Chapter 50 Sit up, sit down and grind.

The two people stared at each other.

The central air conditioning was still humming softly overhead, sending a cool sensation through the exposed skin. Unable to withstand his icy gaze, Yu Wu was the first to look away.

Cheng Yi lowered his brows, lit a cigarette with a click, exhaled a puff of white smoke, and stared at her with a quiet, cold gaze that exuded immense pressure. He asked in a low voice, "Why?"

The moment has finally arrived.

Face your true feelings.

Yu Wu lowered her head, forcing back the pain that was piercing her heart, and said sarcastically, word by word, "We're just friends with benefits, why bother trying to cultivate a relationship?"

Cheng Yi's body stiffened, and the wisps of tobacco on his slender fingers hissed upwards.

Yuwu continued, "If you're looking for a relationship, you've come to the wrong person. For me, giving gifts is about maintaining a normal relationship, and I don't want to take it any further. I won't give my heart to anyone, and I won't love anyone."

"If you don't accept this, let's break up now."

All the pent-up frustration and resentment in his chest exploded in that instant, his fierceness and ruthlessness about to erupt. Cheng Yi gave a self-deprecating laugh: "Break up? You think breaking up is that easy?"

His voice grew louder and louder, and he growled at Yu Wu in a twisted voice: "I serve you so well every day like a dog, feed you so many resources, cook for you, wash dishes for you and take care of your daily life, and you think that's why?"

He grabbed Yu Wu by the back of the neck, his entire body radiating a chilling aura, his jaw clenched tightly, his face contorted with rage as he gritted his teeth and said, "You'll never be separated from me in this lifetime!"

The next moment, Cheng Yi hoisted Yu Wu onto his shoulder. She struggled uneasily, her waist and abdomen aching from the pressure of his shoulder and back. Cheng Yi put her down in the shower, and the next moment, a showerhead filled with hot water poured over her head.

Yu Wu was soaked to the bone, tears streaming down her face. She struggled and resisted, but couldn't withstand his violence. He washed her clean, wrapped her in a towel, and threw her onto the large bed.

She shrank back uneasily, her eyelids reddening, biting her lip as tears streamed down her face. His expression was extremely cold, and he exuded a gloomy and malevolent aura.

Yuwu stopped breathing.

The next moment, he leaned in and pinned her down, his eyes filled with a complex and crazed look.

Yu Wu breathed heavily and hit him repeatedly, expecting to be treated cruelly and brutally by him. She muttered unconsciously, "I will hate you, I will hate you."

Cheng Yi coldly watched her slowly welling up with tears, and her red little nose, still unable to vent his frustration. He really wanted to teach her a lesson, to show her the consequences of casually saying "break up."

But in the end, seeing the fear in her eyes, he softened, his heart aching and he could hardly breathe.

He held her waist, breathed in her ear, and asked.

"Want to sit on my face?"

Yu Wu was taken aback.

Cheng Yi kissed her eyelids, his dark eyes gazing at her intently, his voice husky: "So, it's just sitting on it and grinding, isn't it?"

The blunt words struck her deeply with shame.

—This is really bad.

Caught a glimpse of his handsome nose, Yu Wu's heart tightened, and she almost dared not look at him.

Before Yu Wu could react, he had already lifted her up.

She braced herself against the wall, trying desperately to get up.

The next moment, she was pulled, her heart plummeted, and then instantly soared like a rollercoaster.

......

Yu Wu was exhausted and lay on the bed breathing softly. He was still pecking at her earlobe. His hot breath rubbed against her ear, and he said that Yu Zi baby was so good at rubbing, that he felt so uncomfortable, that he wanted her so much, and that Yu Zi baby should have pity on him.

The damp breath sprayed onto the delicate skin of her neck, like soaking in a hot spring.

Yu Wu's heart softened. She sniffed, hugged him, and softly hummed in agreement.

Afterwards, the two hugged each other tightly.

After a long silence, Cheng Yi kissed Yu Wu's forehead and patted her back gently, his voice hoarse yet pleasant.

"You can't say goodbye to me. There won't be a next time."

His nostrils were filled with the scent of male hormones. Yu Wu buried her face even deeper and remained silent.

Cheng Yi pinched her waist, which made Yu Wu let out a sticky moan.

A helpless sigh came from above.

Cheng Yi continued to pat her back gently, his voice tired and hoarse: "I know."

