Su Yue looked up and saw Chen Ziming standing beside her, looking down at her.
She didn't want to pay him any mind, burying her head in her arms, wanting to leave after she felt a little better.
Chen Ziming squatted down as well, placing a hand on her forehead. He felt she was a little feverish and couldn't help but frown. He said,
"I'll take you to the hospital."
"I don't want you to take me, and I don't want to go to the hospital. If you're being kind, then help me call a car so I can go back to my dorm and sleep." After saying that, she turned her face away, refusing to look at him.
However, the grievances she had endured all night finally poured out. Big, fat tears streamed from her eyes, and her body trembled slightly with sobs.
Seeing this, Chen Ziming stopped talking nonsense and instead picked her up, walking towards his car.
The sudden embrace stunned her. She looked at him, her mouth opening, but no words came out.
"I'm off today. Come back with me," he said, arriving at the car.
Su Yue wanted to refuse, but a memory of her previous visit to his house suddenly flashed through her mind.
Her face instantly turned red, and the words of refusal got stuck in her throat. She suddenly realized that whenever she faced him, she was easily led by him.
Chen Ziming opened the car door, placed Su Yue in the passenger seat, then leaned in to buckle her seatbelt.
He was so close to her that her heart felt like it would leap out of her chest.
After settling her in, he closed the car door, went to the driver's seat, and started the car.
On the road, Su Yue looked out the window, leaning her side against the seatback, silent. Her face felt hot, a mixture of shame and grievance churning in her heart.
How could she be so spineless? In the end, she still got into his car, listened to him, and went home with him. In the past, men always listened to her, but now she had also fallen into such a passive state.
Perhaps this was it, what is owed must eventually be repaid?
The car stopped. Chen Ziming, as usual, walked to the passenger side, opened the door, and was greeted by the sight of the girl's face filled with grievance.
He reached to pick her up again, but Su Yue instinctively pushed him away, supporting herself with the car door as she got out. She said softly, "I can walk myself."
She still wanted to maintain some dignity.
Even if the destination was still his house.
He didn't touch her anymore, instead walking behind her. Su Yue suddenly felt a little cheap and a pang of sadness struck her heart. Combined with her physical discomfort, her steps also slowed.
Until she stopped.
Chen Ziming came in front of her and, noticing her discomfort, tried to reach out to touch her forehead again, to see if her fever had worsened.
She dodged him: "I don't want to go back with you, I want to go back to school."
She finally uttered this sentence, then lowered her head, not wanting to look at him, angry at him and at herself.
"Still angry?" He didn't respond to her words, leaning down to look into her eyes.
"I made a mistake, and you're enforcing the law impartially. There's nothing to be angry about." She also looked at him.
"Officially, that's how it is. Privately, I should take care of you."
Su Yue had already prepared her next retort but hadn't expected him to say this. She was stunned for a moment and repeated his words: "Privately?"
Privately what?
"Can I hold you?" He no longer debated the topic, but looked at her and asked.
"No..." she refused instinctively, yet her mind was still replaying his previous sentence.
"Then I apologize?"
Su Yue looked at him with some surprise, not realizing their conversation had strayed so far from her original intention.
"I'll hold you, you come home with me, I'll take care of you, hmm?" He moved even closer, almost kissing her.
It was a coaxing tone...
The psychological defenses she had constructed moments ago collapsed. She nodded vaguely, then heard him sigh with relief, pick her up, and return to his home.
Upon entering, he set her down, got her slippers to change into, and then poured her some hot water to drink.
"Take your temperature, and I'll make you something to eat." He found a thermometer and placed it in front of Su Yue.
Then, he began to unbutton his police uniform shirt.
Su Yue's mind went blank. He didn't realize how sexy he looked as he seriously unbuttoned his shirt, but she could see it.
The scene from that night resurfaced in her mind.
She hurriedly took a sip of water and said, stammering slightly, "I want to sleep for a while... You should rest too." After speaking, she put down the water cup and almost fled the living room.
Familiar with the layout, she entered his bedroom.