Chapter 856

At the moment the disinfectant cotton was applied, Zhao Linlin really couldn't hold back.

It wasn't an act.

The feeling of the alcohol seeping into the wound was like someone stirring a knife in the flesh. She sucked in a breath of cold air, her body instinctively recoiled, and she involuntarily let out a soft groan.

That sound…

Even hearing it herself made her want to find a crack in the ground to hide: "I really didn't mean to… it just hurt too much, I couldn't hold back for a moment…"

Lin Dongfan didn't speak, lowered his head and continued disinfecting.

But the faint smile at the corner of his mouth was still caught by Zhao Linlin's peripheral vision.

This made Zhao Linlin's imagination run wild again—was that sound… maybe not a bad thing? At least Lin Dongfan hadn't despised her, which meant anything was possible.

"Mayor Lin." Zhao Linlin spoke softly.

Lin Dongfan replied without looking up: "Speak."

That single simple word, carrying a hint more aloofness than before, cast another layer of disappointment over Zhao Linlin's fluttering heart.

It seemed she had still been a bit too hasty.

Zhao Linlin collected herself, quickly got back to the main point: "You say, will that masked attacker who assaulted me tonight come after me here?"

"This is the Municipal Party Committee compound, not a public restroom."

Lin Dongfan's disinfecting motions didn't stop, appearing quite professional.

Not knowing how to break the awkward atmosphere, Zhao Linlin kept looking for something to say: "Then… what should I do tomorrow?"

"We'll talk about tomorrow tomorrow." Lin Dongfan set down the alcohol swab, began to bandage her wound: "Stay here tonight."

"Oh."

In an instant, Zhao Linlin seemed to forget all the pain, a smile appearing on her face.

She watched Lin Dongfan's hands as they skillfully wrapped the gauze, movements practiced and unhurried, as if he'd done it countless times.

"Mayor Lin, have you studied wound treatment?"

"No."

"Then how are your movements so skilled?"

"I often watch videos of people fixing donkey hooves; after seeing many, I picked up a bit of experience."

"Oh."

Less than two seconds after the "oh."

Belatedly, Zhao Linlin's eyes widened and she exclaimed, "Ah?": "You're treating my hand like a donkey's hoof?"

"It's all the same."

Those words from Lin Dongfan's mouth seemed as natural as could be.

Zhao Linlin pouted sullenly, wanting to protest but daring not to, she forced out: "Don't you want to know why I didn't call the police?"

Lin Dongfan replied indifferently: "You'll say it when you want to."

"!!!"

Zhao Linlin was speechless, a complex emotion welling up inside her.

This man.

He's completely different from those who dig into your roots the moment they meet you.

This man not only respects her and gives her space, but also gives her trust and a sense of safety.

Although this sense of safety might be temporary, perhaps only because she is his "informant," or perhaps only because that surveillance concerns his larger situation.

But she was still deeply moved.

"Mayor Lin." She whispered: "Thank you."

Lin Dongfan didn't look up, continuing to bandage.

Zhao Linlin looked at his serious expression and suddenly recalled that earlier thought—if something could happen tonight, would it let her truly enter his protective circle?

But reason told her she must not act rashly.

She was covered in injuries.

She looked as miserable as a stray dog.

The way he looked at her held sympathy, responsibility, concern for the case, but lacked any desire between a man and a woman.

If she now made a move, it would only make him think she was cheap and had no sense of propriety.

She had to wait.

Wait for him to make the first move.

Or wait for a perfectly timed opportunity.

……

Just as Zhao Linlin was scheming how to create that perfect opportunity, Lin Dongfan had already stood up: "The hand wound is treated; you handle the knee wound yourself."

"Mm, thank you, Mayor Lin."

The knee wound wasn't actually serious; Zhao Linlin rolled up her pant leg and inspected it closely—just a scrape, needing only disinfection.

While cleaning the wound with a cotton swab, Zhao Linlin said: "I don't know who inside the police is trustworthy. If they agree to let me file a report, then I will."

"Not reporting it, coming to me was the right choice."

Lin Dongfan sat on the single-person sofa opposite her and lit a cigarette.

He took two slow puffs, smoke rising.

Lin Dongfan added: "It's too late today; rest here tonight. Tomorrow I'll take you to the City Bureau and assign a dedicated officer to your case."

"Mm, I'll follow your lead."

"That masked person—can't you tell who it is?"

"That voice sounds like I've heard it somewhere, but for the moment I can't recall who it is. It's not someone I know very well; I just have a vague impression."

"Male?"

"Hmm."

"How old?"

"Judging by the voice, he sounds about thirty or forty. He's around 1.75 meters tall, strong and sturdy. I'm about 1.6 meters tall, and he grabbed my hair and lifted me up—I couldn't move at all."

"Does the other person have any distinctive marks?"

"Um… I didn't see any special marks. But… I hit his head with an ashtray, and now he has a wound on his head."

"Well done."

"Lin Dongfan finally laughed, mainly because this injury won't heal quickly. When the time comes, we'll screen everyone; whoever has a head wound is the suspect."

"A moment later."

"Zhao Linlin had already treated the wound on her knee."

"She looked pleadingly at Lin Dongfan, who was smoking: 'Mayor Lin, I… I also have a wound on my back; could you please take a look…'"

"!!!"

"Lin Dongfan gazed at her longing eyes, and instantly felt overwhelmed—this pretty young woman had no good intentions! As soon as she took off her clothes, that wasn't…"

"Thinking of that."

"Lin Dongfan took a puff of smoke to steady himself, then firmly criticized: 'You're trying to lure me into making a mistake.'"

"'Not really.' Zhao Linlin argued righteously: 'Saving lives and healing wounds is a traditional virtue of our Chinese nation. Moreover, as a local parent-official, you ought to serve the people. I'm wounded like this, I can't see my own back—how can you ignore me?'"

"Hearing that, Lin Dongfan merely smiled, took a puff of smoke, and said nothing."

"Zhao Linlin stopped wasting words, turned her back to Lin Dongfan, took off her clothes, and obediently lay down on the sofa."

"And she said plaintively: 'I'm not lying to you, am I? I really am wounded.'"

"!!!"

"Lin Dongfan glanced over and had nothing to say."

"Indeed, there is a wound."

"All I saw was a clear red mark on her fair skin, obviously left by a hard object striking her."

"Lin Dongfan stubbed out the cigarette in his hand."

"He got up, took a bottle of red flower oil that promotes blood circulation and reduces swelling from the medicine box, poured a little into his palm, rubbed it, then applied it to Zhao Linlin's back."

"The Mayor instantly turned into a masseur."

"Probably because she was enjoying it too much, Zhao Linlin let out an instinctive soft moan. But she quickly bit her red lips, holding back that blush-inducing sound."

"Lin Dongfan said while applying the oil: 'The soundproofing in the room is good; if you really can't hold it in, just let it out—make whatever noise you want.'"

"I don't want to endure it any longer."

"Originally lying still, Zhao Linlin suddenly felt as if she'd received a pardon, turned around, and pulled Lin Dongfan down onto her."

"Both hands tightly hooked around Lin Dongfan's neck."

"She kissed Lin Dongfan's lips."

"These actions were as swift as lightning, giving Lin Dongfan no chance to retort! It's just that she's been lonely for too long, meeting her ideal male deity, and finds it hard to restrain herself."