Chapter 258: Clumsy Yet Sincere

The trembling girl was held in the man’s arms as he tried to soothe her emotions.

The room’s temperature, initially just right thanks to the central air conditioning, grew warmer with their embrace.

The warmth from Fang Zhou’s palm spread to Qiao Sisi’s back, gradually reducing her shivering.

However, she still buried her head in his chest, reluctant to look up at him, as if afraid the abyss lay just ahead and any misstep would lead to her fall.

Fang Zhou, feeling both heartache and sorrow, saw the once headstrong young lady now looking pitiful like a drenched kitten.

“Don’t be afraid, I will protect you, Sisi.”

Fang Zhou tightened his embrace, trying to give her strength.

His left hand covered Qiao Sisi’s hand, surprised to find it cold as ice.

Extreme emotions can cause the body to react abnormally.

So, Fang Zhou clasped her hands in his, rubbing them to generate warmth.

His clumsy yet sincere actions touched Qiao Sisi. She suddenly looked up, her eyes moist, clear as a sky washed clean by rain.

“Fang Zhou, I’m so cold.”

Qiao Sisi’s body trembled slightly. She withdrew her hands and placed them on Fang Zhou’s arms, clinging to him like a drowning person holding onto a life buoy.

She leaned in closer, gradually closing the distance between them until they were tightly pressed together.

Fang Zhou felt the coldness of her lips, as chilly as her hands.

Moved by compassion, he didn’t pull back, accepting her actions.

Qiao Sisi’s long eyelashes brushed against his in their close proximity.

Her actions became more passionate, unsatisfied with just pressing against him, moving to the next step of seeking warmth.

Their exchange of breath was more than mere saliva—it was the final plea of a girl longing to be saved from her personal hell.

Her reddened eyes, whether from fear or the intensity of the kiss, carried a blush.

This was a comforting kiss, unlike any before.

For Fang Zhou, it was the first willing kiss since their reunion.

What if this was the pull she needed to save her?

Emotion is contagious, and Fang Zhou could almost feel her fear.

At this moment, she had no one else to rely on but him.

The memories of their past love cascaded over him like a torrential rain.

The lethal charm of a first love became tangible in this moment.

Fang Zhou felt his supposedly cold heart soften after learning about Qiao Sisi’s background.

Was it sympathy? Pity? Or love? He couldn’t tell.

All he knew was that Qiao Sisi needed him now.

So, Fang Zhou closed his eyes, wrapped his arms around her waist, and deepened the kiss.

Their heavy breathing mixed with the intense sunlight, creating a heated, ambiguous atmosphere.

A tear slid down Qiao Sisi’s cheek, landing on the diary’s cover, like a barrier.

After an indeterminate amount of time, they finally parted. Exhausted, she collapsed against Fang Zhou, her eyes filled with affection.

Fang Zhou scooped her up and carried her out of the room.

The sudden lift made Qiao Sisi gasp, protesting lightly.

“What are you doing? I just got my period, we can’t!”

Fang Zhou, amused, lowered his head, nuzzling her forehead playfully. “I don’t have a liking for fighting through blood. If you do…”

He intentionally trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid.

Qiao Sisi clenched her fist and lightly punched his chest, pouting, “No, I don’t!”

What a cheeky man!

Fang Zhou laughed heartily, straightening up and carrying her to the master bathroom, finishing his earlier thought.

“If you did, I wouldn’t agree.”

“I don’t!”

The man’s joyful laughter and the woman’s urgent retorts dispelled the previous gloom in the room.

An invisible curtain lifted, restoring normalcy.

“You should change your pad. It’s been a while since you got back, and you might feel uncomfortable.”

Fang Zhou set Qiao Sisi down at the bathroom door, leaning against the wall with a doting look.

Blushing, Qiao Sisi quickly shut the door, embarrassed, and called out.

“I know.”

Does he have to be so considerate? It’s so embarrassing!

The door separated them, breaking the earlier connection they had.

Qiao Sisi slowly withdrew her smile, thoughtfully touching her neck where Fang Zhou had left his mark.

Today’s developments were beyond her expectations.

Initially, she intended to keep Fang Zhou by her side forcibly, but he stumbled upon her diary.

She had hidden it inside the cover of “The Count of Monte Cristo,” hoping to bury those memories forever.

What a fateful connection Fang Zhou and I have.

Moreover, she overestimated her resilience.

When memories overwhelmed her, with Fang Zhou, her most trusted person, beside her, she could no longer pretend to be strong.

She never intended to use her broken past to garner sympathy.

She just didn’t realize that the wounds she thought had healed were superficial, with the deep-seated rot still festering.

She had to admit, sharing her pain with someone made it half as heavy.

Fang Zhou would never know how much strength his words, “It’s not your fault,” gave her.

When Qiao Sisi finally composed herself and emerged, Fang Zhou was lounging on the sofa.

He lazily held a hardcover of “Love in the Time of Cholera,” and greeted her as she came out.

“The tea I brewed is still warm. Want another cup?”

To avoid any misunderstanding, he added.

“Even if you drink it, I won’t leave.”

Qiao Sisi looked at his smile, suddenly unsure whether the earlier ordeal was a stroke of luck or misfortune.