Chapter 55. [First Update] What is he?

He Yan didn't turn on the lights when he came in. At this moment, the only light in the living room was the pale blue glow from the aquarium, which faintly illuminated his profile. He even forgot to speak, his jaw clenched, staring intently at the hands on his waist.

The person behind her seemed unsatisfied. She closed her eyes, gently rubbed her forehead against his shoulder, and chuckled softly, "So dizzy."

It was like floating on a boundless sea, swaying back and forth, the world before her eyes distorted and upside down. She could only feel safe by holding onto the person in front of her, the person she cherished most in the world.

He Yan suddenly snapped back to reality when she uttered those two words.

This was not his imagination.

He nearly dropped the bottled water, which already had the cap open, and could only awkwardly put it down. He then raised his hand to brush away her tightly embracing him, but as soon as his calloused hand touched the back of her hand, he recoiled as if he had been electrocuted. "Wen Xue."

He called out to her with difficulty.

It was a reminder for her to come to her senses.

"Hmm?" she replied lazily.

"You're drunk," He Yan said in a deep voice. "Let go of me immediately."

It wasn't that he couldn't push her away, but he forgot.

"I don't want to."

Wen Xue bumped her forehead against him; she had drunk too much, and her voice, which was already soft, now carried a hint of coquetry.

He Yan's headache wasn't just a headache; every inch of skin she touched began to ache. He suddenly realized that reasoning with a drunk person was pointless. He tightened the bottle cap again, paused for a dozen seconds, and realized that he couldn't continue like this.

He barely regained a sliver of his reason, reached out and grabbed her wrist, and turned around with absolute calm and composure.

Unexpectedly, she wrapped herself around him like seaweed, this time not from behind, but from the front, giving him a full embrace.

He Yan was slammed against the cabinet by her, and the mineral water bottle was knocked over with a dull thud.

She looked up at him, gazing deeply into his heart.

They were very close, so close that if he lowered his head any further, the bridge of his nose would touch the tip of her nose. He hastily looked away, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Let go. You're not thinking straight right now. You don't know what you're doing."

He Yan was filled with regret, deep regret. He shouldn't have agreed to let her drink.

Although she was almost twenty-one, he believed that she probably hadn't drunk alcohol more than twice, and at most had only had a small glass of beer.

He was there that time too.

It was also the first time he saw her; he was sitting across from them. It was a very hot day, and He Heng ordered several bottles of ice-cold beer. She seemed to want some, and the young couple whispered to each other for a long time before He Heng reluctantly poured her a small glass, not even full.

She mustered her courage, clinked glasses with him, and shyly called him "Big Brother."

Given her alcohol tolerance—no, she has absolutely no tolerance for alcohol—it would be strange if she didn't get drunk after drinking the haphazard mix Li Jingru made.

"I don't understand." Wen Xue watched his thin lips move. She tried hard to understand what he was saying, but her ears were soft and her heart was soft. She couldn't listen to his harsh words. She smiled foolishly, her breath smelling like grapes.

He Yan held his breath uncontrollably and said awkwardly, "We'll talk when you're sober..."

Wen Xue nodded, released one hand, and moved away from him, as if listening to his words.

As night fell, the sea breeze was cool and the temperature was pleasant; a jacket was needed for a walk on the beach. Despite the comfortable weather, He Yan even broke out in a sweat. Feeling her pull away, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. However, the next second, without warning, she raised her hand and gently stroked his brow with her delicate, slightly cool fingertips.

He Yan's breath hitched, and he stared at her intently.

With a smile playing on her lips, she captured his features—from his sharp brows to his high nose bridge, and then to his thin lips. If visual senses weren't enough, she added touch, imprinting all his features in her mind.

That's enough.

He grabbed her wrist and said in a low, stern voice, "Do you know who you are and who I am?"

Wen Xue thought he was so silly.

How could anyone ask such a question? What's the difference between this and asking her what one plus one equals?

She chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling. The chuckle made her even more dizzy. "You are He—" She paused, a hint of confusion and bewilderment flashing in her hazy eyes. He…He what?

"You're so annoying!" she suddenly snapped, so annoyed that she wanted him to shut up and stop nagging.

"I……"

She pressed against his chest and tiptoed to kiss his dry lips.

This was the way he often used with her. He would do it when she was angry and silent, when she was sad, or when she was happy.

He Yan was stunned as if struck by lightning. The hand that was holding her wrist tightened, moistening the dryness, sweet fragrance covering the crispness, white snow falling on the rocks.

Their lips were pressed together without any gap, their hot breaths mingled, and their hearts pounded in unison.

