In the raging wind and heavy rain, the things around her were scattered all over the ground, and her whole body swayed as if about to collapse.
Wen Quhua could not open her eyes. She trembled all over. Out of fear, she even pushed and struck the man holding her as if she had gone mad.
In her nightmare, that man had also controlled her like this. When she tried to escape, he had thrown her down and dragged her by the leg…
“Wen Quhua, it’s me.” Sensing something was wrong with her, Yang Qin did not bother holding up the umbrella. He threw it to the ground and grabbed her arms with both hands, forcing her to raise her head.
The moment she lifted her face, he saw the panic and fear all over it.
It felt like something struck his heart hard. Without time to think, he cupped her face with both hands, leaned close, and told her again and again, “It’s okay. It’s okay.”
It was as if all her strength had been drained. After a long while, she finally heard the man’s steady voice soothing her. The rain was still falling, hitting her face painfully.
She finally regained a trace of clarity. Shivering from the cold, she leaned into his arms, pressing her face against his chest and wrapping her arms tightly around his waist.
She only felt that this way was safe.
Yang Qin, however, remained motionless. He let himself stay lost for a moment before finally raising a hand to hold her shoulders.
After she calmed down a little, he gently let her go and lowered his head to say, “The rain is too heavy. I’ll pick up your things. Stay here and don’t move.”
She did not respond, but she obediently stood still.
Yang Qin was not reassured. He first took off his thin jacket and put it on her, then quickly turned to retrieve the black umbrella that had been blown away. After that, he picked up the bags she had dropped.
When he returned to her side, he held the umbrella over her. Raindrops tapped against it.
“Can you walk?” he asked.
Wen Quhua nodded vaguely, still not fully present. The rain was heavy, so they could only walk slowly. Moreover, she could not walk fast at all.
Occasionally, when lightning flashed and thunder roared, she would tremble.
Seeing this, Yang Qin felt uneasy. He wanted to pull her into his arms, but he had no right to.
“Where do you live?” she suddenly turned and asked as they walked.
Yang Qin looked at her questioningly.
“I’ll go to your place,” Wen Quhua said firmly.
In this kind of weather, she could not stay alone. She knew the root of her fear.
Yang Qin’s gaze changed instantly. Did she know what she was saying?
“Are you going to lead the way or not?” When he did not respond for a long time, she grew impatient.
This time, Yang Qin said nothing. He freed one hand and took hers, leading her into an alley to the left.
The alley was dark. Wen Quhua was afraid. She tightened her grip on his hand.
He lowered his head to look at her. She seemed afraid to open her eyes, yet she trusted him enough to let him lead the way.
He did not know whether to call her naïve or ignorant. He suddenly recalled how confident she had been at the station. Now he felt she was not reliable at all. She had actually taken the initiative to go home with him.
Did she know how dangerous it was to follow a man home at night?
Or was it because it was him that she dared to take the risk?
If she simply believed he was trustworthy, then she was too foolish. He was not a good person.
Yang Qin thought about many things along the way, but he still led her straight up a staircase with three turns, arriving at the place he was temporarily staying.
The conditions were even worse than the dorm at the construction site. Living alone, he did not mind. He had given all his money to Xiao Xin’s family, so at that time, having a place to stay was enough.
But now that he had brought her back, even he fell into an unusual silence.
Wen Quhua felt uncomfortable. She felt uncomfortable all over. Her clothes were soaked through, clinging unpleasantly to her body.
The person in front of her was still blocking the doorway. She simply let go of his hand and pushed the door open.
It was quite dark inside. She could not see clearly and shrank slightly.
Behind her, he pulled the light cord, and a dim yellow light illuminated the simple room.
There was a bed. Only one bed.
Wen Quhua showed no reaction. Yang Qin’s voice sank. “When the rain gets lighter, I’ll take you back.”
Wen Quhua stepped inside. The room was small and worn, but at least it was clean and had no unpleasant smell. She wanted to find a stool to sit on, but there was none.
Yang Qin put the things down and walked in. Once he entered, the already small room felt even smaller.
He turned on the kettle, somewhat absent-minded. After bringing her back, he felt he had truly lost his mind.
Another thunderclap sounded outside, accompanied by lightning that flashed through the window like claws.
Wen Quhua’s mental state completely collapsed. She rushed forward and buried herself in his arms again, like an ostrich.
Yang Qin: …
His whole body stiffened. She was doing this again…
“Wen Quhua, if you keep doing this, I won’t be able to hold back,” he said through gritted teeth.
On his own territory, she threw herself into his arms. He was a man, not a ghost. Even a ghost could not endure this.
Wen Quhua did not respond. Her arms wrapped around his waist even tighter.
He clenched his teeth, lifted her up, and, ignoring the fact that both of them were soaked, turned and sat on the bed.
She clung to him, her head still buried tightly. When he lowered his gaze, he saw her tightly pressed lips and her pale face.
She was truly frightened.
He did not know why she reacted so strongly to thunderstorms, but because of her dependence and her need, those improper thoughts in his mind gradually faded.
