Chapter 67

Wen Ling remained silent for a long time, until she stood on the edge of the Scenic Overlook that seemed to be swaying in midair, on the verge of falling, and suddenly said, "So you blame me."

Zhou Yinhe admitted, yet he embraced her from behind.

Wen Ling leaned into his embrace, lowering her gaze to see her arm wrapped around his waist, her slender fingers resting on his forearm, and softly said, "Let it be blame then."

"Is that so?" Zhou Yinhe tugged at the corner of his mouth, lowered his head and bit again where he had just bitten her; Wen Ling hissed from the pain, hearing his hoarse, low voice: "Then why are you torturing me."

"Do I?" Wen Ling turned in his arms and countered, "When have I ever tortured you?"

Zhou Yinhe suddenly exerted force with his hand, pulling her close; the distance between their lips was only a few millimeters, a slight movement could make them touch.

Wen Ling, contrary to his wishes, curled her lips and dodged, coquettishly saying, "You still haven't said when I ever tortured you."

She enumerated softly: "You want me, I give it all—coming to my room in the middle of the night to take my phone and block Lu Zhaoye, and even just now in the car I went along with you." She lifted her arm to rest on his neck, pinching the skin at the back of his neck, and pressed: "Say it."

"Why don't you want to be with me?" Zhou Yinhe pressed his lips, repeating, "Since you're already willing to rely on me, why won't you get back together with me?"

Wen Ling laughed as if teased, and after the amusement faded she slowly said, "Wasn't it you who brought it up? Do you want me to help you recall?"

"I regret it." His Adam's apple moved slowly, his eyes welling up, he said in a hoarse voice: "I want you to give me a title, a legitimate status to be openly with you."

Wen Ling locked eyes with him; the air seemed to freeze in that instant, the atmosphere grew subtly tense.

Suddenly a faint sound came; Wen Ling came to, withdrew her gaze to look out the window—it was the sound of rain dripping on the glass, traces sliding down in threads—and she exclaimed delightedly, "It's raining."

Having said that, she turned to go to the window, but Zhou Yinhe grabbed her, preventing her from leaving, and said in a low voice: "You still haven't given me an answer."

Wen Ling looked back at him helplessly and gently advised: "Isn't this fine? We can do things couples do, I won't restrict you, I can promise you I won't be with anyone else, so you don't need to worry."

"I'm not afraid of restraint, Lingling." Zhou Yinhe stepped forward and forcibly held her, his eyes reddening, his pupils darkening with near-obsession, he choked: "Even if you want to play with me, torture me, I can take it—will you be with me?"

"How would I play with you?" Wen Ling raised her hand, her fingers stroking his back, soothing: "Since you want it, then let's be together."

Zhou Yinhe widened his eyes, not yet having time to be happy, before hearing Wen Ling say: "Let's set three rules."

For Zhou Yinhe, her agreeing was already enough to make him overjoyed; let alone three rules, even many more—so long as Wen Ling wanted to be with him, he would consent.

But he wasn't so foolish as to tell her that; he merely gave a muffled hum, and Wen Ling tilted her head back, locking eyes with him.

"First, we won't live together."

Zhou Yinhe frowned, opened his mouth to argue, but Wen Ling cut him off: "Just not living together—no demand for celibacy."

After all, she also craved Zhou Yinhe; Wen Ling continued: "Second, don't interfere with my affairs."

"The third I haven't figured out yet; I'll tell you when I do." Wen Ling curled her lips, leaned close, and asked: "Do you agree?"

"I agree." Zhou Yinhe kissed her lips gently, finally no longer biting them as before, leaving them swollen and sore.

Until Wen Ling's breathing grew rapid, he finally released her, whispering: "Then can you grant me one request?"

Their lips remained close; as they spoke, the slightest movement made them touch. Wen Ling narrowed her eyes to ease her quickened breath, and at his words she gave a light laugh.

"Go on, say it."

Zhou Yinhe kissed her lips, then proposed: "I won't interfere with your affairs, but could you tell me what you're going to do?"

Wen Ling lowered her gaze to his rosy thin lips and leisurely added: "Third, you may not inquire about any of my matters."

"……"

Wen Ling poked his shoulder, turned and walked to the window, praising: "Building a Scenic Overlook suspended on the mountaintop is truly bold, but I have to say it's gorgeous."

From here one can overlook most of Sijiucheng; lights flicker through the rain curtain, and the faint honk of cars can be heard.

Zhou Yinhe stood behind her, his infatuated gaze fixed on her, the fingers at his side trembling, unable to suppress his inner morbid possessiveness.

He wanted to kneel beside her, beg her pity, and make himself dirty.

Wen Ling looked back at him; Zhou Yinhe, embarrassed, lowered his head to hide his unsightly emotions, rubbed his nose and said: "It's raining; will you stay here tonight?"

Wen Ling showed some resistance: "Just viewing the scenery is fine, but staying over makes me a little afraid."

"The suite inside isn't suspended; my housekeeper often sends people to clean, so you can rest assured." He bent down, took her hand, brought it to his lips for a light bite, then led her to the bedroom to look around.

"When designing, I specifically had them leave a bedroom, thinking I could come here with you."

The bedroom's decor followed Wen Ling's taste and preferences; as she sat at the entryway to change shoes, just as she was about to bend, she saw Zhou Yinhe kneel on one knee at her feet, take off her high heels and slip on her slippers.

"Before, you always had me change your shoes; I did as told but deep down felt a bit resentful—I only realized it after you left." Zhou Yinhe rubbed her ankle with his fingers, his lips twitching as he swallowed the words without speaking them.

Wen Ling cupped his face in her hands, didn't press further, and gently kissed his forehead, praising: "Thank you, Baobao."

Zhou Yinhe blinked; at the instant his heart warmed from her words, his brain told him he had gone mad.

Wen Ling paid him no more mind, disliking the sticky sweat on her body, she went into the bathroom alone.

After Wen Ling entered the bathroom, Zhou Yinhe felt a bit uneasy; leaning against the bathroom wall and listening to the faint patter of water inside eased him somewhat.

He lowered his eyes, gazing expressionlessly at the off‑white floor, his fingers curling and uncurling repeatedly until Wen Ling emerged from the bathroom.

"Why are you standing here?" Seeing him there, Wen Ling blinked, then stepped forward to hug his waist, sighing: "I'm so tired, my waist aches—go take a bath, then come give me a massage."

Zhou Yinhe gave a soft hum, dragged a chair over, and said to Wen Ling: "Would you sit here and wait for me? Somewhere I can call you and you can respond."