He paused, then continued, “I know you’re afraid of entering a new relationship, afraid of losing it, so you build a high wall, reduce your dependence on and trust in others, and don’t take the initiative or make any sacrifices.”

Yu Wu's eyelashes trembled, and her fingertips curled up.

"You always use a mask to hide your true feelings, and you like to protect yourself by escaping and messing everything up."

He lowered his head, kissed her eyes with sincere eyes, and held her hand to his heart, where it was still beating fiercely.

"I will prove my sincerity."

Yu Wu looked at him, and in a moment of impulsiveness, asked, "Do you love me?"

Not getting the answer he expected, Cheng Yi's ears turned slightly red, and he hugged her tightly.

He felt it was particularly shameful for a grown man to constantly talk about love and romance.

Yu Wu leaned against his chest, the corners of her lips slowly curving upwards. "Xiao Yi, are you shy?"

After a while, a muffled "hmm" came from above.

Yu Wu hugged him, as if she had touched the tangible reality of happiness. Her blood warmed slightly, and she felt as if she were finally breaking free from her shell and transforming into a butterfly.

"Xiao Yi, give me some time."

Give me some time to overcome my fears and my inner conflict.

Cheng Yi patted her head and said, "Okay."

The situation spiraled completely out of control afterward.

That night, the two drank a little wine and engaged in a fierce battle of passion, from the bed to the carpet, from the carpet to the French windows, the kitchen, the desk, and finally to the shower. Neither of them felt tired, deeply infatuated with and yearning for each other.

*

Today is the last day of July.

The afternoon sun slanted into the room, filling the dessert shop with the sweet aroma of cream. Fresh peonies, glistening with dew, were arranged in ceramic vases on the table. Cicadas chirped tirelessly outside the window, while the coffee machine hummed softly, creating a languid and gentle atmosphere.

"...I didn't expect him to accept my stubbornness and be willing to tolerate my imperfections. In the end, I still bought him a set of matching pajamas." Yu Wu propped her head up and told Zan Ya about her troubles during this period.

Zan Ya sat across the table, a smile playing on her lips, and handed Yu Wu a glass of orange juice to soothe her throat, casually asking, "That dress is really pretty, what brand is it?"

Yu Wu smiled shyly, looking down at her corset-waisted fishbone bra. "Cheng Yi had it designed by a designer. There's only one available. If you like it, come home with me later and pick whichever you like."

Zan Ya pouted and teased her, "Forget it, it's not convenient at your house now. You don't want to run into anything you shouldn't see."

"Ya Ya!" Yu Wu cried out, her face flushed with embarrassment, "How could you do this!"

Zan Ya chuckled, and after she finished laughing, she spoke softly to Yu Wu: "That's great, I think you've changed."

Yu Wu asked, puzzled, "Hmm?"

Zan Ya: "You used to seem easy to get along with, but there was always a vacuum between us if you really wanted to get close to you. Now you're more easygoing."

"You smiled unconsciously when you mentioned him."

"Also, you've gained a little weight."

Yu Wu was shocked and quickly took out a mirror to compare herself.

Zan Ya stopped her, "No, it's just that you're more proportionate and look better."

Yu Wu calmed down, let out a long breath, lowered her head to drink orange juice, her eyelashes drooping, and after a long while she spoke softly.

"I think I've fallen for him."

"I also want to try being brave just once."

"But I still don't dare."

Yu Wu lowered her head, her fingertips tracing the raised patterns on the glass, her expression tinged with melancholy. "That experience was truly too painful."

"Sex is too simple, love is too complicated."

"I'm afraid that after giving my heart, I'll end up with nothing, and I'll become a laughingstock. But I wasn't like this before. In the past, I would give my whole heart for even the smallest kindness from someone. Now I'm timid and hesitant, and I don't like being like this, but I can't change it."

"If I had met him a few years earlier, I wouldn't have hesitated so much."

"I know that a little bit of foolish courage is enough."

"...But I just don't have it."

"...Sincerity can be acted out."

She's barely clinging to life; if she falls again, she really won't be able to get back up.

After about five seconds of silence, Zan Ya took Yu Wu's hand and offered her support.

“It’s okay, nobody’s perfect,” she comforted.

"If someone really accepts my inner conflict and struggles, and is willing to let me push them away and then hug them back again and again, I think I would cry."

“If he’s really determined enough, and this is the only path I have, I might accept him.” She smiled at Zan Ya, “I also want to be brave this time.”

