41..Love you

After Ye Chen left, it wasn't long before the doctors and nurses received news that Chen Xin had woken up. They came to check on his condition. During this time, Xiao Wan stayed by his bedside, refusing to leave. Once everyone had left, Chen Xin gave Xiao Wan a gentle smile, lifted a corner of the blanket covering him, and beckoned her over.

Xiao Wan immediately burrowed into his bed like a little squirrel but kept a cautious distance from him, afraid of hurting his injuries.

"It's fine, they're just surface wounds," Chen Xin said, pointing to the bandages on his arm. "They'll heal in a few days. Come closer and let me hold you."

Only then did Xiao Wan inch toward his embrace. She raised her chin and planted gentle kisses on his cheek, one after another.

Chen Xin wrapped an arm around her waist and patted her back softly. Although Xiao Wan was no longer crying, he could still feel her body trembling slightly.

Sigh… She must have been really scared by his accident.

A pang of guilt flashed through Chen Xin's heart. But if he hadn't done this, he couldn't think of any other way to make this woman open her heart to him again. Lowering his head, he nuzzled her forehead with his chin and said, "Don't be afraid. I'm really okay now."

The girl in his arms raised her head, her pitch-black eyes full of unease. In a hoarse voice, she said, "I was so scared you'd leave me like that."

"How could I?" Chen Xin said gently. "I haven't married you yet, haven't had a few adorable babies with you and watched them grow up, and haven't given you a lifetime of happiness. There are so many important things I still need to do. How could I bear to leave you?"

Xiao Wan couldn't help but clutch the collar of his hospital gown tightly. Choking back tears, she said, "Then can you promise me that you'll only leave after I do? I… I don't want to see you go first…"

How insecure must this woman be to say something like that? Chen Xin felt his heart soften into a puddle. Holding her close, he said, "Okay, I promise you. I'll always take care of you and never leave you first."

Hearing this, Xiao Wan let out a few muffled sobs in his arms.

Seeing the dark circles under her swollen eyes, Chen Xin thought she must not have rested well for a long time. He was about to hug her and suggest they nap together when she suddenly raised her head. Looking at him seriously, she said in a trembling but resolute voice, "Chen Xin, I love you."

Chen Xin froze instantly. In that moment, all he could hear was the sound of his own rapidly beating heart.

After saying those words, Xiao Wan anxiously watched him, biting her lip as she waited for his response. To her surprise, the man first stared at her in shock for a long moment, then abruptly turned to lie flat on the bed, covering his eyes with one arm.

Xiao Wan's heart filled with unease. Propping herself up on her elbows, she gently touched his arm and asked softly, "Did you… did you hear what I just said?"

After a few seconds of silence, Chen Xin replied with a faint "Mm."

Xiao Wan grew even more flustered. He heard her, so why didn't he respond? Wasn't he the one who had always wanted to hear her say those three words? Why, now that she had finally mustered the courage to say them, did he seem so indifferent?

A wave of bitterness surged in her heart. Xiao Wan suddenly felt incredibly wronged. She had peeled back her tough exterior to show him her soft, vulnerable core, but his reaction was like this?

Her eyes reddened again. Just as she was about to get out of bed and leave, the man who had been silent all along suddenly lowered the arm covering his eyes, flipped over, and pinned her beneath him with lightning speed.

"I love you too," Chen Xin whispered in her ear, his voice deep and gentle. Then he leaned down and kissed her hard on the lips.

Not only that, but he also reached out to cover her eyes with his hand.

In the last fleeting moment before her vision went dark, Xiao Wan caught a glimpse of the glimmer of tears in the corner of his eyes.

So… was he crying just now? All because she said those three words? This composed, gentle man had actually been moved to tears? Was that why he hadn't responded to her right away?

The grievance in Xiao Wan's heart gradually melted away. She hugged him lightly and began to respond to his fiery kiss. She could feel his passion—like a wild beast, as if he wanted to devour her entirely. But instead of feeling danger, she felt an unprecedented sense of security.

