Chapter 34: Then Please Love Me

Wen Qi took a deep breath.

“Wei Qingxuan, you- get lost!”

The cool, soothing sensation below gradually washed away the heat he had stirred up moments ago. Even the faint sting from where he had bitten her was fading.

She could feel what the thing was supposed to do, but there was still an undeniable sense of something foreign inside her. Especially since her underwear was still in his pocket. Every step she took felt awkward and required caution.

“It’ll dissolve in a while. It won’t hurt you.”

He smiled.

“Want me to carry you over there?”

“Get lost.”

Wen Qi quickly put some distance between them. After calming herself, she walked toward the group as if nothing were wrong.

The moment they saw her, Qian Jinghao scooted aside and made room.

“Come on, sit here.”

Someone beside her nudged her.

“Can’t you see Senior Jiang’s been waiting?”

Qian Jinghao immediately understood. She shifted again, eliminating the empty seat and wiggling her eyebrows at Wen Qi.

“Then you should sit next to Senior Jiang.”

Jiang Tinghao was seated in the middle of the sofa, surrounded by classmates. If Wen Qi wanted to sit beside him, she would have to squeeze through the crowd.

But her legs were weak.

Even taking a single step required effort.

She was genuinely worried that she might lose her balance and collapse in front of everyone.

Her gaze swept around the room. Besides the seat next to Jiang Tinghao, there were two other empty seats much closer to her.

“It’s fine. I can sit over here.”

But just as she started toward them, Qi Guoyi arrived with Wei Qingxuan and sat down.

“You don’t mind if we join, right?”

“…”

She minded very much.

Qi Guoyi sat down cheerfully and handed Wei Qingxuan a drink.

“Come on, play with us. These games are always fun.”

The instant everyone from Huai Art College saw Wei Qingxuan, a strange chorus of “Ooooh-” erupted.

Though Wei Qingxuan attended Huai University, he was somewhat famous among Huai Art students. Not everyone knew him, but the gossip surrounding him hadn’t completely died down.

Curious, excited, and speculative looks immediately converged on Wen Qi.

She was already dealing with a very private problem and could only try her best to appear normal.

Hadn’t Wei Qingxuan said it would dissolve soon?

Why was it still there?

She pursed her lips and silently withdrew the step she’d just taken.

****

Qi Guoyi had no idea why everyone was reacting.

He tried asking someone, but Wei Qingxuan pushed the alcohol back.

“I drove here.”

“Oh, President Wei, you drove?”

The more Qi Guoyi talked with him, the larger the gap between them seemed.

When Qi Guoyi had first attended business events as an intern, he’d been nervous just speaking in front of executives.

At that same age, Wei Qingxuan had already been standing on stage, microphone in hand, confidently thanking investors and negotiating deals.

Qi Guoyi drank a mouthful of wine and pushed a cup of tea toward him.

“You can have this instead.”

Wei Qingxuan glanced at him.

“‘You’?”

Qi Guoyi laughed.

“Outside school, considering our positions, I ought to address you respectfully.”

Perhaps because he’d just received a “reward” from Wen Qi, Wei Qingxuan was in an unusually good mood.

“Don’t overestimate others, and don’t underestimate yourself. Keep school and work separate.”

Qi Guoyi blinked.

Then he grinned.

“To be honest, I-”

“So sweet!”

The sudden exclamation interrupted him.

More accurately, it interrupted Wei Qingxuan’s thoughts.

His good mood vanished instantly.

His gaze locked onto Wen Qi and Jiang Tinghao.

****

Jiang Tinghao had noticed Wen Qi lingering.

Patting the seat beside him, he said softly,

“You can sit here.”

Then he stood, walked around the crowd, and lightly touched her elbow.

“Come sit beside me.”

Like a thoughtful, attentive boyfriend.

“Okay.”

Wen Qi deliberately avoided looking at Wei Qingxuan.

She didn’t need to see him to know exactly how sharp his gaze had become.

The angrier he got, the better.

If looks could turn into arrows, Jiang Tinghao’s arm would already have been riddled with holes.

Wei Qingxuan gripped his teacup, unable to hear a single word Qi Guoyi was saying.

Every movement Wen Qi made seemed to play in slow motion before his eyes.

The room faded into silence.

Only the heavy rhythm of breathing remained.

Until someone suddenly shouted:

“Wait, did they just almost kiss?”

Wei Qingxuan snapped back to reality.

At some point, Wen Qi had stumbled and fallen into Jiang Tinghao’s arms.

There were too many people around.

Her legs were weak.

Someone had accidentally tripped her.

She’d fallen straight against him.

