137. The Edge of Self-Destruction
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To be honest, Lin Nan had actually thought about whether Chen Yao would scoop her up in a princess carry if she used the excuse of being too injured to stand.
So even though her fall wasn’t severe, she insisted she couldn’t get up.
Little did she expect Chen Yao to just swoop in without hesitation and carry her away.
No time to mentally prepare.
Before she fully realized what was happening, she found herself cradled in his arms.
Instantly, her cheeks began to flush—red like a tomato, hotter than a pepper. Her eyes shut tight, her brain turned to mush, leaving her utterly incapable of thought. All she could do was grip Chen Yao’s phone in her hands and stiffen up like a board.
“Quick, call the school doctor! I can’t use my hands!” Chen Yao’s voice was a low rumble, laced with urgency.
Lin Nan’s brain finally kicked into gear, but instead of reaching for the phone, her attention was drawn to where Chen Yao’s big hands were awkwardly placed.
She peeked down, and there it was, under her armpit—his palm was invading her personal space!
Could you not be rubbing against my chest? Sure, it’s just flesh and bl**d, but it feels all kinds of strange.
Lin Nan’s mouth twitched, unable to voice her discomfort. Instead, she shut her eyes, hoping to unlock some kind of magical powers to make this awkward situation disappear.
Being carried made her realize that a princess carry isn’t a quick affair; it needs a good ten minutes at least.
Thank goodness she’s light; if she weighed 200 pounds, forget a princess carry! Chen Yao would have to drag her by her feet!
The remaining students on the playground were casting glances her way, intensifying her embarrassment. She twisted her head and buried her face into Chen Yao’s chest, thinking at least this way, no one could see her face.
This thrill? So familiar…
“What’s wrong?”
Chen Yao halted, looking down at Lin Nan’s flushed face, convinced that she must have really broken something. He sternly warned, “Don’t move around! Just focus on the phone!”
“Um, um…” Lin Nan weakly protested, “Could you move your hand a bit…”
Only then did she realize her left hand had ended up in a place it absolutely shouldn’t have. With a crimson blush, she awkwardly shifted her hand up, around her shoulder, and coughed to cover her embarrassment, trying to maintain a serious demeanor. “Hurry up and call! You’re heavy, you know?”
How’s she supposed to call anyone? It was probably just a scraped knee! If she called the school doctor, she’d probably get an earful for fussing over nothing.
But estimating the time, the princess carry still required at least another seven or eight minutes.
Despite Chen Yao putting on an air of seriousness, the atmosphere between them was awkwardly suggestive.
Chen Yao didn’t dare think too much about it, while Lin Nan was terrified to move, worried Chen Yao’s hands might wander again.
The school infirmary was in the teaching building, and by this time, all the big doors were tightly shut. He only could carry Lin Nan to the entrance and carefully attempted to set her down.
This won’t do! There’s no way it’s been ten minutes yet!
Since he’s already carried her, he might as well let her unlock her magical powers!
Just as he was about to release her, Lin Nan suddenly furrowed her brow and exclaimed, “Ouch! Stop moving!”
“It’s okay; I’ll be gentle,” Chen Yao blurted, panicking. “Just take it slow!”
“Don’t, it hurts…” Lin Nan intentionally whined, letting her voice take on a nasal whine, tinged with a hint of teary desperation.
Chen Yao froze, unwilling to move an inch, awkwardly standing by the entrance with no free hand to call anyone and no one around to help.
He glanced down at Lin Nan, who, in his eyes, was just a friend needing a helping hand. If it had been any other girl from class, he would’ve done the same… except for those he couldn’t actually carry.
Back in high school, he’d done this before when a classmate had stepped on a nail near a construction site. He’d immediately picked her up and carried her away. But with Lin Nan, things felt… oddly strange?
Yet, she felt so soft. Way softer than the girl from back then.
Stuck at the teaching building, he deliberated letting Lin Nan down, but he feared causing further injury. He wanted to call the doctor at the infirmary, but his hands were still busy holding Lin Nan.
“Just call already,” he thought, looking like a complete idiot standing by the gate.
“I…” Lin Nan stumbled, unsure how to explain why she wasn’t calling the doctor. After a moment, she buried her face deeper into Chen Yao’s chest, mumbling, “I lost my phone.”
Flames of embarrassment engulfed her, fueled by shame, awkwardness, and guilt. The longer this went on, the hotter she felt, and her head began to spin.
This wild thrill on the brink of self-destruction was simply intoxicating.
“Wait, didn’t I just see you holding my phone?” Chen Yao was utterly confused.
As he spoke, Lin Nan casually tossed his phone into the bushes behind her.
Shouldn’t break, right? Well, now it’s officially lost.
Chen Yao’s phone wasn’t expensive—just a two-thousand yuan Xiaomi from a few years back, worth maybe three to five hundred now at best, and a bit slow to boot. He wanted to replace it anyway, so losing it wasn’t a tragedy.
But the problem was, Lin Nan didn’t have the school doctor’s number, and he couldn’t remember it either!
He didn’t have time to scold Lin Nan. He just wanted to retrieve his phone, but once he turned around, he spotted it peacefully resting in the bushes.
“That must have fallen when you tried to put me down…” Lin Nan explained, her face beet-red.
Chen Yao felt something was off with her explanation, and Lin Nan’s strange behavior tonight reminded him of someone who might’ve had a little too much to drink. Yet he didn’t think she was trying to deceive him—she wouldn’t be greedy for his embrace, would she?
His mind didn’t dwell long on doubts; he just felt puzzled and stuck in the bushes.
His hands were trapped—squatting down wasn’t an option, and any sudden movements made Lin Nan yelp in pain.
For crying out loud, they really should’ve just gotten a stranger to help.
“Look at this mess,” he sighed. “When we go back, you’re likely going to need a hospital visit! Why’d you have to drag me out for exercise instead of staying cozy at home?”
“Just wanted to get some exercise!” Lin Nan mumbled, feeling guilty, unable to meet his eyes.
Chen Yao rolled his eyes, carrying her out as he said, “Let’s find someone to help; there should be a security guard patrolling at this hour, right?”
“Don’t…”
“What now?” He glanced down at her profile. Even in the dim light, he caught sight of her flushed ears. That’s when he realized she was burning up. “You have a fever?”
Just too embarrassed…
Taking a deep breath, Lin Nan murmured, “Put me down now; my foot doesn’t hurt that much anymore.”
“??? ”
“It was hurting a ton before, but now, it feels almost fine…”
He wasn’t sure if it was a fracture, but at least she hadn’t been able to walk before! And now she claims she’s all better?
Confused, he set Lin Nan down, and to his surprise, she jumped up and down like nothing was wrong!
Noticing his incredulous gaze, Lin Nan suddenly squatted down with an exaggerated “Ouch.” “Must’ve just twisted it.”
“???” Chen Yao was left completely baffled.
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Thanks to Jiao Zhuang De for the ten thousand fire rolls! Current total: 102.
If you see an excessive amount of spam in the chapters, please report it. It’s affecting my ability to read the jokes!
