Dazzling

Qing Ye had something to attend to today and didn't invite Shi Min and the others to walk home together. She rushed home right after school to discuss shipping matters with Du Qiyan. She felt uneasy about that unreliable old man, but she truly had no extra time. So she wanted to ask Du Qiyan to find time to handle verifying information and tracking logistics.

Of course, she didn't like troubling others for nothing, so she directly sent Du Qiyan a red packet. However, Du Qiyan firmly refused to accept it, saying if Qing Ye felt bad about it, she could teach her how to coordinate outfits another day. She thought Qing Ye always looked good no matter what she wore, and sometimes when she deliberately tried to imitate her, she just couldn't pull it off.

Qing Ye sincerely told her that when it comes to personal style, one shouldn't copy others. Everyone has different body types and temperaments, and finding clothing that suits you is what makes you truly beautiful.

Seeing Du Qiyan's confused expression, Qing Ye promised that after she returned from the Winter Camp, she would find time to help style her. Du Qiyan became very excited upon hearing this.

After finishing her tasks, Qing Ye went upstairs to work on problems. Around ten o'clock, she went downstairs for water. She had thought Xing Wu hadn't returned yet and she was alone in the house. However, as she descended the stairs, she saw him sitting in the barbershop chair, his long legs casually propped on another chair while he looked at his phone.

Qing Ye's heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a calm expression as she poured a glass of water. Standing by the cash register, she glanced back at him. Xing Wu still hadn't moved or looked up.

She took a couple sips of water without speaking to him. Just as she was about to turn and go upstairs, Xing Wu suddenly pulled out a letter from his person and handed it to her without looking up: "From Feng Bao."

Qing Ye turned around somewhat puzzled, then walked over to Xing Wu and took the letter. She set her water glass aside and opened the envelope. She found it strange - if Feng Bao needed something, why didn't he just message her on WeChat? Why write a letter?

When she saw the cringe-inducing words in the letter, her first thought wasn't about the love letter's content, but rather that Feng Bao's Chinese exam score last time shouldn't have been less than 100 points - his word choice and phrasing clearly had plenty of room for improvement. Usually so quiet in class, yet he could fill three full pages with a love letter. Impressive.

She actually read through it carefully. Xing Wu hadn't expected her to examine it so seriously, raising his eyebrows to give her a cold sidelong glance. Qing Ye finally finished the last line "Awaiting your reply."

She looked up bewildered. Though her eyes met Xing Wu's, her mind was preoccupied with what exactly Feng Bao wanted her to reply to?

Sorry, her science-oriented mindset didn't contain much sentimentality. She quickly distilled the letter's main idea as expressing Feng Bao's admiration for her academic achievements and intelligence. So was he asking her to agree to let him join Pang Hu and Shi Min's group?

Completely confused, she folded the letter paper and stuffed it back into the envelope. Just as she turned to go upstairs, an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist. Without any warning, her body fell backward unexpectedly, landing directly on Xing Wu. He tightened his arm, and Qing Ye found herself sitting on his lap. The sudden closeness made her heartbeat pound in her ears, as if countless tiny insects were crawling through her veins.Xing Wu lowered his head, his scorching breath right by her ear, his voice devoid of any warmth as he said, "Not only planning to mess with me, but now you're toying with innocent young men too?"

Qing Ye looked up in astonishment. "Who have I been toying with?" But she hadn't realized how close they were when she lifted her head—so close that their noses nearly brushed against each other.

The light in Qing Ye's eyes flickered uneasily, like a startled little rabbit, soft and adorable.

Xing Wu snatched the love letter from her hand and tossed it onto the counter. He pressed Qing Ye against his chest, lifted her chin, and captured her soft lips with his.

Trapped in his embrace, Qing Ye quickly found her breath stolen by him. As his overwhelming presence enveloped her, a wave of bitterness and sorrow suddenly washed over her. It felt as if all the pent-up frustration from their days of cold war had erupted in her heart. She bit his tongue hard, and he retaliated by nipping her lip. Enraged, Qing Ye cupped his face and bit back fiercely—so hard that a faint metallic taste of blood spread in her mouth. Only then did she abruptly release him, staring blankly at the spot on his lip she had broken. Blood stained the corner of his mouth, yet he was smiling at her—a wild, bewitching, and lethally charming smile that sent tremors through Qing Ye's heart.

Instantly, tears welled up in her eyes. If not for these past few days of cold war, she would never have realized how much she missed him when he wasn't around. Every minute he was gone, she longed to know what he was doing. When he didn't come home, she grew frantic yet refused to yield. She never knew love could be such a torment.

Her pitiful expression made Xing Wu's brow gradually furrow. He wrapped his arms around her again, resting his forehead against hers, and said softly, "Are you part dog? Why are you crying after biting me?"

