Rejected by the Campus Belle, I Find My True Love-Chapter 80: Just Want to Tie Xue Yang Down for a Lifetime
Xue Yang glanced at the time: 9:05 PM. For Lin Xi, this was very late.
Without another thought, he picked up his coat and headed out again.
Just as he opened the door, a travel-worn Lin Xi appeared at the threshold, about to unlock it herself.
Seeing Xue Yang emerge from inside, they both froze in surprise.
"Xue Yang, you’re back?"
Once she snapped out of it, Lin Xi leapt into his arms in a bear hug. She had been exhausted all day, but seeing him seemed to melt her fatigue away.
Xue Yang naturally opened his arms, easily lifting her and carrying her back inside. With a graceful sweep of his long leg, he nudged the door shut, sealing them off from the icy, snow-covered world outside.
"It’s Christmas Eve, so I made sure to come back early. Where were you?"
He noticed that her entire body was frigid. Usually, it was just her hands and feet that got cold. He carried her into the room, and as the warmth enveloped them, Lin Xi felt some sensation return, though she still felt frozen to the bone.
"It’s so cold outside."
"It really is. When I got back, the snow was already over ten centimeters deep."
"This would be the perfect time to build a snowman. I bet it would turn out beautifully."
"Better yet, let’s build an entire army of them. That would make things more lively."
"Like the Terracotta Army?"
"Not a bad idea, but that’s a bit of a massive undertaking."
"True, that’s too much work."
While chatting with Lin Xi, Xue Yang’s hands never stopped moving, constantly trying to warm her up.
But she was too cold for him to make much of a difference. He took off her boots, revealing her feet. Her normally fair, jade-like feet were now chafed bright red, and the skin was broken in several places. Xue Yang paused for a moment as his heart immediately ached for her. He wanted to ask what had happened, but Lin Xi didn’t seem to feel the injuries on her feet at all.
She had been on her feet all day, and her legs had long since gone numb. If not for the single-minded thought of getting home before Xue Yang, she probably wouldn’t have made it back at all.
To her surprise, he had still beaten her home. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
Lin Xi was desperately trying to think of an excuse to gloss over her day.
He set her down on the bed, then stood up to get a basin of hot water.
"Soak your feet first. It will feel better."
Lin Xi had bought the foot-soaking tub herself, saying that girls feel the cold more, making it a winter essential.
"Okay."
Even as she placed her feet into the hot water, Lin Xi felt no pain. Xue Yang’s brow furrowed. What on earth was she doing today?
"Xue Yang, you just got back too, so you must be cold. Let’s soak together."
Xue Yang pulled a stool over, took off his socks, and put his feet in.
The tub, which was plenty spacious for Lin Xi alone, immediately became crowded with the addition of his feet.
"Xue Yang, you don’t have to dangle your feet in the air. Put them down."
In the past, when they soaked their feet together, Xue Yang would always end up playfully tapping her feet, tickling her soles.
"Alright."
Xue Yang gently rested his feet on top of hers, but this time, he remained perfectly still.
After they finished soaking their feet, Xue Yang found some ointment and carefully applied it to Lin Xi’s injuries, not asking a single question the entire time.
This allowed Lin Xi to relax. It was better that he didn’t ask, because she really wouldn’t have known how to respond.
She couldn’t possibly tell him she had been working a temp job, could she? If Xue Yang found out she hadn’t been studying at home but had instead snuck off to work, he would definitely be angry. And working was one thing, but getting herself injured would only make him angrier.
Lin Xi felt like Xue Yang was already a little angry. His stern expression, like that of a little old man, was a bit frightening.
She had originally planned to wait until midnight to give him his present, but on second thought, she decided to give it to him now.
After Xue Yang finished applying the ointment, Lin Xi tilted her head up, a mysterious look on her face.
"Xue Yang, close your eyes!"
"What is it?"
"Just close your eyes."
Xue Yang obediently closed his eyes.
A rustling sound came from nearby, piquing his curiosity, but he kept them shut.
"Ta-da! You can open your eyes now."
When Xue Yang opened his eyes, he saw a BERLUTI box. He was slightly taken aback. Could the contents be...
"It’s your Christmas present. Open it and see."
Xue Yang opened the box. Inside, just as he suspected, was a BERLUTI belt—the exact style he had seen earlier that night. He had wanted to buy it but gave up when he saw the price.
He never expected Lin Xi to buy it for him.
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t moved. This silly girl... she’d hurt her feet like this just to buy him a present.
"Merry Christmas, Xue Yang!"
"Thank you."
Lin Xi blushed. "Let me... help you put it on?"
"Okay."
At that, Xue Yang stood up and spread his arms.
He was really tall. As Lin Xi sat on the bed looking up at him, her neck began to feel a little sore. He had closed his eyes, and his long eyelashes trembled faintly. His expectant expression made him seem as if he were at her mercy, or perhaps... as if he were inviting her to do something.
Lin Xi pursed her dry lips, suddenly regretting her offer.
Helping a guy put on his belt... Oh god, how mortifying is that?
The salesclerk’s words echoed in her mind: "A belt is meant to bind the waist, so you could say it’s a very intimate daily accessory. For a girl to give a man a belt... it means she wants to tie him to her for life." That’s right. She wanted to tie Xue Yang to her for life. She wanted to stay by his side forever. After she went home, he could wear the belt she gave him every day, and then he would always think of her. Would he think she was being childish?
Xue Yang didn’t rush her, waiting patiently.
Lin Xi took the belt out of the box. It felt hot to the touch, and her own body felt as if it were on fire.
Standing before Xue Yang, Lin Xi seemed even smaller, making her look as delicate as a little bird nestling close. She held the belt, her hands trembling slightly as she found the loops on his trousers. Carefully, she threaded it through one by one, drawing closer to him with each loop until she was nearly pressed flush against him.
Just as her heart felt like it was about to leap from her chest, the end of the belt finally, after a great struggle, met the buckle.
"Do you know? You look like Santa Claus right now."
Lin Xi paused for a second, then smiled. "I do? Well, since I’m Santa Claus, how’s my service?"
"Excellent. But... it would be even more excellent if you could unbuckle the belt again."
Un... unbuckle...
Lin Xi’s pretty face flushed as if touched by a flame, a deep blush instantly spreading to the base of her neck. Before she could react, his tall figure had already drawn near. His nose touched hers, and his forehead rested against her own. She could smell his unique scent and see her own reflection, infinitely magnified, in his dark eyes.
"Xue Yang~"
...
A/N: As always, I appreciate your recommendation votes, monthly passes, and comments! (Sends a virtual heart!)
