Han Soi did not actually go far.
The moment he stepped out of the room, he simply leaned his back against the wall beside the door. He wasn't going to search for food...he already had plenty stored inside his spatial storage. Tube meals, water, energy bars, everything. He could take them out anytime.
He only walked out because he wanted to give her space.
And… because he needed a moment to calm the strange feelings rising in his chest.
But mostly, space. He crossed his arms and stood quietly, listening.
At first, there was silence. Then...
"Mmff—?!"
He raised an eyebrow. But more sounds followed.
Thud.
Rustle.
"…Let go…!"
"Why is this…ugh…?!"
"This stupid thing!"
Han Soi blinked slowly.
Was she… fighting the shirt?
His lips twitched despite himself. He didn't expect to hear this kind of chaos. At first he thought maybe she dropped something. But no...her annoyed curses continued, accompanied by more rustling and soft thumps.
He was…amused…deeply amused. But also… confused.
Why didn't she know how to wear a basic shirt? Was she some overly pampered young lady who never dressed herself? Or… had she never seen clothing like this before?
A small frown formed between his brows.
Too many questions. And not a single answer.
When the noise finally stopped, Han Soi composed his expression. He schooled his face into calm neutrality, erasing the smile threatening to appear. Only when he was sure his amusement was completely hidden did he push open the door.
What he saw made him pause.
Yue Yue stood beside the bed awkwardly, like she was unsure how to stand in her own body. His oversized shirt nearly reached the middle of her thighs, hanging loosely on her petite figure. Her hair was messy from her earlier battle, her cheeks slightly pink, and the sleeves…
The sleeves were a disaster. They hung past her hands, dragging like cloth vines. Her hands were completely swallowed.
And she looked frustrated, as if she had spent ten years wrestling with a demon.
Han Soi silently took in the whole scene. She looked like a small, angry, confused little creature.
His amusement nearly escaped. He had to cough to stop himself from smiling.
She noticed him then, and their eyes met. For a moment, neither spoke. Then he slowly walked toward her. Yue Yue's entire body stiffened.
When he suddenly kneeled in front of her, her soul nearly flew out of her body.
"W-What are you doing?!" she shrieked, jumping three steps backward like a frightened rabbit. "Hey! We just met...you can't kneel! I'm not accepting beast husbands right now! You need to get consent from my whole family first!"
Han Soi froze.
His hands hung mid-air. His face had no expression, but inside, he felt something crack slightly.
He exhaled slowly.
"…I am not proposing to you," he said calmly. "I am trying to help you."
Yue Yue's ears turned red.
"Oh."
A quiet "oh" escaped her lips, and she stood still like a scolded child, unsure of where to put her feet.
Han Soi didn't wait for further protests. He stepped forward and gently took hold of the loose sleeve near her wrist.
She flinched.
But his touch was careful...so light it barely counted as touching.
"Hold still."
Before she could react, he tugged the sleeve up, folding it neatly. Then he rolled it once, twice… then tied the fabric loosely at her forearm, making a small knot to keep it secure... exactly like fixing a child's clothes.
He did the same to the other arm.
Yue Yue simply stared at him the whole time, frozen.
Oh no. Oh no no no. Why is he so gentle?! He's supposed to be a villain!
Is this his tactic? Is this his trap? First he fixes my clothes… then next he'll smile softly… then he'll feed me snacks… and then... THEN...
Her eyes widened dramatically.
HE'LL EAT ME!
Not romantically! Literally! CHOMP! Bite-sized Yue Yue!
His fingers brushed her wrist lightly as he adjusted the knot, and she almost screamed.
SEE?! SEE?! THIS IS SUSPICIOUS! Why does his touch feel like he's trying to tame me?? Like I'm some wild squirrel he's trying to coax with peanuts?!
What if he's trying to win my trust so he can later roast me over a fire pit?! With spices! With herbs! With salt! I'll be YUE KEBAB!
Her panic only grew.
She swallowed hard.
Han Soi kept his face calm and serious, even though her expression was extremely hard to ignore.
Then he reached the collar.
Her shirt was buttoned all the way to the very top. Completely closed. No opening at all. With this she would've suffocated herself.
Han Soi clicked his tongue softly.
"Did you wear it without opening even one button?" he asked.
Yue Yue glared weakly.
"How would I know this thing opens?" she muttered. "It looks like armor."
He sighed.
Gently...very gently...he slipped his fingers near her neckline and opened the first button. Just one.
But that one button made her collar loosen, letting her breathe more comfortably.
And that was when Han Soi made a mistake.
A big one. He looked down and immediately regretted it.
The shirt was thin. He didn't notice earlier because she had been wrapped in a sheet, and she had been moving so much that the cloth folded over itself.
But now… with her standing still… and with him so close… her silhouette was clear.
The soft curves of her chest pressed faintly against the fabric. The shirt hugged her waist gently, revealing her delicate shape. And a faint outline showed the curve of her breasts beneath the material.
She wasn't wearing anything underneath, which made things even worse.
Han Soi froze as heat shot up his neck.
He immediately turned his head away, jaw tightening. He cursed himself silently.
Idiot, fool, lunatic. He had trained for years...alone and had always prided himself on his self-control that no women could sway him away from his goal.
And now one small female… one small, confused, soft little female… nearly broke every shred of that control.
He clenched his teeth. Why was he reacting like this? He didn't understand. His ears turned red automatically.
Yue Yue finally noticed his stiff posture.
"…What's wrong with you?" she asked cautiously.
Han Soi cleared his throat sharply and snapped his gaze away from her entirely.
"Nothing," he said, voice tight. "You are dressed properly now. You should eat something...."