Chapter 78: Not Enough, Come Again

Ling Yan closed her eyes, her body slumped, she leaned against the wall, and a bitter smile slowly spread across her lips.

What's there to think about? Besides Xia Xi, which woman would Xu Yanfeng treat like this? Over the years she's been around him, she knows better than anyone—no woman can get close to him.

To remain chaste for a woman who betrayed him, Ling Yan didn't know whether to mock Xu Yanfeng's foolishness or pity his devotion.

A cold liquid slid across her cheek, and Ling Yan realized she was crying; she hastily wiped her tears, afraid of smudging her makeup, her movements awkward and comical. Suddenly she felt the truly pitiful one was herself.

And the hateful one is Xia Xi.

At that class reunion, she and everyone else knew Xia Xi and Xu Yanfeng had been intimate in the private room; when they came out, the split lip was the best proof. But she hadn't actually seen it herself, so she deceived herself—perhaps she was overthinking.

At this moment, she could no longer lie to herself.

Separated by a wall, Xia Xi and Xu Yanfeng kissed, unable to part.

How could she still convince herself it wasn't real?

After all these years, Xu Yanfeng still held Xia Xi in his heart; as soon as she appeared, a crook of his finger, he would forget everything and fall for her again.

Just like six years ago, many girls liked Xu Yanfeng, and many pursued him, but only Xia Xi was different.

Ling Yan didn't know how long she had waited, how long she had thought, how long she had despaired; in the end she didn't rush forward to make a scene that would embarrass everyone. She silently turned away, staggering step by step as she distanced herself.

On the balcony, Xu Yanfeng sensed someone approaching; after a while that person left, he didn't turn his head, not knowing who had come and witnessed this, but he didn't care.

Compared to those insignificant people, he cared more about the one before him.

The dazed Xia Xi naturally noticed nothing, only feeling her breath constricted. She was puzzled: clearly she was taking revenge on Xu Yanfeng, so why did she make herself feel so awful?

She furrowed her brows, pressed her hands against Xu Yanfeng's shoulder, and shoved him outward.

He was like a nail stuck there; no matter how much force she used, he didn't budge. She felt she was about to suffocate, then he finally released her, his fingers hooking the stray strands of hair on her cheek and gently tucking them behind her ear.

"Enough? If not, we'll do it again—until you feel it's fair." His voice was as gentle as his actions.

Xia Xi shook her head—no, this wasn't right, this wasn't revenge on him? Why did she feel like she was the one losing out? Her thoughts had just cleared, she hadn't even opened her mouth when Xu Yanfeng misinterpreted, thinking her head shake meant "not enough," he cupped her face and kissed her again.

All the words she hadn't spoken were blocked by his kiss; Xia Xi silently thought, here it comes, that breathless feeling again.

After who knows how long, Xia Xi's lips began to go numb and ache; she tightened her brows, realizing she couldn't push the man before her, so she changed tactics, digging her nails into his face without holding back, pinching hard. He winced, slowly pulling back, his breathing a mess, his face now marked with two crescent-shaped scratches.

Xia Xi felt light-headed, she raised a hand to prop her forehead, and her elbow accidentally knocked over the red wine glass she had casually placed on the balcony railing.

With a "crack," the glass fell to the floor and shattered into pieces.

It was that crisp sound, like a blow to the crown of her head, that finally brought a sliver of clarity to Xia Xi's long‑fogged mind; she lifted her head, astonished, staring at Xu Yanfeng, dazed for a good while. Although his face was still blurry to her, she now understood what they had just done.

That wasn't revenge or punishment—it was a real, honest kiss!

I'm doomed—how could this happen?!

The heat on Xia Xi's body faded rapidly, she panicked to the extreme, utterly unsure what to do; the first thought that popped into her head was to flee, she couldn't stay here. She shoved aside Xu Yanfeng blocking her and ran off in a fluster. Xu Yanfeng didn't rush after her, knowing she had sobered up and wouldn't be fooled by a few words into losing her sense of direction.

If only, I really wish she could stay drunk and never wake up.

Xia Xi ran blindly, bumping head‑on into someone; she didn't even see who it was, hastily threw out an "sorry" and kept running, terrified Xu Yanfeng behind her would catch up.

She still hadn't figured out how to face him; all she could do was dodge, dodge for now and worry later—but she couldn't get away; that person seized her wrist tightly, gripping hard enough to hurt her skin.

Xia Xi lifted her gaze to see the person's face, intending to apologize properly—after all, she'd bumped into them while not looking, and even that "sorry" seemed impolite—but when she saw who it was, the words she wanted to say vanished.

Ling Yan had been worrying she wouldn't find a chance to talk to Xia Xi, and then Xia Xi herself ran into her.

However, with her flushed cheeks and wandering gaze, she didn't look like she was in a state to talk; she seemed more like she'd had too much to drink.

Compared to before, Xia Xi was much clearer now; she looked at the wrist Ling Yan gripped tightly, furrowed her brows, and said, "Can you let go of me?"

"Xia Xi, are you feeling pleased with yourself?" With no one around, Ling Yan no longer restrained her resentment toward Xia Xi: "I've struggled for years to be with Xu Yanfeng, and you come back and just win. You must be pleased, right?"

Xia Xi didn't feel pleased; her head ached, both physically and mentally: "Let go, I have nothing to say to you."

"But I have a lot to say to you." Ling Yan refused to release her: "I really doubt you love Xu Yanfeng; maybe you only love his status and position, otherwise why would you keep hurting him? Back then you went to great lengths to win him over, then you betrayed and abandoned him. If you don't want him, you should have vanished from his world completely—why did you come back?!"

Xia Xi fell silent; for a moment she truly wondered whether she shouldn't have come back.

"What, did I hit a nerve and leave you speechless?" Ling Yan's eyes reddened alarmingly, she raised her hand and slapped Xia Xi: "Can't you just go? Go far away, just like before! I'm begging you—tell me what you want, money or anything else, I'll give it to you… just stop clinging to him, okay?"

Xia Xi stared blankly for a moment, unable to dodge; a wave of pain struck her face, her ears ringing.

She raised her hand, intending to strike back, but seeing Ling Yan's tears streaming down her face—she was crying even harder than the one who'd been hit—her hand hovered in midair, unable to fall.

Not wanting to wrestle with Ling Yan here, Xia Xi struggled to break free of her grip—but Ling Yan suddenly let go on her own, the force Xia Xi had exerted couldn't be retracted, and she toppled backward.

Behind her were two steps; she missed a step, fell down, her head hit the edge of the stair, and she lost consciousness on the spot.

Xu Yanfeng had just arrived and saw this; his nerves jumped, he took three quick strides to her side, his expression unprecedentedly panicked and afraid.

He scooped up Xia Xi and ran outward, glancing sideways at Ling Yan.

That glance sent a chill through everyone.

The waiter, hearing the commotion, rushed over to check; Xu Yanfeng's jaw clenched tight, his voice hoarse and trembling as he said, "Get the driver to bring the car over, quick!"

Ling Yan stood there, her face drained of color, her eyes vacant as they fixed on her hand hanging in midair, her lips moving as she whispered, "It wasn't me, I didn't mean to…"

At the instant Xia Xi fell, she still wondered if Xia Xi was going to play the vicious female lead and frame her like that—she hadn't pushed her, so how did she end up tumbling down the stairs?

(End of chapter)