Chapter 19: Sigh! The torrential rain & Capitalism

The sky was so overcast it felt oppressive. Thick clouds blanketed the heavens, creating a suffocating pressure in the air.

The cluster of buildings stood beside a quiet, scenic lake. Trees lined the shore, the water calm and still, but beneath the gray haze, even the beautiful architecture and vibrant greenery seemed dull and lifeless.

It was already afternoon, yet the sky remained a dark gray-blue, nearly black. The rain refused to fall, hanging there only as another source of pressure.

A wave of irritation and unease filled Aiwen’s heart.

She had already been staying here for several days, yet her aunt still had not said how this matter would be handled.

At first, she thought Lemang would simply be confined for a long time, but today some of the guards around the villa had been withdrawn. Moreover, whenever she encountered Aunt during these past few days, Lemang looked listless rather than argumentative.

So what exactly was going on?

Were they merely locking him up for a few days?

The more Aiwen thought about it, the more uneasy she became.

She felt things were slipping out of control.

Aiwen stopped in front of Lemang’s room. After a long while, she finally knocked.

“Lemang?”

“I don’t want to do anything today, stop bothering me!”

His voice came muffled through the thick door, full of frustration and gloom.

Sounds of smashing and crashing echoed from inside the room.

“Lemang, listen to me. I need to talk to you.”

For some reason, those words slipped from Aiwen’s throat.

The moment she said them, her mind went blank.

No… what exactly did she want to tell him?

That she had told Aunt about him and Lin Zhiyan?

That afterward she had felt miserable and unable to sleep?

No. If she had already done something despicable, then she should not regret it now. This anxiety was temporary. As long as she could steal her friend back from him—even once—then it would all be worth it.

Aiwen’s thoughts grew increasingly tangled before Lemang’s muffled, distorted shout interrupted them.

“I said I’m in a bad mood! Stop knocking!”

A few seconds later, his voice became clearer. The anger in it faded, leaving only exhaustion.

“I’m going to sleep. I’m not attending tonight’s banquet. Whatever it is, we’ll talk tomorrow.”

Lemang was always like this. His bad temper and harsh words always came first. Even when comforting someone, he could make them feel irritated. Even when something could have been discussed calmly, he always sounded angry.

So… so…

When things turned out badly, it was all his own fault…

Just like now…

That thought vaguely surfaced in Aiwen’s mind. She lowered her hand from the door, feeling oddly relieved, yet the heaviness in her chest deepened.

She turned and slowly walked down the corridor.

The flowers decorating the walls on both sides were sparse and lifeless. Fallen petals scattered beneath the vases. As she walked, she counted the petals one by one.

Through one corridor.

Then into another.

But this time, the flowers on both sides were lush and flourishing, utterly vibrant.

With no petals left to count, Aiwen raised her head.

Only then did she realize she had arrived at her aunt’s study.

Perhaps sometimes, one’s footsteps understood better than the heart itself.

Aiwen stopped thinking. She knocked and entered the grand, luxurious study.

She saw her aunt’s beautiful glossy red hair. She saw dust floating through the air. But it felt as though water had filled her ears—she could neither understand what she herself was saying nor hear clearly what others said.

How long did the conversation last?

Three minutes? Five? Ten?

“Zefi will handle it for me. Perhaps she’ll be made to withdraw.”

Esela’s words fell.

—Withdraw?!

Lin Zhiyan?!

Aiwen stood frozen like wood. Her sight, hearing, and sense of smell vanished, as though she were drowning underwater.

But suddenly, a piercing ringing exploded in her mind. The surface shattered apart. Air, sunlight, scent—all crashed down upon her at once.

“No! Aunt, that isn’t fair! This matter clearly was—”

Aiwen cried out. Her words collided chaotically in her mouth.

She rushed before Esela in panic.

