"If I could, I'd like to chop this good-for-nothing up with my own hands."
Xiao Yanzhi's voice was cold and harsh, his face looking as if it were covered with a layer of frost. Seeing the panic in Jiang Li's eyes, he managed to compose himself. "Sorry. Did I scare you?"
Jiang Li shook her head.
She was used to seeing him calm and self - controlled. She had never seen him lose control of his emotions before. The ferocity in his eyes now seemed as if it could devour someone.
Jiang Li slowly exhaled a breath and said with a smile, "Actually, I don't remember it at all. After all, it happened a long time ago. Let bygones be bygones. Moreover, I have nothing to do with them anymore."
With Zhou Ningyun, her dead gambler father, and Jiang Yi.
She would have no connection with any of them ever again.
Xiao Yanzhi paused for a moment and said softly, "You're more calm about this than I thought. I thought you'd at least resent them."
"I do have some resentment, but I can't say I hate them."
When she spoke of these things, her emotions were extremely calm. "When I didn't know the truth, I really treated them as my own relatives. I have a clear conscience, and that's enough."
"Extreme hatred can't be the pillar for one to live on. Instead, it will lead to an endless cycle of self - consumption and depression, ending up badly."
Xiao Yanzhi said, "Now that you're the daughter of the Sheng family, you can ask the Jiang family to return what belongs to you."
"It's not necessary." Jiang Li said calmly. "Since I found out I'm not the Jiang family's daughter, I've felt much more relaxed and relieved."
"Since I'm not their biological daughter, I don't have to fulfill the obligation of supporting them. There's no need for me to feel guilty or self - reproachful for what I've done."
"I won't feel cold - blooded anymore for not supporting Zhou Ningyun or sending Jiang Yi to prison with my own hands, because they were never related to me in the first place."
Xiao Yanzhi understood.
For Jiang Li, what mattered most wasn't having wealthy relatives. What she needed was a reasonable reason to stop self - examination.
She no longer had to be trapped by the so - called kinship and be gloomy all day long, because that wasn't the life and responsibility she should have borne.
"But I still feel very lucky. I have a kind father, a good - hearted brother, and a grandma who loves me."
"It's a pity that I never got to meet my mother." Jiang Li's voice paused. "Actually, I'm a bit curious about why my mother made such a decision back then and what exactly happened the year I was born. But there are always regrets in life."
The dead can't come back to life. Some riddles will never have answers.
Xiao Yanzhi was lost in thought.
A sincere smile appeared on Jiang Li's face. "Thank you for what you've done for me. Thank you for helping me find my own life. It's not as bad as I thought."
Xiao Yanzhi frowned. "Who told you?"
Jiang Li looked into his eyes again, her eyes brighter than before. "You're such a good - deed doer who doesn't seek recognition. I won't break your original plan."
Xiao Yanzhi raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Got it. Deduct his salary this month."
Jiang Li wasn't happy. "Why do you always bully Xue An? He's so nice."
Xiao Yanzhi's smile faded instantly. "Is he really that good in your eyes? Double the deduction."
To prevent Xue An from suffering more undeserved disasters, Jiang Li didn't dare to say anything more.
The two entered the screening hall. Since it was a midnight show, there weren't many people coming to watch the movie. Moreover, this was an old movie, so there were even fewer audiences.
Apart from them, there was another couple, who rushed out in a hurry as soon as the movie started.
So only Jiang Li and Xiao Yanzhi were left.
Jiang Li had watched this movie before to learn about the emotional expressions in it, so she was very familiar with the plot. The man beside her obviously wasn't very interested in the movie.
In the dark environment, he couldn't help but want to kiss her.
Jiang Li felt a bit embarrassed and whispered, "We're in a cinema..."
The man grabbed her wrist with one hand, and his breath gradually became hot. "Can't I even kiss you?"
He nibbled on her earlobe and whispered in her ear, "You just promised me that you'd kiss me a few more times every day from now on."
"When did I promise..."
Xiao Yanzhi was never one to be reasonable. How could he wait for her to defend herself?
He pinched her chin and his tongue searched for hers. He kissed her almost out of control, and there was a sound of lips and tongues intertwined.
His kiss made Jiang Li unconsciously fall into it. She placed her palm on his chest. At first, she wanted to gently push him away, but later it became a way to support herself.
Even though there was no one else in the screening hall, she was still extremely shy and didn't pay any attention to the movie on the screen.
Their lips and tongues were intertwined until they reluctantly separated. Both of them were breathing heavily and hoarsely.
"Still want to watch?" He whispered in her ear, his breath burning hot. "Do you want to go back with me now, huh?"
Jiang Li shook her head and then nodded. She closed her eyes. "We've already paid for the movie tickets..."
Xiao Yanzhi tightened his arms around her and said with a low laugh, "If that's your only concern, then let's go."
His voice was hoarse. He lovingly stroked her face and said meaningfully, "The time we'll spend together next is more valuable than these two movie tickets."
It was already eleven o'clock when they left the cinema. There were hardly any pedestrians on the street.
The colorful signs at the cinema entrance were still lit. Jiang Li was still staggering under Xiao Yanzhi's support. Her legs were really weak.
He had kissed her until she was aroused.
She couldn't walk steadily at all and fell directly into his arms. The man caught her steadily and then picked her up princess - style, striding quickly towards the taxi on the roadside.
Jiang Li stubbornly said in his arms, "Put me down. I can walk by myself."
"I've said that time is valuable."
They didn't get to watch the movie properly, and Jiang Li felt a bit regretful.
But this regret didn't last long.
He didn't give her any other time.
...
Not only when getting in the car, but also when entering the hotel, Jiang Li was carried in by Xiao Yanzhi.
The man showed an unusual impatience. He swiped the room card several times before he could open the door. After entering, the door was slammed shut with a loud noise.
His kisses rained down on her again, first on her forehead, then on her eyes, nose, cheeks, and lips.
One piece of clothing after another was thrown on the ground. He kissed her without the restraint he had in the screening hall before. He almost seemed to swallow her lips and tongue, making them a part of his body.
Jiang Li cooperated with him, raising her chin and letting him take what he wanted. His long fingers were also not idle.
Her body began to tremble.
Feeling the wetness and heat, Xiao Yanzhi chuckled. "Our Lili, are you getting a bit too excited too soon?"
She blushed to the roots of her ears and didn't dare to say that part of the reason was that she had already been aroused in the cinema.
Just as he craved her.
She craved him too.