Chapter 2

She smiled slightly and said, "You are awake. I will go out and ask Wang Ma to prepare some hot tea." Her lips were tender and delicate, so close that they seemed to move like a swimming snake, directly burrowing into his heart, instantly causing a tingling sensation deep within. Jing Qi was about to struggle to get up, but he held her tightly, leaving her unable to move at all. He continued to gaze at her without moving. She gently touched his face, met his gaze, and with a hint of a smile in her eyes, asked, "What’s wrong?" Jing Qi was about to struggle to get up, but he held her tightly, leaving her unable to move at all. He continued to gaze at her without moving. She gently touched his face, met his gaze, and with a hint of a smile in her eyes, asked, "What’s wrong?"

As school ended at Anyang University, students gathered in groups of three to five, scattering like released doves. He stood at the corner, hands in his pockets, leaning against a tree. She was slowly walking out, wearing a black lace-trimmed qipao. The qipao was not form-fitting; it was quite loose, yet as she moved, the fabric swayed gently, accentuating her petite and charming figure

"You should drink this bowl of medicine!" he said, pointing at the blue and white porcelain bowl on the table. She looked at him in confusion, tilting her head back, her eyes resembling a clear pool of water, elegant and pure.

He has not waited for her at the old place for more than two weeks. Whenever I go to his house, I can never find him. Wang Ma always stammers and cannot explain the situation, only insisting that the young master is not there

Beneath the setting sun, under the parasol tree, she once told him that her mother had passed away early and that there were many aunts in her family. In her childhood, she endured the cold mockery and ridicule of these aunts. However, she did not tell him that she was the daughter of Helian Xiao

He turned his head away, and in the depths of his dark eyes, there was not a trace of vitality: "I cannot afford to aspire to you!" The tears flowed more and more heavily, and she could hardly see his expression, even the outline began to blur: "Is it just for this? Did you not say that you would take care of me—"

He smiled at her and said that he would not take a concubine in the future to prevent anyone from bullying her daughter. She looked up at him with wide eyes and exclaimed, "What a beautiful thought! This is a new era!" After a moment, she quickly reacted, her face flushed as she punched him, saying, "You bad guy!" He laughed and embraced her. It turned out that at that time, everything was sweet, even a punch.

His face was shrouded in darkness, deep and profound, faintly exuding a chill, devoid of warmth: "I’m sorry, I was drunk yesterday. I didn’t mean to offend you." He clearly sensed her anticipation, yet remained indifferent, and could only be indifferent.

After a while, he turned his head and looked at her. With a pink ribbon tying her long hair, dressed in black, her face as radiant as fresh snow was further illuminated by the black attire, resembling the glow of a crescent moon. She felt her face flush under his gaze, not daring to meet his eyes.

After a while, she finally lifted her head and said softly and shyly, "I have to go back now, my sister-in-law has been angry with my brother lately—I need to go back and keep her company." He looked at her and nodded blankly.

A wave of emotions surged within him, feelings that he could not even clearly distinguish. Irritated, he turned away and said, "This will protect you, it won't—" Being so close, she heard him distinctly. Remembering what he had done to her while drunk the previous day, her face grew even hotter, but she also understood what kind of medicine it was. She slowly walked to the table and picked up the bowl. It was very bitter, the taste of traditional Chinese medicine filled her throat. But she also understood what kind of medicine it was. She slowly walked to the table and picked up the bowl. It was very bitter, the taste of traditional Chinese medicine filled her throat

"Then what does what happened yesterday count for?" she asked softly, with a hint of hope, not wanting him to notice her trembling body. He was so close, his voice lingering in her ears, yet she felt it was even more distant than the horizon.

However, everything seemed to have gone awry since her birthday. Jingqi let out a faint sigh, staring blankly at the hibiscus outside the window, each flower gradually blooming, as if due to the dim light on this rainy day, they appeared somewhat unreal.

Despite the distance, he could clearly see her lips trembling slightly. He clenched his fist, locked eyes with her, and repeated word for word: "We should not meet again!" Her face turned increasingly pale, yet she stubbornly looked at him and asked: "Why?"

Looking out from the car window, the street appeared hazy, filled with moisture and fog. The rain had been falling for two consecutive days. Jingqi got out of the car from a distance, holding an umbrella, and instructed the driver: "You can go back now. There is no need to pick me up later; I will return by myself." After the car drove away, she slowly turned the corner. The street was sparsely populated, and those who passed by were hurried. There was no one else who moved as slowly and hesitantly as she did.

The door was gently closed, and the room remained in complete darkness. Chu Tianlei slowly opened his eyes, no longer in the disarray of drunkenness. The depths of his gaze were clear and profound, carrying a hint of sadness, but more so, a sense of hatred

Crossing the courtyard, Wang Ma led her to the bedroom door and pointed inside. She gently pushed the door open, and a strong smell of alcohol immediately filled the air. The room was dimly lit, and it took her a while to adjust to the light inside. She saw him lying on the bed in disarray, and the closer she got, the stronger the smell of alcohol became, clearly indicating that he was drunk

The air still carried her fragrance, tinged with a hint of hibiscus sweetness. In the end, Chu Tianlei made up his mind, turned around, and watched her silhouette slowly approach the doorway of the hall. The sunlight gently filtered in, casting her figure long and slender on the ground

He gritted his teeth: "There is no reason! Because I am not worthy of the noble Miss Helian from the North!" Jingqi smiled through her tears, feeling a slight sense of relief: "What does it matter? My brother won't mind; he cares for me the most. If he does mind, I will ask my sister-in-law to intervene. My brother values my sister-in-law the most; he has never ignored her words."