“I’m sorry, Aunt. Actually, they haven’t done anything. Lemang didn’t go to— no, I said the wrong things about him and Lin Zhiyan. They aren’t— this matter— no—”

Esela frowned.

“Why are you so out of composure?”

“Relax. Whether it’s true or false will become clear soon enough.”

She grasped Aiwen’s arm and continued:

“No one will know about this.”

Aiwen lifted her face, tears spilling from her eyes.

“Aunt, listen to my expla—”

“Aiwen.”

Esela cut her off. Her green eyes were decisive and cold.

“You should leave now.”

Aiwen knew there was no point saying anything further.

Her aunt would not listen.

So she staggered out step by step.

She stood there blankly for a moment before suddenly lifting her skirt and sprinting toward Lemang’s room, red hair flying behind her.

She had to tell him.

Lin Zhiyan could not be expelled.

She could not imagine how Lin Zhiyan would look at her if she learned the truth.

Her footsteps pounded against the floor, crushing flower petals as she reached Lemang’s door.

Aiwen slammed her fists against it.

“Open the door!”

At once came the familiar response:

“I don’t want to do anything today, stop bothering me!”

Amid the voice, she clearly heard the sharp sound of shattering glass.

Aiwen’s eyes widened.

“Lemang! Don’t go out! Don’t go see her! They’ll catch you!”

But immediately afterward, Lemang’s voice rang out again:

“I said I’m in a bad mood! Stop knocking!”

The exact same words.

The exact same tone.

It was a recording.

Then where had Lemang gone?!

Aiwen’s entire body turned cold.

She immediately tried calling his terminal.

But just as the call connected, she saw someone approaching slowly down the dim corridor.

He was impeccably dressed, tall and elegant. His handsome features were hidden in the shadows.

As he drew nearer, beneath his gray-white hair, his eyes curved with a clear and gentle smile.

He nodded to Aiwen.

—Zefi.

The terminal slipped from Aiwen’s hand.

Now she understood why Lemang had been confined for so long.

They had been waiting for this exact moment.

Zefi spoke softly.

“You needed something from Lemang?”

Aiwen could not speak.

Zefi bent down, picked up her terminal, and handed it back to her. Then he swiped a card to unlock Lemang’s door.

The room was in chaos.

Curtains fluttered wildly in the wind. The special reinforced glass flashed with warning messages. Damp wind and fine rain swept into the room.

On a nearby table lay a terminal glowing with missed-call notifications from Aiwen.

Zefi walked inside, picked it up, glanced at it briefly, and adjusted something.

Soon, Lemang’s recorded voice began replaying repeatedly, telling people to leave him alone.

Turning back toward Aiwen, Zefi smiled faintly.

“Looks like he’s not here.”

Aiwen closed her eyes.

Zefi walked to the bedside and saw scattered flower petals along the wall, messy leaves and broken branches near the desk, and footprints leading through the grass outside below.

Far away, a shrinking figure disappeared into a car.

People in love always treated every meeting like a life-threatening adventure.

Zefi could not help but smile.

How blind. How foolish.

“BOOM—!”

Thunder split across the heavens.

The restrained rain was finally released, pouring down violently. Birds hidden in the trees scattered in panic. More lightning flashed, illuminating the windshield in bursts of white.

The light briefly illuminated Lemang’s face.

He stared ahead seriously, red hair soaked wet, dark circles beneath his eyes. Yet within those green eyes burned a stubborn, determined light.

He had turned off autonomous driving and gripped the steering wheel himself, watching every road carefully.

He refused to accept an ending like this.

But he knew—they had never even truly begun.

Lemang pushed his wet red hair back. Blood stained his soaked shirt. He hurt, he was cold, he was starving—

But he was not tired.

His grip tightened on the wheel.

The roads on either side blurred past, but the thoughts in his heart became clearer and clearer.

Even if it had to end, then at least let him confess first.

Everything was rushed. There were no jewels, no gifts, no fancy dinner.

But he had gotten flowers.

