“Is it really worth getting this angry just because I didn’t pick you up? Fine, next time I’ll have Li Xiang go instead!”
The night was as dark as ink, and two figures were silhouetted against the large floor-to-ceiling window.
Jiang Yichen’s right arm was wrapped around Xing Luo’s waist, while his left hand pinned her left hand against the glass.
“I’ve already explained myself. I don’t want to repeat myself a second time.” Jiang Yichen’s scorching breath brushed against Xing Luo’s ear.
Xing Luo replied flatly, “Mm, I understand.”
Last night in the capital, rain had poured down in torrents.
At 7 p.m., Xing Luo got off work and stepped out of the radio station. She pulled out her phone, and her first instinct was still to call Jiang Yichen.
But Jiang Yichen’s signal on the other end was weak, cutting in and out so that Xing Luo could barely make out what he was saying.
The call dropped. She tried again, but it wouldn’t go through.
She couldn’t get a cab either—even with the surge pricing on her app, no driver was willing to come.
Left with no choice, she decided to walk home. She borrowed an umbrella from a colleague, but just two blocks in, the wind flipped the canopy inside out, and the rain instantly drenched her through. She clutched the broken umbrella in her hand and simply stopped trying to shield herself.
By the time she finally made it back to the front of Jiang Yichen’s villa, a Cullinan happened to pull up at the entrance.
Ji Yan stepped out of the passenger seat, and Jiang Yichen got out of the car as well.
The two of them were laughing and chatting.
Xing Luo stood where she was, rainwater streaming down her pant legs.
Ji Yan, on the other hand, was perfectly dry—not even the hem of her dress was damp.
Jiang Yichen brushed it off by saying he’d just happened to be passing by.
But she didn’t believe him.
She’d been angry all day, yet she hadn’t gotten a sincere apology—only accusations in return.
Jiang Yichen tightened his arm around Xing Luo. He lowered his head and gently bit down on her shoulder. “Focus, baby.”
Xing Luo: “Mm.”
She had never once dared to say no to Jiang Yichen.
A year ago, when she died in a car accident, she’d been bound to a System.
The System said that as long as she dated Jiang Yichen for a year, she could live.
She agreed. For this past year, she’d humbly trailed behind Jiang Yichen, all just to survive.
Now, there was only one month left until the year was up.
Almost there, finally.
He lifted her up, and her body sank into the soft, plush bed.
Jiang Yichen pressed down over her, his scorching, searing kisses landing on the side of her neck.
…
The commotion between them didn’t stop until late into the night.
Xing Luo lay on the bed, gasping for air.
She was too exhausted to move.
Jiang Yichen stood by the bed and said in a gentle voice, “Want me to carry you to a bath?”
Xing Luo turned her head away.
She wanted to say something, but she didn’t know what to say.
That night’s downpour hadn’t just soaked her through—it had also extinguished the last faint ember in her heart.
Now there was nothing left.
Jiang Yichen let out a scoff. “Not talking? Fine, then stay here by yourself.”
Xing Luo’s hand gripped the bedsheet tightly.
She didn’t want to keep tangling with him. If they kept at it, they’d both end up battered and bruised.
Jiang Yichen stood by the bed for a long while. Finally, he crouched down and scooped Xing Luo up from the bed. He didn’t say a word, but Xing Luo caught the faint sound of a sigh.
Xing Luo wrapped her arms around Jiang Yichen’s neck, her almond-shaped eyes looking at him coolly. “Since you’re so reluctant, just put me down.”
Jiang Yichen’s footsteps halted. He looked at Xing Luo in his arms, his expression darkening.
“What’s wrong with you today?”
Xing Luo gave a faint smile, looking at Jiang Yichen. “Nothing. Just afraid of tiring you out.”
Though she was angry inside, she still had to coax him.
Sometimes angry, sometimes sweet.
Hot and cold, near and far—this tactic worked well on Jiang Yichen.
Plenty of women actively clung to a young master like him, so Xing Luo had to stand out as someone different to stay by Jiang Yichen’s side.
Jiang Yichen set Xing Luo down on the bed. “Since you’re afraid of tiring me out, then wash yourself.”
