Chapter 7, I would like to present you with a small gift

The smile lines at the corners of her lips became more pronounced: "Hmm, I would like to give you a gift. Thank you for everything you have done during this time."

But I want to tell you

Once the date for the surgery was set, time seemed to fly by. Feino knew that although Pan Xinian did not express it verbally, her actions showed a hundredfold attachment to him compared to usual, stemming from her deep anxiety. Therefore, he did not rush to be discharged from the hospital, applied for sick leave, and simply brought his work to the hospital. However, for the majority of the day, he still spent time accompanying Xinian

Fino reached out his hand and held her icy hand, saying, "Look, my hand is also cold."

First the chin, followed by the lips and the bridge of the nose, then gently caressing the eye sockets and eyebrows after reaching the center of the brows, tracing from the tail of the brow to the temples and the center of the forehead, then to the eyebrows and eyes on the other side, slightly pricking at the sideburns, ultimately lingering on the contours of the cheekbones and cheeks, as if opening up new territory, yet also confirming a domain, cautiously and persistently, as if through every tiny movement of the hand, to engrave the face of the man before her deep into her heart. Ultimately lingering on the contours of the cheekbones and cheeks, as if opening up new territory, yet also confirming a domain, cautiously and persistently, as if through every tiny movement of the hand, to engrave the face of the man before her deep into her heart.

Every movement was hesitant, rustling as if searching, as if to confirm a specific location

On the day before the surgery, Pan Xinian cut her hair, which was as long as her waist. She insisted that Fei Nuo not be present, and Fei Nuo complied and left. When he returned, she had already put on a hat, feeling quite embarrassed as she lowered her face, continuously pulling the brim of the hat down further: "I asked Sister Xiaotong to buy this for me..." The sunlight outside the window shone on Pan Xinian's face, giving it a bright and lively appearance. She kept pulling the brim of the hat down further: "I asked Sister Xiaotong to buy this for me..." The sunlight outside the window shone on Pan Xinian's face, giving it a bright and lively appearance.

This sentence is like a cluster of fire, allowing Pan Xinian to slowly break free from the frozen cocoon of complex emotions such as anxiety, fear, and shyness. She reached out her hand as if awakening from a dream, embracing Feino's shoulders with all her strength to hold onto this hug. The aura she exuded was so youthful and fervent that Feino exerted all his strength to avoid letting go.

Pan Xinian hung his head, the contours of his face deepening in the night light, his brows and eyes dim and mysterious, as if he were possessed by some ethereal spirit; his long hair cascaded over his shoulders, resting against Feino's chest, and with the slightest breeze, the hair gently brushed against his heart; the oversized hospital gown appeared somewhat disheveled in movement, one shoulder bared, revealing a whiteness even brighter than the moonlight... and there were those delicate collarbones, the beautiful and soft curves deep within the neckline... the long hair gently brushed against his heart; the oversized hospital gown appeared somewhat disheveled in movement, one shoulder bared, revealing a whiteness even brighter than the moonlight... and there were those delicate collarbones, the beautiful and soft curves deep within the neckline...

Afterwards, no one mentioned the events of that night again, as if it were a fleeting spring dream, once gone, leaving no trace. Time disregards the will and pleas of anyone, continuing its relentless march like a tyrant.

The fragrant cloud surrounding her gently brushed across Feino's face, her fingers gliding softly along his temples to his chin, until they found his lips. Her fingers were so soft, her movements so light, that Feino almost believed it was a quiet kiss, but in the next moment, her cold lips hurriedly pressed against his cheek.

At that moment, Ji Xiaotong was right beside her, gently saying: "Xinian, you have always been very beautiful. Don't you think so, Feino?"

He nodded slightly: "This is the best birthday gift I have ever received, Xinian, I am waiting for you to fulfill it"

The body was as supple as a snake, and as warm as the hearth in winter, entwining and toppling over, instantly igniting Feno as well.

Fino suffers from mild insomnia; he tends to wake easily whenever someone approaches, making it difficult for him to sleep well in the hospital. One night, he sensed a nurse coming to check on him and once again woke from his slumber, realizing that the person was standing at the head of his bed, gently stroking his hair

Fei Nuo noticed the various gazes directed at him by others, yet without the slightest hesitation, he took Pan Xi Nian's hand and placed it against his cheek, saying: "It is acceptable"

She had already hurriedly kissed Feno's neck, her fingers more audaciously sliding along the opening of his clothing into his chest, and the places that had been kissed suddenly felt like cold water plunged into a boiling pot of oil, hot and painful—Feno had no choice but to reach out and grasp her restless hand

In light of this, Feino grasped Pan Xinian's wrist, allowing his cheek to once again rest against her warm and soft palm: "I see you have received my gift, so I shall await yours."

She climbed onto Fino's bed

My birthday has not yet arrived

The rustling and groping movements finally reminded Fino that she was blind. Only then did Fino silently open her eyes. The moonlight that night was extraordinarily beautiful and bright, still shining like scattered fine silver after being filtered through the slats of the blinds.

Fino had to close his eyes, but no matter how tightly he shut them, he knew he could no longer regard her as the little daughter of his mentor; she had become a woman, vibrant, flesh and blood, and for him, full of allure

Finally, her hand stopped at Fino's lips. Even in such a moment, without the cover of night, she still did not dare to touch his lips. She revealed a satisfied smile: "I think I remember what you look like. No matter where I am, I will never forget."

She seemed to have exhausted all her courage and said: "I want to touch your face again, to feel it carefully. Just in case, I mean just in case, I do not come down, I also want to know what you look like."

