The Moment the Fireworks Bloomed

Chu Tianqing felt a little guilty, as though she had let her dear big brother down.

Not only did she have to turn down his good friend, but she was also involved with a playboy he disapproved of. Each of those things was a major landmine.

"No one," Chu Tianqing said vaguely. She hurriedly put on a smile and said, "Brother, let's go back first. We can talk at home."

She couldn't talk about it outside. If her dear big brother got angry and scolded her in front of everyone, how embarrassing would that be?

In fact, Shen Heng had already seen who was in the car. He had only asked to give her a way out.

Unfortunately, she didn't appreciate it at all. Her stammering only annoyed him more.

Shen Heng closed his eyes and took a moment to steady himself, suppressing the emotions that kept surging up. He stood and said calmly, "Let's go back first."

Once they stepped into the elevator and the doors closed, the confined space felt even more suffocating.

Chu Tianqing kept her eyes lowered, not daring to look around. She knew her dear big brother must have seen clearly.

He hadn't exposed her because he wanted to save her face.

Knowing they both understood, yet holding back from saying it outright, was even more maddening.

She would have felt better if he had just scolded her for not knowing what was good for her.

When they got home, Chu Tianqing let her dear big brother go in first. She watched him change into slippers and pull out a tissue, wiping the dog's paws as he walked farther in, while she lingered by the entrance, not daring to follow.

Shen Heng ignored her and calmly gave the dog some water. Only after he had finished attending to the dog did he speak to her. "How long are you going to stand there? Are you getting ready to run away at any moment?"

Chu Tianqing shifted her gaze and cautiously probed, "Brother, how did you know I wanted to run away?"

"Because you're an idiot." Shen Heng left her with those words and turned to wash his hands in the bathroom. When he came out and saw her still standing by the door, he couldn't help sighing. "Come in. Do you need me to invite you?"

"That won't be necessary." Chu Tianqing fidgeted, then abruptly asked, "Brother, if I make you angry, will you kick me out?"

Shen Heng paused and looked up at her. He slowly walked over and suddenly raised a hand as if to flick her.

Chu Tianqing was so startled that she shut her eyes and ducked her head like a quail, making Shen Heng laugh.

"Just what kind of person am I in your eyes, to make you so afraid?" Shen Heng asked helplessly.

Chu Tianqing secretly opened her eyes. Seeing that Shen Heng's expression had softened considerably and his aura was no longer so frightening, she quickly put on a fawning smile and eagerly admitted, "It's not your fault, it's mine. Brother, I've let you down! And I've let your good friend down too!"

Shen Heng's thin lips tightened into a straight line. He looked as though he had struggled with himself before saying through gritted teeth, "What's so good about that playboy? It's only been a few days. Have you forgotten how he forced you to drink? What exactly do you like about him?"

"It's hard to explain. It's all about how I feel." Chu Tianqing was a little bewildered herself. "I hated him at first, and even called him a toad lusting after swan meat. Who could have imagined that one day, in just one fleeting instant, it would be like a... firework, blooming with a bang."

Chu Tianqing made a firework burst with her hands. Shen Heng froze, gazing into her sparkling eyes, and seemed to catch the moment the firework bloomed.

Shen Heng's gaze grew complicated, happiness mixed with reluctance to let go, as well as relief.

He told himself, wasn't this arrangement good? She had someone to belong with, and he would surely get back on the right track.

They would both be happy, surely.

The next day, when Shen Heng went to work, the first thing he did was find Qiao Ruhai. He told him that his dear little sister already had someone in her heart and asked him to help pass the news on to Ye Mingchen.

Yes, Shen Heng hadn't held out the night before. His dear little sister was too good at throwing a tantrum, clinging to his leg and refusing to let go. In the end, he had agreed to pass on the message for her.

When Qiao Ruhai heard, he was startled at first, then couldn't help laughing. Afterward, he felt a little sorry for Ye Mingchen.

That evening, the two of them took Ye Mingchen to the Deercall Club. They first enjoyed a hearty meal, then poured the drinks. Only when everything was ready did they tell Ye Mingchen the bad news.

Ye Mingchen was calmer than they had expected. He gave a bitter laugh. "If I said I had a feeling about it a long time ago, would you say I was speaking after the fact? That I cared too much about saving face to admit I'd been dumped?"

Shen Heng raised his glass and clinked it against his. "No. Let's drink. We'll stay with you tonight until we're all drunk."

Ye Mingchen was calm at first, but after a round of drinks left him tipsy, he gradually fell apart. He clutched the microphone and sang heartbroken love songs, crying and laughing so loudly that their ears hurt.

Shen Heng put up with it for a while, but eventually couldn't take it anymore. He told Qiao Ruhai he was going out to find somewhere to smoke.

Outside the private room, he turned left and followed the corridor to a small terrace at the end.

He had only made it halfway when a private-room door was suddenly pushed open. Noisy chatter and teasing laughter spilled out, and a girl was singing "Dear Lover" in a coquettish voice.

Shen Heng glanced inside and was surprised to see Xiao Junyi sitting there with a girl in his arms. He stopped in his tracks.

A waiter had come out. Seeing Shen Heng standing in the doorway, he politely asked, "Sir, are you looking for someone?"

"Yes, Xiao Junyi," Shen Heng replied calmly. "The fifth person from the left. Please pass on a message: tell him Shen Heng wants a word with him and ask him to meet me on the terrace."

With that, Shen Heng looked away in disgust and strode toward the terrace.

He had just lit a cigarette and taken a puff when the terrace door opened. Xiao Junyi poked his head in and came through, smiling. "President Shen, it really is you. I thought the waiter had passed on the wrong message."

Shen Heng acknowledged him, then thought that was too cold and held out his cigarettes. "Want one?"

Naturally, Xiao Junyi didn't refuse. He took one and expertly placed it between his lips. He felt around but hadn't brought a lighter, so Shen Heng tossed him his.

"Thanks." Xiao Junyi lit the cigarette and handed the lighter back. "What did you want to see me about, President Shen?"

"Can't you guess?" Shen Heng asked coldly.

Put that way, Xiao Junyi guessed.

"Is it about Shen Xixi?" Xiao Junyi was a little surprised. "I didn't expect you to hear about it so soon, President Shen. We only made a little progress yesterday. You and your sister are really close."

"I'm glad you know that. Then I'll get straight to the point." Shen Heng's expression turned serious, and he looked up and fixed his eyes on him. "You're pursuing her, yet you're out here with another girl in your arms. Does she know about this?"

"Yes. We've known each other for a long time and used to run into each other here often." Xiao Junyi stopped smiling and answered seriously. "This is just socializing. I've explained it to her."

Shen Heng frowned. He found it absurd, and thought his dear little sister was even more of a fool.

Of all the people she could like, she had to fall for this womanizing young master. She was really asking for trouble.

Even so, he still had to do what he needed to do.

He stepped forward and warned Xiao Junyi, "I won't interfere in your affairs, but remember this: if you break her heart, I definitely won't let you off."