Lemang glanced at the bouquet on the passenger seat, tied neatly with ribbon, trimmed of thorns and covered in raindrops.

Lifting his chin proudly, he thought that after being stolen from the hallway, the flowers looked even more wilted now.

He needed to reach her house quickly.

His car sped through the rain, splashing water everywhere.

Several minutes later, several other vehicles drove through the same area.

Rain continued endlessly.

The sky grew darker and darker.

Inside a warm, elegant apartment, the lights were off. Silence filled the room.

Then came a muffled click.

Followed by chaotic footsteps.

“Let go! Let go! I thought you came to talk things through!”

“Yes. And my answer is that I refuse.”

“Li Siheng!”

…

“Look at me, Lin Zhiyan.”

“Stop talking about this.”

“Why shouldn’t we talk about it?”

…

“Why can’t we go back to how we used to be?”

“You know perfectly well there’s no future.”

“Why not?”

Their voices drifted vaguely from outside before growing clearer and clearer—

Until the bedroom door burst open.

The lights turned on.

Li Siheng pinned Lin Zhiyan down by the arm, tears and kisses falling across her face.

The instant their lips touched, he tilted his head back uncontrollably, desperately drinking in her presence, her scent, her warmth.

His heart slammed violently against his chest, trying to force her heartbeat out of rhythm as well.

Hot, damp breaths ignited the temperature between them.

Li Siheng sank deeper and deeper into thirst.

Sweat soaked his hair. His gray-black eyes fixed obsessively upon her face.

His hand slid downward—

At once, he saw her brows tighten slightly, redness appearing beneath her eyes.

So he kissed the corners of her eyes.

He knew she might cry.

He engraved her face into his gaze. The redness beneath her eyes deepened. The moment she tilted her head back, he kissed her throat, using teeth and tongue to feel every swallow.

Everything was too practiced.

And yet too unfamiliar.

In countless sleepless nights, guarding an account that would never send another message, his memories always dragged him back into dreams of the past.

Li Siheng bit her ear, withdrew his hand, and looked at her while slowly licking each finger clean.

Lin Zhiyan’s gaze was drawn to the sight in surprise.

He could not help smiling, eager for her attention. His gray-black eyes held nothing except her.

Soon his limbs wrapped tightly around her slim body, pinning them together.

Soft gasps escaped his throat as he kissed her again.

The heavier the rain outside became, the warmer their breaths and body heat felt against one another.

Time stretched endlessly.

Rain pounded harder and harder.

Li Siheng held her waist from behind, kissing her back.

Buzz buzz buzz—

The vibrating terminal shattered the intimate atmosphere.

Lin Zhiyan reached for it, but Li Siheng only held her tighter.

“Don’t… don’t answer…”

His mind was still hazy from pleasure. Desire overflowed in his gray-black eyes as he stared at her greedily.

He buried his face against her neck, licking along her jaw.

Seriously, why was this still not over?

His brain wasn’t even functioning anymore and he still wanted more.

Her stress was practically gone already.

After a brief thought, Lin Zhiyan turned around and leaned against the bed.

Li Siheng looked at her.

She gently stroked his eyebrows.

Like feathers brushing softly, her fingers moved from his brows to his cheeks, finally rubbing against his lips.

The moment her eyes rested on him, he felt completely satisfied.

Everything was enough.

Li Siheng lifted his face obediently.

Gone was his usual sharpness, indifference, and coldness.

Now there was only dazed obedience and a face unconsciously leaning into her touch.

Then suddenly, her finger tapped lightly against his jaw.

“Open your mouth.”

Li Siheng blinked dazedly and slowly obeyed.

Lin Zhiyan tilted her head as if carefully inspecting him. Her fingers slid into his mouth, touching his teeth.

At once, his jaw trembled. Moisture welled in his eyes.

“Don’t close it.”

He stared at her helplessly.

He could never resist her.

She always led him around effortlessly.

