This period of living together has made Chen Ling fully realize how intelligent Yaxi is. He believes that if she were ever bullied, she wouldn't just sit there and take it. On the contrary, she's more than capable of fighting back. But he wants to address the root cause. She shouldn't have to get used to being everyone's target, shouldering all the pain alone.
The wound isn't deep; it doesn't look like it was caused by a sharp object—it seems more like… scraping." After applying the ointment, Chen Ling gently blew on her injury. Yaxi turned her face away. "Alright, alright. If I don't tell you, you'll probably go investigate the scene yourself."
On my way to school this morning, a boy on a bike wasn't paying attention. Something was hanging off his clothes, and as he passed me quickly, I happened to look up, and my face got scraped. He didn't even glance back." She waved dismissively, then added upon seeing Chen Ling frown, "I honestly don't know who it was. Otherwise, I'd already have found his bike in the shed and let the air out of his tires."
"Good. Next time, tell me the truth. When dealing with bad people, remember: open the door and unleash the dog—that's the rule, right?" Chen Ling smoothed her pillow, deadpanning as he referred to himself as the 'dog.'
In his mind, he could vividly picture the scenario: the culprit fleeing without a second thought, bystanders watching indifferently. She must have immediately lowered her head, pretending nothing had happened, and walked on. Yaxi obediently lay down as he intended. "I never imagined before that you'd be so enthusiastic about playing the role of a dog."
"Before?" Chen Ling switched off the light and lay down beside her. From downstairs, it seemed a dog had overheard their conversation and barked loudly. The owner's furious voice followed: "Keep barking, and you won't eat tomorrow!"
The room fell silent for a moment, then Yaxi, facing away, started laughing softly. "Did you catch what that dog was saying?"
Chen Ling's face was buried in the crook of her neck, his warm breath tickling her ear. "Nope. Not the same breed."
Yaxi pictured the dog downstairs—a Husky with icy blue eyes, standing quietly at the entrance like a wolf—handsome when still, but ridiculous once it spotted humans, cross-eyed and yelping while tugging at pant legs. At night, it loved to howl, though its singing left much to be desired. "So, what kind of dog are you?"
"You're the one who raised me. Obviously, I'm a Border Collie."
Ignoring him, Yaxi prepared to sleep. Her neck and shoulders were warm, carrying the rhythm of his steady breaths.
"Yaxi, I want to ask you something," Chen Ling suddenly said. Almost instantly, the warmth vanished, replaced by a cold draft seeping into the blanket, making Yaxi shiver slightly. She heard the rustle of sheets as Chen Ling turned his back to her, leaving her feeling a chill in her heart. His moments of initiative were always fleeting, unpredictable. His closeness came veiled in layers of mystery, difficult to decipher. Sure enough, tonight's concessions weren't just about those two wounds.
"Ask. If it can be answered within three minutes, I'll grant you mercy and reply." Yaxi wanted to hear what he'd been holding inside for so long.
After half a minute of silence, Chen Ling finally spoke: "Back in the snow… Lu Ziyang said you liked me."