Chapter 20: So Hot – Touched Again

The soft tip of her tongue left a patch of wetness on the pad of her finger, and a faint heat climbed up her knuckles.

Shen Mingjin rubbed her fingertip in shy embarrassment, trying to quickly dispel that heat. But Ye Xi had to say those misleading words at a time like this, making Shen Mingjin’s ears burn as well. She tilted her head back and glared at Ye Xi with a mix of shyness and anger.

Ye Xi regretted her words the moment she spoke them. She was a bit embarrassed: “I… I mean the candy.”

Her brilliant smile masked the rising awkwardness, but it didn’t resolve the stiffness between them.

Shen Mingjin didn’t respond, but Ye Xi wasn’t discouraged. She wouldn’t let the atmosphere go cold so easily.

Her complex thoughts shifted rapidly, and Ye Xi suddenly remembered their first meeting on that rainy night: “Sister, last time you told me you didn’t have time for romance. Is your job really that busy?”

Ye Xi admired herself for her curiosity that came and went. Shen Mingjin wouldn’t even tell her about the situation at Half-Mountain Spirit Garden, let alone something as private as this. Unexpectedly, Shen Mingjin answered her: “Not busy.”

Ye Xi blinked twice, her pretty face showing a curiosity that wouldn’t annoy anyone: “Sister, then why don’t you date?”

Everything Shen Mingjin didn’t want to tell Ye Xi was about Ye Xi herself. As for her own matters, as long as Ye Xi was curious, she would basically answer—adding a bit of cover at most. This was because she wasn’t good at lying, and second, because she felt guilty toward Ye Xi. But when faced with Ye Xi asking about her love life, Shen Mingjin hesitated.

Black liquid seeped from her heart, and long-buried memories wrapped her in pain.

Shen Mingjin pinched her palm hard, the pain suppressing the memories trying to break free: “I… my family has genetic issues. I don’t have the ability to love someone. I… I don’t want to hurt anyone.”

Ye Xi looked at Shen Mingjin in disbelief. Her first reaction was that Shen Mingjin was lying to her. Though she hadn’t interacted with Shen Mingjin much, those few times had let her clearly sense Shen Mingjin’s reserved and gentle nature, and she’d even discovered how overly attuned Shen Mingjin was to the emotions of those around her.

Someone so gentle, considerate, and attentive couldn’t love?

Ye Xi didn’t buy Shen Mingjin’s explanation. She thought being loved by Shen Mingjin would be a very happy thing. Shen Mingjin seemed to have a really good temper, treating even strangers with kindness. She’d only be better to a lover.

But Shen Mingjin had a bitter expression, faint fear flickering in her eyes, silently conveying that this wasn’t a lie.

Ye Xi scooted a bit closer to Shen Mingjin. She didn’t press further, not wanting to flip open Shen Mingjin’s hidden scars and cause her pain. A bright smile piled up on her face: “Sister, you must be lying. I think you’re really good at loving people. Being your lover would definitely be so happy.”

At that moment, Ye Xi’s smile was very sincere, unlike her usual dull fake sun. Shen Mingjin truly felt warmth in that smile.

No one like Ye Xi had ever appeared by Shen Mingjin’s side. Her gaze lingered on Ye Xi’s face with added eagerness: “Ye Xi, do you always smile like this?”

Ye Xi had deliberately shifted Shen Mingjin’s attention, so of course she wouldn’t follow up. She pretended to be puzzled: “Sister, was I smiling?”

Shen Mingjin’s gaze went slightly dazed, and she nodded extra hard: “Yes.”

Ye Xi’s eyes darted around. Under Shen Mingjin’s complete lack of guard, she suddenly leaned in close, grinning mischievously: “Maybe it’s because I’m too happy to have met you, Sister.”

The bright, radiant smile enlarged several times right in front of her eyes. The girl’s delicate features and the slightly trembling red mole invaded Shen Mingjin’s vision aggressively. Her pupils captured the shadow unique to Ye Xi, and Shen Mingjin shifted back in bewilderment.

Ye Xi leaned forward with her, deliberately coaxing: “Ever since I met you, Sister, every day has been in a great mood.”

Shen Mingjin panicked even more. Her body tilted back harder, completely forgetting that the Pink Fur Rabbit Doll she’d placed herself sat at the sofa’s edge.

Shen Mingjin’s back pressed into the embrace of the Pink Fur Rabbit Doll, while Ye Xi continued closing in from the front.

In her panic, her palms instinctively pressed toward the sofa, but instead of fabric, they touched two legs of the Pink Fur Rabbit Doll.

Shen Mingjin realized what she’d touched and immediately let go as if burned.

But just as she released her hands, Ye Xi suddenly pressed closer from the front, startling Shen Mingjin into reaching down again to brace herself. She touched the two rabbit legs once more, her palms pressing and rubbing them chaotically for support.

The sudden itch on her legs made Ye Xi’s smile falter, her body stiffening for an instant. The next moment, she leaned toward Shen Mingjin again. She placed her hand on the sofa back to ensure her body wouldn’t fully press onto Shen Mingjin, maintaining some distance as she watched the fear in Shen Mingjin’s eyes give way to shyness.

Ye Xi didn’t like seeing Shen Mingjin look fearful and uneasy. She hoped Shen Mingjin wouldn’t feel pain from having her scars touched, so she thought to divert her attention.