Qing Ye shoved him away forcefully, trying to rise from his lap. However, Xing Wu's large hand held her slender waist firmly in place. Unless he let go, there was no way she could escape his grasp. Fuming, she pounded his chest and shouted, "Who told you to stay out all night? Think you're something special? Ignoring me is one thing, but not even coming home? So why are you back now?"

Xing Wu licked his lip, lowering his gaze with a faint smile. His features were sharp and bold, radiating aggression when he wasn't smiling. Qing Ye had only ever seen him let his guard down like this in front of her—laughing freely, like a male enchantress that made her heart race.

The more he captivated her like this, the more her resolve crumbled uncontrollably. Choking back sobs, she tugged at his collar and whimpered, "Say something."

Xing Wu grasped her hand, gently stroking the back of it, and said with downcast eyes, "There was a team match last night. They were short-handed last minute and asked me to fill in as AD carry. By the time we finished, it was past two. I didn't want to come back and wake you, so I just stayed at Shunyi."

Qing Ye turned her face away, sulking irritably. "And you couldn't even send a call or a message?"

Xing Wu didn't respond, simply holding her quietly in his arms. Qing Ye glanced back at him; his thick lashes veiled the light in his eyes as he murmured deeply, "You've been avoiding me these past few days. I wasn't sure if you were planning to end this."

Qing Ye's pupils dilated abruptly, her voice tinged with disbelief. "And if I were planning to end it? Would you let me go now?"

Xing Wu lifted his gaze, his expression complicated. "No."Tears instantly streamed down Qing Ye's face as she said in a trembling voice, "Aren't you afraid I'm just playing with you? The kind where I have my fun and leave without taking any responsibility?"

"I accept it."

Those three short words felt like someone was violently tearing at Qing Ye's heart, the pain so intense she could barely breathe. She gazed at Xing Wu, knowing he had suffered no less than she had these past few days. In her mind's eye, she could see him after she left—standing alone in a pitch-dark abyss, waiting for her.

Suddenly, Qing Ye wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in the crook of his neck as she said sorrowfully, "But I can't bear to."

Xing Wu gently stroked her back and called her name softly, "Qing Ye."

She responded with a hoarse "Mm" from within his embrace.

He told her, "You boldly move forward, never look back. Whatever Confucius can't solve, Laozi will handle for you."

"I'm a bottomless pit."

He chuckled, "I have hands and feet. I won't let you starve."

The more resolute he sounded, the more Qing Ye curled up in sorrow: "What if... what if I go abroad later and fall for some handsome foreign guy and abandon you?"

A hint of smile spilled from the depths of Xing Wu's eyes: "Then don't come back."

Qing Ye straightened up, tears clinging to the corners of her eyes as she stared at him. He was still smiling, not a single crack in his expression. He said to her, "Otherwise, I'll definitely break that man's dog legs. So whatever you do, don't come back and let me see you."

Qing Ye bit her lip hard, her body trembling uncontrollably. She hadn't expected Xing Wu to have already made his decision—he was prepared to accept every possible scenario the future might bring. With her single question, "Will you let me lose?" he had staked everything he had, even if she truly never returned.

This side of him made Qing Ye's heart ache. In this world, aside from her parents, no one else had ever been so selfless and reckless for her. She couldn't let go. She didn't want to leave him behind, no matter what!

Suddenly, Qing Ye fiercely kissed Xing Wu's lips, not caring if she broke his skin, kissing him with such intensity and madness. Xing Wu's body stiffened slightly in surprise before quickly taking control.

He had never experienced this side of Qing Ye—so passionate and proactive, like a little wildcat baring her claws. He directly lifted her up and pressed her against the table in front of the barbershop mirror. Their position was too intimate; Qing Ye's jacket slipped from her shoulders, her form-fitting undershirt clinging to her rounded shoulders and full chest, making Xing Wu's blood run hot.

He felt a deep longing surging within, threatening to break free from his body. Abruptly, he pulled Qing Ye away, his dark eyes reflecting the nearly uncontrollable madness. Xing Wu paused, straightened Qing Ye's clothes, stood up, and cleared his throat: "It's past eleven. If you keep lingering with me like this, I can't guarantee what I might do."

A soft, sweet smile spread across Qing Ye's face as she lifted herself to hook her arms around his neck: "What do you want to do? Something that makes you feel like you're in heaven? After all, it seems like besides me, no one else around here can score full marks in math and science. Have you had your eye on me for a long time? Tell me."

Xing Wu only smiled without answering, the fragmented light in his eyes like the gentle breeze of early spring—subtle and stirring.

Qing Ye hopped down from the barber table, casually picking up Feng Bao's love letter as she lifted his arm: "Feeling better now?"

"Mm, it doesn't hurt anymore."

"Recovery ability that strong?"

"Made of iron."

Xing Wu glanced at the love letter: "How are you planning to reply to him?"Qing Ye pretended to be troubled and said, "I can't just break a pure-hearted young man's feelings."

"Looking for death?"

Qing Ye walked to the staircase and turned back to smile at him.