However, it didn't take long for her to suddenly recall something. Panicking, she pushed against him with all her might. "Mmph… no, stop… You still have a head injury! Let go of me!"

"I have my limits," Chen Xin said briefly before kissing her again. This time, his passion was even more intense and wild than before. Xiao Wan was left dizzy and breathless, her vision blurring as the light from the ceiling transformed into glowing halos. She felt as if she were being drawn into a whirlpool deep in the ocean.

After what felt like an eternity, Chen Xin finally released her lips. Xiao Wan sighed in relief, thinking it was over, but the man pressing down on her suddenly tore open the buttons of her beige shirt. He then trailed fiery kisses down her slender, pale neck.

His warm breath brushed against her sensitive skin, sending goosebumps all over her body. She couldn't help but bite her finger and let out a soft whimper. Chen Xin's fervent kisses roamed over her upper body as if a beast was marking its territory on his prey.

Though Xiao Wan was not unfamiliar with such intimacy, she now felt like an inexperienced girl, lying limp on the bed and letting him have his way.

After another long moment, Chen Xin finally lifted himself up, his hair tousled. He looked down at the beautiful sight before him with satisfaction.

Blushing, Xiao Wan crossed her arms to cover herself and whispered, "Aren't… aren't you going to continue?"

Chen Xin chuckled softly, brushing aside a few strands of her black hair that had fallen across her chest. "We're still in a hospital. Not exactly the best place. Let's wait until we're home."

"Alright then, you should rest," Xiao Wan said as she started buttoning her shirt, only for the man in front of her to pin her hands on either side of her face.

"Say it again," Chen Xin murmured, rubbing his nose against her neck.

"Say what?"

"You know what I mean. Those three words," he said seductively into her ear.

"I… I love you—ah! What are you doing!" Xiao Wan yelped as she covered her neck where he had bitten her. She looked at him with teary eyes, "Didn't I just say it?"

Chen Xin smirked, his deep, handsome eyes locking onto hers. "You sounded hesitant earlier. I had to punish you."

"I wasn't hesitant!" Xiao Wan protested.

"I don't care. Say it again," Chen Xin demanded stubbornly.

Left with no choice, Xiao Wan bit her lip and repeated, "I love you—ah! You did it again!"

"Too quiet. Try again."

"I love you—Chen Xin! If you bite me again, I'll get mad!"

Leaning into the crook of her neck, Chen Xin chuckled. "Alright, alright. Just one last time. I promise I won't bite you again."

Xiao Wan foolishly believed him, but of course, she fell for his trick. He made her say those three words countless times, leaving her pale skin marked with numerous kisses.

Finally satisfied, Chen Xin held her tightly in his arms, admiring the love bites on her neck and chest. With a smile, he said, "I love you too."

Exhausted, Xiao Wan playfully punched his chest and nestled into his embrace, falling into a peaceful sleep.

A few days later, Chen Xin was discharged from the hospital. The doctor advised him to rest at home instead of returning to work immediately. He temporarily handed over his responsibilities to trusted subordinates and spent his days relaxing with Xiao Wan at their villa.

By mid-June, the weather was perfect—not too hot or cold. Chen Xin lounged on a deck chair by the pool in a white casual outfit, basking in the sun and reading financial news on his tablet.

Before long, Xiao Wan's voice rang out from inside the house. "Chen Xin! Time to nourish your brain!"

Chen Xin shivered instinctively. Ever since his accident, Xiao Wan had been trying to feed him various "brain-nourishing" dishes. One day it was tofu with brain, the next day roasted brain. He had developed a reflexive aversion to anything involving brain.

As expected, Xiao Wan appeared with a bowl of goji berry brain soup. She placed it on the side table, scooped a spoonful, blew on it to cool it down, and brought it to his lips. "Come on, it's delicious! I just had a taste, and it's amazing! Ellie's cooking skills are incredible."

