The Apothecary Diaries: Volume 4 (Light Novel)

“This will be my pillow”—and put his head smack on Maomao’s knees. The crown of his head was pressed up into her stomach, and his arms were wrapped around her back.
“Master Jinshi...”

After a long moment, it was Maomao who spoke first: “I’m sorry, but might I ask you to protect me, Master Jinshi?”

Jinshi gazed at Maomao’s face. There was blood on it, and her left ear was swollen, although it had been smeared with ointment. None of this would have happened to Maomao if she had never gotten involved with him. The thought made his heart ache.

“Yes, fine. I’ll do that.”
That’ll be for the best, Maomao thought—but Jinshi didn’t move.
“Master Jinshi?” She crouched down and shook his shoulders. Huh, she thought, actually, maybe I can just call him Jinshi now.
While she was thinking it over, though, Jinshi said

She felt something damp and warm brush her neck—no, surround it. She felt teeth; she realized she was being sweetly, gently bitten.
“Do you know what it means now?” Jinshi asked.

Perhaps it’s time I asked you to make good on your promise,” Jinshi said.
Promise? Maomao looked at the ceiling, trying to recall, and Jinshi scowled.
“You can’t pretend you’ve forgotten. I got you the ingredients for your ice cream, didn’t I?”

Just as she was about to bring the knife down, a beautiful voice interrupted her: “What are you doing?”

He pulled on her wrist again, and when she sat down facing him, he grabbed the upper part of her other arm.
“When I looked at your injury, I meant to act as calm as I could,” he said. His unsettling face got closer and closer to hers; she could feel the heat of his breath on her skin. “I’m surprised... I mean, I think I seemed calmer than I expected.”

Don’t go getting a scar,” Jinshi said.
“I could say the very same thing to you, sir.”

“What, are you going to bite me to death?”

“I’ve wanted to at times.”