At this time, Yuwu was still too young, naively believing that her fate was in her own hands, unaware that God was the best screenwriter. When the torrent of fate swept in, everyone was powerless to resist, and she was completely swallowed up before she could even cry for help.

*

After clarifying her feelings with her friend Zan Ya, Yu Wu also tried to start making small efforts towards Cheng Yi.

For example, after sex, Yuwu would take small breaths to calm herself down, then hug him and whisper, "I like you."

Cheng Yi was taken aback, his dark, cold pupils seeming to light up in an instant, gleaming like gemstones. He would express himself with even greater passion, and Yu Wu would be forced to get involved. A complex mix of emotions, indescribable and intertwined, mingled with a strong, intimate assertion of their presence.

She no longer felt that floating on clouds; every day was filled with a sense of security, like her feet were firmly on the ground.

She felt that God was still looking out for her; although Cheng Yi had a bad temper, he was a lover she couldn't let go of.

She also needs to change herself and try to be brave for once.

*

In the sweltering summer heat, the earth seems to steam up like a steamer, with only a few cool breezes at night.

Yu Wu sat at an outdoor table on the second floor of the restaurant, typing away on her laptop.

She had to write down the key points as soon as she saw the client off.

After finishing recording everything, Yu Wu rubbed her aching neck and looked up.

Caught off guard, she saw Ke Yanchen rushing towards her, his dark pupils gleaming ominously.

Yu Wu was taken aback.

Ke Yanchen walked over with a tall and dignified figure. He pulled out a chair with a calm expression and sat down. He relaxed his back against the chair back, his eyes were dull, and he seemed to want to say something but stopped himself.

I haven't seen him in a long time. He has an arrogant air about him, and his sleeves are slightly rolled up, revealing a section of his well-defined arm.

Their eyes met, and they caught their breath.

A silent, unspoken exchange of glances.

It was as if the whole world had shrunk to just the two of them.

The distant sounds of bustling traffic and soft conversations drifted from all around.

It's hard to describe Yu Wu's state of mind; it's a bloated bitterness, tight and squeezed, wanting to say something, yet speechless.

Silence.

Silence remained.

After about a minute of silence, Ke Yanchen spoke first, his voice hoarse: "How have you been lately?"

Yu Wu lowered her eyelashes, softly hummed in agreement, and then asked, "And you?"

Ke Yanchen stared at her with his dark eyes and slowly shook his head.

A cool night breeze blew by, and Yu Wu lowered her head, brushing a stray hair behind her ear. She didn't look at him and had no intention of replying.

"I heard from people in the north of the city that you and Cheng Yi are dating?" Ke Yanchen asked.

Yu Wu looked up at him. The soft light and shadow covered the man's deep face, and his fiercely handsome face seemed to have a hint of dejection.

The wind ruffled her hair again, and as she brushed it aside, she slowly said, "Not yet, but it should be soon."

Ke Yanchen lowered his eyes and fiddled with the silver lighter in his hand, making a series of clicks that vibrated against Yu Wu's nerve glands.

"I broke up with my boyfriend."

This fact struck me like a thunderbolt, hitting me squarely in the head.

She looked up at him, slightly surprised.

"I've only just realized that I've never really liked her. She's like a pretty but soulless doll who just acts cute in front of me and I'm supposed to like her."

Yu Wu looked away and took a sip of lemonade.

The atmosphere was tense. Ke Yanchen didn't speak, just stared at her, clearly wanting to say something more.

"Now I realize how stupid I was. You only know how painful it is when you lose something." He stretched out his lips, lowered his head and gave a self-deprecating smile, meeting her gaze.

"Yuko, you are special."

The night wind ruffled Yu Wu's hair again, and this time she just kept her head down, breathing with difficulty.

She understood.

She understood the underlying meaning in Ke Yanchen's words, and her chest tightened, her heart ached.

She looked at Ke Yanchen, meeting his narrow, cold eyes. Looking at this man who had been her sweetheart throughout her girlhood, this heartless man who had shown her the bloody and cruel world, she gave a bitter smile: "Fate's arrangement has its reasons."

Is there still a chance for us?

It felt as if my heart had been struck hard, and a strange, obscure emotion welled up in my chest. It wasn't resentment, sadness, or hatred, but rather a feeling of having come full circle, returning to the starting point after all the trials and tribulations, an indescribable, deep, and bewildering sense of loss.

Feeling lost.

Yu Wu turned her head away, a sob rising in her throat.

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Author's Note: This chapter took a while to complete.