The Side Character Wants to Lie Flat-Chapter 103: A Deadly Question

As Hua Manman slowly climbed onto the soft couch, she sighed inwardly.

’Life is precious, liberty is dearer.’

’But for candied fruit, I’d throw them both away.’

Si Yun was about to step forward and help Lady Hua undress, but Prince Zhao stopped her.

"Get out. You’re not needed here."

Si Yun could only give Lady Hua a helpless look before retreating from the room.

With a soft CREAK, the door was closed.

In the silent bedchamber, Li Ji watched Hua Manman at his leisure, gesturing for her to begin undressing.

A blush crept onto Hua Manman’s face. Her small hands grasped the ties of her clothes, pulling them loose bit by bit. Her movements were slow and delicate, her little finger even slightly raised. Paired with her shy and timid expression, it was as if she were casting tiny hooks that made one’s heart itch with anticipation.

A brow on Li Ji’s face twitched, and he chuckled.

"Undressing so slowly. Are you waiting for me to help you?"

Hua Manman’s face instantly turned an even deeper shade of red.

"Your Highness is a man of your station. How could you possibly serve another? I can manage on my own."

Though she said this, her movements remained just as slow.

It was enough to make anyone watching want to rush over and rip all her clothes off in one go.

Li Ji hadn’t expected the little thing to be so playful. The smile on his face deepened.

He stopped urging her on. Leaning forward slightly, he propped his cheek on one hand and watched Hua Manman at his leisure, his long, narrow eyes filled with intense interest.

Prince Zhao had an overwhelming presence. Even his gaze carried a powerful, intrusive quality that couldn’t be ignored, making Hua Manman feel deeply uncomfortable.

She felt as if she were being stared down by a wild beast, in constant danger of being devoured whole.

She was a little scared.

But she quickly calmed herself down.

’First of all, I have an injury on my back. No matter how much of a beast Prince Zhao is, he wouldn’t stoop so low as to make a move on an injured person.’

’Besides, Prince Zhao’s leg injury hasn’t healed yet. He can’t even stand up, so there’s no way he could do anything... inappropriate... with me.’

’All in all, I’m safe for now.’

Li Ji, who had heard her innermost thoughts: "..."

’Great. After "that damn pervert," I’ve now earned the title of "beast."’

After dawdling for a good half-hour, Hua Manman finally took off all her clothes, revealing a chest wrapped tightly in gauze bandages.

The gauze was wrapped so thickly it was like a small piece of clothing in itself.

It covered all her vital areas securely, leaving nothing exposed.

Li Ji: "..."

’Although I hadn’t planned on doing anything in the first place, I’m still just a little disappointed.’

Seeing him staring at the gauze on her chest, Hua Manman laughed smugly to herself.

’Hahaha! Well, mister? Are you satisfied with what you see?’

Outwardly, however, she blushed and spoke coyly.

"Why are you looking at me like that, Your Highness? It’s making me so embarrassed."

Li Ji heard her inner voice loud and clear.

’This woman is far more interesting than I’d anticipated.’

Li Ji was in a very good mood. He said with a broad smile,

"It’s fine. You’ll get used to it after seeing it a few more times."

Hua Manman was shocked.

’What does he mean, I’ll get used to it after seeing it a few more times?’

’Does this man actually plan to watch me undress over and over again in the future?’

’To think that someone who looks so dashing and distinguished would harbor such a strange perversion in private! Tsk, tsk, tsk!’

Li Ji chuckled softly.

’Heh, and to think,’ he mused, ’that this woman who looks so graceful and stunningly beautiful would turn out to be such a roasting fiend in private.’

Li Ji said languidly, "Take off the bandages. Let me see your wound."

Hua Manman turned around, presenting her back to Prince Zhao.

She lowered her head and began to unwrap the gauze from around her chest, bit by bit.

As the gauze fell away, her beautiful, snow-white back was slowly revealed. Her delicate shoulder blades shimmered with a gentle luster, her curves were graceful, and her waist was so slender it looked as though it could be encircled by a single hand.

It should have been a beautiful and alluring sight, but the few hideous wounds marred its aesthetic beauty.

Hua Manman clutched her hands over her chest, waiting for a long time, but heard no sound from Prince Zhao.

She couldn’t help but look back at Prince Zhao, only to find that he had, at some point, moved very close to the soft couch.

He was still in his wheelchair, his long, narrow, black eyes as deep as an abyss. His gaze roamed slowly over her back.

Like a predator sizing up its prey, pondering where to take the first bite.

Hua Manman instinctively tensed her back and called out cautiously.

"My Prince."

Li Ji finally tore his gaze from her back and moved it to her face.

"The wound is bleeding a little. It seems to have opened up. It needs to be re-dressed."

Hua Manman reached for her clothes, saying,

"I’ll go get Si Yun to help me change the dressing."

But Li Ji said, "No need. I can handle a small matter like this for you."

Hua Manman wanted to refuse.

But Li Ji gave her no chance to do so.

He took out a spare medicine box, retrieved some wound powder and gauze, and began to change Hua Manman’s dressing.

He had trained in military camps with his father since he was a boy and had been injured more times than he could count. As a result, he was very experienced with things like changing dressings and bandaging wounds.

In the past, when he treated his own wounds, he always did it as simply and roughly as possible.

But now, faced with the delicate and gentle-looking Hua Manman, Li Ji finally remembered to act like a gentleman.

He abandoned his usual rough and simple style, his movements becoming as gentle and light as possible.

Hua Manman clutched a bundle of clothes to her chest.

Her head was bowed, revealing the fragile, snow-white nape of her neck, the line of her spine rendered even more distinct and alluring.

Li Ji sat right behind her.

His throat felt a little dry, and an inexplicable impulse stirred within him.

He extended his cool, pale fingertips, picked up the medicine bottle, and lightly sprinkled the powder onto Hua Manman’s wounds.

The powder stung the wounds slightly.

Hua Manman’s brow furrowed slightly, but she didn’t move.

Li Ji noticed her back tense slightly and knew she was in pain. Acting on impulse, he leaned in and blew gently on the wounds.

The warm breath on her skin sent a tingling sensation across her wounds.

Hua Manman jumped in surprise.

She instinctively scooted forward to escape the warm breath, then turned her head to look at Prince Zhao, only to meet his deep, dark eyes.

That single glance was enough to make Hua Manman’s knees feel weak.

She stammered,

"My-My Prince, is the dressing changed?"

Li Ji slowly straightened up. A faint smile played on his thin lips, and his long, narrow eyes crinkled slightly, making him look like a devastatingly handsome devil.

"Not yet."

Hua Manman’s heart began to race. She blushed and said, "You must be tired, Your Highness. Why don’t we let Si Yun come in and help me with the dressing instead?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

This was the second time she had mentioned Si Yun. Li Ji asked languidly,

"In your heart, do you find Si Yun more reliable than me?"

Hua Manman had an immediate gut feeling. ’This is a loaded question.’

Driven by her powerful will to survive, she quickly gave the textbook answer.

"What are you saying, Your Highness? You are my husband, my sky and my earth. In this entire world, no one could possibly make me feel more safe and secure than you."