Chapter 7: Private Meeting at the Villa - The Foolish Male Protagonist
Yue Guanyi saw Qiu Shuzhi's surprised expression.
His muddled, stuffy mind suddenly felt as if doused by a bucket of ice water. The hazy delusions receded like the tide, replaced by a bone-chilling clarity. Only then did he realize what foolish words he had just uttered, so carelessly speaking such jealous-sounding phrases.
Yue Guanyi felt utterly stupid, wishing he could tear out that vile tongue in his mouth and chop it to bits.
She must find him disgusting now.
He felt as if plunged into a winter ice cave, his whole body cold. He lowered his head, not daring to meet Qiu Shuzhi's gaze. His hands were clenched tightly, the bandaged ones slowly seeping a striking trace of fresh blood.
"Your Highness, your hand-" Qiu Shuzhi saw the crimson blood oozing from Yue Guanyi's palm, like a streak of blood staining a piece of fine white jade.
Chang'an quickly dismounted and unwrapped the bandage on Yue Guanyi's hand. The wound that had just scabbed over burst open again, revealing the bright red soft flesh inside - a shocking sight.
"Your Highness, your wound has reopened. Let Chang'an rebandage it for you."
Yue Guanyi was still immersed in the nightmare of being despised by Qiu Shuzhi, oblivious to Chang'an's words, his face even paler.
Looking at the bloody wound continuously seeping fresh blood, trickling from his palm down his fingers, then dripping to form a pool on the ground, attracting sidelong glances from passersby.
Many recognized his identity. To avoid drawing attention, Qiu Shuzhi whispered in his ear: "This official has offended you."
With that, she directly pulled him into the carriage. The heavy curtains fell, blocking all outside views.
Chang'an immediately understood and drove the carriage away from the bustling market.
The carriage swayed back and forth, burning high-quality ambergris incense. White smoke curled within the enclosed space. His snow-white clothes and long hair falling over his shoulders, his downcast eyes were desolate.
Qiu Shuzhi picked up the gauze from the low table and silently began bandaging his wound.
Yue Guanyi's eyelashes trembled as he suddenly withdrew his hand, saying anxiously: "I can do it myself, it's too much trouble for Official Qiu."
Qiu Shuzhi sighed, watching the blood spatter on his snow-white clothes like a red plum blooming in a vast snowy field.
"How can you bandage it yourself? Let this official do it. Does Your Highness disdain this official?"
"How could I-" Yue Guanyi shook his head vigorously.
How could he disdain her?
He would be overjoyed that Qiu Shuzhi was willing to touch him. He only feared that someone as lowly as himself would dirty her hands.
He wanted to keep far away from Qiu Shuzhi, a man's dirty blood should not be in a noble woman's sight.
Yet he shamelessly harbored a bold delusion - he also longed for Qiu Shuzhi's pity!
"Give me your hand," she said.
Yue Guanyi obediently extended his hand, his trembling eyes carefully watching her.
For a moment, Qiu Shuzhi felt as if she were training a large dog. Despite its fierce and intimidating appearance that frightened everyone, it was docile and submissive before its master, eyes fixed only on the master.
She brushed aside those random thoughts and took up the gauze to carefully bandage the wound, admonishing as she worked: "Your Highness, your wound is very deep and difficult to heal. Remember not to repeatedly tear it open, understand?"
Yue Guanyi nodded, extremely obedient.
In the quiet space there were only the two of them. Qiu Shuzhi's eyes and mind were filled only with him. This feeling of being the center of attention made him feel as if in the clouds, his anxious heart also filled with happiness.
After bandaging the wound, Qiu Shuzhi's hands were also stained with some of his blood.
He instantly felt extremely remorseful. His dirty blood had soiled the noble one's hands. Those delicate, pure white hands now bore a stain. He wished he could kneel before her and lick away every speck of filth with his tongue, yet he feared his wild self would startle her.
The closer he got to her, the deeper that bone-deep sense of inferiority grew, as if carved into his very being. Qiu Shuzhi was the moon in the sky, while he was just a lowly insect. As he suppressed his wild fantasies under the moonlight, that pure moonlight grew ever more distant from him.
"My lady, please clean your hands!" Yue Guanyi took out a damp cloth from the side and respectfully handed it to her, his gestures and tone more like a humble servant than a prince.
"Thank you, Your Highness." Qiu Shuzhi took the cloth and gently wiped her hands.
"I- I once learned to dance, but I'm not good at it," he explained, trying to justify his earlier foolish, fawning words.
But some things become more muddled the more one tries to explain. Words could only make his expression more feeble.
His voice grew softer and more uneasy, to the point where he wanted to pull his own hair in regret, hating himself for his stupidity.
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