Her clothes were thin and soaked, clinging to her body, now pressed against him. Yet he no longer had improper thoughts. Instead, he frowned, worried she would catch a cold.
“Wen Quhua, if you don’t mind, I’ll boil some water for you to wipe yourself and change your clothes.”
He felt he was speaking rationally, but she remained in his arms without responding.
Fine. He would take it as consent.
The water boiled. Yang Qin held her with one arm, got up, mixed the water in a basin, and returned to the bedside with a towel. Patiently, he used the warm towel to wipe her face and neck.
“Loosen your grip.”
Perhaps because the warm towel eased her anxiety a little, she began to listen. Her hands loosened slightly.
Taking the chance, he unzipped her sun-protection jacket, revealing the light green camisole underneath. Yang Qin’s breathing paused. He forcibly shifted his gaze away and focused on wiping her shoulders and arms.
It was like taking care of a child. But the camisole could not be removed, and he did not know what she was wearing underneath.
She was wearing jeans today. If she did not take them off, she would definitely catch a cold. After the rain, the air had turned chilly, and he could feel her shivering.
“Can you take them off yourself?” he asked in a low voice near her ear.
Only then did she slowly move her hands and begin to unbutton her jeans.
Yang Qin reacted sharply. He immediately lifted her off him, placed her on the bed, turned his back, and grabbed a shirt hanging on the line, tossing it behind him.
Wen Quhua glanced at him with slightly reddened eyes, then silently took off her clothes and changed.
“I’m done.”
When he turned back, he almost faltered again. A light green camisole was draped by the bedside. She had taken everything off.
Yang Qin took a deep breath, keeping his eyes straight ahead as he went over to pick up her camisole and jeans. He wrung the water out of them outside the door and hung them on the line by the window.
Then he poured some hot water and placed a glass, just at the right temperature, into her hands.
Next, he filled the basin with water, tested the temperature with his hand, and set it in front of the bed.
She held the cup with both hands and looked up at him. Very obediently, she placed her feet into the basin.
Warmth spread upward from her feet, and her complexion improved slightly.
After bustling around, Yang Qin finally tucked her into his thin blanket.
He himself was still drenched. He raised his hand, took off his shirt, and casually wiped his upper body with the remaining water.
When he started to take off his pants, he turned his head and met her gaze outside the blanket. Helpless, Yang Qin said, “Close your eyes.”
Wen Quhua closed her eyes. She heard the sound of his belt unfastening, followed by the rustling of fabric.
Yang Qin changed into a pair of loose pants and found a short-sleeved shirt to wear.
He sat on the edge of the bed with his back to her, his hands braced on his knees, lost in thought.
Somehow, he had brought her back, and now she was lying in his bed.
This fact made his emotions surge, impossible to calm.
The thunderstorm showed no sign of stopping. Another thunderclap sounded, and from behind him, a small hand reached out and tugged at his clothes.
He turned back.
He had seen her charming and alluring, seen her carefree and heartless, and seen her independent and clear-headed. He had never seen her this vulnerable, as if she truly needed him.
“Afraid of thunder?”
She nodded.
He let out a soft scoff. “You’re not afraid of me, but you’re afraid of thunder?”
He found her naive.
“I know you wouldn’t,” she said softly.
Yang Qin had not expected that his image in her mind would be so upright. He wouldn’t? What made her think that?
“Wen Quhua, what exactly do you want?” He did not want to keep going in circles with her and asked directly.
Wen Quhua herself could not quite understand why she trusted him so much. She only knew that tonight, she could not be alone.
She was afraid of relapsing. After being reborn, she had no medicine with her. She was terrified of returning to those helpless days and nights in the sanatorium from her previous life.
Compared to that, he was not so frightening.
“You… stay and sleep with me,” she said, stating her request.
?
Yang Qin almost laughed. He had struggled so hard to restrain himself, yet she still provoked him.
But when he saw her pitiful expression, he could only give in. “Fine, alright.”
Just sleeping beside her.
He lay down flat and felt her slowly move closer to him.
His body tensed involuntarily. She carefully placed her hand on his arm and held it tightly.
But she did not realize that when she held onto his arm, her soft body was almost pressed against him.
His gaze instantly ignited with heat, desire surging through him.
“Wen Quhua.”
“Mm?” Her voice was very soft.
“Men are much more dangerous than thunder.”
“Huh?”
Taking advantage of her confusion, he turned and, without hesitation, pressed his lips against her slightly parted ones, taking her breath.
Wen Quhua did not dare to move at all. She passively endured his fierce, storm-like kiss. He had no technique, only force, pressing and taking.
Yet his hands did not move. They remained clenched at his sides in restraint.
Wen Quhua tried to avoid him, but she could not. His lips followed her, seeking more. After the initial intensity, he gradually became gentler, slowly tasting.
He finally let her go.
Under the dim yellow light, she could clearly see the intense desire in his eyes.
“Like this, do you still want me to sleep beside you?”
Her lips hurt, and even her tongue felt sore. She released her hold on his arm and moved her body backward.
That meant no.
He let out a cold laugh, turned over, and got off the bed, standing with his back to her. His breathing was heavy as he forcefully suppressed himself.