Book Synopsis
Book Tags
Donation Rankings
Comment
0 Comments
You May Also Like
墨書 Inktalez
Zhou Ziyan held the bottle of wine, lowering her head, pretending not to notice Junxi glancing back every few steps. The more she acted this way, the more uncomfortable he felt.
Since she had chosen to leave, why did she have to show so much reluctance?
Her reluctance gave him hope, making him reluctant as well.
His love had been dormant for so long, and in the end, he still lost her.
The darkness at the door gradually swallowed Junxi's slender figure; she walked further away until she was no longer visible.
Zhou Ziyan tilted her head back and downed the wine in the bottle. She opened another bottle, one after another... Tonight, if she could drink herself into oblivion, then there would be no more pain.
A loud noise came from behind her, the sound of a thick glass cup hitting the table.
“Liu Xianghan, you better not push your luck!”
Hearing that familiar name, Zhou Ziyan put down the bottle and turned around.
In the northwest corner of the restaurant sat a man and a woman. The man was burly, but his eyes were small. The thick and shiny gold chain around his neck highlighted his tacky demeanor. Although the woman had her back to him, Zhou Ziyan recognized her at once; it was Xiang Han.
There probably wasn't another woman in the world who could sit with such stubbornness.
Since they met, Liu Xianghan had always given him the impression that she could spring up and fight at any moment. She was a woman, but deep down, she had the spirit of a warrior.
“Did you not hear what I said?”
The man seemed to be enraged, cursing loudly with foul language.
Zhou Ziyan couldn't discern their relationship from the scene. He only remembered that Xiang Han didn't have a boyfriend. However, just because she didn't before didn't mean she didn't now.
He was too preoccupied to concern himself with their affairs.
Just as he was about to turn back and continue drinking, Xiang Han suddenly stood up. She grabbed the nearby wine glass and, with lightning speed, splashed all the liquid out.
The man couldn't dodge in time, and the water drenched his face.
Xiang Han deftly tossed the glass aside and turned to leave.
“Damn you!” The man slammed his hand on the table and chased after her, grabbing Xiang Han and raising his fist to strike.
“Stop!” Zhou Ziyan instinctively stood up and quickly walked toward Xiang Han and the man.
Xiang Han froze for a moment upon seeing Zhou Ziyan.
Zhou Ziyan was also taken aback, as it was the first time he had seen tears in Xiang Han's eyes.
“Who are you?” The man looked at Zhou Ziyan with disdain.
“And who are you?”
Zhou Ziyan swiftly knocked the man's hand away from Xiang Han and gently pulled her behind him.
“I’m the one who bought her!” The man spat, pointing at Xiang Han. “This bitch’s father has already sold her to me!”
"Shut up!" Liu Xianghan coldly interrupted, "I told you, I will exchange this money for you."
"But I don't want money; I just want you to sleep with me!" The man's arrogance was infuriating.
Zhou Ziyan could no longer tolerate it. What kind of man would insult a woman like that in public?
He grabbed the chain around the man's neck and yanked it. As the man stumbled back, Zhou Ziyan seized his collar, raising his fist…
"Zhou Ziyan, don't!" Xiang Han pulled Zhou Ziyan's hand.
While Zhou Ziyan was filled with righteous anger, Xiang Han was reminded that he had almost gone to jail for hitting someone. How could he make the same mistake again? If he got caught for fighting again, getting out wouldn't be so easy.
"You still want to hit me? I'll make sure you regret it…"
The man's fist swung toward Zhou Ziyan. Just as he was about to block it, Xiang Han stepped in front of him.
"Ugh…"
Zhou Ziyan only heard a muffled grunt as Xiang Han was pushed against him by the force.
"Xiang Han!" Zhou Ziyan quickly supported Xiang Han's arms.
Xiang Han frowned, but aside from that muffled sound, she didn't make any other noise.
Zhou Ziyan truly doubted whether she was even a woman. Even if she took such a punch, she should at least let out a few sounds of discomfort.
"What kind of man hits a woman?"
"Exactly, how shameless."
"Miss, just call the police! We all saw it! We can testify for you!"
"…"
The people in the restaurant gathered around, and some righteous customers could no longer stand by. A few even took out their phones to record the scene. The man, who had been so aggressive just moments ago, suddenly looked flustered.
"What are you doing! What are you filming! Delete that right now!"