"Xiao Wan, can we skip the brain today? Honestly… just the sight of it makes me nauseous," Chen Xin said helplessly.

Pouting, Xiao Wan replied, "No way! They say you should eat what you need. Since you injured your head, you need to eat brain to recover! Otherwise, what if your brain doesn't heal properly, and you can't manage the company anymore? Everyone will blame me…"

So that's what she's worried about. Chen Xin chuckled. "Alright, let me ask you this: if I really did become stupid, would you stop loving me?"

"Of course not," Xiao Wan said, holding his hand to her cheek. Her eyes seemed to drift far away as she murmured, "I'd stay with you until the day I die."

Sensing something off in her tone, Chen Xin was about to ask her about it when Xiao Wan snatched the tablet from his lap. "The doctor said no work! No more financial news! Now drink your soup, and I'll reward you with a kiss."

Left with no choice, Chen Xin allowed Xiao Wan to feed him spoonfuls of the brain soup until he finished it.

Pleased, Xiao Wan shook her head with satisfaction and asked, "Alright, now for a little brain teaser. What's three times six?"

"Again?" Chen Xin sighed helplessly and said, "I don't know."

"You! Answer properly, or no kiss for you!" Xiao Wan glared at him, pretending to be fierce as she threatened.

"Alright, alright. Three times six is eighteen." Chen Xin raised his arms, scooped her up, and placed her legs on either side of his waist. "Did I get it right?"

"Yes, the brain soup works wonders. My Xiao Guai is getting smarter again." Xiao Wan happily ruffled his hair.

"And what about my kiss?" Chen Xin asked, as his hand slid up her skirt and traveled along her smooth, fair thigh.

Xiao Wan obediently lowered her head and pressed her soft lips to his. Chen Xin immediately kissed her deeply while his hands tightly gripped her sensitive waist, making her let out a soft whimper as she collapsed against his chest.

Chen Xin's hands continued to move upward. This time, he effortlessly unhooked the clasp of Xiao Wan's bra.

"Wow, getting skilled, huh?" Xiao Wan giggled as he nibbled on her earlobe. "I was wondering why you kept staying in the wardrobe the past couple of days. Were you practicing how to unhook a bra? Haha!"

Chen Xin made no attempt to deny it and said, "That's right. How do you think I did?"

"Not bad… Ah, stop…" His hands slid from her back to her front, making Xiao Wan gasp as she arched her body, her slender neck forming a graceful curve.

Her movement only gave Chen Xin better access to her chest. Xiao Wan's fingers instinctively clutched his shirt, but Chen Xin gently took her hand and slowly guided it lower.

"I unhooked yours, so isn't it fair for you to help me unfasten mine?" Chen Xin asked as he nibbled on her collarbone.

Xiao Wan's hazy eyes met his as she slowly unbuttoned his pants. Her hand moved inside, lightly stroking him.

Even though Chen Xin had seemed composed and confident earlier, being touched in such a sensitive place made it difficult for him to stay in control. His breathing deepened as he kissed her, whispering, "Faster."

"I'm afraid you can't hold back…" Xiao Wan teased with a mischievous giggle. "Wouldn't that hurt your male pride?"

Chen Xin pinched her chest lightly, eliciting a soft gasp from her. "Then why don't you test me and see if I can hold back?"

…

Much later, Xiao Wan leaned against him, drowsy from the warm afternoon sun. Her eyes closed as sleep threatened to overtake her.

Chen Xin gently massaged her hands. Xiao Wan lazily murmured, "It's not over yet. Let this little virgin rest for now. Once I wake up, I'll really eat you up, so be ready."

"Alright, I'll wait for you anytime," Chen Xin said, kissing her forehead before closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.

