Inferno Hearts | Xu Minghao

57. The Past That Connects Us

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Minghao and Nabi found themselves in his room, accompanied, as always, by Ginger. The journey to his room had been arduous for Nabi, the wound on her neck causing her considerable pain and leaving her feeling weakened. However, Minghao was there by her side, offering support and doing his best to alleviate her discomfort with each step they took.

While Minghao was taking a shower, Nabi occupied herself by playing with Ginger, her beloved friend. The playful antics of Ginger provided a momentary distraction from the aching discomfort she was enduring, allowing a brief respite for her mind.

She engaged with Ginger, the feline's seemingly boundless energy bringing a flicker of amusement. Yet, her thoughts were elsewhere, preoccupied with the events and challenges that lay ahead. The playful moments with Ginger were a temporary escape from the pressing concerns she held, a bittersweet diversion for her mind.

Nabi's mind wrestled with the desire to unravel the mystery surrounding Min's death and clear her own name. She yearned to prove her innocence, yet the challenges loomed large. How could she accomplish this without any memory of that fateful day? She didn't even know what Min looked like.

Being Minghao's twin sister, Nabi imagined that Min must possess a similar level of beauty to him, perhaps akin to his female version.

Her thoughts were abruptly interrupted as Minghao emerged from the bathroom, shirtless, causing an involuntary gasp to escape her lips. His quick reaction was evident as he turned toward her, his concerned gaze searching for any sign of distress or trouble.

"Nabi, are you okay?" he asked with genuine concern, allowing the towel he was using to dry his hair to rest on his shoulders as he moved closer to her.

"Oh? Um, yes, I'm fine," she managed to say, feeling a bit flustered, a tinge of embarrassment coloring her cheeks as she redirected her attention from Minghao to Ginger, who was happily playing with her bandaged hand.

Minghao quickly understood after noticing her red cheeks. He smiled and continued drying his hair, looking at her. After a few moments, he couldn't resist a playful question, "Feeling a bit shy, are we?"

She shot a quick glance at him. "Minghao! You should put on a shirt. Ginger's watching," she said, earning a chuckle from him.

"And what's wrong with that?" he responded with a smile, his playful demeanor intact. Minghao moved closer, reaching the edge of the bed and sitting down right beside Nabi. Her heart quickened its pace, a swirl of emotions dancing within her as his proximity made her pulse race, in special because he was half-naked, sitting right next to her.

"N-nothing at all," she stammered, attempting to conceal her sudden nervousness.

He swiftly looked up to catch her flustered expression, emitting a soft hum of amusement. Then, he shifted his focus to playing with Ginger, engaging in a playful conversation with the feline. However, Nabi's embarrassment had taken center stage in her mind, making it challenging to pay much attention to their playful interactions.

She found herself captivated by Minghao—the wet hair adorning his forehead, his genuine smile, and the effortless way he played with Ginger. In her eyes, he was perfect, each gesture and expression only enhancing her admiration for him.

"Hey there, lost in thought?" Minghao asked, picking up on her distraction and gently drawing her back to the present moment.

"Oh?" Nabi blinked, coming back from her momentary trance and meeting Minghao's gaze.

"You seem detached from reality. Where did your thoughts wander off to?" he asked, his full attention now devoted to her, a genuine curiosity in his eyes.