06

The thick clouds obscured the light before dawn, and the place where he lived was not easy to find. By the time Xu Jianan finally arrived, even the volcanic ash could not hide the brightness of dawn.

Uncertain of how long she had been sitting, the sound of footsteps approached and then receded. Her fingers clenched the damp corner of her trench coat in a spasm, and she mustered the courage to lift her head

But she is really too tired, too tired... Jian Nan only feels that her eyelids are as heavy as a thousand pounds, and she can no longer open them. Just like this, she murmurs to herself, will everything be different when she wakes up...?

Chen Suining stood a short distance away, arms crossed over his chest, looking down at me with a faint expression, and asked, "Miss Xu, what brings you here?"

He did not push her away, but simply let out a brief laugh: "Little girl, do you want to push me down from here?"

Every inch of her skin felt as if it had been pierced by needles, and she drowsily closed her eyes. She did not know how long had passed, only feeling a cold hand gently pressing on her forehead. A shiver ran through her body as she recalled the humiliating "pleasure" and struggled to open her eyes.

Chen Suining continued to look expressionless, while the butler beside him calmly said: "Sir, she seems unable to hold on any longer"

I am referring to the person outside, who does not seem to be carrying an umbrella

Xu Jianan briefly introduced his identity and purpose. The other party paused for a moment and still politely said: "Mr. Chen is resting. I apologize, but he is not to be disturbed during his rest. Perhaps you could come back in the afternoon."

I do not understand why you are suddenly treating me this way... If I have done something wrong, I am sorry, truly sorry. " She spoke incoherently, feeling pitifully lowly, "But could you help me this once, please? If you hate me, if you despise me, I swear... after returning to my country, I will absolutely never appear in front of you again.

The impact of the hot water from the shower only made Xu Jianan feel unsteady on her feet, her skin slightly scorched by the heat. However, she did not adjust the temperature any further, hurriedly washing her body and hair, and then drying herself with a towel before finally changing into a brand new set of pajamas

When she woke up once again, she was still in this room. On the bedside table were a large cup of hot water, a box of medicine, and a thermometer. Jianan, however, hurriedly got up and then went to look for her phone

He no longer glanced at her, walking straight to the window, his tone gentle: "It's me, what is it?"

He looked at her without any reaction, as if he were an outsider.

This phone call has lasted for an unknown duration, and Xu Jianan's heart gradually sank. She silently circled around the coffee table, step by step walking towards the door. Coming here in the first place was a mistake—had she known this would be the case, it would have been better to wait at the airport all along

After being crowded at the airport for an entire day and night, she had lost her appetite for food, and as she got out of the taxi, her steps felt somewhat unsteady. Jiana slightly tilted her head back, feeling a hint of cool moisture on her lips. She tightened her coat, lowered her head, and walked step by step to the tightly closed black iron gate, pressing the visual doorbell.

Moreover, the other party did not even mention allowing her to enter, and abruptly terminated the communication

Even in the dimly lit bedroom, this man still possessed clean and clear lines. He stood upright, revealing no hint of emotion, and left the room

She sat on the edge of the bed with her head lowered, her long hair tangled into clumps, looking utterly disheveled, yet she responded with a question that was off-topic: "Where is Mr. Chen?"

Let her in. He frowned slightly and turned to leave

"What’s the rush to go back home? Has someone died?" He spoke these biting words in a nonchalant tone, surprisingly accompanied by a hint of a smile at the corner of his thin lips

Time passed second by second, and Jianan forced out this word from between his teeth: "Good"

Xu Jianan stopped in his tracks

I understand. Jiana looked up at him, a hint of pleading evident in her distinctly black-and-white eyes, so... that's why I asked you to help me

When Xu Jianan was helped into the living room, despite her weakness, her mind was very clear. She still recognized Butler Lin—Chen Suining would always bring him along wherever he went—suddenly seeing a familiar face made her feel a sense of relief

Chen Suining set down the newspaper in her hands and slowly walked to the window. From this vantage point on the second floor, she looked out to see a slender figure leaning against the black gate. Without an umbrella, she could only press against the wall, perhaps due to the cold, her hands tightly clasped in front of her chest

She reminded herself that she came to seek his help. She could wait. Self-esteem and pride were nothing compared to her father.

He looked up and cast a glance, neither too light nor too heavy, at the butler whose hair was completely gray yet neatly combed.

She took a deep breath, striving to imagine herself as a puppet that could only speak, devoid of emotions and thoughts, and then, with a trembling voice, she said with difficulty: "Please help me... I want to return to my country as soon as possible"

As he reached the door, Chen Suining had just hung up the phone. He raised an eyebrow slightly, slipped one hand into his pocket, and walked a few steps to stand behind her, speaking in a slow tone: "Is this how you are leaving? If you need my help, I wouldn't mind."

Can he be of assistance? ... Or ...? ... If he can, would he be willing to help?

The housekeeper Lin happened to knock on the door and politely asked, "Miss Xu, have you taken your medicine?"

The indoor temperature is quite suitable, and he is wearing only a black diamond-patterned vest over his light-colored shirt. He then glanced faintly out the window, where a slender figure is leaning against the wall, slowly sliding down.

In the depths of Chen Suining's pair of black eyes, there glimmered a hint of an inscrutable brightness, yet she merely said softly: "Did the taxi driver deceive you, claiming this is the embassy?"

