Сhaptеr 7: Вlасk Lаce Trim
“Сhi Нen, stoр fooling аrоund. Рut mе dоwn first.” Shеng Shuran’s vоiсе tremblеd slightly аs she instinctivеlу leаned сlоsеr agаinst him.
“Nо. You swеаr first.” Тhе bоу’s tоne wаs stubborn аnd dоmineering, leaving nо roоm for rеtrеаt.
“If I dоn’t, will you rеally thrоw mе dоwn?” Fаcеd with Chi Нen’s unreаsоnаblе bеhaviоr, Sheng Shuran grew а littlе аnnоуed.
“No…”
Sheng Shurаn brеаthed а sigh of rеlief.
“I’ll jump dоwn with уоu.” Сhi Hen’s dаrk еyes glеamed with а сhilling light.
А сold shivеr rаn down Sheng Shuran’s spine.
“From this height, уou wоn’t diе—уоu’ll just еnd up disаbled.” She supрressеd the trеmor in hеr voice, trying to reason with him.
“Perfect. Then you won’t be able to run away.” Chi Hen curled the corner of his lips, a sickly smile seemingly ready to spill from the upward tilt of his eyes.
“Chi Hen, I’m scared!” Sheng Shuran could no longer keep up her act and could only show weakness, her eyes slightly moist.
Chi Hen brushed aside her trembling, disheveled hair, tucking it behind her ear. The ferocity between his brows grew even more intense:
“If I let you go just because you’re scared of me, then what about me? Who will let me go?
“…Sheng Shuran, I’m scared too. I’m scared you’ll abandon me again!
“…This isn’t the first time you’ve done this!”
Suddenly, Sheng Shuran understood what he was so fixated on.
Two weeks ago, she had stepped on the gas and driven away, leaving Chi Hen feeling hurt. Perhaps it reminded him of when she had suddenly left for an overseas tour.
Angry that she hadn’t contacted him for nine months.
“I didn’t abandon you. I was just away for a performance, so…”
“I’m not talking about that.” Chi Hen cut her off roughly, tightening his grip around her waist.
Not that? Then what?
Confused, Sheng Shuran lowered her gaze to look at Chi Hen.
“Three years ago…” Chi Hen reminded her.
“Three years ago, you left the Fu family, leaving me alone in that godforsaken place…
“…It was me. I had to risk half my life to make it back to your side.
“…And then, you tossed me aside like a discarded toy, leaving me on the roadside.”
His violent voice trembled as the boy lowered his head, venting his raging emotions into her snow-white neck.
He bit Sheng Shuran hard, his teeth trembling with the intensity of his emotions—a desperate need to unleash his fury, yet powerless, afraid of breaking her.
Sheng Shuran winced in pain, clenching her fingers, but this time, she let him be.
Three years ago, she had left without a word, hastily moving out of the Fu family’s home, leaving Shanghai and relocating to the nearby City C.
She had left in such a hurry that she hadn’t properly said goodbye to Chi Hen.
Later, on Fu Zhenchuan’s birthday, she had returned to the Fu residence but hadn’t seen Chi Hen.
Two years passed before she saw him again—at Chi Hen’s 18th birthday celebration.
“I’m sorry, Xiao Hen.” Sheng Shuran bent her neck, resting her chin against Chi Hen.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t realize my sudden departure would hurt you so much.”
Didn’t realize? How could she not know?
Ever since he was little, he had only had her.
In the pitch-black abyss, she was his only light.
Just as he clung to that light like a moth, barely surviving, the light suddenly went out, plunging him back into the dark abyss.
“Sheng Shuran, I want you to swear!”
Chi Hen remained buried in the crook of her neck, his voice stubborn to the point of madness.
Sheng Shuran felt as if a water-soaked cotton ball had been stuffed into her heart, suffocating her, and she finally relented.
“Chi Hen, I swear I won’t abandon you so casually again.” Her slender, pale fingers threaded through his black hair, gently massaging, as if trying to knead away his resentment.Sheng Shuran’s yielding finally made Chi Hen relent. He remained buried in the crook of her neck, eyes closed, greedily inhaling her unique jasmine scent, allowing himself to slowly calm down.
Back when Sheng Shuran had left, Chi Hen had frantically bought all kinds of jasmine-scented body washes, but he could never find one that smelled exactly like her.
It took a long time for him to realize that the scent of the body wash mixed with her natural fragrance was unique to her—something no one else could ever replicate.
Only her.
Only she was his antidote.
Just like now…
Sheng Shuran felt his tense body gradually relax, and the breath against her neck slowly steadied.
“Chi Hen…” Sheng Shuran called softly. “Now, can you let me down?”
As his hostility faded, he felt as if his body had been hollowed out, and he had no desire to let Sheng Shuran go.
But Sheng Shuran softened her voice and said, “Little Hen, I’m scared.”
Chi Hen’s heart ached.
He remained nestled in her hair, slowly opening his eyes.
But once his eyes opened, his gaze was naturally drawn to the expanse of snowy white skin below…
He stiffened all over.
Sheng Shuran had only been wearing Chi Hen’s shirt, which barely covered the tops of her thighs.
During their struggle earlier, the shirt had ridden up, and now, against the snowy white of her thighs, a hint of black lace peeked out.