Chapter 15: Dry Tinder and Blazing Fire

Under Zhang Jun's influence, Chen Yang had once suspected Lin Wei didn't like men; now hearing her say she likes women, he's somewhat doubtful.

In this era, domestic thinking wasn't as open as it would be twenty years later. To the public, homosexuality was just another oddity. Those with poor psychological resilience would be driven mad by societal eyes. If Lin Wei really were, she would surely hide it tightly.

Moreover, over four years of college, he never found Lin Wei having an especially close relationship with any woman, nor had he heard any special rumors.

Chen Yang, don't listen to her nonsense. Go to her place and see—it's all posters of Liming.

Besides, with Uncle Lin's temperament, if she really dared to do something out of line, he could break her legs.

Tch, you think my dad is like your old man? He wouldn't bother.

Yeah, he can't bear it. I remember someone once couldn't even get out of bed, and I brought him food.

Chen Bing, that was years ago—bring it up again and I'll turn hostile!

Fine, fine, I won't mention it.

Watching Chen Bing and Lin Wei bicker without restraint, Chen Yang felt envy from the bottom of his heart. In his student days, he had few friends. Daily life meant either working in the fields or staying home to study. Kids his age in the village called him a bookworm.

Actually, he also wanted to play with everyone—catching wild rabbits in the hills, picking mushrooms, gathering wild fruit; fishing in the streams, catching crabs; using a flashlight to spot frogs on the field ridges at night. Unfortunately, his parents wouldn't allow it.

The idea they instilled in Chen Yang was to study hard, get into college, and leave that godforsaken poor mountain village.

After his parents passed away, his aunt took over their mission.

So before college, Chen Yang had few close companions to play with.

Because he feared loneliness, he cherished his friendship with Zhang Jun, Zhao Shunfa, and Tang Kun—only to be repaid with shameless betrayal and scheming.

Chen Yang looked at Lin Wei, the person who changed his past-life fate, and found her beauty intoxicating. In his impression, she was always surrounded by a crowd of suitors. Zhang Jun spent considerable manpower and money trying to drive off those rivals, yet still couldn't win her heart.

Recalling how, in the residential complex, Lin Wei had said she wanted to turn pretend into reality, Chen Yang, though doubtful, still felt his heart stir. The subsequent probing left him somewhat disappointed.

Chen Yang, want a drink?

I'm driving, I can't drink.

Chen Yang refused Chen Bing's suggestion—having been reborn after a car accident, he didn't dare break the law again.

Besides, with Chen Bing's drinking capacity, he might end up having to do hard labor again.

"Today is a day worth celebrating—he doesn't drink, I will." Lin Wei said, then asked the boss for a bottle of Clear Water malt drink, a plate of peanuts, and two small cups.

Before the dishes arrived, she and Chen Bing started drinking.

After a drink, Chen Bing began chatting about the World Cup. When he mentioned the national football team's elimination in the group stage, his face showed anguish.

Chen Yang knew more about the national team's situation, felt sympathy for its future, and while comforting him gave this analysis: "It's normal for the national team to fail to advance. Besides lack of strength, luck was also bad. If you swapped them into a group with Korea and Japan, not to mention winning a match, even getting out of the group would be uncertain."

Chen Bing wholeheartedly agreed with Chen Yang's view. "The host's advantage is beyond doubt. Look at that shameless Korean nation—barely playing football, just committing malicious fouls, short of killing people. Yet they still made it to the semifinals! Damn, that's ridiculous…"

Chen Yang laughed: "Rest assured, the semifinals are already their limit. Against absolute strength, even biased referees are powerless."

For Chen Bing, the most aggravating thing about this World Cup was the Korean team; hearing Chen Yang's words, he got a bit excited: "You mean they'll be eliminated by the German team?"

Chen Yang nodded firmly. "For Korea to beat Germany, there would have to be someone like him with a cheat."

At that moment, Lin Wei interjected: "Chen Yang, you don't even play soccer—how do you know so much about the World Cup?"

Chen Yang explained: "Those guys in the dorm often talk about soccer; hearing it a lot, I've picked up a bit."

"I see!" Lin Wei seemed to recall something, then added: "Tang Kun apparently won a second prize and treated many classmates to a meal. If he knew the first prize was yours, he probably wouldn't be in the mood."

Chen Yang glanced around the restaurant, lowered his voice, and warned her: "Don't go spreading rumors everywhere. If I ever get robbed, you'd be an accomplice."

Lin Wei smirked: "Then come with me to Clear Water, where the Public Security Bureau chief protects you—who'd dare rob you?"

Chen Yang gave her a look, annoyed: "With your father's temper, I'd have to prepare a long-term hospital bed."

"Is my dad that scary?" Lin Wei laughed until tears came. As a child, because she was mischievous, she often got beaten. After she started school, her father became much gentler. Occasionally, when she did something out of line, it was her brother who got the beating.

Chen Yang nodded in deep agreement. During college, he had dined three times at Lin Wei's home. Lin Jianguo's gaze toward him and Zhang Jun wasn't friendly either. Recalling the image of Zhang Jun being beaten and unable to get out of bed for three days deepened his fear.

"Chen Yang, don't overthink it—the security in Xingcheng is still decent." Chen Bing also timely comforted Chen Yang. As a police officer working in Xingcheng, he still had confidence in local security.

Of course, he also didn't dare advise Chen Yang to stay and develop in Xingcheng. After all, Lin Wei's attitude toward Chen Yang differed from that toward other men. If he misspoke and ruined things for that girl, he'd surely get backstabbed later.

Chen Yang had invested heavily in real estate in Xingcheng and was preparing to bring his aunt's family over. Even if Lin Jianguo didn't cause him trouble, he currently had no plans to return to Clear Water for development.

He didn't respond, and Lin Wei didn't press further; she kept clinking glasses with Chen Bing. After the meal, both Chen Bing and Lin Wei were a little tipsy.

Chen Yang drove Chen Bing and Zhong Lin to their temporary lodgings, then took Lin Wei to her rented residential complex.

Upon arrival, Lin Wei was already asleep in the passenger seat.

Chen Yang called out, no response. He gave her a push, still no reaction.

Left with no choice, he carefully carried the drunken beauty back to her residence.

When he finally laid her on the bed, Chen Yang breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at her room, sure enough, there were many Liming posters on the wall.

Clearly a fan-chaser, yet she pretended to be aloof. Chen Yang felt her life wasn't genuine either.

Nevertheless, seeing Lin Wei's gentle, tranquil sleeping face, Chen Yang couldn't suppress his inner agitation and lightly kissed her.

"Hehe, I knew you weren't a block of wood." Lin Wei suddenly opened her eyes, giving Chen Yang a mischievous look.

"You're not drunk?" Chen Yang, embarrassed and at a loss, tried to rise and escape, but Lin Wei's slender hands tightly gripped his neck.

"Aren't you asking whether I dare to do that with you?" Lin Wei slightly lifted her head, her clear, water-like eyes fixed on Chen Yang, her luscious red lips slowly approaching him, as if a blooming flower waiting for a bee to gather nectar.

In this situation, even if Lin Wei had a fierce, domineering father, Chen Yang could no longer control himself.

Like dry tinder meeting a flame, their entanglement continued until dawn.

Gazing at the beauty in his arms, her sweet smile, Chen Yang still felt as if he were dreaming.

Who would have thought that in just over ten days, they not only got their certificate but also entered into an actual marital relationship.