1793 I Can’t Stand It When You Do That
Hexin, “…”

He was merely stating the truth, but for some reason, she could not help getting titillating thoughts when she heard him say the words “eat” and “bite”.

“Don’t worry yourself over it. Hurry up and eat, or the meat’s going to go cold again. I won’t be able to take any more food after eating this drumstick, so I won’t be able to finish more of your leftovers.” Seeing her sitting there in a trance, Long Yin teased her gently with a quirk of his lips.

Hexin sheepishly collected her thoughts and got to finishing her portion of rabbit meat.

Once she was done, Long Yin poured her a cup of warm water. “Have some water.”

Hexin took it. As she sipped the water, she stole a glance at him out of the corner of her eye.

She watched as he poked the fire with a stick. Eventually, she could not help asking softly, “Big Bro Long Yin, do you enjoy finishing other people’s leftovers?”

Long Yin’s dark eyes flickered at her. “Why do you ask?”

Hexin shot him a look, thinking, ‘Because you just finished mine, obviously.’

“I was just curious.”

The corners of Long Yin’s mouth curved up. “Do I seem like such an uncouth person to you?” There was a pause. “Before today, I’d never eaten anyone’s leftovers.”

His words sent Hexin’s heart pounding. Her lashes trembled, and her face grew hot.

“Xinxin, I’ll only eat leftovers if they’re yours.” Just then, Long Yin drew close to her and murmured in her ear.

All at once, the man’s cool, fresh scent enfolded her. His deep voice was not loud, but her eardrums could hardly take it.

She flinched instinctively and stared at him, eyes wide and cheeks flushed.

Long Yin’s dark and deep eyes gazed at her silently, and the corners of his mouth lifted.

Being stared at by him that way and remembering what he had just said Hexin felt that her heart was going to give out at any second.

What did he mean by that?

Unable to stand his intense gaze, she suddenly poked his injured arm with a finger.

Long Yin winced and caught her hand, whispering, “Xinxin, don’t be naughty. It’s going to hurt.”

The feeling of his warm palm enveloping her fingers stirred something in her, and she pulled away strongly, muttering, “Now you’re complaining it hurts? I didn’t know you were capable of feeling pain.”

“I’m only human too. I’m just better at tolerating pain than most people,” Long Yin said quietly, sighing. He placed his palm on his bent knee, the softness of the girl’s fingers still lingering on his skin.

Hexin felt a little guilty. “Did it hurt when I poked you?” She moved close to him and blew gently on his wound.

Despite the fabric in between, Long Yin tensed up instantly.

It was as if he could smell the girl’s fragrant breath gliding over his skin.

He reached out abruptly and cupped the girl’s face. There was an almost imperceptible raspiness in his voice as he said, “Xinxin, I can’t stand it when you do that.”

Hexin met the man’s cavernous eyes, and her mind went completely blank.

There was a flicker of amusement in Long Yin’s eyes as he gazed at the girl’s delicate face in his palms. In the end, he could not help himself from brushing her cheek with his thumb.
That was all he did—almost right after touching her, he retracted his hand and sat upright.

Hexin’s face was so red she looked like she was going to burst.

Fortunately, the firelight provided enough cover to avoid rousing the suspicion of others.

Hexin could barely sleep a wink that night.

Her mind was completely filled with Long Yin’s words and actions.