Disguised as a Man, She Has Eight Men Fighting Over Her - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

Her shoulders began to shake violently, broken sobs escaping despite her efforts to suppress them.

The amusement had vanished from Xie Zhi’s face.

Then he heard her trembling question.

“When is the surgery? Is it dangerous?” A sob swallowed the rest.

The caller continued speaking. Lin Cheng shook her head, enormous tears falling.

“No, I’m fine… I happen to be in City Z. I’ll come back tonight.”

After ending the call, she hugged her knees and buried her face.

“Grandma, you have to be okay…”

Xie Zhi watched in silence, thoughts surging uncontrollably in the deep night, his chest tight.

A warm hand suddenly settled on her shoulder.

“Are you… all right?”

His voice held a rare warmth and softness, careful tenderness mixed with heartache.

She turned abruptly. Her tears broke free, her muffled crying almost unintelligible.

“Brother Xie Zhi… c-can you take me out of the base?”

His palm gently squeezed her thin arm in wordless comfort.

“Yes. Where are you going?”

“I need Grandma… She—she…”

Seeing her tear-soaked, pleading eyes, Xie Zhi knelt on one knee and pulled her into his arms.

Perhaps she truly needed an embrace. Lin Cheng did not resist. Lost in grief, she rubbed her face against his neck, hot tears slipping beneath his collar.

After hesitating, Xie Zhi laid a hand on her hair and rested his chin atop her head.

“Don’t cry. I’ll take you.”

His husky voice was even gentler now, one large hand patting her narrow back.

“Now?” Lin Cheng looked up dazedly. “Just take me somewhere I can get a taxi.”

“No.”

Xie Zhi frowned, though his hand continued soothing her.

“I’ll drive you.”

She clutched his shirt. “N-no need, I—”

His deep gaze settled on her face.

“You’re a girl.”

Her pupils widened steadily, as if a stone had lodged in her throat.

“You can’t get a taxi for miles around the base this late.”

*I don’t trust you to go alone.*

“Boo-hoo, damn you, Xie Zhi… How did you know? Did you see my butt?” She cried even harder.

*Mm. Very pert.*

“No. Let’s go.”

Lin Cheng could not care about anything but her grandmother now.

Xie Zhi drove the battered van to the city hospital.

Disinfectant filled the late-night corridor. A haggard but still beautiful middle-aged woman sat against a bench and forced a smile when she saw Lin Cheng.

“Chengcheng, don’t worry. The doctor said the surgery went well. Grandma is out of danger.”

Lin Cheng threw herself into her mother’s arms and finally breathed.

Her mother soothed her, then looked questioningly at Xie Zhi.

He bowed slightly. “Hello, Auntie. I’m Xie Zhi, Chengcheng’s friend. Forgive the late intrusion.”

Her mother’s gaze softened.

“Thank you for bringing Chengcheng. That was thoughtful.”

“Of course.”

Outside the ICU, Lin Cheng watched her sleeping grandmother through the glass while Xie Zhi stood silently beside her.

They returned only after confirming her condition was stable toward dawn.

Xie Zhi delivered Lin Cheng to their room, left, and returned minutes later.

“Pack your things.”

“Where are we going?”

“Changing rooms.”

Now that he knew she was a woman, she could not use the communal showers. She had met him this time—but what about next time? She had no sense of safety.

Irritated for no clear reason, Xie Zhi snatched her luggage.

“Follow me.”

With swollen eyes, Lin Cheng silently followed him to another dormitory.

He stopped at a door and looked at her obedient expression, feeling an itch inside.

“The key is in my trouser pocket. Get it.”

Her mind was still fogged with grief. She bent close and reached into his pocket.

Xie Zhi went still.

Her body leaned toward him, her head before his waist, bringing a sweet fragrance. Her nimble fingers searched against his thigh through thin summer fabric.

Had these trousers always been so thin? Even her warmth passed straight through.

It tickled—and stirred something else.

Almost unbearable.

He tilted his head, Adam’s apple rolling.

“Found it?”

He had truly brought this suffering upon himself.

“No.”

His gaze deepened, veins standing out on the hand gripping the suitcase.

“Try the other pocket.”

“Oh… Found it.”

Lin Cheng unlocked the room. It was clean and had a private bathroom—but only one large bed.

“You take the bed. I’ll sleep on the floor.”

Lin Cheng sniffed through her blocked nose. “You should take the bed. I’ll—”

Xie Zhi lazily interrupted, undoing two buttons to expose his refined collarbones and a patch of skin. His narrow eyes fixed on her.

“Then we’ll share.”

“I’m showering first.”

Lin Cheng frowned delicately. “…I’ll sleep on the floor.”

“What, afraid of me?”

Xie Zhi stepped closer, looking down into her wide, damp eyes.

She was not afraid. After tonight, she was grateful. Perhaps Xie Zhi was not that bad after all.

“No. It’s just…”

His gaze swept her lips, his voice deepening with wicked amusement.

“Afraid you won’t be able to control yourself?”

Lin Cheng took back every kind thought.

“Xie Zhi! What nonsense!”

He chuckled and entered the bathroom.

“Then stop arguing. I’m exhausted.”

Water began rushing inside.

The air around the large bed suddenly felt thin and intimate. Lin Cheng ultimately made a pallet on the floor.

Minutes later, Xie Zhi emerged smelling of shower gel, dampness clinging to him.