10 – So Cute, So Cute
Her breath carried a sweet fragrance, mingled with the crisp aroma of fruit wine.
Her soft, delicate body seemed boneless as she clung lightly to his shoulder, refusing to get down no matter what.
Zhuang Hezhi braced his hands on either side of her, maintaining an awkward position, his palms nearly sweating from tension.
“Be good, get down first. Like this, I can’t go start the car.”
He should have let Zhang Heng come down to drive instead.
But selfishly, he didn’t want anyone else to see this little thing like this.
He coaxed her gently for a while.
“Hmm? No! Big brother’s hugs are nice…” Hearing that she needed to let go, Qin Zhiluo shook her head with soft whimpers.
Those words nearly broke Zhuang Hezhi’s composure.
He had never seen such a spoiled girl.
If she wanted to hug, let her hug. It didn’t matter how long, or in what way.
Everything he had could be given to her.
Under the warm yellow light, the little troublemaker pouted, her flushed face both innocent and alluring, as if she had no idea how captivating she was, shamelessly throwing her tantrum.
She would never know the torment he was enduring inside.
Zhuang Hezhi couldn’t help but wonder.
What if he hadn’t come?
Or if anyone else had been there, would they have been able to take her away just as easily?
Would she also act coy in someone else’s arms, calling someone else “big brother” with that enchanting voice?
It wasn’t impossible.
The little drunk was so tipsy she probably didn’t even know who she was—how could she pay attention to such things?
Somewhat annoyed, he reached out and pinched her small, delicate nose with two fingers.
Soon, Qin Zhiluo couldn’t breathe, furrowing her brows in a plea for mercy.
Only after satisfying his little mischievous streak did Zhuang Hezhi let her go.
His gentle tone carried a hint of assertiveness: “Be good~ From now on, you can only hug me, okay? Big brother will let you hug anytime.”
It was like coaxing a child begging for candy.
And he was the candy.
“Mm!” The young girl agreed readily.
Then, dazedly, she shook her head again: “Can’t do that.”
Zhuang Hezhi’s brow twitched: “Why not?”
“I still need to hug my little bear~ It’s fluffy and comfortable…”
Within a few short seconds, Zhuang Hezhi’s mood swung wildly, from heaven to hell.
The culprit looked utterly innocent, flashing him a sweet smile: “My bear, so cute, so cute~”
Forget it. Why bother reasoning with a little drunk?
Zhuang Hezhi was both exasperated and amused, lowering his head to touch her forehead with his. “Little rascal.”
If Zhuang Hui had seen this scene, he would have been utterly shocked.
My little brother’s iron tree has finally bloomed? He knows how to coax people, and with such patience!
If he had learned this trick earlier, why would he still be single to this day?
The kids at home wouldn’t have avoided him like the plague either, treating a single conversation with him like it was life or death.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t see it.
Nor could he imagine it.
The tie around Zhuang Hezhi’s neck pressed against his Adam’s apple, making him feel strangely suffocated.
He loosened it with one hand.
The hand braced on the seat trembled faintly, his eyes full of doting helplessness.
“Let go first, alright? Let’s go home first, and once we’re there, you can hug all you want.”
Go home?
Qin Zhiluo tightened her grip, pulling herself closer until her nose touched his: “Need big brother… to stamp it, promise to keep his word…”
A stamp meant a kiss.
Only with a kiss would she behave.
“Alright~” Zhuang Hezhi let out a helpless chuckle, not noticing the sly smile on the young girl’s face.
He lowered his head, leaning in to kiss her lips.
Qin Zhiluo had a preference for peach-flavored things, her breath filled with the scent of summer sunshine and dew.
He didn’t like desserts, but he found that a taste of fruit wasn’t so bad after all.
It could lift one’s spirits.
A brief moment of intimacy.
The young girl smacked her lips, her fair, delicate face flushed with a rosy glow.
“Brother, you’re so sweet~”
“Sweeter than peaches, sweeter than cantaloupe, sweeter than grapes… grapes… grapes… glucose…”
“Grape-flavored, so fragrant and sweet, so delicious…”
Zhuang Hezhi pulled back from her, his eyes red-rimmed, his voice hoarse in a way that was almost frightening.
“Little foodie, even at a time like this, you can’t forget about eating.”
He had no idea how she was even wired.
He was like a piece of fruit candy to her.
She kept muttering about food.
Not afraid at all that she might be the one getting eaten.
But taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state wasn’t in his nature.
Besides, he noticed a security camera directly across from the car.
If anything were to leak out by accident, it wouldn’t be good for her.
Zhuang Hezhi’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down, and it took considerable effort before he finally managed to soothe her.
He buckled her into the passenger seat, then went around to the driver’s side to start the car.
On the way home, the little thing was surprisingly well-behaved—no crying, no fussing.
He held it together until they got through the front door. The household staff was still awake, and when Zhuang Hezhi carried her in, seven or eight pairs of eyes turned to look at them in unison.
Not expecting there to be others around, the small body in his arms seemed to tense up for a second.
Zhuang Hezhi’s voice was commanding: “Everyone, leave!”
“Yes, sir!”
The living room fell silent in no time, and even the front door was shut.
Unable to wait until he carried her upstairs, Zhuang Hezhi stopped in the living room with her in his arms.
He gripped her by the waist and made her sit down.
Then he pinned her hands behind her back and kissed her.
The hem of her skirt rode up slightly with the movement.
The cool sensation made Qin Zhiluo suddenly feel a sense of dread.
She couldn’t make a single move.
It wasn’t until she was a second away from suffocating that Zhuang Hezhi, in his great mercy, released her.
He lowered his gaze, meeting her clear eyes, and curled his lips into a wicked smile.
“Little thing, since when have you been lying to me?”
It’s over…
He found out.
Exposed, she pouted and explained: “I didn’t want to lie to you. I really was drunk just now, but after going outside, the wind blew on me and I sobered up a little.”
Then, following the principle of “if you don’t take advantage of a good deal, you’re a fool,” she’d acted up a bit.
Seeing how accommodating he was, she’d grown bolder.
She’d kept pretending to be drunk afterward, and she had no idea how he’d figured it out.
Zhuang Hezhi freed one hand, hooking his index finger around the thin strap on her shoulder, his tone heavy: “And after you sobered up, you kept pretending? Wanted to see who would obediently listen and do whatever you asked?”
Qin Zhiluo’s hands were pinned, she couldn’t move, and she couldn’t stop him either.
She could only awkwardly lick the corner of her lips.
“It’s not like that. It’s only because it’s you that I dared to be so bold.” She mumbled, her voice growing softer and softer.
Zhuang Hezhi let out a light snort, his hands not stopping.
She couldn’t tell if he was angry or what.
Qin Zhiluo decided to bring up old grievances: “Well, who stood me up first? I was upset.”
Zhuang Hezhi’s brows furrowed tightly. He grabbed the back of her neck and pulled her close.
She felt a sharp pain on her lips, and Qin Zhiluo’s eyes welled up with watery mist, looking utterly wronged.
Before she could even voice her complaint, Zhuang Hezhi lowered his head and bit her, warning her in a deep, low voice.
“Being upset is no reason for you to go drinking alone, understand? If you have any grievances, tell me directly.”
Qin Zhiluo muttered under her breath: “But I went with everyone else.”
“Without me there, it counts as alone!”
The words were too domineering. The little drama queen blinked, and another layer of mist formed in her eyes.
She looked, at that moment, like someone who would be very easy to bully.
Zhuang Hezhi’s suppressed emotions erupted all at once, his entire being radiating an inescapable, suffocating desire…