In this age where information spreads faster than a virus, a single misstep could lead to a wave of public criticism that might crush someone.
Though the man was domineering, the thought of being condemned by millions made him uneasy.
Just as the calls to report the incident grew louder, Xiang Han quietly tugged at Zhou Ziyan's arm and said, "Let's go."
Zhou Ziyan noticed her distress and nodded.
"Hey, you better stop!" the man shouted from behind.
But Xiang Han did not stop; her pace quickened.
Zhou Ziyan hurried to keep up with her.
Stepping out of the bustling restaurant, they were immediately hit by the cold outside. Although Xiang Han straightened her back, she couldn't help but shiver.
"My car is right over there, just wait for me."
Zhou Ziyan pointed to the parking lot not far away. Just as he was about to go get the car, Xiang Han stopped him with a firm hand.
"Keys," Xiang Han said, extending her hand towards him.
Her long fingers were beautiful, looking nothing like the hands of someone who raced cars; they seemed more suited for playing the piano.
"What are you doing?"
"You've been drinking. I'll drive," Xiang Han replied, and without waiting for him to hand them over, she reached out and snatched the keys from his grasp.
Perhaps it was indeed the alcohol dulling his senses; Zhou Ziyan didn’t react in time as she took the keys.
Xiang Han quickly walked towards his car, and before long, it emerged from the parking lot, making a smooth turn and coming to a stop in front of him.
"Are you taking me home?" Zhou Ziyan leaned against the car window, feeling oddly intrigued.
In the past, he had always been the one driving women home; he had never experienced a woman driving him home before.
"You’ve been drinking. If I don’t drive you, I’ll have to find a designated driver," Liu Xianghan said, furrowing her brows as she glanced at the lights on the dashboard. "Get in. Just think of it as me borrowing your car for a joyride."
The flickering lights cast shadows across her delicate face, making her look somewhat forlorn.
Though Zhou Ziyan didn’t know what difficulties Xiang Han was currently facing, he could infer from what he had seen and heard that her situation likely wasn’t any better than his own heartbreak.
The wind blew gently, refreshing his mind... He was just worried about not having anyone to accompany him.
Zhou Ziyan got into the car.
"Buckle up," Xiang Han reminded him.
"What..."
Before Zhou Ziyan could finish his sentence, Xiang Han pressed the accelerator. He was pushed back against the seat by the sudden force. In no time, they were on the highway, and Liu Xianghan gradually increased the speed, turning the scenery outside into a straight line.
"Buckle up!"
"I've done it!"
Both windows were rolled down halfway, and as the speed increased, the sound of the wind outside became particularly loud, forcing them to shout to communicate.
But Zhou Ziyan loved this feeling.
At this hour, there were very few cars on the highway, making it feel especially desolate. Liu Xianghan drove boldly ahead; her driving skills were excellent, even better than most men. The steering wheel seemed to be an extension of her hand, and her spirit was one with the car. She combined a woman's careful delicacy with a man's wild abandon to perfection...
"Wow!"
Zhou Ziyan shouted excitedly at the scenery outside the window.
He hadn't felt this thrill of speeding in a long time. Ever since he injured his foot, he had been too afraid to drive fast. Although he often tempted himself to go for a spin when feeling frustrated, the thrill he gave himself was nowhere near as exhilarating as what Liu Xianghan provided.
Suddenly, Zhou Ziyan felt that Liu Xianghan, with her serious expression focused on driving, radiated a different kind of beauty.
"Wow!" he exclaimed again.
"Why did you go drinking?" Liu Xianghan asked, her expression blank as she stared ahead.
"Because I got dumped by a woman!" Zhou Ziyan shouted, emphasizing each word.
Liu Xianghan suddenly glanced at him.
Due to her distraction, the car inevitably swayed.
"Oh my goodness!"
Zhou Ziyan was startled and quickly raised his hand, pressing down on both Xianghan's hand and the steering wheel.
"Are you trying to kill us?" Zhou Ziyan yelled, steadying the steering wheel for her.
Xianghan eased off the accelerator, and the car gradually slowed down.
"What did you just say?" she asked seriously, as if confirming something of great importance.
"Nothing! Just drive properly!" Zhou Ziyan said, tapping the steering wheel irritably.
Xianghan turned her head back to the road.
After a while, the speed picked up again. However, Zhou Ziyan could clearly sense that she was already distracted.