When Ye Chen arrived at Chen Xin's home, he was greeted by this sight:

By the shimmering blue pool, a stunningly beautiful woman nestled peacefully in the arms of a gentle and handsome man, both sound asleep. The breeze playfully lifted her long hair, brushing it against her face. She frowned slightly in her sleep, rubbing her cheek against his chest to escape the tickling sensation. With a soft sigh, she snuggled closer to him and continued her slumber.

Ye Chen stopped about ten meters away, standing still. The housekeeper, Ellie, approached and whispered, "Good afternoon, Mr. Gu. Mr. Chen and Miss Xiao Wan are still napping. Would you like to come inside? I can prepare something for you to eat."

"No, thank you. I'm not hungry." Ye Chen replied, "You can go ahead; I'll join you inside shortly. I won't disturb them."

Ellie nodded and went back into the villa.

Ye Chen took out a cigarette, lighting it as he watched them. However, after a single puff, he froze, staring at Xiao Wan for a long time. It wasn't until the cigarette burned down and scorched his fingers that he snapped out of it.

Shaking his hand, Ye Chen let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh before turning and quietly entering the villa.

…

When Xiao Wan woke up, it was already past 3 PM. Stretching lazily, she carefully slipped out of Chen Xin's embrace. As soon as she moved, Chen Xin woke up as well.

Smiling, Xiao Wan leaned down to kiss him. "Are you hungry? I'll get you something to eat."

"Sure," Chen Xin replied, enjoying the pampering. Part of him even wished his injuries would take longer to heal.

Xiao Wan skipped into the house, ready to call Ellie, but she stopped short when she saw a tall man sitting on the sofa. Startled, she exclaimed, "Whoa! When did you get here?"

Ye Chen swallowed the strawberry grape pie in his mouth and said, "I've been here for a while. I saw you and Chen Xin snoring away together by the pool, so I didn't wake you."

"That's a lie! Neither of us snores," Xiao Wan retorted, walking over to snatch the pie from his hands. "You're not allowed to eat this! Ellie made this just for me!"

"Why are you so stingy with food? I'm your boyfriend's best friend!" Ye Chen protested indignantly.

"Still, you can't have it!" Xiao Wan stuck her tongue out at him before heading toward the kitchen. However, she stopped abruptly, a mischievous look crossing her face as she turned back.

"Oh, right… I just remembered something important. At the hospital the other day, didn't someone promise to treat me and Chen Xiao Guai to dinner? And hand over all his house keys to me?"

Ye Chen froze momentarily before quickly saying, "Damn, you were crying rivers that day. That was just a stalling tactic, okay? Who would actually give you their keys? Dream on. But I'll treat you to dinner, no problem."

Xiao Wan punched him in the stomach and fumed, "Liar! You're a liar! Spit out my strawberry grape pie! Spit it out right now!"

"Hey! Lin Xiao Wan, cut it out! Why do you always hit me? I've been letting you off because you're a woman. Otherwise, I'd have knocked you flat by now!" Ye Chen yelled as he dodged her punches.

But Xiao Wan wasn't the least bit intimidated. Chasing him down, she landed a few more punches, shouting, "Give me back my pie!"

"Enough!" Ye Chen finally lost his patience and grabbed her wrist. As he lowered his head, he accidentally caught sight of the faint kiss marks on her chest. His expression froze, and he quickly released her hand, stepping back a few paces.

"I'm going to find Chen Xin."

He dropped this sentence hurriedly and walked off, leaving Xiao Wan bewildered. She stared at his retreating figure and muttered, "Running so fast… Anyone would think he owes someone money."

At that moment, Ellie came out of the kitchen, and Xiao Wan immediately stomped her foot in frustration. "Ellie! How could you give my favorite strawberry grape pie to that scoundrel Ye Chen?"

Ellie quickly explained, "What? I didn't give it to him! I left it covered on the table and told him it was specially saved for you. It's strange—he said he wasn't hungry when he came."

"Hmph, so he really stole it! That bad guy!" Xiao Wan stormed out, ready to give Ye Chen a piece of her mind.

