Just as their lips were about to meet, Xie Huaichu swiftly turned his head.
Jiang Li's lips brushed against his cheek instead.
Though it was just a light, fleeting touch, like a dragonfly skimming the water, it still made Xie Huaichu freeze in place.
His ears turned so red they looked like they might bleed, burning hot.
Jiang Li was no better.
Her face flushed bright red as she quickly pulled back, her heart pounding as if it might leap out of her throat.
She knew that Xie Huaichu's last-minute turn of the head was out of consideration for her.
He was afraid she'd be embarrassed and gave her an out, preserving her dignity and shielding her feelings.
He was… quite the gentleman.
Shao Moye and Fang Ruan exchanged a knowing glance.
The game continued.
In the third round, the winner was once again Shao Moye, and the loser... was still Jiang Li.
Jiang Li: "..."
She really shouldn't have come today.
"Little princess, still choosing 'Dare'?" Shao Moye asked teasingly.
"Truth," Jiang Li replied with a forced smile.
"Please tell us, what's the most sensitive part of your body?"
"My earlobes." Jiang Li answered without hesitation.
Well, that question wasn't too bad.
"Alright, next."
Shao Moye glanced at Xie Huaichu with a smirk full of unspoken meaning.
This round, Fang Ruan won, and the loser… was Jiang Li again.
She was completely defeated.
"Truth…"
She looked utterly devastated.
"What do you like most about your significant other?"
"His hands. Like a comic artist's."
"Oh~" Fang Ruan glanced at Xie Huaichu's hands, smiling knowingly.
The rest of the game wins and losses fell to others.
Jiang Li let out a quiet sigh of relief. She'd finally been spared.
As the group got more and more into the game, the questions became bolder and more risqué.
Jiang Li couldn't take it anymore and excused herself to the bathroom.
When she came out, Xie Huaichu was leaning casually against the wall.
"About earlier… thank you," Jiang Li paused and said softly.
Xie Huaichu didn't respond, simply looked at her in silence.
His deep eyes shimmered slightly, his expression unreadable.
"Do I have something on my face?" Jiang Li asked, seeing him stare at her so intently. She couldn't help but raise her hand to touch her cheek.
Xie Huaichu narrowed his eyes, then suddenly stepped forward, pulling her against the wall.
His gaze landed on her delicate earlobe, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
Her earlobes were round and soft, tinged with a faint pink.
They looked so tender… if he kissed them...
Xie Huaichu's eyes darkened, and his body leaned even closer, startling Jiang Li into instinctively lifting a leg in defense.
But he anticipated it and caught her movement, pressing it down with ease.
"Xie Huaichu!" Jiang Li struggled furiously, unable to move.
She was flustered and furious, twisting her body, trying to break free. "Let go of me!"
"Don't move," Xie Huaichu said hoarsely, lowering his gaze to her.
Jiang Li's beautiful eyes widened as she felt something hot and hard pressing against her—her body instantly went rigid.
"You pervert!"
"Jiang Li." He called her name deeply, desire thickening in his gaze.
"What?!" she snapped at him angrily.
"Do you like me?" he asked, struggling to suppress the heat boiling inside him.
Back in the private room, Shao Moye had told him that Jiang Li definitely liked him.
She was just shy—too embarrassed to say it—and needed him to take the lead.
"Oh my god, do you even hear yourself?" Jiang Li rolled her eyes hard, snapping back.
"Which of your eyes saw that I like you?"
"Both." Xie Huaichu held her waist with one hand, and pinned her wrist with the other. His eyes darkened even further.
His gaze once again settled on her earlobe, pupils dilating slightly.
"I want to kiss it."
His voice was low, almost a whisper—unclear whether he was talking to himself or trying to tease her on purpose.
His scorching breath inched closer and closer. The girl's face turned pale, overwhelmed.
"Xie Huaichu, don't you dare," Jiang Li gritted out, her eyes rimmed with tears.