After exiting the highway, the car did not head towards Yatian.
"Let's go grab a drink," Xiang Han suddenly said.
Zhou Ziyan, who had just been interrupted while enjoying his drink, was not pleased. However, upon hearing her suggestion, he agreed without a second thought.
Xiang Han drove directly to a nearby bar.
It was the beginning of the nightlife, and the bar was bustling with energy. Zhou Ziyan found it too noisy and decided to buy a large bag of alcohol to take outside. The two of them sat in the car, slowly sipping their drinks.
"You mentioned earlier that you had a breakup?" Xiang Han recalled this detail with interest.
"Don't bring it up; just drink," Zhou Ziyan replied as he opened a can of beer for her and handed it over.
Xiang Han held the beer can, her head lowered in silence. After a moment, she said, "But I want to know."
"Know what?"
"How do you know when you've fallen in love?" Xiang Han's eyes sparkled like stars visible through the car's sunroof.
Zhou Ziyan took a sip of his beer.
How do you know when you've fallen in love? He didn't know either, because by the time he realized he was in love with Wen Junxi, it was already too late.
In Zhou Ziyan's world, Wen Junxi had always been his rival—yes, just a rival, nothing more. They had bickered and teased each other for over a decade. He had always thought he hated Junxi, but in an instant at her home, he understood what she meant to him.
The proud and headstrong Wen Junxi, the rebellious Wen Junxi, the one who seemed oblivious to the world's limits… she suddenly appeared so fragile, as if anyone could crush her with just a finger.
Zhou Ziyan realized at that moment that he was unwilling to see anyone bully Wen Junxi, except for himself.
That year coincided with the college entrance examination, and Junxi's scores were far better than Zhou Ziyan's. In order to attend the same school as Junxi and protect her, Zhou Ziyan studied with a fierce determination.
Everyone said that Zhou Ziyan had changed, that he no longer resembled the person he used to be. Only he knew that the reason he worked so hard to change was because of the Wen Junxi who no longer resembled herself.
Fortunately, hard work paid off; his efforts over the year were not in vain. His exam results were enough to stand alongside Junxi's.
After the exams, Zhou Ziyan put off deciding on his own college applications.
Because Junxi's aspirations were his aspirations. Even if she didn’t want to stay in Qingcheng and chose a distant city to start anew, he would follow her without hesitation.
However, Junxi did not leave the city that had hurt her; she ultimately chose Purple Gold. She chose to remain in Qingcheng.
At that time, Zhou Ziyan thought she couldn’t bear to part with her parents and family, but now he slowly understood that perhaps she was just standing still, waiting for someone...
Before long, Zhou Ziyan finished all the alcohol in his bag.
On the other hand, Xiang Han held onto her can of beer without taking a sip. She wanted to drink until she was intoxicated, but considering she had to drive him home, she refrained.
She couldn't quite tell whether Zhou Ziyan's heartbreak was a good thing or a bad thing for her.
"I loved her so much... I could love her with my life..." Zhou Ziyan mumbled drunkenly, uttering the most heartfelt words of love.
Unfortunately, such sincere and passionate words were not meant for her ears.
Xiang Han suppressed the turmoil in her heart and threw the untouched beer can out of the window; it landed perfectly in the trash can.
She started the car, planning to take Zhou Ziyan home.
"Junxi..." Zhou Ziyan murmured that name softly.
Xiang Han remained silent, careful not to drive too fast. She was afraid Zhou Ziyan might get sick.
By the time they reached Yatian, Zhou Ziyan was drowsy and almost asleep.
Xiang Han unbuckled her seatbelt and leaned over to unfasten all of Zhou Ziyan's straps. However, as she got closer, the intoxicating scent of alcohol on him rendered her motionless.
Zhou Ziyan had such long eyelashes, a straight nose, and high cheekbones... Her mother used to say that people with high cheekbones were blessed. She hoped he was indeed blessed, at least more than she was.
Without thinking, Xiang Han pressed her lips lightly against Zhou Ziyan's forehead.
It was such a gentle touch, yet it made her so nervous that she could hardly breathe.
"Junxi..."
Zhou Ziyan called out again, completely snapping Xiang Han back to reality.
"We're here."
Xiang Han nudged Zhou Ziyan and then got out of the car, moving around to help him out of the passenger seat.