Jiang Tinghao froze.

His eyelashes trembled.

His breathing stalled.

Wen Qi noticed none of it.

She quickly sat upright again, adjusted her clothes, and took her seat beside him.

Seeing that nothing had actually happened, the crowd sighed in disappointment.

Crack.

Wei Qingxuan crushed the teacup in his hand.

Only Qi Guoyi noticed.

He hurriedly handed over some tissues.

“Calm down. That’s not your wife. I understand how you feel, but you can’t keep mistaking people for her.”

Wei Qingxuan didn’t move.

His eyes never left Wen Qi.

Qi Guoyi sighed.

What a bizarre situation.

One man’s girlfriend was being pursued.

Another man’s wife had supposedly run away.

And somehow the girlfriend and wife looked exactly alike.

****

The atmosphere remained lively.

When it became obvious Jiang Tinghao wasn’t planning to make any moves, someone stood up.

“Senior Jiang, come on! Don’t tell me you expect Junior Wen to make the first move!”

Jiang Tinghao frowned.

“Chen Lehu, sit down. Stop talking nonsense.”

Chen Lehu was one of his close friends.

“Come on, Senior Jiang. Don’t be shy. I saw your phone wallpaper a few days ago. Wasn’t it Junior Wen?”

Wen Qi immediately turned to Jiang Tinghao.

He lowered his eyes.

“We have to make the act convincing.”

Since Jiang Tinghao still wasn’t responding, Chen Lehu changed tactics.

“Fine. Let’s keep playing Flying Chess.”

“If you land on a bomb square, you have to complete a challenge.”

He deliberately glanced at Jiang Tinghao.

“No cheating.”

Wen Qi sat ramrod straight.

Her back was tense.

Her legs were pressed tightly together.

Every detail betrayed her nervousness.

Wei Qingxuan’s luck was terrible.

The very first question he drew was:

“When was the last time you slept with your girlfriend?”

His gaze drifted toward Wen Qi.

She looked up at the ceiling.

Then down at the floor.

Anywhere except at him.

As though his answer had absolutely nothing to do with her.

“I don’t have a girlfriend.”

For some reason, there was a trace of loneliness in his voice.

Several people who knew the gossip instantly shifted their attention to Wen Qi.

After all, Wei Qingxuan had once publicly admitted that he’d failed to win her over.

Now she was sitting beside someone else.

Who knew whether tonight would turn into some dramatic love triangle?

Wen Qi took a sip of water to suppress her anxiety.

At least his answer had been normal.

Otherwise she might have run away on the spot.

Not that she could run very far.

The thing inside her was still there, only smaller now.

She kept her legs tightly together.

Her phone vibrated.

A message from Wei Qingxuan.

– Still there?

– You tell me. It’s your thing.

If there weren’t so many people around, Wen Qi genuinely wanted to punch him.

Wei Qingxuan knew how sensitive she was.

The pink capsule-shaped medication had been specially prepared.

Harmless to the body.

It reduced swelling.

It just required moisture to dissolve.

Apparently he’d gotten a little carried away earlier and hadn’t left enough time.

– Think about me more.

– Why would I think about you?

– Think about what we were doing earlier.

– ?

– What exactly are you trying to say?

Seeing that subtlety wasn’t working, he gave up.

– If it isn’t wet enough, it dissolves slower.

Wen Qi nearly exploded.

– You bastard. Why didn’t you say that earlier?

– So think about me.

– Do you think I’m you?

Thinking about Wei Qingxuan wouldn’t make her wetter.

It would only make her want to hit him harder.

****

“Senior Jiang! You can’t back out now!”

Chen Lehu suddenly slapped the table.

Wen Qi looked up.

Apparently it was Jiang Tinghao’s turn.

And his luck was just as bad.

He’d landed on a bomb square.

“Fine.”

Chen Lehu rushed over and personally drew a challenge card.

Then he read it aloud.

“Hold hands with the person on your left…”

Wen Qi glanced over.

The person on his left was her.

The entire room leaned forward expectantly.

Only Wen Qi looked nervous.

Meanwhile Wei Qingxuan gripped his phone so hard it seemed ready to shatter.

“Hold hands with the person on your left, fingers interlocked, for ten seconds.”

The crowd immediately groaned.

Only holding hands?

How boring.

At least make them kiss.

Wen Qi’s first instinct was to look at Wei Qingxuan.

His eyes were fixed on her hand.

As though if she dared do it, he’d cut it off himself.

Her phone vibrated repeatedly.

– Don’t hold his hand.

– One second equals one punishment.

– Be good, Wen Qi. Don’t do it.

– Still want me putting things inside you?

