Chapter 30: I, Ling Qiong, Send Money! (30)

A faint aroma of wine, mingled with the scent of wood, lingered and tangled in Ling Qiong’s dreams.

When she opened her eyes, she saw the person lying beside her.

Lu Wenchi was propping up his chin, gazing at her without blinking. His face betrayed no emotion, looking rather cold.

Ling Qiong hesitated, tugged at the blanket, and nervously swallowed. “Um… about last night—I can explain.”

Lu Wenchi pressed down on the blanket. “If you pull the blanket again, I won’t be able to cover myself.”

“…”

Awkward, Ling Qiong let go and shifted away a little.

Her expression was conflicted, tinged with helplessness, anxious and restless.

She was doomed!

How did she lose her self-control?

It wasn’t entirely her fault. The main problem was that this little sweetheart was simply too tempting, even taking the initiative to tease her.

If blame was to be assigned, he should shoulder half!

She only wanted to sleep with a paper-thin pretty boy—what was the big deal… Actually… it felt pretty great, and surprisingly real.

Ahem, ahem, this was not the time to be thinking about that.

“I was willing,” Lu Wenchi said softly, “I wasn’t drunk.”

Ling Qiong: “…”

…

Eight hours earlier.

Ling Qiong had tucked him into the bed, tidied him up a bit, generously let him have the bed for now, and went to sleep outside.

Who could have guessed that not long after, Lu Wenchi suddenly appeared at the doorway, clothes disheveled, standing there barefoot.

He said nothing, did nothing, just stood there looking at her.

Ling Qiong couldn’t figure out what he wanted, but the way Lu Wenchi looked was mesmerizing.

She couldn’t help but… steal a few more glances.

After admiring him for a bit, Ling Qiong, feeling like a doting father, pushed him back toward his room.

She swore, she truly hadn’t meant to do anything.

Just looking was enough to satisfy her craving.

But it was Lu Wenchi who made the first move, grabbing her hand and refusing to let go, suddenly leaning in to kiss her.

The boy’s kiss was awkward and clumsy, but there was an undercurrent of passion and urgency.

Ling Qiong’s thoughts of resisting were swept away by that fervent emotion; she had no intention of putting up a fight.

In the dark, with the ambiguous atmosphere, it was all too easy for unspeakable things to happen.

After that, everything spiraled out of control.

…

Back to the present.

“Thank you for helping me during this time,” Lu Wenchi turned his head to look at her, “You want me, don’t you?”

Ling Qiong: “Ah… yes.” Who wouldn’t want something beautiful?

Ling Qiong reached for her clothes, wanting to slip away.

Something about the atmosphere just felt off.

Lu Wenchi didn’t stop her, watching as she dressed and slipped out like a thief.

By the time Lu Wenchi came out, Ling Qiong had already prepared breakfast and was sitting at the dining table, cupping her face in her hands, lost in thought.

She looked a little troubled.

“Anytime you want me from now on, just let me know. I’ll do my best to satisfy you.”

“What do you mean by that?” Why did it sound like she was freeloading?

Lu Wenchi ladled out congee with a porcelain-white bowl, the rising steam blurring his features. “You don’t have to feel awkward. I won’t ask anything of you.”

He understood his own situation—he didn’t fit with the Su family, so he didn’t dare hope for too much.

What Lu Wenchi meant was to be purely physical mutual-aid partners.

He had no objections—he was happy to oblige.

Ling Qiong: “…”

She hadn’t said anything.

Why did he have to spell everything out?

Lu Wenchi noticed Ling Qiong was unusually quiet. She’d always talk a lot before, but today she’d barely said a word.

After breakfast, Lu Wenchi took the dishes to wash.

When he came out, he looked at Ling Qiong and said seriously, “If you ever get tired of me, just let me know. I’ll leave on my own.”

With those words, Lu Wenchi went into the bedroom.

A giant question mark appeared over Ling Qiong’s head.

Wait. Why would she get tired of him?

How many little sweethearts like him could one even find!

She was just wondering, given how things stood, they probably hadn’t even started dating yet? Could this still count as a happy ending in the end?

Well, sometimes love comes after marriage…

That should count too.

Thinking about last night, Ling Qiong opened her illustrated guide. The ‘Thirteenth Hour of Night’ card had changed.

The style resembled the one from the hotel before, but the overall impact was even stronger.

Blushing, she closed the guide, her heart pounding wildly as she fanned herself with her hand.

A moment later, she opened it again.

Closed it.

Opened it.

Closed it.

Opened it.

After repeating this several times, Ling Qiong felt that having such a little sweetheart was a kind of happiness.

Absolutely perfect!

She covered her face, heart surging, fireworks bursting again and again in her mind.

When Lu Wenchi came out, he saw the girl with her hands over her face, almost burying herself in her knees, her shoulders trembling from time to time.

Suddenly, Lu Wenchi’s heart clenched—had he been too selfish last night?

“Are… are you okay?” His voice trembled, both fearful and anxious.

His hand reached out, but didn’t dare touch her, slowly retreating, standing there uneasily.

Ling Qiong raised her head, looking up to meet his gaze.

Lu Wenchi saw no sadness or pain on her face, only sparkling eyes and a radiant smile.

She reached out and tugged at his shirt, her voice soft as cotton, “You kissed me so clumsily last night, I didn’t even feel the pleasure of kissing. Let me feel it again.”

Lu Wenchi: “…”

Lu Wenchi: “???”

That almost coquettish tone—Lu Wenchi couldn’t refuse at all. Whatever she asked, he wanted to say yes.

Whatever she wanted, he would give.

Even his life, if she asked.

…

“Have you ever filmed a kissing scene?”

“No.”

“No wonder.”

“…”

Lu Wenchi felt she was complaining about his lack of skill.

“You’re not mad at me, are you?”

“Why would I be mad?” Ling Qiong sat on Lu Wenchi’s lap, arms around his neck, directing him, “Carry me inside.”

Lu Wenchi picked her up and brought her into the bedroom.

Ling Qiong ordered him to fetch her clothes.

“I thought you were angry,” Lu Wenchi said, handing her the clothes she asked for.

When he’d come out earlier and seen that scene, his heart had nearly stopped.

Ling Qiong gave a soft humph, “If I don’t want something, no one can force me.”

Thinking about it, Lu Wenchi realized she hadn’t actually refused him last night.

Ling Qiong changed into a new set of clothes, then pulled Lu Wenchi out the door. On the way downstairs, she made him carry her.

Lu Wenchi squatted so she could climb on.

The girl hugged his neck, blowing softly into his ear.

“Stop it,” Lu Wenchi’s ears turned red as he glanced back at her.

But then, the girl suddenly pulled down his mask and planted a kiss on his lips. “Let’s date.”

Her voice was clear and bright in his ear, rolling to the bottom of his heart, stirring endless ripples.

He stood still for a long time, then turned back and kept walking. “I’m not right for you.”

“Says who?”

“…”

He knew his place.

Her ex-fiancé—what kind of person was he? Only someone like that was worthy of her.

“I’m really not right for you,” Lu Wenchi said. “Aren’t things good enough the way they are?”

He didn’t want to truly invest, only to end with the same result.

Ling Qiong suddenly grabbed the railing, forcing Lu Wenchi to stop.

“If you don’t say yes today, we’re staying right here.”

Lu Wenchi: “…”

How childish.

“Let go first.”

“I’ll let go if you agree, otherwise you’ll have to chop off my hand.”

Lu Wenchi: “…”