Hearing this, Qi Lixiao was momentarily stunned, a flicker of confusion flashing across his eyes.
Why exactly twelve times?
He thought for a moment and suddenly remembered the term "health points" that Li Zhichen had once mentioned to him. He hesitated and asked,
"....Is this also a task issued by the system?"
Li Zhichen nodded, marveling at Qi Lixiao's quick reaction.
"That's right. I just discovered this today and didn't have the chance to tell you during the day. Every time you call me 'Madam', I can gain one hour of health points! Although there's an upper limit, as long as you call me twelve times a day, I'll have enough health points for the day!"
Qi Lixiao thought that this was indeed much easier than earning health points through tasks. He coughed softly, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"......If that's the case, I'll call you 'Madam' twelve times every day."
Seeing Qi Lixiao cooperate so readily, Li Zhichen's eyes curved into a smile. Content, she went to take a bath.
The temperature in the dilapidated temple during the day wasn't too low, but at night, except for the room they were staying in, which was a bit warmer because of their presence, the other rooms were extremely cold.
The hot water would form a thin layer of ice shortly after it was poured in.
Li Zhichen had to rummage through the side room and find an old screen. When taking a bath, she placed the screen in the middle of the main room to block the view.
Although it was rather simple, since there was only Qi Lixiao lying in the bed in the room, Li Zhichen didn't have much to be wary of.
She untied her clothes and neatly stepped into the bathtub.
The steaming hot water dispelled the fatigue all over her body. Li Zhichen let out a comfortable sigh.
Perhaps because of the steamy air in the room, Qi Lixiao inexplicably felt parched.
His hearing was extremely sensitive. At this moment, the sound of the water in the bathtub being splashed and then falling was infinitely amplified and clearly reached Qi Lixiao's ears.
He subconsciously looked towards the screen and saw the woman's undergarments neatly placed on it. Qi Lixiao was stunned for a moment, and then his gaze quickly shifted away as if he had been burned.
Listening to Li Zhichen humming leisurely behind the screen, a flash of gloom and annoyance passed through Qi Lixiao's eyes.
Although he was paralyzed in bed and couldn't move, he was still a normal adult man. The fragrant air lingered around his nose, and he couldn't help but feel a bit distracted.
But Qi Lixiao didn't know for a moment whether Li Zhichen trusted him too much and thus was completely defenseless, or if she simply didn't treat him like a man at all.
Qi Lixiao took a deep breath. He felt his head was dizzy and his heart was in a mess for no reason. So he simply closed his eyes and silently recited the mental calming mantra several times in his heart.
When Li Zhichen finished changing her clothes and walked out from behind the screen, she saw Qi Lixiao lying quietly on the bed with his eyes closed, breathing evenly.
"Qi Lixiao?"
Li Zhichen tiptoed to the bedside and softly called his name in a whisper, but didn't get a response for a long time.
Li Zhichen raised an eyebrow. She wondered why Qi Lixiao had gone to sleep so early today. Could it be because he had exhausted too much energy during the day?
She had to cook more delicious food for Qi Lixiao tomorrow to replenish his strength!
However, the fish caught in the icy river last time had already been sold out. Although there was no shortage of grains and rice in the spatial bracelet, she had to find a way to get some meat dishes. A combination of meat and vegetables would be more nutritious!
Li Zhichen crept onto the bed. She sat quietly, calculating tomorrow's itinerary in her mind while staring blankly at the sleeping Qi Lixiao. Her eyes subconsciously examined his facial features.
She had washed his hair when she wiped his body this afternoon, so she hadn't tied his hair up. At this moment, his long black hair gently fell on his shoulders, unexpectedly adding a bit of a scholarly air.
His eyebrows were cold and stern, his nose was straight, and his features were sharp and handsome, like a perfect painting. A little more or a little less would be wrong.
Li Zhichen had to admit that whether in the apocalypse or in this world in the book, among all the people she had met, Qi Lixiao's appearance was unparalleled.
But who would have thought that a person as extraordinary as Qi Lixiao would only live to be twenty - two years old in the original book?
Li Zhichen thought absent - mindedly that it would be great if she could write Qi Lixiao's life story.
She wanted Qi Lixiao to grow up in a prosperous environment since childhood, with loving parents and trustworthy friends. She wanted him to live a life free from illness and disaster and to live a long life...
Just as she was thinking, she suddenly heard the system issue a task: [Death warning. Please give your husband a good - night kiss within five minutes! Muah!]
Li Zhichen: ???
What the hell is this "muah"!
No wonder this damned system had been so quiet today. It had been waiting for her here!
Li Zhichen took a deep breath and gritted her teeth and asked, ".....Where should I kiss?"
Since it was a good - night kiss, kissing the cheek or forehead should be okay, right?
[The cheek will do.]
The system was quiet for a moment after answering, and then cautiously asked back, [.....Where does the host want to kiss?]
Li Zhichen:.....
She was so angry with this stupid system that she laughed.
Li Zhichen lost her patience and directly reached out and slapped.
She heard the system let out a scream and was instantly thrown into the corner.
Although it relieved her anger, facing the death warning, Li Zhichen still had to do this task.
Fortunately, Qi Lixiao was already asleep. If he was awake, Li Zhichen really didn't know how to bring it up.
A kiss on the cheek was just a foreign social etiquette in modern times. So it was still within Li Zhichen's acceptable range.
But after all, the ancients were conservative. Qi Lixiao probably would have a hard time accepting a good - night kiss.
Li Zhichen carefully reached out a hand and placed it on Qi Lixiao's cheek.
She was afraid of waking Qi Lixiao up, so her movements were extremely gentle. She gently nudged Qi Lixiao's face towards her with her index finger.
She slowly lowered her head. At such a close distance, Li Zhichen could clearly see Qi Lixiao's long eyelashes, each one distinct, slightly trembling with his breathing.
As their breaths intertwined, Li Zhichen's movement paused in mid - air. She actually dared not cross that short distance.
The system in the corner softly reminded: [——You only have two minutes left!]
Li Zhichen calmed herself down - strange. It was just a kiss on the cheek. Why was her heart in such a mess?
Moreover, Qi Lixiao was so handsome. She wasn't at a loss.
Thinking of this, Li Zhichen no longer hesitated.
She suddenly leaned forward and gave a smooch.
Qi Lixiao's face was soft and cool, and the touch was surprisingly good.
[Congratulations to the host for completing the task! Gain 10 hours of health points and receive an item reward × 1. Please redeem it within 24 hours!]
After this kiss, Li Zhichen quickly withdrew her hand from Qi Lixiao's face and looked at him nervously.
The next second, Li Zhichen suddenly met a pair of dark, surprised eyes.
Qi Lixiao's eyes were completely clear, showing no sign of sleepiness at all.
"You......"
They both spoke at the same time, and the atmosphere froze for a moment.
Li Zhichen stared blankly at Qi Lixiao. Her mind suddenly went blank. All the cleverness from the daytime discussions was gone. All she could think about was one question.
Why did Qi Lixiao wake up? Was he woken up by her kiss? Could it be that he hadn't been sleeping all along?!!