"What’s with that look?" A flicker of astonishnt crossed Jie Jingchen’s eyes, but he quickly composed himself.
"You actually went for it? You’ve got so peculiar tastes," Qin i said, her tone laced with sarcasm.
"Qin i, you’re the one who kissed first." Jie Jingchen laughed in exasperation. ’Was I kissing soone else? The person I kissed was her. I’m not the one complaining, but here she is, mocking .’
"Was that even a kiss? It was just a peck," Qin i retorted shalessly.
Jie Jingchen looked slightly stunned. He pointed a slender, well-defined finger at his own lips. "You call this a peck? It looks more like a dog gnawed on it."
Qin i looked at Jie Jingchen’s lips and, feeling a pang of guilt, didn’t argue. "Jie Jingchen, if you go ho like this, people will get the wrong idea. I’m thick-skinned, so I don’t care, but you’re thin-skinned. You should... uh... how about this? To avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings, I suggest you stay at the guest house for the night."
’As if I’d listen to her,’ Jie Jingchen thought. ’If I stay at the guest house for the night, she gets off scot-free, and I’m the one who won’t be able to explain this.’
"We’ll go together." Jie Jingchen grabbed Qin i’s wrist, his gaze burning into her.
With a look of utter resistance, Qin i forced a slight twitch of her lips. She glanced at the unconscious Gao Hai on the bed and blurted out without thinking, "He needs you."
At her words, a dark, cold glint flashed in Jie Jingchen’s eyes. He ground the words out through clenched teeth, "Qin i, you’re the one who needs , not him."
’Is he angry now?’ Qin i gulped and suggested, "How about we both stay behind?"
"Wake him up," Jie Jingchen said, his voice a command.
’I can’t figure out what she’s thinking. I want to comfort her, to hold her in a warm embrace, but seeing her like this... I don’t even have the chance.’
Qin i thought for a mont, then looked down at the large hand Jie Jingchen had wrapped around her wrist. He instantly understood and let go. Qin i flexed her wrist, shot him a sidelong glance, and walked over to the bed. She pulled a needle case from her satchel, took out one of the silver needles, located the correct acupressure point, and inserted it.
"AHH!" Gao Hai shrieked and shot bolt upright. His hand flew to the source of the pain and found a silver needle. Without a second thought, he yanked it out. Just as he was about to retaliate, he got a clear look at Qin i and quickly hid the silver needle he was holding.
His gaze shifted to Jie Jingchen, and he noticed the suggestive marks on his lips. His eyes flickered. Having a wife himself, he didn’t show much shock, but he couldn’t help but think, ’This wife Jing Si married is a real firecracker.’
Qin i’s cheeks flushed red with embarrassnt. In stark contrast, Jie Jingchen remained perfectly calm and composed.
Gao Hai looked at Jie Jingchen and complained pitifully, "Jing Si, your wife stuck with a needle."
Qin i remained silent. She couldn’t say a word in her defense; she was the one who had knocked him out, and she was also the one who had woken him up.
"Give it to ." Jie Jingchen held out his hand, palm open, in front of Gao Hai.
Gao Hai jumped off the bed and looked at Jie Jingchen, confused. "What?" he asked blankly.
Jie Jingchen coolly uttered two words: "Silver needle."
Qin i looked slightly stunned, a flash of surprise in her eyes. She pressed her lips together and remained silent.
Gao Hai was not pleased. "Jing Si, your wife stuck with a silver needle."
"If she hadn’t, would you be awake right now?" Jie Jingchen countered with a pointed question.
"Sister-in-law, the mont I opened the door, what was that stuff you threw at ?" Gao Hai asked, looking at the silent Qin i. ’Getting taken down by Jing Si’s wife with so powder... if word of this gets out, my reputation will be in tatters.’
’I was with Jing Si, and nothing happened to him. When it cos to sharp instincts, I’m really no match for him.’
Qin i gave an awkward laugh. "If I told you it was a health-and-fitness powder, would you believe ?"
The corner of Gao Hai’s mouth twitched. His expression scread, ’I’d have to be an idiot to believe you.’ He placed the silver needle in Jie Jingchen’s palm. "Jing Si, I’ve returned your sister-in-law to you safe and sound. Mission accomplished. I won’t be a third wheel, so I’m out of here."
"Gao Hai," Jie Jingchen called out, stopping him.
Gao Hai stopped but didn’t turn around, his back still to Jie Jingchen. "Don’t worry. For deliberate assault, Xu Anshan won’t get off so easily this ti."
’Not so easily just ans he’ll still get out eventually. It’s only a matter of ti.’
"Thanks," Jie Jingchen said gratefully.
Gao Hai spun around, looking at Jie Jingchen with a displeased expression. "Jie Jingchen, we’re brothers who have been through hell and back together. Your business is my business, and your wife is my... COUGH COUGH COUGH... sister-in-law! Protecting her is my undeniable duty as your brother."
Jie Jingchen stepped forward and gave Gao Hai a friendly punch on the chest. "I’ll have you over for dinner so other day."
"Deal." Gao Hai cheered up. He much preferred eating at Jie Jingchen’s ho to going out to a restaurant. He turned an expectant gaze to Qin i. "Sister-in-law, I’m already looking forward to tasting your cooking."
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