Chapter Sixty-Nine: Jealous of One's Own Self

"Ah, it hurts! Could you be a bit gentler?" Luo Yixia muttered, a little aggrieved.

But as soon as she spoke, seeing the deep furrow in Song Chengyi’s brow, she instantly regretted it.

Was he upset again? Had she caused him trouble once more?

Song Chengyi set the towel aside. "I'm going to buy medicine."

"Alright, thank—" Before she could finish, he was already gone. Luo Yixia sat where she was, staring at the tightly closed door, feeling somewhat disheartened.

She really was useless. She had only wanted to surprise Song Chengyi, but things had turned out like this. Not only did she fail to surprise him, she had burdened him with so much trouble.

Carefully, Luo Yixia shifted herself onto a chair.

It wasn’t long before Song Chengyi returned. Luo Yixia noticed the beads of sweat on his forehead—he must have run back. When she’d gotten off the car earlier, she hadn’t noticed any pharmacies nearby.

Song Chengyi opened the medicine bag and began cleaning her wound.

Luo Yixia bit her lower lip, struggling not to cry out. The pain was intense.

Song Chengyi seemed to sense it. He looked up at her, noticing how she was biting her lip so hard the spot had turned pale, and her eyes were red.

"If it hurts, say so," Song Chengyi said.

"Mm." Luo Yixia nodded, but stubbornly kept silent. She didn’t want to see him frown anymore...

Song Chengyi worked swiftly, sparing her from prolonged suffering.

"I've asked the staff to bring up dinner soon. Why don't you take a bath and change your clothes first?" He glanced at her dirty clothes, the dust on her small face, and her swollen eyes.

"Alright," Luo Yixia replied, standing up. The medicine stung worse than before, making it hard for her to get up; she was about to hop into the bathroom when Song Chengyi swept her up from behind.

"It’s fine, I can manage on my own," Luo Yixia whispered.

Song Chengyi didn’t respond, simply carrying her into the bathroom.

"Don’t let the wound get wet. Be careful... If you can’t manage, call me," he instructed.

Luo Yixia nodded, her cheeks flushing.

With that, Song Chengyi left and closed the bathroom door.

He stared at the room filled with roses, feeling a headache coming on. In this day and age, who still plays with such tricks? He blew out some of the candles.

Luo Yixia washed quickly, careful not to wet her wound.

When she came out, the staff had just left. Seeing the food on the table, she realized she hadn’t eaten all day.

Song Chengyi came over and naturally lifted her robe to check her injury.

"You managed not to get it wet. After dinner, I bought antibiotics—you’ll need to take two," he said.

"Mm-hmm," Luo Yixia replied, her mind only on the food.

Song Chengyi found her greedy expression rather adorable.

"Don’t move, I’ll carry you over." He lifted her to the dining table, placing her on a chair.

"You ordered so many delicious dishes!" Luo Yixia exclaimed excitedly.

"Mm," Song Chengyi replied, sitting down.

"I’m starving! I haven’t eaten all day." She mentioned it casually, but Song Chengyi paused, looking at her. "You didn’t have lunch?"

"Ah? Haha, I didn’t have time for lunch," Luo Yixia decided to keep her head down and focus on eating.

"I just happened to glance at your bag... Um... Was that figurine for a friend?" Song Chengyi felt he should ask.

"What? You opened it?" Luo Yixia was shocked.

Song Chengyi hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. Was he not allowed to see it? He hadn’t even asked which female friend liked Luffy.

"Mm, was it for a friend?" he asked indifferently, though his tone cooled.

Luo Yixia’s attention was entirely on the fact that her surprise had been opened by Song Chengyi; she didn’t even hear what he said, only responding with "Mm-hmm."

Song Chengyi pressed on, "A male friend?"

"Mm."

Anger flared in Song Chengyi. So all this trouble—skipping meals, getting lost, and even getting hurt—was for another man.

For a moment, Song Chengyi wanted to beat up the man receiving Luo Yixia’s gift.

"How could you open it? I was going to show you later!" Luo Yixia suddenly burst out, unable to hold back.

"... Song Chengyi hadn’t expected her to speak to him in such a tone.

"You’re giving a gift to another man, and I can’t even look at it?" Song Chengyi was exasperated.

"Huh? What are you talking about? What other man?" Luo Yixia blinked, completely confused.

Song Chengyi didn’t answer, eating in silence.

Luo Yixia thought for a moment, then her face fell, realizing what he meant. He thought she’d gone through all this trouble for someone else?

