I Give Up on the BL Novel's Male Leads - Chapter 159
“Don’t take your hand away.”
But as soon as Illein removed her hand from his chest, his rough reaction followed. Surprised by the intensity, she quickly tried to explain herself.
“But you said you’d let me hear your heartbeat.”
“Keep touching it. I might want to share it more if you do.”
Illein felt an odd sensation when he pressed her hand down on his chest.
She was the one touching him, yet it strangely felt like he was the one touching her.
“Keep your hand steady.”
She ran her fingers across his chest, gently pressing against it.
The long scars were numerous. There was a long scar across his heart, but his body also had many smaller cuts scattered here and there.
She began by gently touching the larger scars. Each time her fingers brushed against his skin, she found herself marveling at the sensation.
It was an indescribable experience as his once-stiff skin, as though it had been encased in stone, softened and loosened under her touch.
Each time her hand brushed against his skin, Illein felt his subtle reaction, making her inhale softly. Curious about his expression, she lifted her gaze to meet him.
“Ah!”
Illein still didnât understand why Edwin was glaring at her so fiercely.
Why is he so angry? She thought, despite following his commands. His behavior hadn’t changed at all, and it made Illein tilt her head in confusion.
Then, a thought crossed her mind.
Could it be that he wasn’t angry, but in some kind of discomfort?
“Edwin, are you in pain?”
With a worried expression, Illein asked again, concerned that the scars might still be causing him pain.
“In pain?”
He smiled oddly at her question. His twisted grin appeared self-deprecating and dry. His flashing red eyes, filled with madness, looked threatening.
Illein instinctively stepped back, unsure why, but she couldn’t escape.
Edwin, with his fierce expression, pressed her shoulder down, preventing her from moving.
“Ah!”
She gasped in pain from his rough touch.
“Think it will hurt?”
Edwin pulled Illein roughly toward him. Like a beast growling, he showed a ferocious smile aimed at her.
It wasn’t a smileâit was another form of his anger.
At the distance between them, where their breath almost touched, Illein felt her face flush. The scene before her made her feel even more embarrassed.
His thick neck, the prominent Adam’s apple between it, and the solid, muscular body visible through his open shirt caught her attention.
The firm chest muscles visible just below his collarbone, the well-defined abs, and the traces of his iliac crest visible above his beltâall of it looked like a work of art.
Illein wanted to press her cheek against his chest and immediately hear his heartbeat. However, due to Edwin’s restraint, she couldn’t do that.
“Edwin.”
Illein silently conveyed a message with her eyes.
“Ah! Right, the heartbeat.”
Finally, Edwin smiled a little more relaxed, and then grabbed Illein’s hand and brought it to his face.
Illein, having asked to hear his heartbeat, was confused as to why he was bringing her hand to his face instead. She blinked, unsure of what was happening.
“Ah!”
Suddenly, Edwin bit her palm, causing Illein to jump back in surprise, her eyes wide open. Edwin looked at her with a playful smile, then placed her hand gently on his cheek, slowly guiding it downward.
With Edwin’s guidance, Illeinâs hand rested on his neck, pressing gently. She could feel his heartbeat through her palm, but her expression turned disappointed.
The result wasn’t what she’d expected, and naturally, her reaction followed. She pouted, feeling unnecessarily upset.
She had assumed that just like her own heartbeat, which kept pounding away, Edwinâs heart would be racing as well. But it wasnât, and that bothered her.
Edwin, however, seemed perfectly calm, as if his heartbeat was annoyingly calm.
“…Why do you look like that?”
Edwin didnât understand the expression Illein was making, which was full of frustration.
“Edwin, you don’t seem bothered by this situation at all.”
She was dissatisfied by Edwinâs reaction. She felt silly for even voicing it.
“Why? Do you think this is something special?”
Edwin still didnât pick up on why Illein felt hurt.
“I… yes. I feel like it’s very special.”
At that moment, his eyes widened in surprise.
“Why?”
Illeinâs answer surprised him greatly. It was something Edwin hadnât expected at all.
“What? Oh… Iâve never been this close to a man before…”
Why was she feeling so upset? What had she been expecting? Illein didnât even know herself.
“First time?”
Edwinâs voice rose in disbelief. His face looked purely astonished.
“Isnât it your first time too?”
“No, itâs not.”
Illeinâs disappointment grew even more at Edwinâs response.
“Then who is Edwinâs first?”