It all seemed so wonderful, just like the weather at the time of their meeting, warm and refreshing. On that day, he learned of her birthday and had purchased a pair of imported earrings from the trading company a few days in advance. They were delicate and exquisite, with tiny diamonds that sparkled like the stars in the sky. Although she possessed many pieces of jewelry, whether inherited from her mother or gifted by her father, elder brother, or sister-in-law, all of which were far more valuable than this pair, she still felt that these were the most beautiful.

It seemed that he also saw her. Her movements were very slow; although it was only a short distance of a few steps, it took a long time for her to walk. He said lightly, "Follow me." She lowered her head, did not speak, and slowly followed behind.

There was a faint scent of traditional Chinese medicine in the room, not very strong, yet she could clearly distinguish it. Having visited so many times, she had never encountered this smell before. Jingqi slightly raised her head and looked at him. He seemed to be lost in thought, also in a daze.

There was actually a wine bottle by the bedside, lying on the ground at an angle. She gazed at him quietly; it had only been a little over ten days since they last met, yet it felt as if a year had passed, separated by a long wait. Now that she saw him, she found herself unable to move her feet

As she reached the door, she knocked on the doorbell. Wang Ma responded and came to open the door: "Miss Jingqi—" Jingqi took a breath and then looked up: "Wang Ma, is he inside?" Wang Ma glanced inside, then turned back to see her light yellow wide-style qipao already half-soaked from the rain. She sighed and nodded: "The young master is inside, you should come in quickly. It's pouring outside—you're all wet—"

"Do you not know that a man's sweet words are never to be trusted?" he said coldly. Jingqi shook her head; this was not the person she once knew. She slowly stepped back, having forgotten everything from her upbringing in the strict Helian family, which taught its children to be measured in their actions and to never be disrespectful in public. The pain in her heart was so intense that it felt almost impossible to breathe.

We should not meet again

He always waits for her at the corner by the school gate after class, as if it were so natural, just like the wild geese flying south when the weather turns cold. At first, Gao Yiqing would still accompany him to stroll around, drink tea, and watch plays and movies. Later, she became aware and tactfully found various reasons to decline. The university promotes free love, and Gao Yiqing naturally understands the subtlety between the two of them

Is he angry with her? He is upset that she has been concealing her identity and did not inform him that she is Helian Jingfeng's sister. She has wanted to tell him several times, but she always harbors a subtle concern about his reaction. Observing his daily attire and lifestyle, it is evident that he does not come from a wealthy family. Deep down, she is unsure how many times she has hesitated over this matter. On this day, her birthday, all she wanted was for her sister-in-law to meet him. Perhaps he is merely upset with her for not telling him sooner, and it was only when the guards from the residence came to fetch him that he became aware of it. Deep down, she is unsure how many times she has hesitated over this matter. On this day, her birthday, all she wanted was for her sister-in-law to meet him. Perhaps he is merely upset with her for not telling him sooner, and it was only when the guards from the residence came to fetch him that he became aware of it

He is very strange today, but she knows that she herself is also. Because of yesterday, everything seems different now. She now dares not to meet his gaze directly

He suddenly turned around, pinning her beneath him, and his kiss slowly descended. She could not quite describe the feeling; it was different from before, as if she were seeing a side of him she had never encountered, imbued with a sense of determination and stubbornness. The intensity of his kiss increased, recklessly exploring her lips and teeth, turning and twisting. She felt an indescribable panic, her entire being gradually warming up, sensing that something was amiss, and she pushed him away forcefully: "Tianlei, let me go—" Yet he seemed not to hear, continuing as he pleased. The intensity of his kiss only grew stronger, recklessly exploring her lips and teeth, turning and twisting. She felt an indescribable panic, her entire being gradually warming up, sensing that something was amiss, and she pushed him away forcefully: "Tianlei, let me go—" Yet he seemed not to hear, continuing as he pleased. His hands began to behave inappropriately, sliding into her collar. She too started to panic, pushing against his shoulders, but he remained unmoved: "Tianlei, get up, let me go—"

Jingqi's footsteps came to a halt, remaining still. The surroundings were very quiet, so quiet that even each other's breathing seemed to be heard clearly. All the light seemed to dim, and all the noise had faded away. She blinked, almost doubting that she had heard incorrectly. After a while, she finally gathered the courage to turn around and looked up at him: "What?"

It is unclear how much time had passed when she slowly walked to the bedside, leaned over to pull the blanket from his side, intending to cover him properly. As she reached out her hand, she suddenly felt a force tugging at her, causing her to lose her balance and fall onto the bed. Turning her head, she found him staring at her with deep, dark eyes, fixed and unblinking.

He stubbornly ignored the hope in her eyes, cruelly rejecting: "No, I don't want others to think I am a kept man, clinging to the powerful!" Jingqi shook her head, tears slowly streaming down from her eyes: "I knew you were angry with me, angry that I didn't tell you my identity sooner. But I feel, what does my identity matter? I am still me, even if I am Helian Jingfeng's sister, I am still me!

The bedding still carries her scent and warmth, and his hands clearly remember every inch of her skin, tender and smooth as cream. Yet he must forget.

She slightly furrowed her brows and murmured, "How bitter!" Her tone was very intimate, with a hint of coquetry. He clenched his fist; in the past, he would have already comforted her. But—things are different now.