Chu Xin’s voice did not stir the crouching Jiang Qianhe from her position.
Oh no, it’s too late, Chu Xin’s heart raced. He could only adjust his movements, but he still couldn’t stabilize himself.
With a loud commotion, the two collided.
…
When Chu Xin regained consciousness, he found himself lying on the tatami mats of the dojo.
Surprisingly, he didn’t feel any pain.
However, as he instinctively raised his left arm to rub his dizzy head, a soft, shy moan escaped from beneath him.
He froze and looked down to see Jiang Qianhe, who had been crouching, now beneath him.
Their faces were mere inches apart, and their gazes locked.
The usual vacant, sickly expression on Jiang Qianhe’s face was gone, replaced by pure, unadulterated shyness and a gaze fixed on Chu Xin.
Her eyes, once clouded, were now clear and free of any distractions.
She stared at Chu Xin, breathing in his scent, her mind blank.
Although her previous thoughts weren’t just empty fantasies, in this moment of opportunity, her body refused to move.
The discomfort and pain she felt earlier were now gone, replaced by the bashful emotions of a young girl.
Her delicate features, usually energetic, now resembled tender spring bamboo shoots or delicate blooming flowers, fresh and vibrant.
Her flushed cheeks only enhanced her allure.
Due to the impact, Jiang Qianhe’s neatly tucked blouse had ridden up, exposing her smooth, toned stomach.
Her tearful eyes and her double ponytail sprawled on the ground added a touch of seduction to the scene.
Chu Xin avoided her gaze after a few seconds, and as he did, Jiang Qianhe also turned her head.
Her right hand, still under Chu Xin’s, she used her left hand to cover her mouth, her usual arrogant tone now replaced with shyness.
“You… you hurt me…” she murmured.
Chu Xin’s mind went blank at her words.
Because of their position, Jiang Qianhe’s legs were bent, creating an… awkward situation.
But Chu Xin managed to control himself, regaining his composure.
He stood up and pulled Jiang Qianhe to her feet.
“Jiang Qianhe, are you okay? Do you want to go to the infirmary?”
Chu Xin hadn’t expected things to turn out this way, especially since she had been attacking him moments ago.
It wasn’t that he was bothered, but he couldn’t understand the situation, especially since everything had changed so suddenly.
But it seemed that his collision with Jiang Qianhe had brought her back to her senses, which was a good thing.
Jiang Qianhe, still dazed from the previous events, only managed a soft “mmm” in response.
Instinctively, she placed her hand in Chu Xin’s, allowing him to help her up.
Standing, Jiang Qianhe was still a bit disoriented, as anyone would be after such an impact.
But her body was weak, and she nearly slipped, only saved by Chu Xin’s quick reflexes.
“Jiang Qianhe, are you alright? I’m so sorry. Do you want me to take you to the infirmary?”
Chu Xin thought about how the president had pushed him, and though he didn’t know the full situation, the president seemed to have a keen insight, which must have been the reason for her actions.
And indeed, it had pulled Jiang Qianhe out of her strange state.
Though Jiang Qianhe didn’t know where the president had gone, Chu Xin admired her ability to understand the situation so quickly and to calm Jiang Qianhe down with just a few whispers.
Jiang Qianhe’s face flushed red, and she shook her head, indicating she didn’t need to go.
Seeing Chu Xin’s concerned expression, she closed her eyes, hoping her intentions were clear.
She wanted him to apologize with a kiss…
She had tried to reach out and hug Chu Xin, but her arms felt numb, unable to lift.
She didn’t know why, maybe because she had never interacted much with boys except for her family and work colleagues.
Even in middle school, she barely knew any of the boys, and those who confessed to her were so insincere she couldn’t even remember their names.
Now, her interactions with Chu Xin were limited, mostly to her occasional nighttime visits, which rarely succeeded.
She hadn’t even touched Chu Xin during those attempts.
Maybe she just needed more practice…
For now, she closed her eyes, waiting for Chu Xin’s apology.
But Chu Xin didn’t notice her intentions.
He thought Jiang Qianhe might be about to faint, shaking her gently and calling out her name.
Seeing no response, he was about to carry her to the infirmary.
Jiang Qianhe, feeling annoyed in Chu Xin’s embrace, sighed.
Why couldn’t he see her clear hints?
She wanted to say something but decided against it, stepping out of his embrace.
“Hmph, you only ask if you’re all right because you bumped into your childhood friend, Chu Xin? You don’t even show any remorse!”
Chu Xin scratched his head, seeing Jiang Qianhe back to her usual self.
Tentatively, he asked, “Should I… take you to the infirmary?”
Jiang Qianhe looked at Chu Xin’s innocent face, feeling a mix of exasperation and affection.
“Is that all you can think of? Do you really think I’d get mad over something so small? You’re overthinking things. We’re just childhood friends, after all.”
Chu Xin was taken aback but relieved to see Jiang Qianhe back to normal.
“Well, what do you want to do then?”
Seeing Chu Xin’s clueless expression, Jiang Qianhe felt a surge of frustration.
“At the very least, you could take me out to dinner, since we’re childhood friends. Of course, it’s not a date, our relationship isn’t there yet.”
Chu Xin agreed readily.
“Sure, but… I want to bring someone along.”
Jiang Qianhe was startled but didn’t think much of it, assuming it would be his younger sister, Su Jin, who was smart but seemed to only care about studies.
“Fine by me, bring her along. It’s not a date, so whatever! I’ll let you know when…”
Inside, she was worried but couldn’t show it.
Even though she knew Chu Xin might never understand her hints, she decided to give him a small punishment later that night.
After that, they fell silent, not knowing what else to say.
Chu Xin wondered where the president had taken the two seniors.
He wanted to understand what had happened to Jiang Qianhe earlier.
After some thought, he changed his tone and asked, “Jiang Qianhe, what happened to you earlier?”
He considered that she might have some personal issues, and as a neighbor, he felt he should ask.
Jiang Qianhe was happy with the change in his address but felt uncomfortable with his question, making the silence even more awkward.
Even she didn’t know why she had acted that way, especially since attacking here was dangerous.
The president was right; if she failed, their relationship would never recover.
Maybe it was the jealousy and insecurity she felt because of Ji Yue Xuan’s presence.
Or maybe it was the fear that her beloved swordsmanship would be destroyed by the person she loved…
She didn’t know if it was one or both, or if it was just her feelings for Chu Xin.
She regretted it, but Chu Xin was still waiting for her answer.
Just as she was unsure of what to say, a cool voice from the changing room interrupted:
“Let me explain…”