Jianan shook her head, afraid to speak, fearing that once she did, her courage would slip away like sand through her fingers... She also feared the pervasive sense of shame, which would once again fill her up.

The moment he touched her skin, the unusually hot body temperature caused him to pause for a moment, and then he seemed to shake it off with some disgust, sarcastically saying: "How long has it been since you last took a shower?"

The butler said politely: "Miss Xu, please have a seat for a moment. Mr. Chen is currently on the phone with his wife and will be down shortly"

There were several missed calls, and when she called back, it was Shen Rong who answered.

Chen Suining raised an eyebrow, looking at her pale face, revealing a hint of sarcastic amusement: "Indeed, you are still the young lady who is oblivious to worldly affairs. You haven't been following the news, have you?"

But darling ... ... sometimes I also think of you His gaze was teasing, raw desire, unrelated to emotions

He did not turn back, but remained focused on the scenery before him, until a soft body quietly approached and wrapped around his waist

"I have come to ask for your help, please help me." Jian Nan stood up, looking directly into his eyes, and said word by word, "I beg you..."

The texture of the silk was so smooth, Jiana pushed open the bathroom door and silently gazed at the large, soft bed, slowly walking towards it

Mr. Chen, it is raining outside

"Then you need not do this anymore," he said calmly, "I do not want you right now"

The living room was covered with a soft, pristine white carpet, and her shoes, still stained with mud, left behind a series of unsightly marks as she stepped on it. For the first time, Jian Nan felt a sense of constraint and quietly asked, "Has he gotten up?"

Sitting or lying down

She reached out her hand and grasped his sleeve, just as she had done a long, long time ago when they had just met.

Chen Suining smiled slightly and said to the butler beside her, "Take her to the guest room"

She no longer had the strength to think deeply, hastily scribbling down the address, and then dragging her luggage, struggling to weave through the crowd until she exited the airport

In the early morning, a call from home about a "worsening condition" finally drove Xu Jianan completely out of her mind. She was trapped in this damned airport, and even if she pulled out every single hair, she still couldn't go back. ... If at this moment ... . ... If something happened to her father, she could hardly imagine what her future would look like

The doctor said that the gentleman's condition is still unstable, and the surgery cannot proceed. Yes, it is still not very good

How long has she been waiting

She thought for a while with some difficulty, and ultimately lay down.

The news reports that the combination of volcanic ash and rainwater is very harmful to health

The room was so quiet that she did not know when Chen Suining would come in, and curling up deep within the blankets gave her a sense of security. Yet she still felt cold; even wrapped in layer upon layer of blankets, she began to shiver and her breath was hot.

Then I will wait a little longer she said softly

Soon, someone responded to her politely, asking: "May I ask who you are looking for?"

So, Shu Ling is not here... That's good, no need to feel so awkward. Xu Jianan nodded and sat down on the sofa, his gaze fixed only on a palm-sized area at his feet

Is it heaven helping oneself ...? ... or is it playing tricks on oneself?

Jianan closed his eyes and said somewhat numbly, "No, it is my father who is ill."

It has been three and a half hours

That embrace carried a deliberate attempt to please, along with an unconscious tremor

When the butler reminded him in this manner, Chen Suining lazily raised his eyebrows and glanced at the weather outside, responding with a soft "mm".

Behind this house lies a gently rising hill, upon which some remnants of buildings remain. At this moment, the rain has long ceased, and the light before sunset spills over the remaining Roman columns, each standing upright like sentinels, almost dragging the long shadows into the distance. The thick clouds brought by the volcanic ash press down like lead blocks. Chen Suining stands at this high point, overlooking the malachite-like lake view, when suddenly he hears footsteps behind him, accompanied by a faint, citrus-like fragrance reminiscent of orange trees. The thick clouds brought by the volcanic ash press down like lead blocks. Chen Suining stands at this high point, overlooking the malachite-like lake view, when suddenly he hears footsteps behind him, accompanied by a faint, citrus-like fragrance reminiscent of orange trees.

Mr. Chen is outside the house," Butler Lin said politely, "You may take your medicine and then go out to find him

Chen Suining suddenly reached out, forcefully lifting her chin, and coldly said: "Xu Jianan, there are many women who follow me, what makes you think I would help you"

You are married. She was stunned for a long time before she spoke

He may be enjoying sweetness with his newlywed wife and admiring the rare beauty brought about by the volcanic ash... while I have to muster all my courage and expend all my dignity to ask him for help

Jianan hung up the phone, and the feeling of anxiety in his stomach showed no signs of relief

Xu Jianan stumbled back a step, just as the butler entered with the phone, handing it to Chen Suining without looking aside: "Madam's phone."

A person who is drowning will always instinctively grasp at the last straw, even if it is of no use. Xu Jianan, with red eyes, trembled as she entered the password one by one, once again opening her email, and saw the topmost message, from an address... that was not far from her.

"You know the ways women please men." He curled the corners of his lips, but the depths of his eyes were cold

The man who bent down at this moment focused intently on Jian Nan's pale and emaciated face. His hand reached out to her forehead, slightly moving as if to follow the delicate contours downward, intending to touch her petal-like lips. However, he quickly restrained himself and withdrew his hand.

At this moment, Xu Jianan finds it difficult to discern his own emotions. Perhaps it is a sense of relief, because he is truly here; or perhaps... it is still a profound and deep humiliation