Yuan Xiaoxuan stood on tiptoe, straining to reach the doorknob. With a click, the lock gave way. Then, someone gently pushed the door open from the outside. A fair, slender yet knuckle - defined hand rested on the doorframe, holding it wide enough for two children to slip through.
The two children squeezed out of the crack, then turned to the person who had opened the door and said,
"Uncle Yan, you must succeed!"
Yan Yincheng put his finger to his lips. "Shh—"
The two children promptly covered their mouths and scurried into the next - door room. They climbed onto the bed and burrowed under the covers.
Yuan Xiaoxu said, "Brother, can I call Uncle Yan 'Dad' after dawn?" After saying that, he covered his mouth and snickered, his eyes curving like crescent moons.
Yuan Xiaoxuan nodded vigorously. "It will definitely happen! Uncle Yan got engaged to Mommy after sleeping with her last time. This time, it'll be the same!"
After making sure the two children had entered the next - door room and closed the door, Yan Yincheng quietly stepped into the world the children had specially opened for him.
He gently closed the door behind him and stood by it, straining his ears. Hearing a faint, steady breathing sound from the front - right, he finally took a step in that direction. With each step, he could feel his heart pounding forcefully and clearly.
If he could, he didn't want to use such a despicable means to achieve the goal of this hot - spring trip he had arranged. In fact, he didn't plan to do anything. He just wanted to lie beside her simply, like the night they got engaged, and that would be enough.
When he reached the bedside, he sat down gingerly and then lay down gently. His hands were neatly folded on his abdomen, and he slowed his breathing, just to hear the breathing of the person beside him more clearly.
A refreshing fragrance wafted into his nostrils, making every hair on his body tingle with pleasure.
He just lay there quietly, savoring this hard - won moment.
What he didn't know was that Xu Zixi, who was supposed to be sound asleep, suddenly opened her eyes and kicked him unceremoniously!
To Xu Zixi's surprise, her kick missed, and instead, her ankle was caught!
She tried to pull it back but failed. Flushed with shame and anger, she lifted her other foot and continued to kick him. Her right hand also tried to grab Yan Yincheng's shoulder—
She thought she could teach him a lesson this time. Little did she know that her much - vaunted martial skills, which had helped her out of many tough situations, were completely useless at this moment. She couldn't even see how he blocked her attacks. The scene in front of her spun violently. When she came to her senses, she found her hands pinned behind her back and her body firmly pressed onto the bed.
"Zixi? You're not asleep?" the person who had sneaked into her room and lain down beside her whispered.
His voice was already deep and mellow. Now that he was so close to her, she could feel the resonance in his chest whenever he spoke. The sound made her heart pound like a drum.
"Let me go!" She struggled forcefully and growled through gritted teeth, "Yan Yincheng, you bastard who only takes advantage of others' vulnerability!"
He thought she was extremely cute when she was acting so feisty. Unable to resist, he lowered his face and whispered in her ear, "Surprised that your great martial skills could be defeated by a blind man like me?"
"Do you really think your mediocre skills are that great, Zixi? The person who taught me was a retired mercenary."
"So, don't always think you're invincible and rush into everything. Look, now that you've met me, you're at a loss, aren't you?"
"Woo..." A sob suddenly came from her. This sob stabbed Yan Yincheng's heart like a knife. He quickly let go of her and pulled her into his arms, patting her back gently like he was comforting a child.
"Sorry. Did I hurt you? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to. I just wanted you to learn how to protect yourself..."
She didn't answer. Instead, she pounded his chest with her fists. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he felt as if his chest muscle had been pinched. Just as he was feeling a bit confused, she grabbed the front of his shirt tightly, buried her face in his arms, and cried in a suppressed voice. Her sobs were full of deep - seated grievances and indescribable pain. Her scalding, gushing tears soaked his shirt, and the sensation traveled from his sensitive skin to his heart, making his chest ache.
"Don't cry. Don't cry. Your crying is breaking my heart..."
But to his surprise, she cried even louder, as if she was on the verge of fainting from crying.
He stopped talking and hugged her tightly. One hand stroked the back of her head, while the other caressed her slender, fragile waist.
He wondered, what was she crying about? Was she scared? Did she remember that night four years ago? Or was she crying because he had broken his promise, crossed the boundary she had maintained, tried to morally and emotionally blackmail her, and tied her to his side before her heart was ready to accept him?
After crying for a long time, the woman in his arms finally stopped sobbing, but her voice was now extremely hoarse.
"That night was like this too, wasn't it?"
"What?" Yan Yincheng was stunned for a moment, then realized that she was referring to the night four years ago. His action tonight had finally hurt her and made her recall that unpleasant memory.
His heart ached. He whispered, "I'm sorry."
"Yan Yincheng, you're so despicable. What can you gain by bullying me like this?"
"I..." He parted his lips, "I just want to be with you forever."
"Heh." She gave a soft laugh, "In this way? If this is what you want, then come. I won't struggle anymore."
Feeling that she had given up all resistance, Yan Yincheng's voice also turned hoarse.
"Zixi... Don't be like this. That's not what I meant."
"Is there any difference?" Xu Zixi whispered, "You know exactly our current situation, but you still keep pushing me. I made a concession this afternoon, Yan Yincheng."
"I love you." He couldn't help but whisper in her ear, "I know I've made mistakes, but I love you. Zixi, love can't be controlled. I can't control myself. I just want to be close to you."
But unexpectedly, upon hearing these three words, she started crying again, even more violently than before. Yan Yincheng was completely at a loss. He could only lower his head and kiss her ear gently, again and again.
"I love you, Zixi."
Amidst these repeated "I love you"s, all of Xu Zixi's resolve had crumbled. But her heart was in great pain. Crying until she was exhausted, her voice was barely audible, but she still managed to say,
"Actually, you're very good. I know you're better than anyone else I've ever met in this world."
Yan Yincheng couldn't believe his ears. He stared blankly and asked, "Is what you said true?"
"But do you know why I can't forgive you?" She tightened her grip on the front of his shirt, feeling that what she was about to say was really cruel.
She found it hard to say.
He asked, " ...Why?"