But Xie Huaichu didn't notice her change in mood. His lips lightly brushed her earlobe.
Jiang Li's body trembled as if struck by lightning. Her knees gave out beneath her.
Xie Huaichu instinctively tightened his hold around her waist.
He rested his chin on her shoulder, the corners of his lips curving into a faint smile. "That sensitive, huh?"
Jiang Li bit her lip, refusing to respond.
Just as Xie Huaichu was about to tease her again, Jiang Li's phone rang.
"Aren't you going to let go?" Jiang Li's voice was tinged with tears, full of grievance and frustration.
Only then did Xie Huaichu realize something was wrong. He immediately stepped back.
When he saw the redness around Jiang Li's eyes, it felt like a knife was twisting in his chest.
He was a beast—how could he have done something like that?
She must hate him now.
But Jiang Li had no idea what he was thinking.
She simply picked up the phone.
Her face, once clouded with anger, was suddenly overtaken by fear.
She shoved past Xie Huaichu and ran ahead, only to trip and fall from the panic.
"Jiang Li!" Xie Huaichu rushed over and gently helped her up. "What happened?"
Tears welled up in the girl's eyes, but she stubbornly refused to let them fall.
When she looked at him, her expression was helpless and pitiful.
Clutching his arms tightly, her voice came out hoarse and pleading. "Can you take me to the hospital?"
Xie Huaichu's gaze deepened, his brows furrowing tightly.
Without asking another question, he scooped her into his arms and strode out.
On the way there, Jiang Li kept her head turned toward the car window.
She hugged herself with both arms, her whole body wrapped in sorrow.
The call had come from their neighbor, Aunt Hua.
She said Jiang Li's grandmother had suddenly collapsed and been rushed to the hospital.
It was Jiang Li's grandmother who had raised her.
As the years went by, her grandmother's health had slowly declined.
Jiang Li took her for regular check-ups every month without fail.
Just this morning, Grandma had left the house full of energy.
How could she have collapsed all of a sudden?
Jiang Li didn't dare think too deeply—was too afraid to.
Her grandmother was the only family she had left in the world.
When they arrived at the hospital, Jiang Li didn't even stop to thank Xie Huaichu—she ran straight toward the emergency room.
Xie Huaichu followed closely behind, watching her hurried footsteps, emotions stirring in his chest.
Outside the ER, Aunt Hua was pacing anxiously.
When she saw Jiang Li rushing over, she hurried to meet her. "Xiao Li, thank goodness you're here. I was so scared."
"Aunt Hua, what happened?" Jiang Li stopped in front of her, breathing heavily, trying to stay calm.
"I don't know either."
"You had just left when your grandma came home."
"We were talking like usual when, all of a sudden, her eyes rolled back and she fainted."
At that moment, Xie Huaichu appeared wearing a white doctor's coat, striding quickly toward the ER.
"You..." Jiang Li looked at him, her eyes wide in disbelief. "You're a doctor?"
"Is that a problem?" Xie Huaichu asked in return.
"Then if you're a doctor… that means you can save my grandma, right?"
Jiang Li clung to him like he was her last lifeline, desperation burning in her voice, which had already gone hoarse.
"Please... please go in and save her. I'm begging you…"
Looking at the girl in front of him—eyes red-rimmed yet refusing to cry—Xie Huaichu felt a sharp pain twist in his chest again.
"Calm down. I'll go in and check her condition."
"O-okay…" Jiang Li nodded frantically, completely stripped of her usual calm and composure.
The surgery felt endless—so long that Jiang Li began to wonder if it was all just a bad dream.
Just as she was about to break down, the emergency room light finally switched off.
The sliding doors opened from inside.
Jiang Li stumbled forward, grabbing Xie Huaichu's arm, her voice trembling with urgency.
"Doctor Xie, how's my grandmother?"
"Is she alright?"
"Is she in pain?"
"Is she…"