Chapter 10: Speculation
Three days later, Hua Mian’s health finally showed some improvement.
But her physical decline seemed endless; even three restorative potions a day could barely keep her body from deteriorating further.
The only thing that brought her some comfort was that, combined with the healing ointment, her wrist fracture healed quickly, causing her little pain.
Unexpectedly, the person most affected by this situation was Dr. Ye, who came to check on her daily. The older doctor grew increasingly anxious, his brow furrowing so tightly it could almost crush a fly.
“How could this happen?” he muttered to himself.
Hua Mian comforted him, “Uncle Ye, it’s fine. Just rest a bit more, and I’ll get better. Maybe my constitution is just weak.”
“That’s good, then—take care to rest and eat nutritious food.” He began to suspect that Hua Mian’s condition might be some previously undiscovered genetic disorder.
Yet he didn’t dare jump to conclusions, fearing he might frighten her. He decided to suppress his thoughts for now and check research papers privately.
Hua Mian, exhausted by her frail body, decided to find a chance to test her own hypothesis.
Yan An was too obedient, making her feel like she might spoil a child, so she first chose Shen Xueji, who always complied with her wishes.
After all, they’d already been physically intimate once, so a second time wouldn’t be a big deal.
Moreover, Shen Xueji had been taking care of her meticulously, with an attention to detail that could be described as utterly considerate.
Having shared physical closeness before, Hua Mian also felt closer to him.
In contrast, Yu Jin, who appeared gentle and approachable, always avoided her gaze, keeping a distance in his eyes.
As for Chu Fufeng, he hadn’t appeared in front of her since that day.
Although Chi Rui always smiled cheerfully, there was a hint of strain in his expression when facing her, and his eyes betrayed a sense of rejection.
Yan An still held some fear of her but, being a bit slow-witted, would still clumsily come close.
“Madam, I made pudding for you,” Yan An said obediently, carrying the dessert into the room.
He sniffed the air quietly as he entered; the scent of roses eased his tension.
When he noticed Shen Xueji staring at him, his smile became more ingratiating.
“Thank you, Yan An.” Hua Mian liked Yan An’s simplicity, and besides, he was a panda!
Seeing his expectant gaze, Hua Mian tasted the pudding. The rich milk aroma and just-right sweetness eased the bitterness on her tongue.
“It’s delicious,” she said generously.
Yan An’s cheeks flushed, and his eyes shone. “I’m glad you like it!”
“Madam, you should rest now.”
Shen Xueji, standing nearby, still looked solemn and distant, but his tone softened slightly.
“Okay.” Hua Mian lay down, and Yan An left. The room fell silent.
Shen Xueji watched her sleeping face, carefully tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
After many years, he seemed to see again the gentle, radiant little princess of the Hua family in her, making it impossible for him to look away.
Perhaps immense trauma had changed her temperament, but now she was slowly returning to her former self.
His gaze swept to the red roses on the bedside table, softening slightly.
When Hua Mian woke, it was already evening. Turning her head, she saw the green-haired man perched on the edge of her bed.
The deep green of his hair didn’t look out of place; his long hair was tied into a bundle at the back of his head with a dark red ribbon, the contrast striking.
It complemented his exquisitely handsome face, with long eye corners and a distant expression that made him stand out even more.
Shen Xueji hadn’t actually been asleep, just pretending. Feeling her gaze, for some reason he decided to keep up the act.
“Cough, cough…” Hua Mian’s throat itched, and she coughed a few times.
Shen Xueji stirred, got up, and quickly gave her half a cup of warm water.
After drinking, she gently patted the space beside her. “Stay with me for a while.”
Shen Xueji froze, seeing her soft, smiling eyes. For some reason, his throat felt tight, and a pang of emotion rose in his chest.
Snapping out of it, he carefully lay down in the spot she made for him.
The warm, rich scent of roses filled his nose.
He liked it very much.
“What’s your beast form?”
The warm, intimate atmosphere was suddenly broken by this question.
Shen Xueji stiffened, his Adam’s apple moving as he hesitated and lowered his gaze.
“A snake,” he said. A strange, disabled snake.
Out of selfishness, he didn’t elaborate.
“Dark green?” Hua Mian asked.
“Yes,” he answered evenly.
Hua Mian suddenly leaned closer, noticing how stiffly he lay, the movement of his Adam’s apple under his pale skin.
She thought he disliked her approaching. She was about to pull back but noticed his ears were bright red.
“Why are your ears so red?”
She curiously pinched his flushed earlobes.
He shivered violently, startling her.
Just as she was about to withdraw her hand, she saw his neck also turning red, like a cooked shrimp.
“Huh?”
Tilting her head, she poked his Adam’s apple with her fingertip.
“This is red too.”
The subtle trembling under her fingertip gave an indescribable sensation.
“Why aren’t you saying anything?” she teased, side-eyeing him.
“Madam…” Shen Xueji’s voice startled him with its hoarseness, and he quickly shut his mouth.
Hua Mian realized that this seemingly calm and aloof man was actually very shy.
Thinking this, she wanted to tease him even more.
Her fingertip traced upward, stopping at the corner of his lips.
“What are you thinking?” she asked softly, leaning close to his ear.
Shen Xueji wanted to close his eyes, to avoid her questions, her gaze, her presence.
Seeing this, Hua Mian thought she might be scaring him, and considered taking her hand back, but a large hand caught hers.
Shen Xueji then grabbed her wrist, rolled over, and looked down at her.
She blinked, meeting his focused, green eyes, and slowly smiled.
In the dim, warm light, she looked like a rose slowly blooming.
“Madam, may I kiss you?”
Hua Mian hadn’t expected him to ask, and her breath caught.
Before she could answer, Shen Xueji kissed her.
Hua Mian only remembered falling asleep crying.
The next morning, he was gone. She touched the fabric beside her; it was cold, so he must have left some time ago.
Turning on the lamp, she noticed the bedding was a different color from yesterday.
Her body felt refreshed, and the pillow was accompanied by a long, bright red dress with dark rose patterns, revealing the edges of her undergarments.
Thinking of his husky whispers of “Madam” last night, pressed close to her ear, she couldn’t help but cover her flushed face.
After calming herself, she got up.
Sure enough, she felt much better. Her chest no longer ached, and her breathing was smooth.
Looking in the mirror after dressing, her lips were pink, her eyes gentle, though slightly red and puffy.
Her complexion visibly improved.
To confirm, she messaged Dr. Ye.
As expected, after examining her, he asked in surprise if she had taken any medicine.
She casually brushed it off.
Her suspicion was confirmed: her body, like her original one, needed desire in order to function normally.
End of Chapter 10