After some effort, she managed to get him to the door, but opening it proved to be another challenge.
"Password?" Xiang Han patted Zhou Ziyan's face gently.
Zhou Ziyan ignored her.
"Zhou Ziyan, what's your password?" Xiang Han, losing her patience, shook Zhou Ziyan vigorously.
It seemed like Zhou Ziyan was suddenly jolted awake. He pressed his throbbing temples and blurted out the password, "0315!"
"Why is it 0315?" Women were always particularly sensitive to such numbers.
Under normal circumstances, Xiang Han would never have asked, but at that moment, with Zhou Ziyan drunk, she couldn't help herself. They say that inebriation brings out the truth.
"Because March 15th is her birthday..."
He was drunk, yet he was still very clear about the little details concerning her.
Xiang Han felt a pang of disappointment.
So it was Junxi's birthday.
Junxi was walking home again; she had recently developed a fondness for walking.
The streetlights along the way were bright. The row of streetlights at the alley entrance had just been replaced not long ago, casting clusters of glaring white light that illuminated the entire alley as if it were daytime.
In her heart, she still worried about Zhou Ziyan. Just thinking about him brought forth feelings of helplessness and guilt.
It was suffocating, so suffocating.
"Beep." A car horn sounded behind her.
Junxi hadn't had time to turn around when a black car brushed past her hem. She looked up, and just as she caught sight of the license plate, the car came to a stop right outside her building.
It was Zhou Xuanyu's car.
Her footsteps halted in place.
The driver's door opened first, and Junxi watched as a familiar figure appeared before her, causing her eyes to well up with emotion.
Zhou Xuanyu was back; he had come to find her.
Just as Junxi wanted to step forward, the passenger door swung open as well.
"Sister!" Jun Xuan climbed out from the passenger seat. Once he steadied himself, he turned back and flashed her a teasing smile.
That smile carried an air of mischief.
"What are you doing in the car too?" Junxi approached, glancing first at Zhou Xuanyu and then at Jun Xuan.
"Xuan Yu Uncle took me out for a meal. We just got back," Jun Xuan said animatedly, nudging Zhou Xuanyu with his elbow as if they had become close friends in just that short time over dinner.
The camaraderie between men could be quite intimidating.
Junxi nodded, choosing not to ask any further questions. She could feel Zhou Xuanyu's gaze fixed on her.
"Well then, sister, I won't disturb you two any longer. I'll head upstairs first," Jun Xuan said, blinking.
Junxi felt that something was off about Jun Xuan's playful demeanor today. Did he know something?
"You..."
"Bye-bye!" Jun Xuan waved at Zhou Xuanyu without giving Junxi a chance to speak and dashed away in a flash.
In the narrow corridor, only Junxi and Zhou Xuanyu remained, staring at each other. It had only been a little over a day since they last met, but she felt he looked haggard, while he thought she seemed thinner.
They held each other's gaze in silence for a moment before Zhou Xuanyu finally couldn't hold back and walked toward her.
"Where have you been?" he asked.
"Eating," she replied.
"With whom?" he pressed, though his tone was casual, as if making small talk.
Junxi bit her lip, recalling Zhou Ziyan's pained expression, and her brow furrowed.
"Junxi?" Zhou Xuanyu stood right in front of her, taking in her troubled look. "What's wrong?"
Junxi shook her head. She still needed time to sort out her feelings about Zhou Ziyan before sharing them with Zhou Xuanyu; she had to wait a little longer until she could gather herself.
"What brings you here?"
"I just got off the plane and came straight here," he answered, sidestepping her question.
"I thought you were ignoring me."
She sniffled, her tone a bit innocent.
Zhou Xuanyu's heart softened.
How could he bear to?
He let out a light sigh, not quite a sigh of despair, but more like a breath of relief.
He reached out, first placing his hand on her shoulder. After a few seconds, he pulled her into his embrace.
Still, the feeling of holding her was reassuring.
Junxi took a small step toward him, tightly wrapping her arms around Zhou Xuanyu. He was warm, so warm that her tears suddenly burst forth from the corners of her eyes, like a little fountain that couldn't be stopped.
"I'm back now, aren't I?"
He gently ruffled her hair, softly comforting her.
"Don't let me lose track of you again," Junxi mumbled as she lightly punched him in the chest.
Zhou Xuanyu held her hand down.
"Okay."
Comment 0 Comment Count