Chapter 380 - 226: This Night, Lu Fan and Yixia Slept Together, Wish Fulfilled

She whipped her head around.

Lu Fan was lying beside her, on his side, facing her. His eyes were closed, and his breathing was even.

His face was so close, so close she could see the curve of his eyelashes and count the faint line between his brows.

His arm was draped over her blanket, his fingers slightly curled, as if grasping for something in a dream.

Jiang Yixia's mind went completely blank with a buzz.

The next second, she instinctively lifted her leg and kicked out hard.

THUD!!

A muffled thud. It was the sound of a heavy object hitting the floor.

Lu Fan tumbled completely off the bed, letting out a muffled groan.

"Ouch!" He clutched his head, wincing as he opened his eyes. He stared blankly at the ceiling, then at Jiang Yixia, who was now sitting up in bed. In a hoarse, aggrieved voice, he asked, "What was that for…"

Jiang Yixia snatched the blanket and wrapped herself tightly in it, leaving only her eyes exposed. She was both shocked and furious. "What are you doing in my bed!"

Lu Fan, still on the floor, rubbed the back of his head and then his lower back. He feigned an innocent look, his voice raspy with sleep. "Last night, the glass of water on your nightstand fell and landed on my bedding. The blanket got soaked, so I had no choice but to come up here to sleep."

He then added with a smile, "Don't worry. I only took up a tiny bit of space on the bed. I just lay right on the edge."

Jiang Yixia's face turned as red as a boiled lobster, and her voice trembled. "This isn't about space! Did… did you do anything last night?"

Lu Fan looked at her and suddenly smiled. It was a smile that was part mischievous, part innocent. He asked back curiously, "What did you want me to do?"

Jiang Yixia froze, and her eyes instantly reddened.

She bit her lip, her voice catching on a sob. She was both furious and hurt. "Lu Fan! You…"

'Lu Fan was the only man Jiang Yixia had ever been with in her entire life.'

'All of her firsts since they started dating had been with him.'

'But that didn't mean he could just have his way with her now.'

Seeing her reaction, Lu Fan scrambled up from the floor, holding up his hands. "No, no, I didn't do anything! I swear, I just slept quietly beside you. I didn't even touch you."

"Look, you're still wrapped up in your blanket, and your clothes are on just fine. If I'd done anything, wouldn't you know it?"

Jiang Yixia looked down at herself. Her clothes were indeed fine, and the blanket was wrapped snugly around her.

She remembered her dream from last night, and her face flushed an even deeper shade of red, but she didn't know what to say.

She took a deep breath and asked with a frown, "Really?"

"Really." Lu Fan looked completely sincere, holding up three fingers. "If I'm lying, may I be struck by lightning."

Jiang Yixia stared at him for a few seconds. Seeing that his gaze was open and he didn't look like he was lying, her anger slowly began to subside.

'In truth, she knew that Lu Fan, for all his smooth-talking, would never force her when it came to things like this.'

'He wouldn't have eighteen years ago, and he wouldn't now.'

She was about to say something when she noticed Lu Fan was still on the floor, one hand clutching his lower back. His brow was slightly furrowed, and he looked pale.

Her heart tightened, and her tone softened in spite of herself. "Are… are you okay?"

The moment Lu Fan heard that, his inner actor took over.

His brow furrowed even more deeply. He pressed one hand to the floor, trying to sit up but seemingly unable to. He hissed in pain, his expression agonizing. "My back… I think I pulled something. That was a vicious kick."

Jiang Yixia was skeptical. She looked at him and said, "Don't you dare lie to me. If you're lying, you'll be sorry."

"I really did. I twisted it. Look at this old body of mine—how could I handle a kick like that? How about you help me rub it?" Lu Fan looked up at her, his expression sincere, his eyes bright and a little pitiful.

Without waiting for Jiang Yixia to answer, he held his lower back and slowly got to his feet. He limped to the side of the bed and flopped down onto it, facedown.

He buried his face in the pillow and said in a muffled voice, "Just for a bit. It's fine if you don't want to. It just hurts a little, that's all."

Seeing him sprawled on the bed like that, Jiang Yixia didn't know whether to be angry or amused.

After a moment's hesitation, she got out of bed and went to the living room to get some medicinal liniment.

When she returned to the bedroom, Jiang Yixia saw that Lu Fan had sat up, taken off his shirt, and flopped back down, facedown again.

'This guy!'

'He's always quickest when it comes to taking off his clothes!'

Looking at his back, Jiang Yixia's heart couldn't help but beat faster.

His back was broad, the lines of his shoulder blades like unfurled wings.

Solid muscle flanked his spine, extending down until it was hidden by his pants.

His skin was a healthy tan, and it glowed faintly in the morning light.

It wasn't the exaggerated musculature built in a gym, but the result of years of athletic activity—toned, powerful, and perfectly balanced.

She poured some of the liniment into her palm, rubbed her hands together to warm it, and pressed them against his skin.

Her hands touched the side of his lower back, and she could feel his muscles tense slightly.

The liniment was cool, while her palms were warm. He let out a soft hiss at the contrast.

"Does it hurt that much?" Jiang Yixia asked, her touch instinctively lightening.

"It doesn't hurt. It's just cold," Lu Fan answered with a smile.

Jiang Yixia said no more and focused on rubbing his back.

Her palms pressed against his lower back, moving in circles. Slowly, she increased the pressure from light to firm.

His skin was searing hot. The heat seeped through the liniment into her palms.

She could feel the texture of the muscles on his sides—hard and smooth, twitching faintly beneath her fingers.

As she applied more pressure, she unconsciously leaned forward, and the collar of her pajamas drooped, swinging loosely.