Xia Xingchen froze but came back to her senses and instinctively struggled away. Xu Yan held her wrist and could not help but strengthen his grip.
"Xu Yan?" She looked at him in confusion.
Xu Yan turned over and he seemed to be struggling as well. "Xingchen, don't be with him."
"What?"
"Do you know who he is? With his standing, his future would be a joint marriage. Even if he really wanted to marry you, in the future, both of you will have a tough life." Xu Yan paused. He lowered his and offered her a gloomy gaze. "I don't want you to get hurt."
Xia Xingchen knew that Xu Yan cared for her. "Rest assured, I know what I'm doing. You don't have to worry about me."
With that said, she smiled and pulled her hand out of Xu Yan's grasp.
When her hand slid out of Xu Yan's palm, he felt an emptiness in his heart.
Suddenly, he hugged her.
Xia Xingchen was startled. Her chin was on his shoulders while his hands enveloped her back with a scorching hot sensation. "Xingchen, I missed you very much…"
"…"
"I thought that after so many years, I would… not have feelings for you anymore, but I was wrong…"
"Xu Yan…" His voice was laced with sorrow that it made Xia Xingchen feel sad too.
"When I saw you, it was as though I was bewitched. My whole mind was filled with you the moment I returned. Xingchen, I was still young and immature then, and with all the things that happened before, I would have instinctively run away. But now I am different." Xu Yan cupped her face and sincerely looked her in the eye. "Can you give us a chance? I won't mind what had happened in the past. Please forgive me if I had acted so childish."
Xia Xingchen never thought this day would come. Actually, she was the one who did him wrong, yet he was still the first person to apologize.
She shook her head. "I never blamed you. It's just that… Xu Yan, don't think too much about it. The past is in the past. Besides… you are Xingkong's fiancé now, we can't be like this. Do you understand?"
She tried to pull his hands away from her face, but Xu Yan did not relent and depressingly said his heartfelt words. "I never liked Xingkong from the start. I… I was just finding your shadow in her!"
Xia Xingkong was stunned.
"You may think that I'm a despicable person by doing this, but I can't control my heart either… Xingchen, I can't forget you! Now, I'm even more sure that I never forgot you for a single day!"
Xu Yan's confession was beyond her expectations. To say she was not shocked was a lie.
After all, this man used to be her most unforgettable dream…
However…
"Sorry, Xu Yan." She bit down on her lips and rejected him. "My… heart is too confused right now and I don't want to think about these things."
A hint of pain slid past Xu Yan's eyes.
He was clearly disappointed as he looked at her. But suddenly, he raised his head and pressed his lips against hers.
Hot air was near her lips and it startled her. She instinctively pushed Xu Yan away in record speed but her hand still rested on his chest. While he, on the other hand, had already taken a step back and let go.
"Don't be angry." Xu Yan sadly stared at the shocked Xia Xingchen and pulled a bitter smile. "I just wanted to be closer to you, even closer than Yu Zenan."
…
Xu Yan left.
Xia Xingchen remained startled even after a while. She came back to her senses and was prepared to leave when she felt an icy cold gaze directed at her—so cold and sharp as though it could bore a hole through her.
She tilted her head sideways and the figure that entered her line of sight made her freeze.
Bai Yeqing silently leaned against a retro-style palace lantern. His long fingers held a burning cigarette. Through the smoke, his handsome face looked even more cold and arrogant.
Why was he here alone?
Moreover…
Did he hear her conversation with Xu Yan? And did he see the kiss?
When she thought about that, her heart became strangely guilty that she found it funny as well. She had nothing to do with him, so what was she guilty for?
"Mr. President," she softly greeted. With no other words spoken, she slowly walked out. The two of them were so alienated with each other that they seemed like strangers.
On the side, he put out the cigarette with one hand and had done it in such an elegant way.
Just when she was about to brush past him, he grabbed her.
He had used immense strength as though he wanted to break her bones.
Xia Xingchen froze.
What was going on today?
Earlier on, it was Xu Yan. Now, it was his turn!
Moreover, they were tugging at each other outside the comfort room. If someone saw them, she was afraid…
Bai Yeqing did not give her a chance to think and dragged her into the male toilet.
He pulled her in with crazy strength and walked in large strides. Xia Xingchen wore high-heels and had to run a little to forcefully catch up.
"Hey! This is the male toilet, I don't want to enter!" Xia Xingchen struggled.
Bai Yeqing dragged her in. With a loud 'bam', the door was locked. Without showing any expression on his face, he took out a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it under a running jade water tap. He then used the handkerchief to wipe her lips.
His actions were rough and had no tender treatment for her.
Xia Xingchen thought that her lips were being wiped out with how hard he was wiping it. It had already become red and hot.
"Ah, what are you doing?" Xia Xingchen wanted to push his hand away and her beautiful brows furrowed. "It's very painful…"
Bai Yeqing seemed angry the moment he threw the handkerchief on the white stone sink.
His long fingers pinched her chin and raised it up. His lips had a strong breath of anger when he suddenly pressed it against hers.
This kiss was overbearing, rough, and filled with aggression.
It had a sense of punishment and seemed to not understand how to protect the other sex.
Xia Xingchen's heart felt aggrieved.
Who was this man to her? What right does he have to kiss her whenever he wanted? And what right does he have to punish her?
Her embarrassment turned into rage as she pushed him. "Bai Yeqing, what are you doing?"
"Didn't you let anyone just kiss and hug you so why are you acting reserved towards me?" His voice was hoarse and his gaze became darker. His words and eyes held a sarcastic tinge.
Xia Xingchen never thought he would say such harsh words. Moreover, she did not know when she had offended him—these words were an insult to her.
"I can let whoever I want to kiss and hug me, but it is also my right to not let you act frivolously around me!" Xia Xingchen rose up against him and was unhappy. "Let go of me!"
Frivolous?
Bai Yeqing's narrowed his gaze and a hint of danger slid past his eyes. "Do you know what the word frivolous means?"
With that said, he did not wait for her to react and pushed her to the side of the white stone sink.
—