With four fewer people suddenly coming down for dinner, the dining table instantly felt empty.
Xie Qingchi inexplicably ran away during the day, without even taking his personal PD with him. No one knows what he did, and they can't contact him.
As for the two Shen Family brothers and Xie Jinghui, one brought dinner upstairs, while the other didn't even respond, and it was unclear whether he was alive or dead.
Because of what happened during the day, Shen Shuangjian had been listless and had little appetite in the evening.
Shen Sixian assumed he was frightened and didn't dare ask or leave. He could only stay by his side, abandoning his work to accompany Shen Shuangjian to the movies.
But Shen Shuangjian was even distracted while watching the movie.
His skin was precious, especially the inner thighs, which were so delicate and tender that they were almost invisible.
Xie Jinghui didn't actually dare to use any force. Even at the height of his passion, he only gently bit a piece of meat and rubbed it lightly.
The finger marks and light blue bruises on the side of her waist were simply from holding on for too long and from the marks left by Shen Shuangjian when she subconsciously struggled.
But fate had given him such a delicate body; his skin was fragile, and due to his blood clotting disorder, even the slightest bump or knock would leave a mark.
Shen Shuangjian was still dissatisfied and angry. Even after several hours, whenever the soft fabric rubbed against the bite marks between his legs, he would feel an uncomfortable stinging pain.
Moving around made her uncomfortable, so Shen Shuangjian no other option, could only sit on the long-haired rug in front of the sofa, using the soft, fluffy cushions to support her knees and quietly watch the movie.
" Zhizhi, your phone keeps ringing," Shen Sixian reminded her softly.
Although Shen Shuangjian glanced at the phone beside his leg, he simply lowered his eyes and ignored it.
Shen Sixian didn't see anything wrong with this, since he Shen Shuangjian didn't like replying to unnecessary messages.
Shen Sixian didn't want to ask who sent so many messages, after all, Shen Shuangjian was no longer a child and had her own privacy.
Moreover, Shen Sixian didn't believe Xie Jinghui would dare to bother him again.
He Zhizhi, and then his most hidden thoughts were exposed by himself.
Given Shen Shuangjian's personality, she probably won't talk to him again for the rest of her life. Even if she once had a vague feeling of affection for him and was bewildered after being deceived by him, it has all disappeared now.
Given Zhizhi's personality, she would never accept someone other than her lover doing such a thing to her.
"The movie's over, okay? Go to bed early tonight."
Noticing Shen Shuangjian's weariness, Shen Sixian flipped the tablet over and looked tenderly at the person on the floor. "Do you want to go back to your own bedroom, or sleep here with your brother?"
Shen Shuangjian simply replied, "Go back."
Shen Sixian seems to be very busy lately, and Shen Shuangjian noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes, so she didn't want to disturb his sleep.
Shen Shuangjian was going back to her own room to sleep, Shen Sixian watched her go back to her room and lock the door before he felt at ease going back himself.
Shen Shuangjian's phone rang again.
Xie Jinghui persisted, sending many messages. Although Shen Shuangjian didn't reply to most of them, he glanced at them.
In the latest messages, Xie Jinghui's words have taken on an almost pleading tone.
"I was wrong, I really won't do it again next time."
"Don't ignore me. If you're angry, you can yell at me."
" Zhizhi, can you forgive me?"
" Zhizhi listen to me."
"What's bothering you? Can you tell me?"
Even after all this time, Shen Shuangjian still angry and refused to talk to him. Xie Jinghui, unless he was an idiot, knew that he must have done something wrong.
He could only coax her, coax her to pay attention to him, and to give her a chance to admit her mistakes and beg for forgiveness.
The night was deep, the sky outside was dark, there were no stars or moon, and even the fresh snow that had covered the area a few days ago had all melted away.
Xie Jinghui sat on the sofa chair in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, propping himself up with his hands and lost in thought.
The phone vibrated very softly at that moment. Xie Jinghui hurriedly came back to his senses, only to find that the message bar of the person nicknamed "Little Frost Flower" did not respond to him.
It was a message from someone else.
Xie Jinghui somewhat disappointed. He was about to scroll up when a new message popped up the next second.
Shen Shuangjian sent him three words, three words of condemnation. "You lied to me."
Xie Jinghui frowned slightly, her thoughts drifting far away, pondering many things, yet unable to recall them.
He paused for a moment, then made a call, which was quickly disconnected. Xie Jinghui persisted until the third time, when Shen Shuangjian finally answered.
There was silence on the other end of the phone, and Xie Jinghui felt inexplicably uneasy. " Zhizhi?"
Shen Shuangjian simply hugged her knees, pursed her lips, and remained silent.
" Zhizhi, can you tell me why you feel I lied to you?"
Xie Jinghui didn't urge him; he just waited quietly until the boy's muffled, intermittent voice finally came from the phone.
You said you would accept my rejection.
"But I said no today, and you didn't listen. You're lying to me."
Shen Shuangjian's biggest dissatisfaction didn't stem from being bullied by Xie Jinghui. What he truly cared about was Xie Jinghui of listening to his voice, yet remaining deaf to his words when he said no.
Xie Jinghui suddenly feels a little grateful to her past self.
Because of his deep-seated inferiority complex, he was constantly trying to understand and speculate about Shen Shuangjian. Therefore, he could understand Shen Shuangjian's inarticulateness and his subtle expression.
Xie Jinghui's voice was earnest and sincere. " Zhizhi, deception and this kind of thing should not be confused."
"I didn't mean to bully you, it's just that as your lover, I got carried away and let myself go."
Xie Jinghui spoke, but inexplicably felt her voice was somewhat dry. The words "I didn't lie to you" were stuck in her throat, unable to be uttered.
Is it considered deception to approach someone with a mask of gentleness and consideration, and never dare to remove it for the rest of one's life?
Did he ultimately deceive Shen Shuangjian?
Xie Jinghui dared not think about it, nor dared he answer it, because if he had revealed his true self to Shen Shuangjian at some point in time, he knew better than anyone else what the outcome would be now.
I truly mean it when I say I love you.
"I said I want to take care of you for the rest of my life, I want to hold your hand, I want to hug you, and all of that is true."
Xie Jinghui's eyes gradually darkened. He gazed at the night sky outside the window, yet he always felt inexplicably afraid.
Xie Jinghui often wondered why cowardice and fear had one day appeared within him.
He switched calls, and suddenly he really, really wanted to see Shen Shuangjian.
" Zhizhi, will you ever think I'm a bad person, or will you ever find out I'm a bad person and then hate me?"
Xie Jinghui the answer he had heard, yet dared not hear it.
Because he is gradually discovering that he doesn't have as much self-control as he thought.
Xie Jinghui is currently unable to accept Shen Shuangjian's departure.
If we consider those three months of deep contemplation, Xie Jinghui, who was content as long as he knew Shen Shuangjian safe and happy, could be considered to have been able to control himself.
So Xie Jinghui now is exactly as I imagined him to be on the beach—obsessive and shameless.
He couldn't accept Shen Shuangjian's departure, nor could he accept Shen Shuangjian pushing him away.
He would plead, he would shed tears, he would use every shameless and despicable method to beg for Shen Shuangjian's favor.
Like a wild dog that willingly puts itself on a chain, once it senses the sign of abandonment, it will start wagging its tail and begging for mercy.
Even when driven to the brink of despair, they will bare their fangs and attempt to bite their master.