Yan Hechuan's voice trembled with restraint.
Baring one's own bloody wounds was never easy.
"She would enroll me in many extracurricular classes, all in the name of doing what was best for me, but only let me attend one or two sessions of each."
"To outsiders, she claimed I was stubborn and mischievous, always starting things with enthusiasm but never following through. She made it sound like being my stepmother was so difficult."
"Even... once, she said she wanted to foster my independence. While my father was away on a two-month business trip, she locked me in a pitch-black basement for three whole days and nights."
"I remember it was completely dark, the only light coming from a small opening at the bottom of the iron door."
"When I was nearly fainting from hunger, she tossed a few slices of bread by the iron door like she was feeding a dog, waiting for me..."
He paused, the memories were too painful for him.
He took a deep breath.
Xia Liuyue's gaze was full of understanding as she tightly grasped his hand, giving a slight nod.
He kept his head down and continued:
"When I reached out to take it, she ground her high heel onto my fingers."
"The physical pain was secondary. I will never forget what she said: 'You're even worse than a rat!'"
It was hard to imagine a six or seven-year-old boy who had just lost his birth mother then suffering such inhuman abuse from his stepmother.
Just listening to it, Xia Liuyue couldn't help but tremble with anger.
Tina Li really wasn't human!
Yan Hechuan let out a breath, trying to steady his emotions.
"I knew what she wanted. She wanted me to become like my second mother—depressed, suicidal."
"That way, all the Yan family assets would be hers."
"Unfortunately, she could never conceive. After my father passed away, I completely ousted her from the company."
"Help me take off my sunglasses, okay?" His tone was very soft.
"Okay."
Xia Liuyue responded, raising her hand to remove the sunglasses perched on his high nose bridge.
His eyebrows were like distant mountains, arching over those beautiful phoenix eyes. The outer corners tilted upwards, lending a sharp air.
But his eyes were dull and misty, a glimmer of tears flashing within their reddened rims.
Indeed, a man looks even more handsome when he cries.
And even more heartbreaking.
Xia Liuyue lowered her gaze and gently wiped the tear stains from the corner of his eye with her fingertip.
Feeling the touch on his skin, a warmth spread through Yan Hechuan's heart.
He immediately took her hand and pressed it against his cheek, saying:
"Yueyue, please continue my desensitization training with me, okay? I don't want to be that forever-bullied little boy anymore."
Xia Liuyue nodded: "Okay."
Yan Hechuan leaned in a bit closer, resting his head near her ear. His warm breath carried a pleasant scent.
After a moment's hesitation, he decisively said:
"Let's sleep together tonight, okay?"
Xia Liuyue, not quite processing it, answered reflexively: "Okay."
As soon as the word left her mouth, she froze.
Wait.
Wait?!
That's not right!
What just happened?
She repeated, emphasizing the word: "Sleep, as in that kind of sleep?"
Yan Hechuan pressed his cheek tightly against her palm, drawing warmth from her.
"Mhm." His reply was firm.
Of course, Xia Liuyue very much wanted to sleep with the man before her.
But she still had a bit of conscience.
Yan Hechuan had been triggered by Tina Li today, was still on an IV drip, and the infusion wasn't even finished.
If they went back tonight and had intimate contact, causing another episode...
Just like the doctor said, frequent close contact in a short period is bad for the patient. It could lead to resistance or even worse side effects.
Xia Liuyue shook her head decisively.
"No."
"Why?" Yan Hechuan uttered these three words with a hint of grievance, immediately adding, "You're disgusted with me, aren't you? You think I'm useless."
"No, Hechuan. I'm thinking of your well-being. I want a warm, living boyfriend, not an anaphylactic shock corpse."
Xia Liuyue gently ruffled the hair falling over his forehead.
Yan Hechuan found it a bit strange.
Weren't they already engaged?
Why was Yueyue still calling him her boyfriend? Never mind, it wasn't important.
Yueyue cared deeply about his health.
That was enough.
A sweet feeling flashed through Yan Hechuan's heart, spreading to the corners of his lips.
He didn't even notice that the involuntary trembling in his body had gradually stopped. Just being by her side made him feel at peace.
"What about tomorrow night then?" he proactively invited.
Xia Liuyue remembered she had promised Mrs. Du to attend a banquet tomorrow night, which would likely end very late.
"I have plans tomorrow night."
Undeterred, Yan Hechuan pressed on: "The day after? I'll wash up nice and fragrant, waiting for you."
The day after...
She probably had nothing scheduled.
But Yan Hechuan's two recent episodes were too close together. Even by the day after, another trip to the hospital wouldn't be good for his health.
"No." Xia Liuyue refused.
Yan Hechuan had run out of ideas, and a pang of grievance welled up in his heart.
All pretense of aloofness, reserve, and composure was discarded.
He turned slightly to the side like a put-upon little boy, looking quite hurt.
"You don't like me anymore, Yueyue."
"Who says? I like Hechuan." A trace of a helpless smile touched Xia Liuyue's lips as she tickled his palm with her fingertip.
Yan Hechuan mumbled, "But you don't even want to sleep with me. You've changed."
She was so eager for him at the beginning, like a wolf or a tiger, but now she has become cold.
Even when he took the initiative to invite her, she showed little reaction.
Xia Liuyue tickled his palm again, soothing him, saying: "Hmm... how about next week? These things should have a sense of ceremony."
Yan Hechuan could be easily coaxed. Hearing this, he quickly turned back.
He pressed for details: "Which day next week?"
Xia Liuyue gave a rough estimate: "Wednesday?"
Yan Hechuan frowned and said softly, "Not good."
Xia Liuyue: "Then you pick."
Yan Hechuan: "Monday."
Xia Liuyue was both amused and exasperated: "Fine, Monday it is."
Who would have thought things would develop to this point, with Yan Hechuan practically offering himself up.
It was a pity he was blind.
If he knew the person he was so eagerly offering himself to was his fiancée's best friend's wife, he'd surely get the shock of his life.
The IV drip finished.
Xia Liuyue asked Meng Xiang to take him back to rest properly.
"Yueyue, aren't you coming home?" Standing by the car, Yan Hechuan held her hand, unwilling to let go, having completely transformed into a clingy puppy.
Hold on? Since when did the Gold Junwan Hillside Villa become her home?
Talk about a change of tune.
Xia Liuyue gave the fingers she was holding a gentle squeeze and said:
"There's still work at the lab. I'll come over when I'm free."
If anything comes up, have your junior fellow apprentice notify me.
Although Yan Hechuan was blind, Xia Liuyue could still detect a flicker of loss in his misty eyes.
"Okay. Then... have dinner together tonight?" He lifted his chin expectantly.
Xia Liuyue politely declined: "I have plans tonight."
Rejected twice in a row, Yan Hechuan felt a little angry. He had just sat in the back seat of the car sulking when, before the door was even closed, he leaned his head back out.
"Yueyue, come find me when you're free, okay?"
"Okay."
Xia Liuyue smiled and waved, watching the car drive away.
Tang Yinyao would be back next week. It was almost time to start reeling in the net.