"I don’t have any male friends who like Luffy," she said, sulking.

"Is it your best friend, then?" Song Chengyi arched an eyebrow, mocking.

"Only a pig would like Luffy," Luo Yixia retorted, returning to her meal.

He could think what he liked—she was hungry and food mattered more.

Song Chengyi paused, Luo Yixia’s words echoing in his mind: "Only a pig would like Luffy." Was she calling him a pig?

Suddenly it all made sense.

She bought it for him?

She knew he liked One Piece, so she’d specifically bought the figurine for him?

Though he understood now, the situation was awkward.

Song Chengyi had misunderstood her; Luo Yixia was angry.

"Um... So it was for me?" Song Chengyi asked.

"I bought it for a pig," Luo Yixia pouted.

"Uh... Sorry." A true man knows when to yield...

"Mm..." Luo Yixia hummed, not really caring anymore.

They finished their meal in silence, the awkwardness only growing.

There was nothing to do; despite the warm atmosphere, they were both sulking.

"I’m going to shower," Song Chengyi announced, heading to the bathroom.

Luo Yixia bent down and picked up a rose nearby—so fresh and lovely. These must have been prepared by their mothers, hoping she and Song Chengyi would get along, but Song Chengyi was always so disagreeable. He’d just scolded her.

But remembering how worried Song Chengyi had been, how he’d found her at last, he didn’t seem so bad after all.

When Song Chengyi finished his shower, he saw Luo Yixia surrounded by roses, picking petals and mumbling to herself.

"Come take your medicine," Song Chengyi said, holding out the pills.

Luo Yixia glanced at him. Song Chengyi sighed, "Fine, I’ll come to you." He handed her a glass of water.

Luo Yixia grabbed the pills and tossed them into her mouth, gulping down water.

"Shall we sleep?" Song Chengyi asked.

Luo Yixia didn’t answer but got up. Song Chengyi tried to help, only for Luo Yixia to slap his hand away.

Stubbornly, she hopped over to the bed, climbed in, and pulled the covers over herself, ignoring him.

Song Chengyi couldn’t help but smile. She was small but so feisty.

How had he never noticed her temper before?

He turned off the lamp, leaving the candles glowing in the room.

Song Chengyi sat on the other side of the bed.

Seeing her shift away, he realized she was avoiding him—earlier, it was to keep from upsetting him; now, it was because she herself was angry and didn’t want to touch him.

He looked at her back, almost completely hidden under the duvet. Her hair spilled across the bed, reaching his side. He couldn’t help but take a strand in his hand.

So soft, he thought.

"Are you still angry?" Song Chengyi spoke.

"Who would dare be angry with you?" Luo Yixia snapped.

"But aren’t you angry now?"

"I’m not angry," she insisted.

"You are," Song Chengyi pressed.

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I’m not."

"You are."

After several rounds, Luo Yixia couldn’t take it anymore. She threw off the covers, furious: "I said I’m not angry, so I’m not!"

Her fierce demeanor faltered immediately after.

Song Chengyi stared at her in surprise.

Luo Yixia’s first reaction was to cover her face, then to pull the covers over Song Chengyi’s head.

"Pervert, you creep..."

Her third action was to hastily fix her clothes. In her excitement, she had accidentally pulled loose the only tie on her bathrobe. Though she hadn’t completely exposed herself, Song Chengyi had seen more than he should.

Her face was crimson.

"You... did you see everything?" Luo Yixia whimpered.

Song Chengyi, his face still covered by the quilt, hadn’t quite recovered, but he still managed a dazed "Mm."

Previously, everyone had thought they’d slept together, but nothing had happened—Luo Yixia had only vomited on him, and any clothing mishap had happened while he was asleep, so he’d seen nothing. But now he’d truly seen...

Luo Yixia, furious, slapped the bed, then yanked the quilt off Song Chengyi’s face.

They stared at each other awkwardly.

"Sleep," Luo Yixia said, pulling the covers tightly around herself, still angry.

"Why are you angry? It wasn’t me who pulled it open," Song Chengyi pointed out honestly.

Luo Yixia wanted to hit him. He’d gotten away with it and still acted innocent.

She closed her eyes, trying to sleep, but suddenly remembered she’d been wronged.

Why should he get to see her?

She threw off the covers and sat up.

Song Chengyi hadn’t been asleep, and watched her.

Luo Yixia glared at him fiercely.

"You saw me, so, in fairness, I should see you," she declared, reaching for his robe.