– If you hold his hand, I’ll find something bigger next time.

– I’ll fill you completely.

Threatening her again.

Furious, Wen Qi flipped her phone over and directly grabbed Jiang Tinghao’s hand.

He froze.

Completely.

As if moving even slightly might remind her she was holding the hand of a living person.

A person who had been falling for her all along.

The crowd exploded into laughter.

“Senior Jiang, she’s more proactive than you are!”

“How did you even manage to get a girlfriend?”

Someone else chimed in.

“Simple. Next time he lands on a bomb square, we’ll ask how he did it.”

“Junior Wen, you won’t mind, right?”

Wen Qi smiled.

“Not at all.”

A final message appeared on Wei Qingxuan’s phone.

– Wen Qi. Your courage is growing.

“After saying so much, I’m afraid I won’t remember it all,” Wen Qi sighed. “Forget it. We’ll talk about it when we get to the supermarket.”

Ever since moving in with Wei Qingxuan, she had never touched anything in the kitchen. She had no idea what was in the house. All she knew was that whenever she came home or woke up, fragrant meals would already be waiting on the table.

Actually, Wei Qingxuan’s cooking used to be terrible, the kind of terrible that came from putting in a great deal of sincere effort.

When they met again during summer vacation, Wen Qi had been curious about how he had become such a good cook. She had asked him, but he never answered.

She had also asked why he had suddenly moved into his grandmother’s house.

That question, too, went unanswered.

The heater in the car was running warmly. Before long, Wen Qi fell asleep.

The next time she woke up, Wei Qingxuan was about to carry her into the elevator on his back.

“I can walk by myself.”

Because it had snowed that day, the shopping mall was decorated to match the season. Festive reds were mixed with whites meant to resemble snowflakes.

Wen Qi suddenly realized something.

“Is it almost New Year already?”

“Another month.”

“Oh. Then winter break is coming soon.”

Wei Qingxuan asked, “Are you going back to Zhian for the holiday?”

Neither of them hurried toward the supermarket. Wen Qi casually wandered into a clothing store nearby.

“No. There’s nowhere for me to stay there anymore.”

She picked up a scarf.

It was a men’s style. The texture felt decent enough, though it couldn’t compare to the custom-made scarves Wei Qingxuan had given her. But commissioning something custom herself was out of the question.

Her wallet was practically empty.

“There is,” Wei Qingxuan said. “If you want a place to stay, there’ll be one.”

But there was nowhere in Zhian that Wen Qi actually wanted to be.

She wasn’t someone burdened by homesickness, nor someone who liked living in memories.

With her go-with-the-flow attitude, she could adapt anywhere and live well anywhere, unless she encountered someone like Wei Qingxuan, someone she could never quite grasp.

And no matter where she went, it seemed impossible to escape him.

So whether she spent the holiday in Chengyu or Zhian made little difference. She couldn’t be bothered with the trouble.

“No. Everyone I want to see is no longer in Zhian.”

She paused halfway through the sentence, then suddenly asked,

“What about you? Are you going back?”

Wei Qingxuan shook his head.

Wen Qi smiled.

“Then I’m sure of it. The people I want to see aren’t in Zhian.”

Wei Qingxuan stopped walking.

He wasn’t sure whether she meant it or not.

But it sounded suspiciously like a love confession.

For now, he decided to believe it.

After browsing through the scarf section, Wen Qi walked toward the most expensive scarf there.

Cashmere.

Soft against the skin.

The overall design was black, elegant and understated, with gray woven subtly into the fringe.

After looking around, she felt it was the only one that barely matched Wei Qingxuan.

Turning around, she said,

“Wei Qingxuan, let me give you a gift.”

Yet instead of surprise, the smile gradually disappeared from his face.

Without a word, he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

She was being far too gentle.

It felt like dawn was approaching, and he didn’t know when his beautiful dream would shatter.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Qi asked.

Wei Qingxuan smiled.

“A waste.”

He thought it was a waste?

Then what about the entire wardrobe of clothes he had bought for her, more than she could ever wear?

He seemed to love buying things for her.

From entire villas to something as small as a toothbrush, he always insisted on choosing them personally.

Whenever she used something he had prepared, it felt as though the countless threads connecting them became a little more real.

Ignoring him, Wen Qi picked up the scarf she wanted and paid for it.

Then she stuffed the shopping bag into his arms.

“Come on. Let’s buy food.”

****

That night, Wen Qi ate an entire bowl of noodles for supper.

She was so full she couldn’t sleep and sat on the sofa staring at the ceiling in despair.

Wei Qingxuan hand-washed the scarf, hung it carefully in the most visible place, then came over.

