Chapter 295 - 296: Are you afraid of me?
Di Mingzhe suddenly stood up, peered into the distance and noticed a small gully ahead, which appeared to be filled with spring water.
"Let’s go clean up a little," he suggested, turning to Di Xiaxia.
She was covered in grazes and faint traces of blood. It must have been uncomfortable for her.
Di Xiaxia was taken aback, and instinctively looked up at Di Mingzhe.
He was tall and had a fantastic physique. His white shirt gave him an ethereal, immaculate aura. His short, neat hair shimmered with subtle charm. His face was as bright as the moon with brows and eyes resembling a painting. He seemed like an untainted celestial being exuding a lofty, noble beauty that people dare not desecrate.
Sensing that she was merely staring at him without saying a word, Di Mingzhe raised an eyebrow, "Hm?"
"Oh." Surprised, Di Xiaxia quickly nodded.
Before she could even finish the nod, Di Mingzhe bent over abruptly and hoisted her into his strong arms.
Di Xiaxia was taken aback, giving out a surprised yelp as she stared at the man who had just swept her off her feet.
Undeniably, it was Di Mingzhe.
Di Xiaxia was utterly startled. This was such a classic, forceful princess carry!
In the span of an instant, she was both terrified and disbelieving. Looking nervously at Di Mingzhe, she stuttered, "Br...brother, you don’t have to carry me, I...I can walk on my own."
Even though one foot was injured, she still had the other. She could perhaps hop her way around if she had to.
Di Mingzhe glanced down at her. Her black tresses swirled around her delicate face as they fluttered in the wind, playfully caressing her lips. Despite her injuries, she remained exquisitely beautiful.
Her apprehensive gaze was fixated on him, radiating fear.
A fleeting shadow passed over Di Mingzhe’s impassive face. "Hold on tight," came his austere words.
Di Xiaxia was momentarily stunned, rendered speechless.
She felt something wasn’t quite right, but Di Mingjue remained steady, his posture upright and strides brisk as he effortlessly carried her ahead.
Di Xiaxia was at a loss, her face flushed from the unexpected attention. This was the first time her brother had carried her like this, and she was quite unaccustomed to it.
She couldn’t help but steal glances at his face, noticing for the first time that her brother’s features were flawlessly handsome.
His short hair was neat, eyebrows striking, eyes deep, nose chiseled, and lips sensuously perfect. His entire presence emanated a sense of serene sophistication, like a lofty moon that remained out of reach — distant and bright.
Noticing that she hadn’t gripped his neck yet, Di Mingzhe lightly raised his brow, "Afraid of me?"
As though startled out of her thoughts, Di Xiaxia quickly shook her head, "No, not at all."
Di Mingzhe did not reply.
Feeling compelled, Di Xiaxia slowly reached out and gingerly gripped his neck. This reduced the distance between them significantly, and she could now hear the sound of his heartbeat and steady breathing. Plus, her eyes were level with his perfect side profile.
Bathed in the quiet hues of the mountainside and surrounded by a riot of colors from the forest, Di Mingzhe steadily walked on with her in his arms. Di Xiaxia kept looking at him, her heart palpitating wildly before she finally cast her gaze downward in silence.
Once they reached the edge of the gully, Di Mingzhe gently set her down.
His slender fingers stirred the icy spring water, and he used it to cleanse her body of blood and dirt.
Di Xiaxia watched as his strong, jade-like hand moved over her legs, arms, and chest, unsure of what to say.
She just felt like his touch was leaving some sort of...impact.
And his proud eyes held an intense focus, as if they held no heed for any distractions.
This entire situation was making Di Xiaxia incredibly nervous. In her memory, her brother had always been cold to her, often looking at her with disdain.
Especially when she was clinging onto their third brother. So much so that she was always somewhat afraid of Di Mingzhe, thinking that he didn’t like her at all.
But his actions now were clearly...
She couldn’t pinpoint the feeling, only experiencing surprise followed by more surprise. It felt as if someone she had never expected to be close with has suddenly become intimate with her.
This feeling was somewhat eerie, causing her heart to inexplicably race.