Chapter 40: As long as you don't look for someone else, I can be with you…

"It's nothing major, I just wanted to talk to her; she hasn't called me in a long time." Wen Laoxiansheng sighed: "Don't disturb her; let her call me after she wakes up."

"Okay, then I'll wait for A Ling to wake up and tell her."

The doorbell rang outside the gate, and Aunt Zhou went out, puzzled.

Seeing it was Zhou Yinhe, she froze for a moment, then walked forward with a cold face and asked: "Young Master Zhou, what business do you have?"

Zhou Yinhe looked anxious, speaking quickly: "Wen Ling?"

Aunt Zhou remained silent, not speaking. Zhou Yinhe continued: "I called her, but her phone was off; I have something to discuss with her."

"Young Master Zhou, there's no need for you to keep coming to see our young lady; she said she'll return to M Country after the matter is settled." Aunt Zhou sighed: "Since our young lady arrived in Sijiucheng, anything related to you puts her in a bad mood. I know she was in the wrong before, but she's also suffered a lot. Now she's decided not to see you anymore, and I hope you'll leave her alone."

Zhou Yinhe lowered his eyes, silent. As Aunt Zhou turned to leave, he suddenly said: "Impossible—she provoked me first; I could never let her go."

Aunt Zhou looked back at him in disbelief; Zhou Yinhe met her gaze, his eyes full of resolve.

"Open the door, let me in, or let her come out to see me."

Aunt Zhou frowned, about to say something, when Wen Ling's voice came from behind, tone flat: "Aunt Zhou, let him in; you go rest first."

"Okay." Aunt Zhou, who had watched Wen Ling grow up since childhood and had no objections, nodded, opened the lattice iron door, and returned to the next room.

Wen Ling and Zhou Yinhe locked eyes, she licked her dry lips.

She hadn't slept at all, just sitting on the balcony in a daze; when Zhou Yinhe arrived she knew, she stayed on the balcony a while before coming down, wondering why he had come to see her.

"Come in." Wen Ling turned and went back to the living room first; Zhou Yinhe followed, seeing her hair somewhat messy and spread over her back, she tucked her legs onto the sofa, lit a cigarette for herself, and Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips together.

Wen Ling pointed to the seat opposite her: "Sit."

After Zhou Yinhe sat down, she softly said: "What do you want from me?"

Zhou Yinhe stared straight at her as she casually smoked and flicked ash; his whole being seemed to embody the two words 'listless,' and a sharp pain welled up from deep inside him, indescribable.

"Wen Ling, what exactly are you thinking?" Zhou Yinhe asked hoarsely.

Wen Ling froze for a moment at his words, not quite understanding what he meant by "how you think."

"Regarding us, are you ready to give up?" Zhou Yinhe's tone grew heavy; Wen Ling then understood, she tugged at the corner of her mouth and smiled: "No, I just feared you wouldn't be willing, so I didn't keep pursuing you."

"Liar!" Zhou Yinhe stood, walked over, grabbed Wen Ling's wrist, and demanded: "You're lying—you're planning to go back to M Country!"

The smile in Wen Ling's eyes faded; she showed no fear of his anger and countered: "Wasn't it you who always wanted to send me back to M Country? Wouldn't it be better if I left?"

"Then why did you get me drunk that day?" Zhou Yinhe gritted his teeth, asking her; Wen Ling curled her lips: "But you weren't drunk, were you?"

She slowly pried open Zhou Yinhe's hand, smiling: "You're just unwilling to lose face, afraid I'll pester you." She extinguished the burnt-out cigarette in the ashtray, let out a soft sigh, stood up, and lifted her gaze to Zhou Yinhe's hair as he stood straight, not knowing how long she had been looking.

"It won't happen." Wen Ling breathed out the three words in a whisper, turned to leave, but Zhou Yinhe grabbed her firmly and, with difficulty, said: "I like you."

Wen Ling froze, looking back at him.

Every word Zhou Yinhe spoke next sounded as if it were being ground out from between his teeth.

"I really like you; even though three years ago, after you left me, I suffered greatly, I still like you." It was like tearing open a wound that had barely healed, painful enough to make him choke up: "So when you seek me out, I'm happy."

Wen Ling pressed her lips together, remaining silent.

"I just can't figure it out—I can't understand why you suddenly came to see me."

"Have you figured it out then?" Wen Ling asked softly.

"Mm." Zhou Yinhe lifted his gaze to Wen Ling, earnestly: "Even if you're here to hurt me again, I still want to be with you."

Wen Ling let out a soft laugh; once the amusement faded, she calmly said: "But I don't want to get back together with you."

Zhou Yinhe stood frozen in place, feeling as if his blood had solidified and stopped flowing.

"Although I really do crave your body, I don't want to be with you—your personality, your stubbornness, I can't stand it." Wen Ling pushed his hand away.

Zhou Yinhe clenched his fists; seeing Wen Ling about to go upstairs, he strode after her.

"Since it's like this, if we're not together, from now on I can be with you…" Zhou Yinhe couldn't get those words out, pressed his lips together, omitted them, and continued: "As long as you don't look for someone else."

Wen Ling was somewhat taken aback by his words, eyes wide as she stared at him, disbelief written all over her face.

"Is that okay?" Zhou Yinhe asked softly.

Wen Ling let out a light sigh: "Okay."

Zhou Yinhe directly lifted her in his arms, using memory to find Wen Ling's room.

As soon as the door opened, Hehe was crouched at the doorway watching the two; seeing Zhou Yinhe holding Wen Ling, his fur stood on end and he let out a warning cry.

Wen Ling pushed Zhou Yinhe away, picked up Hehe, soothed him with a couple of words, then mercilessly opened the room door, placed Hehe in the hallway, and closed the door.

Hehe whined pitifully a few times; seeing Wen Ling no longer picking him up as before, he whimpered a few more times and lay down in the hallway.

Zhou Yinhe carried Wen Ling into the bathroom, eager to undo her clothes; she stopped him and whispered: "Have you decided?"

"Mm." Zhou Yinhe's eyes were already red; he broke free of her hand.

Wen Ling slowly closed her eyes; at an angle Zhou Yinhe couldn't see, she curled her lips and smiled.

"Playing hard to get—who says it's useless? Isn't this quite effective?"

Her back pressed against the cold tile wall, Wen Ling shrank slightly and murmured: "So cold."

Zhou Yinhe carried her back to the room, heedless of the water droplets still on them, and flung them onto the bed.

Wen Ling gave a soft hum, clung tightly to him, her fingers sinking into his hair.

Zhou Yinhe hoarsely said: "I often see you in my dreams."

"What kind of dream?" Wen Ling curled her lips, strands of hair sticking to her face.

"A beautiful dream." Zhou Yinhe brushed his hair aside with his hand, then passionately kissed her face, her eyes, her petite nose tip, her moist red lips, her lifted chin, and her slender neck.

Wen Ling laughed at his ticklish actions, tugging at Zhou Yinhe's ear.

"Definitely not a good dream, you little rascal."