Chapter 23: Pack Me Inside

Shi Yi pretended not to hear the conversation on the phone and offered him a radiant smile.

Ling Sinye ruffled her hair with doting affection.

The car arrived at the Crescent Bay villa. Once they stepped out, Ling Sinye instinctively reached for Shi Yi’s hand, but she dodged him, leaving his hand grasping at empty air. Ling Sinye tilted his head to look at her, a smile playing on his lips, though his eyes held a trace of scrutiny. "Yiyi, has there ever been a man in your heart?"

He had actually wanted to be more direct: *Who is this 'Brother Ji' you keep calling out for in your dreams?*

In the end, he didn't ask. He didn't want her to think he was petty.

Shi Yi hadn't expected such an abrupt question. After a moment of thought, she replied earnestly, "Yes."

After all, her father and her brother were men, weren't they?

Ling Sinye’s eyes darkened, and his voice carried a hint of expectation: "Then, Yiyi, could you make room for me as well?"

Shi Yi always felt this man was strange. The original owner of this body was a lovesick fool, but she was determined not to be one. After weighing her thoughts, she said, "My heart is very small; it cannot hold anyone else."

Ling Sinye offered a self-deprecating smirk and shifted his gaze to the distance, looking rather disappointed. "Very well, then I shall have to perform well and strive to squeeze myself in."

Shi Yi remained silent and ignored him.

Each lost in their own thoughts, they walked into the house side by side. To Shi Yi’s surprise, this villa was even larger and more luxurious than the one the original owner had lived in. She surveyed her surroundings with suspicion and suddenly asked, "You're just a fake young master—this isn't your house, is it?"

Ling Sinye gave an unnatural cough. "Of course it isn't mine. I’m just looking after it for someone else. You can rest easy here; the owner has gone abroad."

He held her shoulders to keep her from bending over and took a pair of women's slippers from the shoe cabinet, carefully helping her change into them. Shi Yi instinctively pulled her feet back, blushing as she said, "I—I can do it myself!"

"Don't move. Your hands are injured; let me." Ling Sinye grabbed her feet, teasing her with a smile, "It's a deal: I’m going to perform well, so give me a chance."

Never having been cared for like this before, Shi Yi felt deeply unaccustomed to it, yet she could sense the man’s sincerity; there was nothing perfunctory about his actions.

"Thank you," she said politely.

"What are you thanking me for? Taking care of you is my duty." Ling Sinye took her coat, hung it by the door, and said nonchalantly, "I’ll go run a warm bath for you in a moment so you can wash away the bad luck."

Seeing Shi Yi standing motionless at the door, he looked at her with a smile. "If you need any help, I’d be more than happy to oblige."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yi’s face flushed instantly. She felt as though she were being teased by a rake. In her past life, she was a young lady of status and often had maids to assist her with bathing, but how could she let a grown man help her now?

Ling Sinye stared at her flushed, delicate face, a wicked smile playing on his lips. "Yiyi, we’ve already been so intimate; you don't need to be shy in front of me. I won't eat you."

"You’re being improper again. If you keep this up, I’m not talking to you," Shi Yi said, her face turning even redder.

Ling Sinye’s lips curled into a faint arc as he gazed at her. "I won't tease you anymore. Call me if you need anything, alright?" He couldn't be too aggressive; he didn't want to scare his little treasure. There was plenty of time ahead.

"Then why aren't you going to run the water?" Shi Yi lowered her lashes and sat on the sofa.

Watching her look as pretty as a peach blossom, Ling Sinye chuckled. "Very well, I’ll go run the bath now."

Once the bath was ready, Shi Yi walked into the bathroom. Just as she was about to undress, she saw the man leaning against the door frame watching her, and she snapped, "I'm going to take a bath, get out immediately!"

"Um, do you need help with anything?" Ling Sinye pointed at her tight trousers.

Thinking back to the incident in the hospital restroom, Shi Yi felt horribly embarrassed. The clothes of this era were bizarre—either exposing arms and legs or being impossibly tight.

"Then... help me undo the buttons, and then get out," Shi Yi said, taking a deep breath.

Ling Sinye agreed with good nature. "Fine. Your hands can't get wet, so be careful. If you need anything, just call; I’ll be guarding the door."

He stepped forward, undid her buttons, and left. Shi Yi struggled with all her might to peel off her clothes; this contraption called a bra was far too difficult to remove.

Ling Sinye stood leaning against the door frame, and hearing the rustling sounds from within, his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.

"Ah, it hurts..."

Suddenly, a sharp cry came from inside. He stood up straight immediately. "Yiyi, are you alright?"

"I—I'm fine, I just slipped..." Shi Yi’s weak voice drifted out.

"Are you hurt?" Ling Sinye’s expression turned tense, and he reached out to push open the bathroom door.

"Don't—don't come in!" Shi Yi struggled on the floor, instinctively covering her chest.

Seeing the sight of her bare skin, Ling Sinye felt a rush of heat and reached out to turn off the light. "Yiyi, I won't look. Let me help you, alright?"

The bathroom plunged into darkness, leaving only the blurred shadows of one another.

"Alright, fine!" Realizing she couldn't manage on her own, Shi Yi finally compromised. The tiles were simply too slippery. Although she had the original owner’s memories, everything still felt alien to her; she barely knew how to use half these things. She had squeezed out a bit of body wash and managed to slip? Taking a bath was proving more difficult than a military campaign.

At that moment, she realized she was utterly useless.

Ling Sinye carefully picked her up and placed her in the bathtub, thoughtfully ensuring she kept her hands raised to prevent them from getting wet. Afterward, he rolled up his sleeves and took a clean washcloth from the bathroom cabinet.

"Since we’re bathing, let me scrub your back. You love being clean, and after spending time in the hospital and then going to that bar, you must be covered in dust."

Ling Sinye emphasized the word "bar," clearly still unsettled by her visit there. Through the dim light, Shi Yi looked at the man and suddenly realized that not only was he handsome, but he was also quite endearing.

Just as she was lost in thought, she felt a tickle on her back—the man had already started scrubbing. He teased her as he worked, "Tell me the truth, how many days has it been since you last bathed? You little mud monkey."

"Don't talk nonsense! It’s only been three days," Shi Yi argued, her face burning with embarrassment.

"So, you haven't bathed since that night?" Ling Sinye’s smile deepened. No wonder she still bore his marks and carried his scent. A woman who says one thing while meaning another—she even claimed she didn't have him in her heart.

Shi Yi’s face felt like it was on fire. She stammered, "I—I haven't." So many things had happened in the three days since she arrived in this world; she simply hadn't had the chance!

Without her noticing, the man’s hand slid from her back to her front, and his breathing grew increasingly ragged.

"Where—where are you touching?" Shi Yi moved to resist.

Ling Sinye pinned her waist to keep her still and leaned down to kiss the back of her neck.

"What do you think you're doing?" Shi Yi’s eyes widened, glaring at him with a look of alarm.

"What do you think?" Ling Sinye cupped her face, his eyes burning with naked desire.