“What are you sighing about?”

“My stomach is protesting. It’s upset that I couldn’t stop eating so late at night.”

“Then why did you eat so much?”

He sat beside her.

The sofa dipped beneath his weight, and Wen Qi toppled straight into his arms.

Naturally, he began rubbing her stomach.

“Because I was thinking I might not get to eat it in the future.”

“…”

The moment she realized what she had just said, her body stiffened.

Even her breathing became shallow.

The room fell silent.

Only the sound of dripping water from the balcony remained, like rain falling steadily into Wei Qingxuan’s heart.

So noisy.

That rain.

His eyes lowered.

Even then, his hand rubbing her stomach never paused.

“What else do you want to eat?”

“Nothing.”

He asked again.

“Only noodles?”

“Maybe other things too. We’ll talk about it tomorrow. I can’t eat another bite right now.”

****

For the first time, Wei Qingxuan didn’t hold Wen Qi while sleeping.

After she fell asleep, he quietly got up, took his laptop, and sat in the living room.

The cold white glow of the screen illuminated his face.

The gentleness gradually disappeared.

‘Damon, that useless fool. Looks like I’ll have to handle this myself.’

A multinational video conference was underway.

Yet the main screen displayed Wen Qi sleeping peacefully.

Only a small window in the corner showed a handsome foreign man.

He was bent over, head lowered, cold sweat visible along his neck.

“Please forgive me, sir.”

Mia had toyed with Damon all night.

She had shattered the security system he had painstakingly built and made his computer play a song called Loser on repeat for an entire hour.

Using Damon’s own synthesized voice.

The humiliation was immense.

A child prodigy in computing, Damon had never experienced such disgrace.

Even more frightening was what happened after he reported everything to Wei Qingxuan.

The next second, the computer returned to normal.

The alarms throughout the villa fell silent.

Mia’s attack collapsed instantly.

He had failed.

And people without value had no place beside Wei Qingxuan.

For the first time, Damon was this nervous.

He didn’t even dare lift his head.

Wei Qingxuan’s message appeared,

– Damon, do you think being overseas means I can’t deal with you?

Damon replied immediately:

– Please forgive me, sir.

– You’ve become complacent.

Cold sweat broke out again.

– I’m sorry, sir. Please give me one more chance.

– I’ll definitely help you bring the mistress home.

Wei Qingxuan had spent enormous effort bringing Damon back under his wing.

Now he was beginning to question his own judgment.

“I’ll succeed,” Damon insisted. “I’ll catch that rat.”

Without Wei Qingxuan, he would return to that alley where his hands had been crippled, reliving the moment again and again.

He could never go back to that life.

At last, Wei Qingxuan replied,

– One final chance.

– The person I want to keep, no one can set her free.

****

Afraid of disturbing Wen Qi, he spoke softly and briefly.

But her stomach was uncomfortable that night.

When she got up to use the bathroom, she noticed the light in the living room.

At first she assumed he was handling work again.

Then she heard fragments.

Complacent.

Mistress.

Rat.

The person I want to keep.

Who was he talking about?

The answer was obvious.

Standing in the doorway, Wen Qi looked at Wei Qingxuan as though seeing another side of him.

Cold.

Calculating.

Aware of everything.

“Qiqi, come here.”

Without even turning around, he knew she was standing there.

He even knew exactly when she had arrived.

If she wanted to see it, then let her.

His duplicity.

His schemes.

His calculations.

All of it.

Yawning, Wen Qi walked over.

“Just woke up.”

Naturally, Wei Qingxuan pulled her onto his lap.

“Didn’t sleep well?”

“No. Just got up to use the bathroom.”

Then she asked,

“Are you finished?”

“What’s wrong?”

“If you’re done, go back to bed. It’s late. Staying up is bad for your health.”

The concern hidden in her words pleased him immensely.

He lifted her into his arms.

“Then let’s sleep.”

Curled in his embrace, Wen Qi couldn’t stop her hands from trembling.

Desperately, she wanted to contact Mia.

But since dinner, Mia had completely disappeared.

No matter what method she used, there was no response.

What exactly was happening now?

Could she still follow the original plan?

Was he really planning to keep her confined?

For how long?

And most importantly…

Did she still have time to escape?

“Why are you shaking?”

Wei Qingxuan held her tighter.

His fingers traced lightly along the back of her neck.

The embrace was almost tender.

His lips brushed the top of her hair.

“What are you afraid of?”

“It’s cold.”

“There’s plenty of heat.”

“Then maybe I caught a chill today.”

Her tone remained natural.

As though she knew nothing.

