Gao Meng was stunned by what Song Qiao said. She was utterly shocked. Her face turned a shade of red, and she let out a scream.
"You scoundrel, you absolute scoundrel, taking advantage of my vulnerability! How could you… how could you possibly do that?"
Song Qiao paused, realizing Gao Meng had misunderstood him. Just as he was about to explain, she peppered him with questions. "What exactly did you do to me? Didn't you say my vital energy was depleted? You…"
Song Qiao quickly raised his hands. "Don't rush, don't rush, I can explain… It's not what you think, really, I didn't do anything!"
"Really?"
"Really! I just took off my clothes and lay beside you all night."
"Then what about these buttons?"
"That was to help your breathing flow better, nothing else!"
"..." Gao Meng believed about eighty percent of Song Qiao's words. "Alright, I'll assume what you said is true."
"Assume? It *is* true," Song Qiao's face fell.
"Hmph, you need to make me believe you," Gao Meng lifted her chin.
Song Qiao chuckled, knowing the matter had passed. However, he decided not to let this little girl off so easily for doubting his words. He then added, "But your skin is really fair, so tender!"
Her face flushed. She truly didn't know what Song Qiao had done. But she was certain he had done more than he claimed. Of course, her body felt no different.
Before she could say anything, Song Qiao took a step forward, closing the distance between their faces to about a fist's length. Gao Meng recoiled, falling back onto the bed, her expression uneasy. "What… what are you going to do?"
"Heh heh, I'm going to sleep, of course."
"You… you should go back to your own room."
"It's this late, and you want me to leave? Is that how you treat your savior? You're burning your bridges, you know!" Song Qiao said, no longer bothering with pleasantries. He lifted the covers and got into bed. He also reached out to pull Gao Meng in, urging her to lie beside him.
Gao Meng struggled, but she couldn't overpower Song Qiao. Finally, Song Qiao said, "Don't you trust me yet? You're injured, and I'm here. I can even help you heal, and if anything unexpected happens, I can protect you. You wouldn't want to be harmed in your sleep, would you?"
Gao Meng thought about it. It was true. With Song Qiao here, she was safest. Especially since she was injured, she would need to be cautious even against assassins. She had no choice but to agree. "Alright, but you can't do anything else. You have to behave yourself."
"No problem, I keep my word. I'm an honest and reliable young man, you can trust me completely."
"Pah! You? How can I possibly trust you?" Gao Meng rolled her eyes at him and then lay down.
Song Qiao pulled the covers up for her. Then, he turned to face her, wrapping his strong arms around her, making her feel warm and secure. Song Qiao was also pleased. He finally had the chance to lie with her, and she was awake and not resisting his care and touch.
Perhaps due to her injuries, Gao Meng fell asleep quickly after closing her eyes.
Suddenly, a sharp siren pierced the air. She snapped her eyes open. The sound was so close. Had something happened nearby? Gao Meng's guard was instantly raised to its highest level. She reached out beside her. The space was empty; Song Qiao was nowhere to be seen. She was alone on the large bed. Where had that guy gone?
However, at that moment, she couldn't afford to dwell on it. With a swift roll, she tumbled off the bed and landed on the floor. She made her way to the window and crouched by it. Using the faint light filtering in from outside, she scanned the room. All clear. She felt a bit relieved.
She then looked out the window. Down on the street, police cars were driving away, their flashing lights particularly noticeable in the deep night. Apart from that, there was no other abnormality. She glanced at the sky. The moon had passed its zenith, and it was nearing the latter half of the night.
"Click!"
Suddenly, the sound of a lock clicking shut came from the direction of the door. Then came the sound of a light being turned on and soft footsteps. She was startled again. Who was it? Where was Song Qiao?
"Song Qiao? Did you go out? Did something happen?" she called out.
"Yes, I just went out… Don't worry, it's fine now," Song Qiao replied, his tone relaxed.
Gao Meng's heart sank. Had something really happened? "What exactly is it? Are you alright?" She returned to the bed, put on her shoes, and went into the living room. The sudden bright light made her eyes squint, and it took her about ten seconds to adjust.
"I'm fine." Facing Gao Meng's concern, Song Qiao smiled and said, "There was an assassin organization. I've dealt with them and handed them over to the police… I told you I'd keep you safe, so don't worry."
Gao Meng was shocked. These people had moved against her so quickly? Fortunately, Song Qiao was here. Otherwise, facing them alone, especially while injured, would have been quite difficult. She couldn't help but sigh. Having Song Qiao by her side truly made her feel safe.
"Are you really alright?" As she spoke, she moved closer to Song Qiao, inspecting him from all angles.
"Don't worry, can't you see I'm perfectly fine?" Song Qiao said with a smile. He felt good being cared for by her.
"Seeing how concerned you are about me, afraid I might get hurt, are you starting to have feelings for me? A high-quality, reliable man like myself is rare nowadays. But don't fall for me! After all, you know…" Song Qiao paused deliberately. She knew he had other women in his life.
Gao Meng pouted and rolled her eyes at him again. "You wish! Who would fall for a womanizer like you!" However, as she said this, her heart stirred slightly. She was developing very strong feelings for Song Qiao and wanted to be with him. What was she to do?
Song Qiao looked at her, momentarily captivated. In the dim light, Gao Meng's eyes were bright, her complexion much improved, with a lingering blush from sleep.
"Alright, everything's fine now. Go back to bed," Song Qiao told her. He then turned and sat down on the sofa in the living room.
"What about you? Aren't you sleeping?" Gao Meng, seeing him like this, moved to his side and asked with concern.
"No rush, I'm not sleepy yet. I'll sit here for a while, just in case any other unwelcome visitors show up!"
Gao Meng felt touched by his words and wanted to persuade him further. But Song Qiao insisted on escorting her back to the bed. "Alright, lie down. Oh, and close your eyes."
Gao Meng had no choice but to comply with his request. She lay down and gently closed her eyes. Soon, she fell asleep again. However, her sleep was not entirely peaceful.
She woke up again around three in the morning. She got up and saw Song Qiao sitting there cross-legged. She said nothing, and since she couldn't sleep anyway, she quietly kept him company. Suddenly, Song Qiao's phone rang. In the quiet of the night, the sudden ring startled Gao Meng, and she immediately looked at Song Qiao.
He answered the call. It was someone he had arranged at the hospital. They informed him that Li Bingqing wanted to be discharged.
"What?" Song Qiao shot up from his seat.