He Yan closed his eyes, and in that instant, he, the sealed sculpture, was gently shattered by her. A few seconds, or maybe a dozen seconds, both brief and long, he could no longer restrain himself, nor suppress his heavy selfish desires. He released his grip on her hand, and in the darkness, he held the back of her head, forcing her to get closer.

Wen Xue could barely stand, so he took the initiative, supporting her waist and kissing her deeply without any rhyme or reason.

He kissed her until she couldn't breathe, so intensely that she felt she was being swallowed by his overwhelming presence. An unprecedented fear welled up inside her, causing her to instinctively pull away, gasping, "He Heng, please don't..."

He Yan's self-control returned instantly, and he looked at her in disbelief.

Her gradually warming body felt as if she had been kicked into an ice cave, instantly cooling down. She didn't completely pull away from him, but instead leaned close to his ear, breathing greedily. The light from the fish tank faintly illuminated their figures, making them appear as if they were embracing.

What is he doing?

He Yan suddenly regained consciousness. At the same time, the barrier of the world disappeared, and he heard voices approaching from afar, step by step.

He didn't want anyone else to see this chaotic situation. After barely managing to calm himself down, he loosely put his arm around her and pushed her, who was so dizzy that she was unsteady on her feet, onto the sofa. His sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, and then he haphazardly straightened his clothes and walked towards the door.

After walking a few steps, he turned around and saw Wen Xue lying on her side, perhaps exhausted from that absurd kiss. She was so tired that she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

What's this?

Who does he think he is?

He chuckled, his eyes filled with sorrow, then looked away and pressed the doorknob. Just as he stepped down the stairs, he bumped into Sister Zhou, who had just finished a phone call with her family.

With a relaxed smile on her face, Sister Zhou asked, "Why aren't the lights on? Is Wen Xue alright?"

"I forgot." He Yan's voice was hoarse as he spoke. He looked up at Sister Zhou, "Sister Zhou, I'm going to drive to buy some honey to cure my hangover. You..." He paused, then fell silent as if struggling with something.

Sister Zhou looked at him in surprise.

Although she was nearly twenty years older than He Yan, she had come to admire him greatly over the years, so even though he always called her "sister," she never presumptuously did not.

This was the first time she had seen him so hesitant, troubled, and indecisive.

"Do me a favor," he said hoarsely, having made up his mind.

"Just tell me," Sister Zhou replied with a serious expression after her initial surprise.

Everyone in the company has received help from He Yan. As long as he asks, no matter how difficult the matter is, they will find a way to help him.

He Yan smiled blankly as a thank you. He turned back again. The living room was dark because the lights were off. Even through the floor-to-ceiling windows, he couldn't see what was going on inside. He didn't know if she was still dizzy or had a headache. "If Wen Xue wakes up, tell her that I ran into you on my way back with her yesterday. I was in a hurry to buy medicine and asked you to take her back to the villa. You've been taking care of her the whole time. That's all."

He alone knows about tonight's absurd farce.

Let her think it was just a dream.

It was a dream she had because she missed He Heng so much.

He couldn't accept that she avoided him, distanced herself from him, or left him because of this. He wouldn't accept it.

Sister Zhou was taken aback and wanted to ask why, but then she caught a glimpse of the complex emotions on his face and could only nod and say, "Okay."

He Yan said in a deep voice, "No matter who asks, you say the same thing."

Sister Zhou panicked: "But—"

"No buts." He Yan smiled at her. "Sister Zhou, thank you for your trouble."

Sister Zhou looked hesitant, and although she didn't know exactly what had happened, she agreed under his gaze, "Okay, I won't tell anyone."

He Yan strode out of the courtyard, walking further and further away. It seemed that the moon was closer to the sea, and his figure looked so lonely in the cold moonlight.

He is no longer a rock, nor is he steel forged through countless trials.

His spine could bend at any moment.

Sister Zhou stood there for a moment, then pushed open the door to the villa's living room with a belly full of questions. As soon as she walked in, she saw Wen Xue lying relaxed on the sofa. Seeing that her clothes were fine and her hair was fine, she felt a little relieved.

Having been through it all, she immediately noticed the barely suppressed impulse in He Yan's eyes when he came out of the door.

"Wenxue, are you alright?" Sister Zhou sighed, composed herself, stood in front of the sofa, and gently patted her.

Wen Xue groaned, closed her eyes, frowned, and turned her face. When she saw clearly, Sister Zhou was caught off guard and stared blankly for a long time.

Her lips, which used to curve into a smile, were slightly swollen, as if they had been kissed or bitten.