But he held her hand in his, slowly rubbing each knuckle.

“Did falling into his arms feel the same as this?”

She knew it.

There was no way he would let that incident go so easily.

“It felt like nothing. If you hadn’t mentioned it, I wouldn’t even remember.”

After all, he had merely caught her when she stumbled.

Wei Qingxuan smiled.

“That’s good.”

His hand settled over her abdomen.

“Does it still hurt?”

She shook her head.

“It’s already digested.”

“Qiqi was very obedient tonight.”

He kissed the corner of her mouth.

That was never a good sign.

At least not now.

As expected, his next question came immediately.

“What did you hear just now?”

Wen Qi decided to play dumb to the very end.

“What do you mean?”

“What did you hear that made you so obedient?”

He was still holding back.

Still cautious.

Still trying to make her say it first.

Which meant he was nearing the edge of his patience.

Yet something was forcing him to endure.

“I was half asleep. I didn’t hear clearly.”

He advanced.

She retreated.

He guarded.

She maneuvered.

Wei Qingxuan couldn’t help admiring how clever she was.

“Then what about now?”

“I’m still sleepy.”

In reality, she was completely awake.

Not the slightest trace of drowsiness remained.

She rubbed her eyes anyway.

“A little.”

Wei Qingxuan took her right hand.

“Then stay awake a bit longer.”

“Why?”

“Qiqi smells like someone else.”

“…You’re imagining things.”

“Your nose is too sensitive.”

Like a dog.

She wisely swallowed the second half of that sentence.

Wei Qingxuan guided her hand downward.

“You touched something unpleasant today.”

“It needs to smell like me again.”

“Wei Qingxuan, let go.”

He ignored her.

“Have you ever thought about finding someone else?” she asked.

“Who?”

He paused.

“Not that. I mean another person to obsess over.”

He laughed softly.

“Obsess?”

“I’ve already gotten what I wanted.”

His gaze settled on her.

“I only want this.”

Then, quietly:

“I can’t live without you, Qiqi.”

Wen Qi closed her eyes.

Until she found a solution, she could only delay things.

One day at a time.

“You know I mean that.”

Finally she asked,

“What if I still want to leave?”

The words were finally spoken aloud.

Once spoken, there would be no turning back.

“Where would you go?”

Surprisingly, he wasn’t angry.

Only calm.

As though he had imagined this conversation countless times.

“Wherever I want. Wherever makes me happy.”

“The world is huge.”

“Even if I have to wander, I’ll eventually find somewhere that belongs to me.”

“And beside me?”

She fell silent.

“If you stay beside me?”

His voice was soft.

“A place so small it only has room for you.”

“Wei Qingxuan,” Wen Qi said.

“You love me.”

Not a tease.

Not a question.

Just a statement.

A reminder.

His grip tightened.

Painfully.

“Yeah. I love you. Only you.”

Taking advantage of the moment, she said:

“Then you should support whatever I want. Even if that means leaving you.”

At almost the same moment, he answered:

“I’ll never let you leave. No matter the cost.”

Two sentences.

Spoken together.

Carrying opposite meanings.

Wei Qingxuan laughed softly.

“Qiqi, we’re perfect for each other.”

“How?”

She finally exploded.

“I don’t see it at all.”

“Two liars. A match made in heaven.”

He loved this liar.

And willingly turned himself into one.

But if she wanted to end the lie…

That, he could never accept.

He pulled her closer and buried his face against her shoulder.

“Am I wrong? I told you. Once this starts, it doesn’t stop.”

“So what? I already have a boyfriend. And someday I’ll marry him.”

“Wen Qi.”

His voice cracked sharply.

“Don’t.”

“Maybe we’ll even have children.”

“Wen Qi. Stop.”

“We’ll grow old together.”

“And I’ll completely forget you.”

His hand rose to her throat.

“Wen Qi.”

“We’ll never have anything to do with each other again.”

“Be quiet.”

His fingers trembled.

Her pulse beat against his palm.

He couldn’t bring himself to tighten his grip.

“Or what?” she asked.

“Then what?”

He froze.

What then?

Kill her?

He would sooner kill himself than hurt her.

Let her go?

Absolutely impossible.

After a long silence, he slowly released her.

His body slumped forward.

Resting against her shoulder.

He let out a weary sigh.

“Then… Please love me.”

All the struggle.

All the schemes.

All the calculations.

In the end, they amounted to only one thing:

A plea for her love.

His hand drifted to her lower abdomen.

Recalling what she had said moments earlier.

Then he murmured:

“We could have children too.”

He leaned over her.

Holding her firmly.

“Let’s have a child.”

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