Disguised as a Man, She Has Eight Men Fighting Over Her - Chapter 48

Chapter 48

Xie Zhi’s waist was lean, his abdomen taut. Water traced its grooves and disappeared into gray drawstring sweatpants.

Seeing Lin Cheng on the floor pallet, displeasure flashed in his eyes, though he only raised a brow.

“Not washing? You’re covered in dust and tears. Doesn’t it feel awful?”

Lin Cheng stood, too embarrassed to look at him.

“I am. Right now.”

He watched her flee and curved his lips.

No hurry.

He knew how to make her obey.

When she finally emerged fully dressed, Xie Zhi lay with his back to her, apparently asleep. The thin blanket covered only his waist, leaving the smooth muscles of his back exposed.

She crept onto the pallet and stared at the ceiling as reason returned.

When had Xie Zhi discovered her secret? Would he tell anyone?

After two rigid seconds, she spoke softly.

“Brother Xie Zhi… are you asleep?”

Only silence answered.

Dejected, Lin Cheng hugged her blanket and rolled over. The bedding was thin; cold seeped through from the hard floor and made her shiver.

“So cold…”

The supposedly sleeping man drawled, “Come up.”

“Brother Xie Zhi? You’re awake!”

Lin Cheng knelt upright, draped in her blanket, then leaned her head against the mattress and gripped the sheet.

“Can I ask you something?”

Xie Zhi smiled in the dark. After a long moment, he murmured assent.

“Will you tell anyone I’m a girl?” she asked miserably.

The mattress sank beneath her hand. By the moonlight, she glimpsed the sharp shadow of his V-line.

So close.

Even the veins low across his abdomen were visible.

She had to tilt her head. Xie Zhi braced both hands on the bed and looked down at her.

She could not see his expression in the darkness, only sense danger. She instinctively retreated.

He moved faster. One hand clasped the back of her head as his shadow descended.

“Whether I tell…”

His voice was husky, barbed with hooks.

“…depends on my mood.”

His burning hand tugged lightly at her hair, forcing her to feel every breath.

“But…” His breath shifted to her ear.

“If you sleep on the floor again, or roll out of bed and wake me…” His lips seemed to brush her earlobe, threatening to bite it next.

“I can’t promise anything, little mouse.”

Then Xie Zhi rolled away, leaving her only his back.

Lin Cheng’s cheeks and ears burned. Gritting her teeth, she quietly climbed onto the bed with her blanket.

His warmth lingered in the mattress, heating her back, while his clean scent saturated the pillow and enclosed her.

It felt far too strange, leaving her restless.

She squeezed her eyes shut, but every sense intensified. She heard Xie Zhi’s steady breathing, felt the mattress shift when he moved, and could even imagine the broad contours of his back—and that earlier glimpse of tight lines wrapped in…

White…

Calvin Klein.

*???*

*Lin Cheng, what are you thinking?*

Xie Zhi seemed to shift slightly closer.

Every hair on her body rose.

Was he awake?

But he merely adjusted his position, breathing evenly.

She buried her face deeper into the pillow to escape his scent, only making it clearer.

With his back to her, Xie Zhi opened his eyes. There was no sleep in them, only darkness.

Hearing her restrained breathing, he smiled.

The little mouse had finally taken the bait.

—

Sunlight streamed through the curtains the next day. Lin Cheng woke beneath its bright heat, reached for her phone, and found it was nearly ten.

She abruptly sat up and discovered herself in the center of the bed.

Xie Zhi was already awake, watching lazily.

Her hair was tousled and her eyes swollen. The wide collar of her white T-shirt exposed a broad patch of pale skin. The blanket had gathered at her waist, catching her hem and revealing another strip marked red from a night beneath the fabric.

Inexpressibly tempting.

“Brother Xie Zhi, why are you up?”

“Thanks to you.”

“Ask your restless little hands. They groped me all night. What a bad mouse.”

It was half true. She had touched him, but the slippery little hand fled before he could enjoy it.

Mortified, Lin Cheng hurled a pillow.

“Xie Zhi, that’s nonsense!”

“Nonsense?” He chuckled. “Then why did some restless paw keep rubbing my waist while I slept?”

Her grip tightened on the blanket, palms sweating. “Stop slandering me. I-I didn’t feel anything.”

“Feel anything?” Xie Zhi crossed his arms, his smile worsening. “I didn’t touch you. Of course you felt nothing.”

Too embarrassed and angry to curse properly, she cried, “Xie Zhi! Why are you so mean?”

Silly girl. She should not say words like that to a man.

He rose slowly. His black T-shirt had caught at his waistband, and the gray sweatpants concealed nothing—only made it more obvious.

Fortunately, Lin Cheng was bent over putting on her shoes.

Xie Zhi discreetly pulled down his shirt.

Tch. Infuriating.

The thrown pillow proved useful. He sat again and placed it over his lap, watching her without changing expression.

Lin Cheng finished her shoes and walked toward the bathroom without looking sideways. As she passed, she muttered softly, “Bad dog.”

He merely snorted and looked at the bare ankle below her trouser cuff.

Then his eyes narrowed. His Adam’s apple shifted as his hand curled unconsciously.

Exactly one circle.