He just wanted her to look at him.

Li Siheng kept his mouth open, oxygen-deprived and unable to think, left only with instinct.

Lin Zhiyan toyed with his tongue and lips with one hand.

With the other, she picked up the terminal and answered the call.

The moment the line connected—

Li Siheng frowned and grabbed her other wrist.

Before Lin Zhiyan could speak, Aiwen’s broken, choking voice burst through the terminal.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t—I didn’t know—please, no, I’m sorry, I didn’t know it would become like this…”

Lin Zhiyan froze.

“Calm down. What happened?”

As she spoke, she pushed the rest of her fingers into Li Siheng’s mouth, afraid he might suddenly interrupt. At the same time, Aiwen’s strange state made her nervous.

“I… I told Aunt about you and Lemang…” Aiwen sounded utterly hopeless and panicked. “Aunt—no, Zefi—wants you expelled.”

Her voice broke apart between ragged breaths.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…”

Lin Zhiyan abruptly yanked her hand from Li Siheng’s mouth.

Her mind went blank.

What the hell?!

Wait.

How did this suddenly turn into expulsion?!

Why hadn’t the school informed her?!

She shot upright, desperate to ask more questions, but Li Siheng immediately grabbed her arm.

At that instant, she nearly broke down from irritation.

God, so clingy!

Grinding her teeth, she turned around and straddled him while speaking calmly into the terminal.

“Tell me slowly, okay? Start from the beginning. Explain everything carefully.”

Li Siheng looked up at her in confusion.

Lin Zhiyan reached downward.

His pupils instantly dilated and contracted.

Her grip was firm. His face paled, lips bitten tightly.

Without loosening her hold, Lin Zhiyan forced herself to focus on Aiwen’s words, terrified of missing anything.

Outside, the rain grew noisier.

The night deepened.

Li Siheng’s waist trembled weakly upward and downward. Sweat soaked his forehead. He tilted his head back desperately, gasping for air.

Pain and pleasure overwhelmed him together.

Meanwhile, Lin Zhiyan listened carefully while moving quickly.

Finally, Aiwen’s voice ended in a hoarse apology.

“I’m sorry… I was too jealous of Lemang…” Aiwen sobbed. “It’s all my fault. I was too selfish. I couldn’t accept you becoming closer to someone else…”

Lin Zhiyan felt despair consume her.

Her arms were sore.

Her body was exhausted.

Her brain was completely blank.

So now—

Lemang was coming to find her?

And Zefi was also coming to discuss expelling her?

What?

What???

WHAT???

Her mind screamed internally.

But moments later, she looked at Li Siheng.

He was already at his limit, sweat beading along his nose. Tears clung to his eyelashes. His breathing was frantic, eyes half-lidded.

First… first deal with these two.

Everything else could wait!

Listening to Aiwen’s sobbing through the terminal, Lin Zhiyan leaned close to Li Siheng’s ear and whispered:

“A few days ago, something I wanted to say got interrupted.”

“What…?”

Both of them asked the same question simultaneously.

“What I wanted to say was—if you want to be seen, you have to first see yourself.”

Her voice was soft.

“When you couldn’t see yourself, I saw you first.”

Li Siheng’s pupils shrank violently.

His head tipped back. His eyelids trembled as a smile slowly spread across his face.

All brilliance gathered onto him in that instant.

His mind blanked as all the pleasure he had suppressed burst forth. Both body and spirit were swallowed by overwhelming waves.

From the terminal came Aiwen’s finally unrestrained sobbing.

Lin Zhiyan hung up without caring about Li Siheng’s reaction.

Because she thought—

Hadn’t she just heard the sound of a car stopping downstairs?!

Cold sweat rolled down her forehead.

Help.

Help!

What was she supposed to do now?!

📚 Also on NHV Novels

The Gaze at the Tip of the Sword

BLFantasyPsychological

Read Now →
Not interested