"Alright, I know what you mean. From now on, if I get injured, I won't hide it, nor will I delay treatment."
Sheng Chenjin took a small step forward and gently hugged Shi Xinxin, his words brushing against her ears like feathers.
Shi Xinxin's body stiffened for a moment, then she habitually relaxed slightly.
She didn't say anything about Sheng Chenjin's close proximity, and her previously angry tone softened considerably. "Then you should go put on the medicine yourself now."
Sheng Chenjin instantly looked hurt, his tone almost petulant. "I have some injuries on my arm too. I can't move my whole arm now, so I'll need someone else to do it."
Before he could act all helpless, Shi Xinxin added, "We're in a hospital right now, with more doctors and nurses than you can count. How about I have them come and apply the medicine for you?"
The cold and ruthless reputation that preceded him was fully evident on Sheng Chenjin's face at this moment.
"No, I want you to apply it."
The conversation had now circled back to where it started. They were like kindergarten friends, stubbornly refusing each other.
Shi Xinxin let out a long sigh, then glanced at Sheng Chenjin's wounded expression, intending to put an end to this conversation quickly.
She raised the first-aid kit in her hand, a hint of helplessness in her voice. "Fine, I'll personally take care of you. Is that good enough?"
Only then did Sheng Chenjin seem satisfied. He released her and sat back down on the chair.
He glanced at Shi Xinxin and put on the shirt he had cast aside.
The warmth on Shi Xinxin's face suddenly rapidly receded.
She coughed lightly, skillfully rummaging through the first-aid kit, muttering, "What a difficult master to serve..."
She hadn't deliberately lowered her voice, and they were close enough that Sheng Chenjin could hear her clearly.
"Actually, I already applied some medicine. Perhaps it's been a while, and the color of the ointment has faded," Sheng Chenjin said.
Shi Xinxin shot him a look. "Was that even applying medicine? You just smeared the ointment all over the scar, you didn't even get any on the wound. It looked like you were just trying to get it done quickly and perfunctorily."
Shi Xinxin had hit the nail on the head. Sheng Chenjin had initially thought the scar wasn't a big deal. After hearing Yan Hao's words, he had only applied the ointment perfunctorily, as his entire focus had been on the unconscious Shi Xinxin at the time.
"I was just thinking of dealing with it after you woke up, I didn't expect you to discover it as soon as you did," Sheng Chenjin leaned back slightly.
Shi Xinxin knew he was worried about her, and her heart softened. She took cotton and iodine and leaned forward, gently applying ointment to the spot on Sheng Chenjin's shoulder.
Sheng Chenjin's breath hitched. He felt the touch of the cotton on his shoulder, a ticklish sensation that mirrored the flutter in his heart.
And the scent of gardenias that wafted from her, Sheng Chenjin wanted to inhale deeply, but he tensed his body, struggling to suppress his unsettled emotions.
Shi Xinxin was concentrating on mixing the ointment and hadn't noticed the change in his emotions or how his body was gradually stiffening.
Shi Xinxin casually found a chair and sat down, level with Sheng Chenjin. However, due to the difference in height, she had to lean down slightly to apply the ointment to him.
From Sheng Chenjin's perspective, he could see Shi Xinxin's perfectly curved profile. The sunlight from outside had unknowingly shifted, illuminating her focused face, casting a soft, golden glow around her.
Sheng Chenjin silently averted his gaze, his feelings at that moment indescribable, his mind racing.
He forced himself not to look at Shi Xinxin, his throat bobbing as his heart burned like a fire.
Shi Xinxin sensed he was becoming increasingly strange. As she was applying the medicine, she accidentally brushed his hand, and Sheng Chenjin suddenly trembled all over, startling her.
She looked at Sheng Chenjin suspiciously, her probing gaze sweeping across his stiff face. "What's wrong with you? Did I apply too much pressure and hurt you so much you can't even speak?"
Ever since she started applying the medicine, Sheng Chenjin had been unusually silent, as if a pause button had been pressed.
Shi Xinxin hadn't thought much of it initially, but after several unusual occurrences, she became increasingly convinced that Sheng Chenjin's current state was very wrong.
Under her direct gaze, Sheng Chenjin maintained a calm facade. "I'm just a bit sensitive to the smell of this ointment, it's been overwhelming me, which is why I can't speak."
His words indeed dispelled the numerous theories that had sprung into Shi Xinxin's mind.
She gritted her teeth and held up the ointment. "Now you're complaining about the stuff I made. Do you know how many useful medicinal ingredients are in here? I put a lot of effort into preparing this for you!"
Sheng Chenjin quickly nodded. "I know, I know. It's just that the smell is a bit unpleasant. Continue, please continue."
Shi Xinxin picked up the cotton again, this time applying the medicine with no less force, causing Sheng Chenjin to frown slightly from the pain.
Applying medicine to these teeth marks wasn't all that painful. However, the ointment, skillfully prepared by Shi Xinxin, was effective, but the combination of various stimulating ingredients meant it would naturally be more irritating to the wound than ordinary ointments.
Sheng Chenjin gritted his teeth and bore it without a sound.
However, the pain from his shoulder was enough to dispel those wild thoughts.
"Alright, apply this ointment whenever you can. Two to three times a day, and remember not to get it wet or eat spicy food," Shi Xinxin instructed him professionally.
"Aren't you supervising me every day anyway? You don't need to remind me of these things," Although his wound still hurt, Sheng Chenjin smiled happily.
Shi Xinxin packed everything away and was about to say something to stop Sheng Chenjin from harboring such wishful thinking when the sound of a phone ringing came from her bag on the bedside table.
For some reason, the ringtone felt like hailstones hitting Shi Xinxin's heart, and an inexpressible emotion welled up within her. Driven by instinct, Shi Xinxin strode over and answered without even looking at the caller ID.
A frantic middle-aged woman's voice came from the other end. "Hello? Excuse me, are you the guardian of the Shi family's children?"
Sheng Chenjin was right beside Shi Xinxin. Hearing that it was about the three little ones, his face changed rapidly.
Shi Xinxin quickly replied, "Yes, I am. Is there something wrong?"
The middle-aged woman sounded like she was about to cry. "Just now, several burly men in black grabbed the children. The security guards and other teachers were all knocked unconscious. We only managed to notify you now. It's truly our responsibility, we are so sorry! However, we have already promptly reported it to the police."
Shi Xinxin couldn't hear anything else she said afterward.
All she could hear now was the news that they had been kidnapped!
A tear fell onto her cheek without warning. Shi Xinxin's hand trembled, and the phone clattered to the floor.