Jason's sword-straight brows knotted tighter as his thin lips curved. "You didn't even know your own man was cheating—how would I know?"
A hitch caught in Kristen's chest. She murmured, "Aren't you two good brothers?"
"Plastic," Jason replied airily.
"…"
In novels, domineering CEOs supposedly don't surf the internet. How is he up on 5G slang?
Catching the flicker of grievance in her eyes, Jason added, "I have no interest in other people's private lives."
Kristen thought it over. True—someone like him, a darling of the gods, wouldn't stoop to gossiping about a buddy's messy affairs.
But—
Thinking of how his status eclipsed even Finn's made her uneasy. "Mr. Jin."
Jason lifted a brow, signaling her to speak.
"If one day you accept a family-arranged marriage—I mean if, hypothetically," Kristen chose her words carefully, as she always did with him. "Or if you meet someone you like, tell me directly. I can't accept multi-person relationships."
Jason's gaze darkened without visible change. He didn't take the bait. Instead he asked, "So it doesn't hurt anymore?"
"Ah?" Kristen blinked, then realized he meant her injuries. She wouldn't have thought of it if he hadn't asked—but now that he had, everything hurt. Her lips pouted, aggrieved. "It hurts. Everything hurts."
He gave a cold curl of his mouth. "You've got enough strength to talk. Seems it doesn't hurt anymore."
Knowing he found her too talkative, Kristen wisely shut her mouth.
Jason leaned in to pull the quilt up for her. His voice was low, even, emotionless. "Rest."
"Mm," Kristen answered, eyes still fixed on his face. Curiosity finally got the better of her. "Mr. Jin, why is your face red?"
He couldn't help a short, cold laugh. "Mosquito bite."
Strange, she thought—what kind of mosquito bite turns half a face red?
He didn't give her a chance to press. "Close your eyes. Sleep," he said, cool as an order rather than concern.
Maybe it was the drip, but fatigue rolled in. Kristen shut her eyes and drifted off in moments.
Hearing her breathing even out, Jason slid a hand from his pocket and gently wrapped it around her small hand.
Soft as silk, boneless—and so cold it hurt to feel.
On her white skin, the twin crimson punctures from the snake bites stood out starkly. Jason's face turned darker still.
He lowered his warm mouth and brushed a gentle kiss over the wound. When he lifted his gaze, the depth of feeling in his eyes surged, a heat fierce enough to burn her to ash.
Outside, Leon waited until the sky had nearly grayed before Jason finally stepped out of the room.
"Sir, Mr. Yu in Lucheng is furious you left so abruptly and has decided to cancel the deal," Leon said, worried.
Jason's face was blank. "Let him."
"But the chairman places great importance on this cooperation, and if—"
He didn't finish. Jason turned his head and shot a glacial look his way. Leon fell instantly silent.
Kristen, lost in a hazy sleep, didn't know how long had passed. When she opened her eyes, Jason was gone; instead, Martin sat there looking vastly relieved.
"You're finally awake. You scared me to death."
Kristen sat up. After finishing the water he handed over, she asked, "You contacted Jason?"
Martin set the cup down and took the chair by her bed. "Yeah. I couldn't reach you, so I went to your apartment. It was turned upside down, and then I got a text from you saying you'd flown back to Country A. I figured something had happened. Calling the police risked media attention. After thinking it through, the only person to go to was Mr. Jin."
That matched what Kristen had guessed—though the fact he personally rushed back was unexpected.
For something like this, a word from him should've been enough.
Seeing her quiet, Martin added, "I heard Mr. Jin dropped a major deal and rushed back overnight! Compared to Scumbag Gu, Mr. Jin is just—"
He gave a big thumbs-up to Jason.
Kristen said nothing, but thought: this time, she really needed to thank Jason properly.
Knock, knock.
The sudden rapping broke the calm. Kristen looked up to see Finn walk in.
Grace followed behind him.
Her face instantly darkened.
( End of Chapter )