By the pool, Chen Xin was smiling as he greeted his best friend. "What brings you here?"

"Came to check if you've recovered," Ye Chen replied. "Seems like not only are you better, but you're living quite comfortably."

Being men, Chen Xin quickly understood what Ye Chen was hinting at. He assumed Ye Chen must have seen him and Xiao Wan cuddled up asleep earlier and thought they had taken their relationship to the next level. Scratching his nose, Chen Xin said, "Not yet."

Ye Chen's eyes widened. "No way, Chen Xin! How do you have this much self-control? Are you planning to hold out until you're sixty?"

Chen Xin sighed. "If you hadn't shown up today, we'd probably have been done by now. I'm starting to wonder why you always choose moments like this to appear."

Embarrassed, Ye Chen muttered, "How would I know? Anyway, since you're fine, I'll head out now."

"Stay for dinner," Chen Xin offered.

"No thanks. Your girlfriend practically wanted to chop me up for eating one piece of pie," Ye Chen said with a shiver as he turned to leave.

Just then, Xiao Wan appeared, yelling, "Xiao Guai, stop him! He stole my strawberry grape pie!"

Ye Chen wasted no time bolting for his supercar, reversing and speeding off.

"Hmph! He's lucky he escaped this time! Next time, he won't be so fortunate!" Xiao Wan huffed angrily.

Chen Xin walked over and hugged her from behind. "I ate your strawberry grape pie yesterday too. Why weren't you mad at me?"

Xiao Wan rolled her eyes at him. "Don't you already know why, silly Xiao Guai?"

"I don't know. Explain it to me," Chen Xin said as he kissed her neck.

Xiao Wan sighed softly, feeling both helpless and sweet. "Because I love you."

"Then prove it to me even more deeply," Chen Xin said, lifting her into his arms and carrying her toward the villa.

As they entered the bedroom, Xiao Wan's phone buzzed on the bedside table. She glanced at it and saw a series of messages from Leng Qing.

The texts were simple:

• "What are you doing?"

• "Did you get my messages?"

• "Why aren't you answering my calls?"

The most recent one read:

• "Reply so I know you're okay."

Holding her phone, Xiao Wan made no effort to hide it from Chen Xin, who also saw the messages. Over the past few weeks, their relationship had been sweet and harmonious, but the topic of Leng Qing had never been properly addressed.

Now, seeing these messages, Xiao Wan realized she had to make a decision. She didn't want Leng Qing to become a point of contention between her and Chen Xin in the future.

Taking a deep breath, she said, "If you don't like it, then from now on… I won't see him or contact him anymore."

Chen Xin smiled and stroked her cheek. "Why stop seeing him? You've been friends for so long. If you cut ties because of me, I'd feel guilty, and you'd feel unhappy. I don't want you to be unhappy."

"But…"

"No buts," Chen Xin said, kissing her forehead. "You've only ever said those three words to me. That's all I need to feel secure."

Moved, Xiao Wan hugged him tightly. "Thank you."

"It's nothing," Chen Xin said, gently rubbing her back. In his heart, though, he was thinking about human nature.

Yes, human nature. The more you can't have something, the more you desire it. If he forced a distance between Xiao Wan and Leng Qing, it would only deepen her yearning for Leng Qing. By letting them interact openly, Xiao Wan would no longer see Leng Qing as special. In fact, she'd only love Chen Xin more.

"Go ahead and reply to him. Don't let him worry," Chen Xin said.

"Okay." Xiao Wan nodded. She had just finished replying to Leng Qing's text when an incoming call interrupted her.

"It's a call from Catherine," Xiao Wan said as she answered, "Hello?"

"Xiao Wan! Where are you?" Catherine's voice came through urgently.

"Where? What do you mean?" Xiao Wan replied, then suddenly widened her eyes. "Oh no! I completely forgot—tonight is Catherine's team's competition!"