Chapter 24: I Won't Do Anything to You

Seeing the focused look on the man's face and the anticipation in his eyes, Jiang Li subconsciously tightened her hands.

Suppressing the shock in her heart, she turned her head to look away, taking a deep breath before turning back to face him.

"Will you accept whatever the outcome is?"

Upon hearing this, Xie Huaichu instinctively narrowed his eyes, a wave of unease rising within him. But he was confident that he could win her over.

"Yes." His voice was soft, his eyes full of her.

Jiang Li let out a helpless chuckle, her tone tinged with sarcasm. "Xie Huaichu, what's the point? Knowing there's no chance, why insist on this?"

"Because it's the first time I've liked a girl, and I don't want to have regrets," Xie Huaichu said earnestly, each word genuine.

"I believe that fate favors me. It won't let me live my life in loneliness."

"Heh." Jiang Li sneered, but there was a hint of red in her eyes. "Stop deceiving yourself. You know there's no—"

"Jiang Xiaoli, either you agree to be with me, or I'll keep pursuing you my way."

Xie Huaichu's expression turned serious, and with words that left no room for refusal, he leaned in, intent on provoking her.

Jiang Li, genuinely frightened, quickly raised her hand to push against his chest, her brows furrowing in a mix of shame and frustration. "Alright, alright, I agree, I agree! Just don't do anything!"

Seeing this, Xie Huaichu's lips curved into a smile, his deep eyes glimmering with amusement. He raised his hand to ruffle her hair affectionately. "Good girl, A Li."

Jiang Li slapped his hand away, her face displeased as she scolded him, "Xie Huaichu, don't get too happy too soon."

"The 'yes' I gave means I agree to be friends with you, not a real couple. And I want to set some ground rules."

"If you can accept that, we can get along peacefully. If not, then goodbye."

Xie Huaichu: "..."

This little girl was truly like a little fox, so cunning.

Well, if she could agree to not reject him outright, that was already a huge concession. He couldn't press her too hard.

"What are the three rules?" he asked, squinting his eyes as if casually asking.

Jiang Li raised her fingers. "First, no interfering in my life. Second, no overly intimate actions towards me."

"Third, if I find someone I like within these three months, you must disappear immediately."

Jiang Li deliberately set that third rule, hoping that Xie Huaichu would back off on his own.

Xie Huaichu twitched his lips, feeling a headache coming on. "..."

This set of rules was clearly aimed at him, leaving him with no room to gain any advantage.

The little girl was determined to make him give up, even denying him a way out.

He truly had no way to deal with her.

Seeing Xie Huaichu's serious expression, his eyes dark and lips pressed thin, Jiang Li felt a wave of satisfaction.

"I knew you couldn't do it. So, go ahead, Mr. Xie."

"I agree." The smug look on the little girl's face only deepened the frustration in Xie Huaichu's heart.

But he wouldn't give up just like that. Now that he had a chance to win her over, he would seize it.

One second, Jiang Li was still grinning; the next, her face fell.

This guy actually agreed to these harsh conditions. Was he some kind of ninja turtle, able to endure anything?

"Turn around. Let me check your back injury," Xie Huaichu said, unaware of her thoughts, speaking calmly.

Jiang Li bit her lip, staring at him for a moment before finally relenting and turning her back.

The dress she was wearing had a zipper on the back.

When the zipper was pulled down just enough, it exposed the injured area.

Xie Huaichu's hands, gentle as young bamboo, carefully pulled the zipper down, inch by inch.

Then he reached up and lightly rested his hand on her shoulder, slowly easing the fabric off.

Through it all, his heart remained calm, with no trace of desire.

But Jiang Li was tense, her hands tightly clenched, her body rigid.

"Don't be nervous. I won't do anything to you," Xie Huaichu said with a smirk, deliberately teasing her.

Jiang Li couldn't help but roll her eyes, ignoring him.

Xie Huaichu carefully examined the injury, then poured some medicinal oil to apply it.

Once finished, he quietly placed his hand on her waist, gently pulling her into his arms.

"Xie Huaichu!" Jiang Li, completely unprepared, felt her face flush, and in a fit of anger, she shouted.

"You've broken our agreement. The three-month limit is void."

"A Li." Xie Huaichu rested his chin on her shoulder, calling her name softly, his voice tinged with a hint of desperation. "Let me hold you for just a while. Just for a bit."

His voice was thick with exhaustion, hoarse and deep, almost magical as it resonated in her ear, tugging at her heartstrings.

Jiang Li's heart was stirred, a dull ache blossoming in her chest.

She felt an impulse to turn around and embrace him, but she suppressed that irrational emotion, replying with a simple, "Only this once."

Upon hearing this, Xie Huaichu's eyes brightened with joy. He nuzzled her shoulder, his voice rich and seductive. "Jiang Xiaoli, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Jiang Li lowered her gaze, her lips pressed together without responding.

Xie Huaichu, I'm sorry. There's no future for us.

I can't return your feelings. They should be for someone who is truly right for you.

On the way back, Jiang Li tossed him a coat. "Here, your coat."

It was the same coat Xie Huaichu had borrowed when Lin Guifang was hospitalized.

Jiang Li had said she'd wash it and return it to him.

Xie Huaichu took the coat, brought it to his nose, and sniffed it deeply. His gaze was burning. "It smells nice. Just like A Li."

Jiang Li: "..."

"Alright, hurry up and leave. You're rambling."

She waved him off impatiently, and Xie Huaichu sighed quietly, reaching up to flick her forehead. "Heartless little thing."

The Maybach slowly drove off, and Jiang Li watched it disappear around the corner before turning and heading back.

In her bedroom, she sat on the edge of the bed, opened the cabinet, and took out a journal. She opened it, picked up a pen, and began to write.

[November 2024, slightly cold weather]

[Today, I agreed to try dating Xie Huaichu for three months. I don't know if this is right or wrong, but I can be sure that the outcome won't be what I expect.]

She put the pen down and casually flipped through the journal, reading all the little things she had written about her journey with Xie Huaichu, from the moment they met until now.

She knew that, deep down, she had already developed feelings she shouldn't have, but she just hadn't been willing to face them.

For the first time, someone who had always insisted on facing problems head-on and solving them now had the thought of running away.

A week later, Jiang Li's right hand had fully recovered, and the bruising and swelling on her back had gradually faded.

Of course, this wouldn't have been possible without the attentive care of Dr. Xie.

Every evening after work, he would come over to help her apply medicine, massage, and improve blood circulation.

Jiang Li had told him several times not to go to all that trouble, but he paid no attention.

Eventually, Jiang Li stopped protesting. She had heard it all so many times that she gave up and let him do whatever he wanted.

In the evening, when Jiang Li returned from a walk, she saw a familiar figure standing at the door, her eyes lighting up. "Yang Zai? How did you come here?"

She walked up, holding Mango, happily greeting the young man.