The word “sister” that came from his lips carried a lingering tenderness, soft as a whisper in the throes of passion.
The hand gripping her neck wasn’t forceful. Qiao Ling leaned back against the seat, tilting her chin slightly to look at him.
In the darkness.
The young man’s bewitchingly handsome face was hidden, leaving only the faint, sharp lines of his features and those cold, piercing dark eyes. Qiao Ling met his gaze without flinching, her tone somewhat flippant. “What does it matter to you whether I like it or not? Can you call me ‘sister’?”
“Besides, are you asking me this as the childhood brother I grew up with? Or… mmm…”
Her unfinished words were swallowed by a sudden kiss on her lips. The soft lips pressed against hers carried the scent of alcohol, and a wet tongue stirred recklessly. Qiao Ling’s eyes turned cold as she bit down on his lip.
Zhou Jinyue frowned slightly, releasing the sweet, soft lips of the girl before drawing the blood from his own lip into his mouth.
“What are you doing, Brother Jinyue?” Qiao Ling asked expressionlessly.
Zhou Jinyue pinched her delicate chin and chuckled softly. “If Lingling likes to hear it, I can call you—”
“Sister.” His deliberately lowered voice was husky and magnetic. “Besides, Lingling, if I didn’t have feelings for you…”
Bang. The door was suddenly pushed open, and light from the hallway streamed in, illuminating half of Zhou Jinyue’s shoulder and interrupting his words.
He lifted his gaze, his eyes dark and menacing as they fixed on the young man who had barged in.
“Shit!” The young man was startled by his glare and quickly bowed in apology. “Sorry! Sorry! Please continue, I’ll leave right away!”
As he spoke, he hastily retreated. Just as the private room door was about to close again, Xu Xing appeared at the entrance. The young man’s hand stopped the door from shutting completely, and through the narrow crack, he peered inside.
Qiao Ling glanced at the sliver of light on the floor before pushing Zhou Jinyue away. “Today is Third Brother’s birthday. If you have something to say, Brother Jinyue, think it over carefully and tell me another day.”
With that, she opened the door and left.
As the heavy door closed completely, the young man’s clean, gentle voice faded into the distance.
Zhou Jinyue sat back on the sofa, his rough fingertips brushing against his throbbing lip. The image of the girl’s icy expression flashed vividly in his mind. His deep, dark eyes slowly closed, and a bitter, self-mocking laugh echoed softly in the silent room.
Even if his departure back then was unavoidable, he should have sent her a message.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to—he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to control himself.
At the end of the hallway.
Qiao Ling leaned against the windowsill, gazing down at the night view below. A gentle breeze lifted her soft, slightly curled long hair, tickling her face. She raised a hand to brush away the strands clinging to her lips, her fingertips grazing her unusually red lips. For a moment, the scent of alcohol seemed to linger in the air.
A light lick of her tongue revealed not just the taste of alcohol but also a hint of salty sweetness from fresh blood.
“Is he someone you like, Sister?” The young man’s calm, gentle voice came from behind her.
Qiao Ling didn’t turn to look at him, nor did she answer. After a moment of silence, she replied lazily, “Xu Xing, don’t waste your time on me. You know I don’t have romantic feelings for you.”
The Xu family of Youhe had served in the military and politics for two generations. Xu Xing was a true third-generation red aristocrat. Their family backgrounds were as different as night and day—one dark, one bright. No matter what, they could never be together.”Do you have to repeat these words every time you see me, sister?” Xu Xing leaned against the wall, his dark eyes tinged with bitterness.
Qiao Ling replied, “I just don’t want you to waste unnecessary time and energy.”
“You said it yourself—it’s my time and energy,” Xu Xing said softly, inhaling the faint scent of roses in the air, his throat dry. “Please don’t say these things to me anymore, sister. I won’t give up, and I won’t disturb you.”
Hearing this, Qiao Ling rubbed her temples, turned around, and looked at him helplessly. “Why are you so stubborn?”
The young man before her was truly hard to dislike. He knew how to handle himself in speech and action, and with his handsome, gentle appearance, even his current stubbornness only evoked a sense of helplessness.
Qiao Ling had met him two winters ago. Back then, the boy still carried a hint of youthful innocence, snowflakes dusting his shoulders, pristine and untouched.
He confessed to her in the spring of the following year. Dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, the hazy glow of the setting sun resting on his shoulders, his smile spread warmly—youthful yet tender. “Do you have a boyfriend, sister?”
“I have someone I like,” she said.
The light in his eyes dimmed for a moment, but his smile remained unchanged. “If you’re not together, then I can still pursue you, right?”
Her response was the same unromantic line: don’t waste your time on me.
The boy fell silent, but from that moment on, he remained stubborn—even now, the way his lips pressed together was exactly the same as back then.
“I’m going inside now,” Qiao Ling said, tossing the broken cigarette in her hand into the trash can. She walked past him and headed toward the private room.
On the way, Zhou Jinyue emerged from one of the rooms.
Qiao Ling glanced at him subtly, her gaze lingering on his bloodied lips for two seconds. The corners of her eyes lowered slightly, and she curved her lips almost imperceptibly before pushing open the door to room 6106 and stepping inside.
Zhou Jinyue’s gaze, fixed on her, only shifted to Xu Xing the moment the door closed.
The clash between his icy, emotionless eyes and Xu Xing’s clear, calm ones seemed to freeze the air for an instant.
The young man was still somewhat inexperienced, and the overwhelming pressure emanating from the older man felt suffocating.
Xu Xing’s fingers twitched slightly, and he was the first to look away.
Inside the private room.
The atmosphere was lively and energetic.
Yu Wanli and Chi Nian were mingling in the dance floor. The girl’s fair skin and striking features stood out vividly, while the red-and-white fox tattoo on her shoulder blade drew even more attention under the colorful lights.
Chi Nian’s hand rested on her shoulder, his bangs slightly messy, framing his sharp eyebrows. He seemed to be saying something to Yu Wanli that made her eyes widen in surprise.
“Lingling, come have some water,” Yu Huairan’s magnetic voice suddenly sounded beside her.
Qiao Ling turned to look, her eyes meeting his handsome, stern face. “Alright.”
Returning to the corner, several cups of steaming hot water were placed on the table. Yu Huairan handed her a cup with a moderate temperature. “I heard from Wanli that you’ve left the Qiao Family. What are your plans now?”
“Would you like to come stay at my place? My parents talk about you all the time. If you come, they’d be overjoyed.”
Qiao Ling took a sip of water and was about to respond when Xie Songting chimed in, “You could stay at my place too. My mom calls me every day asking about Lingling. She’s your loyal… mom fan!”
Hearing this.Qiao Ling chuckled helplessly, “I truly appreciate your kindness, Uncle and Aunt. Once I finish with my thesis defense, I will definitely visit you.”
“But honestly, I’m not a child anymore, so there’s no need to worry about me.”
Before her words could fully settle, a sudden commotion erupted from the dance floor, followed by a sharp scream.