Are You Allergic To Romance? - Chapter 24
Chapter 24: I Only Want You
The air seemed to still.
Xie Mianzhi’s eyes widened as she stared blankly at Jing Yuan, who had just spoken those words to her.
They had only known each other for three days. Did this person… know what she was saying?
How could Jing Yuan say something like that? It was the kind of vow that was only exchanged between people who were as close as… lovers.
In theory, she had witnessed too many deliberate attempts to approach and flatter her with little tricks; she shouldn’t have cared about such words at all.
Anyone could say those heartfelt, classic lines insincerely.
But why, upon hearing those words from the person in front of her, did her heart pound uncontrollably, as if it had been struck suddenly by something powerful?
Xie Mianzhi tried to find a hint of a joke or an ulterior motive in Jing Yuan’s eyes, but there was none. The other party was simply staring at her with determination.
She felt a sense of steadfast protection.
To hide her suddenly strange heart rate, Xie Mianzhi slowly raised her hand under the gaze of those pure, golden, ocean-like eyes, and then flicked Jing Yuan’s forehead while the latter was momentarily stunned.
Jing Yuan was instantly bewildered by the flick.
After flicking her, Xie Mianzhi preempted Jing Yuan’s reaction before she could speak. “Don’t say things like that to your elders.”
Jing Yuan covered her flicked forehead, completely confused. “What?”
Why was her sincere promise met with Miss Xie’s flick to the forehead, and why was she pulling the ‘elder’ card? Jing Yuan couldn’t understand.
Xie Mianzhi’s gaze darted around. She was afraid her strange psychological reaction would be discovered. “I just feel you sound too confident saying that. Young people shouldn’t make promises too easily. The water can be very dangerous.”
“Do you think I’m unable to teach you?” Jing Yuan realized the ‘elder’ was questioning her ability.
“My standards are very high. To be my private coach, you need a specialized teaching certificate and excellence in all aspects—external qualifications, internal qualities, and character, etc. In short, I’m always very picky,” Xie Mianzhi said, looking at Jing Yuan. She wondered if her harsh words would scare the other party away.
But what she said was the truth, which was why her previous private coach was driven away after only one day.
If the person speaking weren’t Xie Mianzhi, Jing Yuan swore she might have punched them.
This arrogant and harsh Miss Xie really doesn’t hold back.
“Then I can’t teach you. I don’t have any certifications,” Jing Yuan nodded. She felt a bit foolish for thinking she could teach the other party to swim.
“Are you angry?” Xie Mianzhi noticed the fluctuation in her emotion and immediately asked. She felt a twinge of regret for the awkward truths she had just spoken. Damn it, why was she putting on airs with Jing Yuan?
She didn’t mean it that way at all.
Jing Yuan shook her head and remained silent.
She picked up the sleep dress on the sofa, which she had been sewing the last few stitches on for the other person, and planned to continue stitching to calm her mind.
“If I hurt your forehead just now when I flicked it, you can tell me,” Xie Mianzhi stood beside her, tilting her head and communicating softly, hoping the Little Savior wouldn’t mind her small offense.
“It hurts,” Jing Yuan answered without hesitation.
“Huh?”
“My forehead hurts,” Jing Yuan looked up and emphasized seriously, “It still hurts now.”
“I’m sorry,” Xie Mianzhi immediately bent down to examine Jing Yuan’s head. She swore she had only flicked her gently and hadn’t used much force. “I don’t think I used any force. Maybe I was distracted just now and hurt you.”
She had been distracted by Jing Yuan’s words.
Xie Mianzhi leaned down slightly and brushed away the wisps of hair from her forehead, examining it carefully. Jing Yuan’s skin was already excessively pale, and there was indeed a faint red mark on her forehead.
How much force did she actually use? There’s a red mark.
Jing Yuan allowed the ‘bad woman’ to blame herself, considering it a small revenge for the other party’s harsh words.
“Did you think what I said just now was unpleasant?” After checking Jing Yuan’s forehead, Xie Mianzhi couldn’t help but ask. She knew her words had upset the other party.
“I was just curious what kind of private coach would meet your standards,” Jing Yuan didn’t answer directly, but instead probed about the thing she cared about.
“Actually, the last private coach I had was driven away after only half a day of instruction,” Xie Mianzhi smiled cunningly.
Jing Yuan looked at her curiously.
Seeing that the other party wanted her to continue, Xie Mianzhi reluctantly obliged. “The reason was that she touched my waist before I was ready.”
“Then she definitely should be driven away,” Jing Yuan completely agreed with the other party’s decision.
“What did you say?” Xie Mianzhi only heard the other party mumble and didn’t catch it clearly.
Jing Yuan let out a single syllable from her throat, vaguely dismissing the comment.
“Were the words you said just now sincere?” Xie Mianzhi thought it over and still wanted to ask clearly.
About those vow-like words.
Xie Mianzhi was typically skeptical of promises, yet she couldn’t help but ask, seeking a genuine answer from someone she had only known for three days.
Jing Yuan could guarantee this; she meant what she said.
“Yes,” she also admitted it was the first time she had given such a promise to anyone.
Xie Mianzhi chuckled softly. She believed that the other party’s golden eyes weren’t lying. She even had a sudden, absurd thought: Jing Yuan would become her hero.
“But it can’t be helped now. It’s a shame I didn’t bring a swimsuit this time. If I had, maybe I could have asked you for lessons. Maybe there’ll be a chance in the future. I just wonder if your fee is expensive?”
“Deportation fee?” The moment Jing Yuan asked, both of them laughed simultaneously.
The unpleasant atmosphere from a moment ago was instantly broken and vanished. Xie Mianzhi knew this Little Savior wasn’t someone who held grudges; otherwise, she wouldn’t have welcomed a casual acquaintance like her for several days.
