Spellbound Hearts - Novelbike

The kiss ended, and the medicine Ji Xuan had been holding was spilled completely.

Song Zhaoli leaned his forehead against hers and let out a low laugh, tinged with bitterness. “That night, I tried to avoid it. You’re the one who insisted on provoking me.”

Ji Xuan knew exactly which night he was referring to. She pressed her lips together slightly, staying silent.

She was in the wrong, after all.

Song Zhaoli continued, “Ungrateful wolf. I wasted so many years on you.”

Still, Ji Xuan said nothing, thinking that Song Zhaoli was probably delirious from the fever.

After those words, it seemed like he had exhausted all his strength. He released her and collapsed back onto the bed.

Ji Xuan glanced at him, frowned, and got up to head downstairs to prepare another dose of medicine.

This time, she was more cautious. Instead of getting too close to him, she grabbed a straw from the milk carton in the fridge and placed it in the cup.

Perhaps it was instinct for survival, but when the straw touched the corner of Song Zhaoli’s lips, he opened his mouth and bit down on it.

Watching him drink more than half the cup of medicine, Ji Xuan took the cup back and placed it on the bedside table.

She stood there for a moment, observing him. Partly to ensure he wouldn’t suddenly act out, and partly to make sure he wasn’t so feverish that something serious might happen.

Once she was certain he wouldn’t lose his mind or suffer any dire consequences, she got up and headed for the door, texting Qiu Lin as she walked out.

[Assistant Qiu, President Song has taken the medicine. I’ll head back now.]

This time, Qiu Lin replied almost instantly: [Manager Ji, could I trouble you to stay and look after President Song for the night?]

Ji Xuan stopped in her tracks, staring at the message.

Another message from Qiu Lin followed quickly: [Manager Ji, I really must apologize. I’m tied up with something and can’t leave. Besides, President Song doesn’t like being cared for by the household staff.]

Doesn’t like being cared for by staff, but is fine with being looked after by outsiders?

Perhaps sensing her hesitation and fearing she might refuse, Qiu Lin sent a third message that left her no room to argue: [Manager Ji, thank you so much. Get some rest early. Goodnight.]

Ji Xuan’s expression turned complicated, her emotions even more so.

Song Zhaoli’s villa was massive, but Ji Xuan didn’t dare to randomly pick a guest room to rest in. In the end, she settled on the couch in the living room.

Perhaps it was the unfamiliar environment, but Ji Xuan tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Finally, she pulled out her phone and sent Wu Shu a message: [What are you up to?]

To her surprise, Wu Shu replied instantly, despite it being three in the morning: [Playing the dog.]

Ji Xuan: [??]

Wu Shu: [A paparazzo.]

Ji Xuan, still groggy from lack of sleep, didn’t quite follow: [??]

Wu Shu: [I’m playing paparazzo, helping a colleague keep an eye on her boyfriend.]

Ji Xuan: [In the middle of the night? That’s intense.]

Wu Shu: [Don’t even get me started. It’s ridiculous. So, we went to this restaurant tonight, right? And she saw this guy feeding a girl and even wiping her mouth so tenderly. She said, ‘If only that were my boyfriend.’ Guess what happened next?]

Ji Xuan, wide awake now, played along: [What happened?]

Wu Shu: [We got closer, and it turned out it was her boyfriend!!]

Ji Xuan: […]

Should she say congratulations or express her condolences?

Seeing the string of ellipses Ji Xuan sent, Wu Shu asked: [You’re usually so punctual with your biological clock. Why can’t you sleep tonight? Heartbroken over Xiao Jin? Or did that fox Song Zhaoli steal your soul?]

At the mention of Song Zhaoli, Ji Xuan felt a chill run through her.

After a few seconds, she replied: [I’m lying on the couch in Song Zhaoli’s living room right now.]

She sent the message as an opening, intending to vent about her night’s ordeal.

But Wu Shu’s response was anything but predictable: [The living room couch?? You two are playing that wild??]

Whether it was wild or not, Ji Xuan couldn’t define it, nor could she explain it in detail.

But one thing was clear-she no longer wanted to continue this conversation with Wu Shu. Not a single word more.

Her thoughts and actions aligned perfectly: [Goodbye. Goodnight.]

Wu Shu: [Wait, don’t go! It’s a long night, and I’m out here feeding mosquitoes at a hotel entrance. Chat with me a bit longer.]

Ji Xuan didn’t reply.

Wu Shu: [Seriously, are you really at Song Zhaoli’s house??]

Still no reply.

Wu Shu: [Ji Xuan, don’t tell me you just escaped one wolf’s den only to walk into a tiger’s lair!]