Her method of diversion worked well, but it unintentionally backed Shen Mingjin into a dilemma.

Her chest was too close to Ye Xi, and her back too close to the Pink Fur Rabbit.

Shen Mingjin was trapped between the Pink Fur Rabbit and Ye Xi. Faint heat crawled up both her chest and back, numbness spreading slowly through her body. Her breathing grew scorching. Desperate to create distance, the hands braced on the Pink Fur Rabbit pushed harder, her spine instinctively arching back.

A clear pressure appeared on Ye Xi’s chest. She quickly pressed her hand there, her brows furrowing slightly.

Shen Mingjin caught Ye Xi’s little movement from the corner of her eye, making her back burn even hotter. Subconsciously, she tried to escape the Pink Fur Rabbit Doll’s embrace, struggling in the narrow space Ye Xi had left her. Not only did her back not pull away, it unconsciously rubbed lightly against the chest twice.

Ye Xi felt someone pressing and stroking her chest, making it heat up, her breathing growing a bit heavier.

A faint itch also appeared on her legs, as if someone were caressing them.

They were so close that Shen Mingjin could hear the change in Ye Xi’s breathing. Her snow-white skin flushed redder and redder, pink peaches blooming densely on the white porcelain. Heat climbed from both her chest and back simultaneously. Her waist went limp uncontrollably, pressing her closer into the Pink Fur Rabbit’s embrace.

Hot.

The heat sources trapped her in the middle, causing the seal on her body to loosen.

A sudden urge for consolation arose. Shen Mingjin’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to the bright red mole on Ye Xi’s neck—that was the mark of a witch doctor, containing extremely strong consoling ability.

Shen Mingjin’s lips and tongue grew dry, her panting heavier.

Uncontrollably, she leaned toward Ye Xi, seeking solace from her.

Before her lips could reach the red mole, Shen Mingjin snapped awake. A surge of demon power rushed to her abdomen, dispelling the heat. She pushed Ye Xi away forcefully and fled from the sofa, fully escaping the pincer between Ye Xi and the Pink Fur Rabbit. Only then did her breathing gradually even out.

Shen Mingjin didn’t rush to leave. Once she’d calmed, her gaze returned to Ye Xi.

Because of the strange sensations on her chest and legs, Ye Xi’s smile was a bit unnatural now. Her hand unconsciously rubbed her legs as she spoke to Shen Mingjin: “Sister, do you think I’m sick? Why do I keep feeling like someone’s touching me today?”

Shen Mingjin guiltily glanced at the Pink Fur Rabbit Doll and murmured softly: “Ye Xi, can we be friends?”

Ye Xi looked up in slight surprise, but joy soon filled her eyes: “Sure!”

The warm smile crashed into her view, making Shen Mingjin’s heartbeat turn erratic.

She pressed her palm to her chest and lowered her head in a whisper: “Ye Xi, then… can we make a promise as friends?”

At such a key moment in forming a friendship, Ye Xi naturally wouldn’t miss any change in Shen Mingjin’s expression. She stood from the sofa and walked over, bending her legs slightly and tilting her head to imprint Shen Mingjin into her pupils in a somewhat odd pose: “Sister, what promise?”

Every one of Ye Xi’s actions was beyond Shen Mingjin’s expectations. The warm smile suddenly struck her, sending an unusual heat rising in her chest.

Shen Mingjin slowly closed her eyes, but a vision of a glamorous woman suddenly intruded into her mind. The woman wore a bright red gown, gripping a long saber tightly. Her crimson lips held no passion, only coldness. She forced Shen Mingjin’s eyes open.

Shen Mingjin watched as the long saber rose and fell. A blood-drenched head rolled to her feet.

Her throat felt stuffed with cotton, unable to make a sound.

Crimson filled her vision. A warm heart suddenly smashed into her face. The blood of the same lineage made her body tremble violently in terror. She heard the woman’s whisper: “Jin’er, your father doted on you the most. Now that he’s dead, why don’t you die with him?”

…

Shen Mingjin jerked her eyes open. The warm smile dispelled the cold voice from her memory.

A flash of greed appeared in Shen Mingjin’s eyes, vanishing quickly: “Ye Xi, you have to keep your distance from me. Not too close.”

Ye Xi didn’t refuse. She winked playfully at Shen Mingjin, stars suddenly lighting up in her eyes: “Sister, how close is too close? One centimeter? Or one meter?”

“Two meters.” Shen Mingjin’s gaze swept the living room, visually measuring the distance. Realizing it was too far, she swallowed the words on the tip of her tongue.

Ye Xi’s smile grew brighter, the warmth climbing into Shen Mingjin’s heart along with it. Shen Mingjin retreated timidly, swallowing her words again: “One… half a meter is fine.”

“Sister, half a meter is still so far.”

Ye Xi had deliberately gotten close to observe Shen Mingjin earlier. She’d seen that instant of terror, the fleeting thirst, and now the current conflict.

She suppressed her urge to probe Shen Mingjin’s secrets and preemptively said to the troubled Shen Mingjin: “Sister, I’ll listen to you.”

Of course, this was a lie.

Ye Xi always lied more than she told the truth.

Her smile was sweet, soft, and warm. Shen Mingjin lowered her head in panic: “Ye Xi, I… I’ll head back first.”