If she could continue to stay here, they could have a wonderful time.
Perhaps she, Xie Mianzhi, could truly become a very good friend with this person.
Not based on fame, status, or financial gain, but simply a pure friend.
Perhaps their relationship could be even better, not just friends.
She even thought of the most eccentric idea her friend had suggested to her at the time: find a suitable person to pretend to be in a relationship to get rid of all those awful suitors and arranged marriages.
Regardless of gender, wouldn’t a woman be more shocking?
Xie Mianzhi looked at Jing Yuan, who was sewing the shoulder strap of her sleep dress, and fell into a subtle reverie.
If the suitable candidate were Jing Yuan, it seemed entirely possible.
Jing Yuan was excellent in both appearance and etiquette. As for her family background, although an excellent background would be a bonus for the elders, if they were only pretending to be a couple, Jing Yuan didn’t need a glorious family environment; she just needed to cooperate fully with her.
She felt that if she genuinely asked Jing Yuan, this kind Little Savior would definitely agree under her relentless persuasion.
Xie Mianzhi continued to have this absurd thought for a long time until her focus drifted so much that she almost leaned her whole body on Jing Yuan.
“Are you okay?”
Jing Yuan’s concerned voice reached her ears. Xie Mianzhi quickly stood up straight, pretending to look for her new phone to cover her internal machinations.
However, good times were always short-lived.
Xie Mianzhi saw the missed calls and the red dot indicating messages on her phone.
Subconsciously, Xie Mianzhi didn’t want to see them, but avoidance wouldn’t work. The affairs of the corporation were waiting for her to return and handle, and her sudden departure this time would be used as leverage by those with ulterior motives.
Xie Mianzhi quietly watched Jing Yuan finish the last stitch before speaking, “Jing Yuan, is there anything you want?”
She wanted to give the other party some form of material aid before leaving.
Jing Yuan finished clipping the thread and knotting it, then looked up at her, unable to articulate anything she wanted for a long time.
“Nothing.”
Xie Mianzhi frowned at the reply. This person really has no desires.
The genie’s lamp is right in front of her, and she won’t even speak. Xie Mianzhi couldn’t wait for the other party to answer and proactively suggested a viable option: “Do you walk to and from work every day?”
“No, sometimes I take the bus,” Jing Yuan replied. Her own black sedan had been stored in a garage in the small town for a long time. It was too ostentatious, and she didn’t want to drive it.
Xie Mianzhi then remembered there was a bus stop one kilometer from here. Jing Yuan wouldn’t be taking the bus from there, would she?
“Then do you need a car? How about I give you one?” Xie Mianzhi suggested. A car was a small matter for her. If it could help Jing Yuan, it would naturally be good.
“You want to give me a car?” Jing Yuan asked, surprised.
“Yes, a car. You can choose the model yourself. I can have the dealer deliver it directly; it won’t be a hassle for you. You just have to wait to pick it up,” Xie Mianzhi spoke quickly. She had to fulfill her desire to help the other party to feel comfortable.
Jing Yuan folded the sleep dress and handed it to Xie Mianzhi. Seeing that Xie Mianzhi didn’t seem to be joking, she could only shake her head and say, “I really don’t need it. Why are you suddenly saying this?”
“Because I have to leave. I wanted to repay your kindness over the past few days before I go. I don’t like owing favors, and it’s better if I can settle it with money,” Xie Mianzhi didn’t hide it and spoke the truth.
She had just checked the messages. The company was holding a board meeting tomorrow, attended by high-level executives and the faction vying for her position, led by her uncle. Although she wanted to disappear and rest, she had to attend.
As she spoke, she took the sleep dress from Jing Yuan with both hands. The little whale embroidery on it was lifelike, and even the usually picky Xie Mianzhi couldn’t find any fault. Jing Yuan’s needlework was indeed excellent, comparable to the designer who customized her gowns.
Xie Mianzhi looked down, carefully touching the embroidery on the sleep dress, which caused her to miss the momentary stunned look on the face of the person beside her.
Jing Yuan hadn’t expected Xie Mianzhi to leave now, at least not so abruptly.
Just as Xie Mianzhi looked up at her, Jing Yuan, to conceal her sudden disappointment, turned away and slowly started tidying the sewing supplies on the coffee table.
“You really did a great job with the embroidery. Thank you,” Xie Mianzhi genuinely praised.
Jing Yuan held the sewing box, paused for a few seconds, and politely replied, “You’re welcome.”
“Then what do you want? Think quickly. Think of anything you need, don’t worry about the price,” Xie Mianzhi kept circling back to the key topic. She had to hear Jing Yuan’s request.
Jing Yuan still shook her head. She didn’t need anything.
Seeing Jing Yuan about to walk upstairs, Xie Mianzhi decisively grabbed her hand.
Why was this person acting like she was avoiding her?
“Do you think I don’t have the means or something? How can someone not want anything? What are you lacking? You must be lacking something,” Xie Mianzhi was frustrated and even wanted to light a cigarette. Why was it so difficult for her to repay a woman?
She genuinely wanted to repay Jing Yuan.
Jing Yuan stopped walking silently. She looked around at her seaside residence.
A residence for only one person.
Like a solitary island.
Xie Mianzhi was asking what she lacked.
Jing Yuan looked up at Xie Mianzhi. The other person always gave her a feeling of passion and vibrancy. Her thick, golden-brown hair was like a jumping musical note, gently stirring her heart.
If she could see Xie Mianzhi every day…
Jing Yuan stopped her absurd thought. Seeing Xie Mianzhi still waiting for her answer, she suddenly grasped Xie Mianzhi’s hand and asked in return, “Then what do you think I lack?”