Good

He did not open his eyes for a moment, and his hearing and sense of smell were magnified several times. Feno felt as if he were in the same situation as Pan Xinian, unable to see yet clearly perceiving everything.

On the day of the surgery, Fei Nuo was still by her side. Pan Xi Nian asked if he could hold his hand. The emotions at this critical moment could not be suppressed, and her trembling lips and pale face revealed all her feelings

Later, Cheng Lang and the nurses arrived at the ward to inform them that it was time. A fleeting look of panic and helplessness crossed Pan Xinian's face, but in the next moment, he composed himself, nodded slightly, and withdrew his hand: "I understand."

At the moment Pan Xinian's hand just touched Feino's cheek, she instinctively recoiled in surprise, only to realize that it was not a dream. Once again, she timidly leaned in. The sweat in her palm had already cooled down, giving a slightly chilly damp sensation, and the movements of her fingertips were as gentle as the lightest breeze in spring, inch by inch, exploring Feino's face.

Pan Xinian's kisses and caresses were awkward and anxious, each movement was less about seduction and more about confirmation, confirming that the vibrant fire of life within each other had not been threatened and would not suddenly extinguish

He is Feino, and she is Pan Xinian, that is all

Gradually, the hands of the two individuals intertwined began to radiate warmth. Pan Xinian lay quietly on the bed, eyes closed, seemingly content. It is unclear how long this moment lasted; all that is known is that the nurse had not yet come to wheel her into the operating room, so they continued to hold hands, wishing to prolong this moment a little longer

She turned her face to search for Fino's voice, but ultimately turned her face away quickly again, not allowing him to see her flushed face

Fino, Sister Xiaotong told me that your birthday is coming soon

This is sufficient

The trembling began first at the shoulders. Initially barely noticeable, it gradually intensified along the shoulders, sweeping through the entire body, causing even every strand of hair to quiver. Once it was noticed, the courage that Pan Xinian had displayed moments before vanished without a trace, and she sat there like a child who had made a mistake

She nodded again, as if suddenly recalling something: "Fino, may I also ask you for a gift?"

"You, you, I..." She trembled and simply did not know what to say, stopping all actions in a flustered manner. "How long have you been awake? I used to come by every night just to check on you, to listen to you... there was no... first, first time..."

Fino heard himself sigh. He sat up and gently gave her a hug that was devoid of desire, merely comforting, and finally kissed her forehead: "Do not rush to prove anything. And do not be afraid, I am here."

Thinking of this, Feino grasped Pan Xinian's wrist, allowing his cheek to once again rest against her warm and soft palm: "I hope you received my gift, and I am waiting for yours."

He always stayed in Pan Xinian's ward until the nurse repeatedly urged him to leave, reluctantly returning to his own room. Cheng Lang would often come by during his night shift to check on her, and the three of them would chat and laugh, making every effort to dispel Pan Xinian's anxiety and fear. When the two of them were together, aside from casual conversation, Fei Nuo would sometimes read to her, moving from the "First Ode to the Red Cliffs" to the "Second Ode to the Red Cliffs," as time quietly flowed by.

Gazing at Pan Xinian's face, Feino suddenly felt that too many things were unimportant. He was not her father's student, she was not the only daughter of his mentor, he was not her guardian, and she was not his ward.

Fino looked at her somewhat embarrassed expression and her eyes glistening with moisture, nodding in agreement: "Yes."

Pan Xinian could no longer speak, his face rigid as stone, futilely trying to hide his expression. For the first time, Feino was grateful that Pan Xinian could not see him at this moment, allowing him to say with heartfelt compassion: "Xinian, don't do anything foolish." Thus, he could once again don the mask of an "elder."

Pan Xinian opened his eyes, sat up, and looked in Feino's direction: "Feino, I am very timid. In the past, I thought that it would be fine even if hetushucom did not perform the surgery, that being blind would be acceptable, as long as I did not lie on the operating table and could be with you. But now it is different, I have changed my mind. No matter what, I must undergo this surgery and recover healthily. I want to see you, to no longer be a burden to you, and not to drag you down. And most importantly, I want to be able to help you and take care of you when you need it... But now it is different, I have changed my mind. No matter what, I must undergo this surgery and recover healthily. I want to see you, to no longer be a burden to you, and not to drag you down. And most importantly, I want to be able to help you and take care of you when you need it... Is that alright?"

Aren't you going to ask what it is

The words ended with a nearly inaudible sigh, yet the silent resonance lingered for a long time. The speaker's expression was resolute and focused, as if her entire being was ignited by such willpower; sunlight streamed past her, and the accompanying shadow lunged toward Feno. Feno noticed that her hands were sweaty, yet her demeanor remained unwavering.

Fino, with a calm and unhurried demeanor, asked: "What is the gift?"

Her smile concealed all shadows. At that moment, she deeply buried all unknown fears and anxieties, leaving them for herself to face, while handing hope and light over to Feino to share. Feino tilted his cheek slightly, and Pan Xinian's hand moved as well, yet it still did not leave. The tremor was cautiously suppressed at the deepest part of her voice: "Thank you, Feino, this is a wonderful gift"

Fino said, "Don't be afraid, I will wait for you outside the operating room"

Pan Xinian's movements suddenly became stiff. Even in the distorted moonlight, Feino could sense how the color drained from her cheeks in an instant, and how, after her face turned completely pale, horror and shame enveloped everything.

Feino agreed: "What do you want?"

This sentence reminded Fino. He turned his face to look at Pan Xinian, who still had his eyes closed, with a sweet and gentle curve at the corner of his mouth. So he said: "Yes, after your surgery is over, we will celebrate this birthday together"