eyes. He had helped her again, hadn’t he? If, in the future, he made any further 'unreasonable requests,' how was she supposed to respond? She was never very good at turning people down…

Zhou Jingyi smiled quietly. "Friends, perhaps, but certainly not ordinary friends, right?"

That question hit the mark, leaving Mai Xijun at a loss for words. Silence was safest. What was she supposed to say—that she’d once spent the night with him?

"Young Master Shen doesn’t easily bring women home—let alone let them wander freely. I think you must be someone very important to him," Zhou Jingyi said, her delicate features tinged with a subtle envy. She’d known Shen Yanlie for years and understood his temperament better than most. If anyone claimed nothing had happened between him and this woman, she wouldn’t believe it for a moment.

Yet, try as she might, she couldn’t get another word out of Mai Xijun. Perhaps some things just couldn’t be explained.

Mai Xijun gritted her teeth as Zhou Jingyi worked. Her touch was just right, but since the injury was fresh and near her ribs, the pain was unavoidable. After a while, sweat beaded on Mai Xijun’s forehead, soaking the thin silk draped over her body.

"Thank you," Mai Xijun said as she slowly sat up with Zhou Jingyi’s help. To her surprise, it truly didn’t hurt as much as before; the effect was immediate and quite impressive.

Zhou Jingyi maintained her ladylike smile as she opened the door.

Shen Yanlie rose and approached. Seeing Mai Xijun’s sweat-damp hair, his throat tightened, bobbing a few times.

"Come back in a couple of days, three or four sessions with some ointment should do the trick," Zhou Jingyi said, retrieving a jar of ointment from the cabinet and handing it to Shen Yanlie. "Apply this to the affected area twice daily—it’ll promote circulation and ease the pain."

He took it, glancing at the label, and raised his hand in thanks. "Appreciate it."

Zhou Jingyi’s cheeks flushed with a girlish shyness, though the dim light did her a favor. For as long as she could remember, she had admired this man—his tall figure, handsome face, and an allure that seemed to eclipse the world. She could never tear her eyes from him. Whenever her father tried to set her up with someone, she inevitably compared them to him, and the result was always the same: disappointment.

She’d met many young men over the years, now past twenty-five, yet still without a suitable boyfriend. Friends and family said her standards were too high. Only later did she realize it was true—she wanted someone just like Shen Yanlie. But in this world, Shen Yanlie was one of a kind. There might be many girls like her who admired him, but for her, there would never be another Shen Yanlie.

He walked over to Mai Xijun, removed his suit jacket, and draped it over her shoulders. She frowned slightly and looked up at him, puzzled but not refusing.

Her whole body felt much more at ease. Shen Yanlie supported her, letting her lean into his side as they slowly made their way toward the stairs.

"Thank you," she said softly, once they were back in the car. Seated beside him, her tone was gentle, yet earnest.

Yanlie let out a lazy hum from his throat, accepting her gratitude. Though his expression was still cool, it lacked the icy edge she remembered. Watching him, she slowly looked away. Perhaps she just didn’t know him well enough—maybe, in his own way, he was a romantic, gentle soul.

* * * * *

"Don’t go back to work this afternoon. Stay home and rest," Shen Yanlie instructed as the car stopped in front of Mai Xijun’s place, just before she got out.

"Mm," she nodded obediently, like a favored child.

* * * * *

Lifting the curtains, she stood by the window, watching his car slowly drive away. A warm, inexplicable feeling welled up in her chest.

Turning around, she realized his jacket was still on her shoulders. She wanted to run out and return it, but his car was already gone. She walked over to the coat rack to hang it up for another day. Only then did she realize why he’d given her the jacket in the first place.

A faint blush crept over Mai Xijun’s face. Her own dress was a thin, pale fabric, and now, soaked with sweat, it had turned almost transparent, clinging to her body and revealing every curve.

She couldn’t help feeling embarrassed as she looked at herself. This was the outfit he’d prepared for her that morning before he left. She had assumed there would be no more connection between them, but somehow, fate kept tying them together.

After a moment’s thought, Mai Xijun slowly made her way to the bathroom. A hot shower and a good rest were much needed; she hadn’t truly relaxed in days. She never slept more than six hours a night, and if she kept going like this, she feared she’d collapse before she ever found her mother or realized her dream of becoming a master jewelry designer.