It was less of an embrace, or rather, not quite a full hug.
Reaching from behind her, he planted both hands on the kitchen counter.
Ah Cai turned her head, looking at him in confusion, "Mr. Ji, what are you doing?"
Ji Chi lowered his eyes. His long, thick eyelashes cast a faint shadow on his skin.
"I don't know if it's because of the heavy workload lately, but I suddenly feel a bit dizzy."
Ah Cai was quite naive and actually believed him. She quickly reached out to check his pulse.
He was indeed a little physically weak.
"Then you need to make sure you get plenty of rest."
Ji Chi held Ah Cai's hand in return and pulled a box out of his pants pocket.
Opening the box, there was a women's watch inside. "I brought you a gift."
Ah Cai didn't know much about luxury goods, but the watch looked expensive at a glance. She instinctively refused, "I don't want it."
Ji Chi frowned, "If you don't want it, throw it in the trash."
He picked up the watch, pretending to throw it away. Ah Cai hurriedly stopped him, "Why are you always like this?"
So domineering and unreasonable.
Ji Chi raised an eyebrow. He took the watch out of the box and personally fastened it onto Ah Cai's wrist.
"Oh, I have good taste. It looks great on you."
A hint of confusion appeared in Ah Cai's bright almond eyes, "Why are you suddenly giving me a gift?"
"I made some money recently. Plus, I don't like owing favors. Half a year ago in that alley, if it weren't for you, I probably would have been beaten to death by those people."
Ah Cai looked thoughtful, "Oh."
Seeing her adorkable and silly expression, Ji Chi raised a finger and poked her forehead, "Hurry up and cook the noodles, I'm starving to death."
Ah Cai nodded, "You go out first, don't bother me here."
Ten minutes later, Ah Cai brought the cooked noodles to Ji Chi.
The two sat in the small courtyard, eating their noodles in silence.
Ah Cai glanced at him several times.
Today he was wearing a black T-shirt, ripped jeans, and a diamond stud earring, looking both handsome and wild.
He seemed to have lost weight; his facial features appeared even more refined and sculpted.
"Does your boss often exploit you? Your face has gotten so thin it's only the size of a palm."
Ji Chi slurped some noodles, "Don't you know that you have to be skinny to look good on camera?"
"You still need to pay attention to your health. Don't become just skin and bones."
Ji Chi gave a wicked smile, "I'm perfectly healthy. Believe it or not, I can lift you with one hand. Except for that one place, I'm perfectly capable everywhere else."
Ah Cai, "..."
Seeing her remain silent, he leaned closer to her, his cherry-blossom pink lips almost touching her ear, "Brat, are you secretly despising me?"
Ah Cai reached out and pushed his handsome face away. "Just talk if you want to talk, why are you so close to my ear? It's not like I'm the Little Deaf Maiden. Besides, I'm a doctor. I would never despise someone with a physical defect."
Perhaps because she touched on his sore spot, Ji Chi stopped talking and seemed a bit quiet.
Ah Cai gently kicked him with her foot, "Don't be depressed. Your problem there is just a nerve sensitivity issue. Maybe if you find an expert, there will be a way to cure it!"
Ji Chi glanced at Ah Cai, "Then do you want to help me cure it?"
"I'm not an expert in that area."
Seeing her pretty face unconsciously turn into a red apple, Ji Chi was amused by her innocence and greenness.
Over the past six months of venturing out, he had experienced many bumps and hardships.
The prosperity of the outside world and the halo of being an idol couldn't make him truly happy.
Only when he came to this damn girl's small courtyard did he feel relaxed and joyful.
Eating a bowl of her tomato and egg noodles felt more delicious to him than any exotic delicacies outside.
Just hearing her voice allowed his tense nerves and stress to relax a little.
"Damn girl, what's going on between you and Gu Haonan? He has a fiancée, you know?"
Ah Cai glared at the man in annoyance. "You asked me that last time in the private room, and I explained it to you. I treated Boss Gu's sister, and he is grateful to me. It's that simple."
Ji Chi snorted, "The outside world isn't as simple as you think. There are plenty of big bad wolves. Don't be so naive."
"I know, I know. Hurry up and eat, otherwise it'll all clump together."
Ji Chi continued to look at Ah Cai, "Also, you're only twenty now. Don't be in a rush to date."
Ah Cai's small face fell, "Are you my dad or my brother? Why do you care so much?"
Ji Chi, "..."
Damn girl, he was just afraid she'd get tricked. She really took his good intentions for granted.
It was just that whenever he thought about her dating another man someday, he felt an inexplicable discomfort in his heart.
After finishing the noodles and letting his food digest, Ji Chi went to the bathroom to take a shower.
Ah Cai frowned at him, "Are you not planning to leave tonight?"
"Where would I go? I haven't had a home in Hong Kong for a long time."
As soon as he said that, Ah Cai's heart softened considerably.
Forget it. If he wanted to stay, let him stay. Anyway, after the clinic moved somewhere else, she had tidied up a guest room.
After his shower, Ji Chi came out wearing a pair of gray sweatpants, his upper body bare.
He was the typical type who looked thin in clothes but was muscular without them.
His muscles were well-proportioned and solid, lean yet powerful, exuding masculine strength.
His V-lines extended down past the waistband of his pants.
Although Ah Cai studied medicine and the human anatomy was not unfamiliar to her.
Sometimes patients also needed to take off their clothes for her to examine them.
But never had the impact of a moment been so intense.
Pointing at the man, her tongue tied uncontrollably, "You, you, you..."
Seeing her flushed face, Ji Chi deliberately pulled the waistband of his pants down a bit lower.
Ah Cai quickly turned around, "You're so shameless."
Watching her stomp her feet in embarrassment, Ji Chi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
How could there still be such an innocent little girl in this world?
Just as Ji Chi was about to say something, a knock on the door suddenly sounded from outside.
"Ah Cai, Ah Cai..."
Sheng Xia had arrived.
Ah Cai's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't told Sheng Xia about her relationship with Ji Chi yet.
If Sheng Xia saw Ji Chi here with her, Sheng Xia would definitely be angry.
Ignoring the fact that the man still hadn't put on a shirt, Ah Cai dragged him toward the guest room. "Go in and lock the door. Unless I call for you, you're not allowed to come out."
Ji Chi's peach-blossom eyes held a smile, looking like a seductive male demon, "Ni Cai, what are you feeling guilty for? It's not like we're having an illicit affair."
Ah Cai couldn't be bothered to explain it to him.
If Sheng Xia discovered Ji Chi, it would definitely be worse than an affair.
Ah Cai didn't have many friends, so she cherished this hard-won friendship.
After closing the guest room door, Ah Cai opened the front door.
Sheng Xia walked in carrying a duffel bag, looking somewhat dejected.
"Ah Cai, I had a fight with my mom. She insisted on making me go on a blind date, and I didn't want to go at all. Let me crash at your place for the night!"
Before Ah Cai could say anything, Sheng Xia continued, "I took a taxi here, and the driver was smoking in the car, so now I smell like smoke too. I'm going to take a shower in your bathroom first."
Seeing Sheng Xia head toward the bathroom, Ah Cai suddenly remembered that Ji Chi's discarded clothes were still in there!
