Shen Chuwei set down the teacup in her hand and looked at Xiao Jinyan. She noticed he had a chilly expression, different from his usual indifference. They had been husband and wife for some time now and had always gotten along harmoniously, with much joy.

She poured herself another cup of tea and, after taking a few sips, suddenly remembered the injury on her lower back.

Setting down the teacup, she tugged at Xiao Jinyan’s sleeve, "Husband, would you please change my dressing for me?"

Lin Xian looked up, meeting a pair of sparkling, starry eyes. Every time he saw those eyes, he felt like she was acting coquettishly with him.

He disliked women who acted coquettish, especially when they did it towards him, as it disgusted him.

But Shen Chuwei’s way of acting coquettishly was different from other women’s; it was natural and not pretentious, with a sweet voice that never became tiresome.

However, he hadn’t forgotten that he and she were not really husband and wife; last night had been out of necessity.

"It is improper for men and women to touch; have a maid do it for you."

Shen Chuwei pouted, "The maids here aren’t my personal maids. What if they talk and I get exposed? If Chun Xi were here, I wouldn’t trouble you, my husband."

Lin Xian: "..."

Shen Chuwei held her chin with both hands and said with a sense of grievance, "Does my husband not want to change my dressing? Do you find me repulsive now?"

"..." Lin Xian: "Whether your husband finds you repulsive I do not know, but I do know it’s better to avoid impropriety between men and women."

Shen Chuwei stared at him for a while, feeling a little hurt by his indifferent and cold expression. She hadn’t slept well last night and now felt both tired and sleepy. If it weren’t for needing to visit Ouyang Jingyuan, she would have wanted to lie down on the couch and sleep after her bath.

"Then I will do it myself."

The medicine box was brought with her when she came. Shen Chuwei opened it, took out the medicine and gauze, and upon noticing the door was open, she got up to close it. When she returned, she began undressing.

Lin Xian watched her actions without any intention of avoiding impropriety. Her movements while undressing didn’t hesitate, shedding her outer robe and then her middle garment.

When the lapel was opened, revealing a glimpse of a pink stomachers, his breath caught and his cheeks immediately felt unbearably hot...

He hastily turned his head away.

Shen Chuwei placed her middle garment on a stool and, noticing Xiao Jinyan had his back to her, acting the part of a respectful gentleman, she couldn’t help teasing, "I didn’t realize you were such a gentleman."

Lin Xian, detecting the teasing in her words, said mildly, "I am not a gentleman, it’s just that..."

Shen Chuwei interjected, "Just what?"

Lin Xian spoke haltingly, "You treated my injury, and I am in your debt, how can I allow your reputation to be tarnished?"

Shen Chuwei unwrapped the bandage, hearing his gentlemanly talk and remembering his actions from last night, she burst out laughing.

"But you saw everything last night, not only did you see, you also touched. Does that not tarnish someone’s reputation?"

Lin Xian’s cheeks reddened slightly as he countered, "I was dressing your wound; it was unavoidable."

Shen Chuwei replied, "Yes, last night you dressed it already, but today you’re pretending to be a proper gentleman. Don’t you find that very pretentious?"

Lin Xian was momentarily at a loss for words.

Seeing him silent, Shen Chuwei suppressed her laughter and began to apply medicine to herself, looking down. The wound was on her lower back and out of sight, and since the medicine was in powder form, it was rather troublesome to apply.

Medicine powder was scattered all over the ground, but very little had actually made it onto the wound.

The room fell silent for a moment, and hearing Shen Chuwei speak, Lin Xian became somewhat anxious, thinking about the difficulty she must have applying medicine to her lower back, a place she couldn’t see well.

Struggling internally for a long time, he asked, "Have you managed to apply the medicine?"

"Not yet." Shen Chuwei was busily sweating, uncertain whether the medicine had even hit the wound. She wished she had known to lie down on the couch to apply it.

Hearing something off in her voice and feeling desperate, Lin Xian turned to look back. He had already seen how fair her skin was last night.

But now seeing it again, he noticed not only was her complexion creamy and fair, but it even had a faint rosy glow to it.

The flawless expanse of her back made the wound appear all the more frightening.

Quite a bit of the medicine had been spilt on the ground, indicating not much had made it on the wound just now.

As he watched her struggle to sprinkle medicine on the injury, the motion of bending over caused her delicate face to flush with a hint of crimson.

Ultimately unable to stand by, he pushed his wheelchair over, "Let me help you."

Shen Chuwei was suffering, and seeing him willing to help, she did not put on airs.

"Alright." Saying so, she handed him the medicine and obediently leaned against the table, positioned for him to apply it.

Lin Xian took the medicine and observed the wound, which was as long as a finger. Since he was not a gentleman, why pretend to be one?

Table of Contents