He said that, but his feet didn’t move.
Xing Luo didn’t move either. Naked, she sat on the edge of the bed, watching Jiang Yichen, watching that cold, heartless face of his.
What had once been a burning heart had finally turned to ice.
Jiang Yichen stared at Xing Luo for a long time. Without a word, he bent down, scooped her up from the bed, and carried her into the bathroom.
He lowered her into the bathtub, then stepped in himself with his long legs.
“It’s only ever you.” His tone carried an arrogance he didn’t even realize.
Xing Luo knew he had the right to be arrogant.
He was the eldest young master of the Jiang family, the sole heir to the Jiang Group.
He was still young, and countless opportunities would keep coming his way.
But what did that have to do with Xing Luo?
A month from now, she’d be gone, and Jiang Yichen would have fulfilled his part of the deal.
Xing Luo closed her eyes and sank her entire body into the water.
The hot water enveloped her, and her icy body gradually warmed.
Water spilled over the edge of the tub, splashing onto the tiles with a splash, then flowing down the drain.
As if it had never been there at all.
Jiang Yichen reached out, sliding his hands under Xing Luo’s arms, and pulled her up from the water with some effort. “Turn around. I’ll wash your hair.”
Xing Luo turned around in the tub, her back to Jiang Yichen. She crossed her legs and patted the water’s surface with her hands.
Jiang Yichen’s fingers settled into her wet hair, gradually applying more pressure.
Then he squeezed out more shampoo, his movements practiced and smooth.
“Does that feel good?”
“Mm.”
“Did I owe you in a past life or something?” His tone carried impatience.
Xing Luo found it grating and closed her eyes.
Since Jiang Yichen was so reluctant, then let this relationship end.
Soon—only one month left.
The two slept until noon before getting up. After grabbing a quick bite, Jiang Yichen drove Xing Luo to the radio station.
In the car, they were silent the whole way, neither bringing up what happened last night.
When they arrived at the station, Xing Luo got out of the car.
Jiang Yichen rolled down the window and called out, “What time does your evening show end?”
It ended at 7 p.m. every night, but Jiang Yichen never remembered.
“7 o’clock,” Xing Luo replied.
“Sheng Huai is treating us to dinner tonight. I’ll pick you up.”
“No need. Just send me the address, and I’ll head over myself.”
With only one month left, the less contact, the better.
Jiang Yichen leaned back in his seat, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel. “Worried about me?”
Xing Luo gave a slight smile. “You’re busy with work. I’ll just take a cab after I get off.”
Seeing how considerate Xing Luo was being, Jiang Yichen nodded. “Alright, then make sure you come.”
Xing Luo was still easy to appease—she’d been so angry yesterday, but after one night, her anger had faded.
Xing Luo: “Okay.” She waved at Jiang Yichen.
Jiang Yichen pressed down on the accelerator and drove off.
Just as Xing Luo was about to turn around, a small head rested on her shoulder.
“Is that your boyfriend?”
“God.” Xing Luo was startled. “When did you get here?”
Lu Lin blinked her eyes. “While you two were being all lovey-dovey.”
Xing Luo forced a smile and pulled Lu Lin along as they walked into the station.
Both she and Lu Lin were hosts at the station, co-hosting the same program.
Lu Lin linked her arm through Xing Luo’s and said, “Isn’t it nice that your boyfriend came to pick you up? Why insist on taking a cab yourself?”
Xing Luo: “He’s busy.”
Lu Lin let out a snicker. “Let me tell you, there’s no benefit in doting on a man. Better to be a little demanding—sometimes men fall for that.”
“Mm.” Xing Luo didn’t want to explain to Lu Lin.
If Jiang Yichen really were her boyfriend, and she hadn’t been bound by the System, she would have been willing to be a little demanding too.
Before, she hadn’t dared. And now, she didn’t want to.
Lu Lin continued, “Men sometimes don’t know what they want, let alone what women want. So sometimes, if we want something, we have to say it out loud.”
Xing Luo: “He’s my boyfriend. If he doesn’t know what I want, then he doesn’t deserve to be my boyfriend.”