Chapter 297

Tenderness is a feeling that’s hard to put into words.

Like a stream of water flowing into a parched heart, slowly seeping through the cracks and gradually filling every deep and shallow crevice.

For the first time, Pei Ji clearly sensed that he was still alive.

And for the first time, he was incredibly grateful to be alive.

Ning Ning leaned closer, her fingertips brushing back his scattered black hair, revealing his pale, thin neck.

Pei Ji had no idea what her next move would be, but he willingly surrendered to her touch.

His eyes showed little emotion, his pupils dark as a beast offering its neck to the hunter, quietly concealing its sharpness, head tilted back without a word.

“I… I had consulted senior brother about healing with spiritual energy,” Ning Ning said, lowering her head, her right hand resting on the side of his neck, feeling the smooth lines of his bones beneath the thin layer of skin.

Her fingers slowly moved forward, caressing an old scar just below his Adam’s apple.

Pei Ji instinctively swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing down, grazing her fingers briefly and abruptly.

A surge of spiritual energy spread from his throat, like a gentle breeze flowing between his blood and skin.

The wounds beneath his clothes still burned intensely, but the energy was fresh and cool, like spring rain nourishing the earth, gradually soothing the pain, calming every restless drop of blood.

Ning Ning’s touch was much gentler than it had been in the cave, and the spiritual energy steadily grew stronger, like waves gently lapping on a sandy shore.

—It also felt like her cold fingertips brushing every corner of his body, causing an involuntary shiver.

The thought made Pei Ji’s ears burn, and he avoided her gaze.

“You’re still injured, don’t waste your spiritual energy.”

But Ning Ning didn’t stop.

Like the spiritual energy that overflowed within him, her fingers moved up, gently brushing over the scar.

The scar had long since healed, and there was no pain when touched.

Or rather, the residual pain was so faint and weak, it was more like an itch that couldn’t be scratched.

He heard Ning Ning call his name.

“Pei Ji.”

He quickly raised his eyes, only to see Ning Ning suddenly lower her head.

Her lips didn’t touch his lips or cheeks, yet in that instant, Pei Ji held his breath, his knuckles turning pale from gripping too tightly.

—She leaned down, her soft, fluffy black hair brushing against his chin, her lips gently pressing on the scar, not too forcefully, just a light peck.

The spiritual energy enveloping his entire body flickered with the movement, like a breeze stirring ripples across a lake, swirling and surging.

Pei Ji had never experienced anything like this, and his voice turned hoarse as he called her, “Ning Ning.”

As he spoke, his Adam’s apple dropped again, sliding against her lips.

It was a strange sensation.

Ning Ning was already tense all over, and when that sudden motion brushed against her lips, her back instantly stiffened.

This was the first time she had been so forward with a boy.

She seemed calm on the outside, but inside, she was so nervous she couldn’t even make another expression.

If Pei Ji was uncomfortable, maybe this would make him feel better?

Would he like such intimate gestures?

She had kissed him, but what was the next step?

Should she lift her head or continue?

Continuing meant going further down, beyond the neck, but that seemed far too inappropriate.

Just imagining it made her blush; she didn’t have the courage to do it.

But if she raised her head now and faced Pei Ji, meeting his eyes…

No.

Ning Ning thought she’d definitely blush until she exploded.

Pei Ji’s eyes were like weapons—they could kill.

Last time, just a glance from him almost made her forget to breathe.

When she kissed him, she followed her instincts, wanting Pei Ji to know he wasn’t alone and that someone cared.

But now, as the impulse faded and reason surfaced, she couldn’t help but feel shy.

Ning Ning seriously thought, What would the lead couple in a drama do next?

It seems like the camera fades to black, transitions, and the hibiscus tent is warm, with every night being spring.

(T/N: hibiscus tent”) is a poetic way to describe an elegant or intimate bed setting, often used in literature to imply romance or sensuality.)

Bah, stop it!

She didn’t have the experience to know what to do.

When his Adam’s apple brushed her lips unexpectedly, her gaze began to quietly rise.

Pei Ji’s breathing grew heavier in her ears.

In front of her was the young man’s slender, pale neck, with that prominent bone, trembling slightly in the shadows.

Panicking, Ning Ning tilted her head up slightly, pressing her lips to that spot, feeling the tremor beneath.

The neck was an incredibly sensitive area.

Her warm breath, the accidental brush of her hair, and the numbing sensation from the scar all mixed together.

Pei Ji let out a low breath, a slight tremor in his voice.

This is too much.

Ning Ning’s heart softened at the sound, her voice nervous yet careful.

“Does this… feel better?”

His thoughts were scattered, and she, in her seriousness, asked him that.

After a moment, she added softly, “You must remember to heal properly from now on.”

Both his thoughts and body were soft, and Pei Ji didn’t even have the strength to murmur an “mm.”

—In fact, “healing” was pointless to him. With so many old scars crisscrossing his body already, a few more new wounds didn’t seem to make much difference.