If Qin Zhan knew that pretending to be angry this time would cause such a big reaction from Bi Xia, he would still persist, however, he would use another way to avoid making his Little Nine uncomfortable. After all, Bi Xia’s pain hurt him even more.

Maybe Bi Xia would find her current reaction, including becoming fond of acting spoiled and coquettish beside Qin Zhan, inexplicable, even confused and misunderstood, but Qin Zhan knew. He even understood her better than she understood herself.

From the first time he met Bi Xia, Qin Zhan saw the unwillingness and stubbornness in her eyes, even if it was covered by coldness and pride, it still couldn’t escape Qin Zhan’s eyes. It was a kind of instinctual empathy for having similar feelings; once, Qin Zhan also had such unwillingness and unwillingness to let others see his strength. But obviously, Bi Xia’s was more complicated and heavier than his.

As he gradually learned more about Bi Xia and fell in love with her, Qin Zhan decided to protect, guard, and love this child well. Moreover, he instinctively, and perhaps calculatedly, began to make Bi Xia gradually trust him, believe in him, rely on him little by little in her life and habits, subtly making Bi Xia think of him first no matter what happens... No, to be precise, he wanted Bi Xia to think of him first regardless of when, where, or what.

Everyone says he, Qin Zhan, is apathetic and cold-blooded, but in reality, he knows how selfish he is, and how vengeful.

He can end a person’s life without blinking an eye, even if that person merely said a wrong word, but as long as it affects his mood, he won’t be lenient. He can even force his own father to never return to the Qin Family.

Mercy and kindness are bullshit to him, Qin Zhan; only power and influence are the only things in this world that truly matter, everything else is a burden.

He, Qin Zhan, doesn’t know how to love, but when he genuinely falls in love with someone, everything from the past — the coldness, the ruthlessness — is thrown to the back of his mind. He doesn’t even dare to show this side of himself to his lover.

But this side of himself always gets exposed.

So, from the moment he realized he liked Bi Xia, he began casting a net, a net concerning him, Qin Zhan, for Bi Xia. He wanted Bi Xia to never leave his side no matter what happens, even if it cost him everything, even his life, he wouldn’t hesitate.

He succeeded; Jiu grew fonder of him, increasingly depended on him, thinking of him constantly. He delighted in suppressing his inner joy and possessiveness; Bi Xia would never know that every time she stood before him, he desperately wanted to fuse her into his body. That way, through life and death, Bi Xia would always belong to Qin Zhan, and Qin Zhan would belong to Bi Xia...

But he discovered that Bi Xia’s every action affected him constantly, every word and emotion made him want to rush to her side, hug her, kiss her, tell her how much he, Qin Zhan, liked her. But... He found he couldn’t say such sweet words.

And today, he feigned indifference, not because Bi Xia deliberately embarrassed him, instead he found her incredibly cute. What angered him was Bi Xia jokingly treating her own body, washing with cold water during menstrual periods, knowing well how severe the consequences can be, having witnessed his mother suffer from the pain since young, even to the point of fainting.

Every time she walks barefoot on the floor, no matter how many times he tells her. Drinking cold water right after entering without caring about the harm to the body. Sometimes, when feeling lazy, she would make instant noodles without considering if her stomach could handle it... So, Qin Zhan wondered if getting mad over this once might make Bi Xia realize the seriousness.

But clearly, he lost; as soon as Bi Xia spoke, he began to feel heartache.

"Sorry, it was wrong of me," His thin lips pressed together as Qin Zhan softly lowered his gaze, speaking slowly, "Jiu, be kinder to yourself, which is also being kinder to me, don’t make me worry, will you?"

Lowering her head, fingers poking at the tile, after a while, Bi Xia softly replied, suddenly saying, "Qin Zhan, you fool." 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Hmm?"

"... I know," She knew everything he’d done, the hidden possessiveness and affection in those phoenix eyes nearly bursting forth during every gaze, every kiss; Bi Xia is not blind, how could she not see? But... "I am yours, and you are mine. This different me belongs only to you, dummy."

This unlike-me me, if not willingly, how could I wholeheartedly like and trust you after discovering it?

"So..." Bi Xia pursed her lips, the grievance originally in her heart vanished, "Don’t be cold to me like that again."

Qin Zhan chuckled softly, those phoenix eyes filled with tender affection, "Only warm to you."