Chapter 27
Only a few warm yellow wall lamps were on in the apartment, shrouding the spacious living room in a quiet, hazy glow. An Hesu held Feng Ling in his arms, the two of them slumped deep into the soft sofa, sharing a pair of headphones. Soothing music trickled gently across their eardrums, blocking out the clamor of the outside world.
An Hesu's chin rested gently against Feng Ling's head, the delicate fragrance of her hair lingering on his nose, her soft body in his arms. This moment of tranquility and possession was a scene he hadn't dared to imagine, even in his dreams, on countless lonely nights. He felt so blissful he nearly drowned in this long-desired warmth that his arms around her unconsciously tightened, as if to confirm this wasn't a dream he could easily wake from.
Feng Ling rested her head lightly on his firm, warm chest, and could clearly hear his steady, strong heartbeat. It had been a long time since she had felt such complete peace and stability, as if a long-adrift boat had finally found a harbor to dock. Fatigue slowly rose like a gentle tide, her eyelids gradually becoming heavy, and her consciousness began to blur.
Just as she seemed about to fall asleep, Ankhsu stirred slightly. He took back his arms from around her and said in a low, gentle voice, "I've got something for you."
Feng Ling opened his eyes drowsily.
He carefully removed a ring from his left ring finger. The ring was a unique, small, simple wind chime, nestled within the bell itself, a delicately cut sapphire that shone with a fiery brilliance in the warm light. He took her hand and placed the ring in her palm. The touch of the cool metal brought Feng Ling to a complete state of consciousness.
She looked down and found that on the inside of the ring was engraved a line of elegant and flowing cursive English - my lover forever.
"This is all I have," he said, looking deep and devout into her eyes, "I give it to you."
Feng Ling was stunned, her heart pounding like something had struck her. Bitterness and emotion instantly welled up in her eyes, condensing into glittering tears. She had never imagined that she held such a weighty and irreplaceable place in the heart of this seemingly indifferent young man. "All"... the meaning of this word was too profound.
"If..." He paused, his voice lowered, with a hint of indescribable fragility, "If one day you don't want me anymore, don't throw it away, please give it back to me."
The humility and uncertainty in these words made Feng Ling's heart ache. She reached out and gently stroked his angular cheek with her fingertips, her action full of pity.
"Actually..." Feng Ling's eyes were a little distant, as if she was recalling the past. She murmured softly, "We don't seem to have said much..." Why did you fall in love with me? She didn't ask, but the unresolved doubts were written in her eyes.
As if he could see through her thoughts, Anhesu turned his head and kissed her fingers caressing his face with his warm lips, full of infinite attachment. He curled his lips in self-mockery, his eyes filled with complex emotions: "Maybe... I owed you in my last life."
He couldn't pinpoint the exact moment she'd taken over his heart, irresistibly. Perhaps it was the unselfish kindness she'd shown him when she'd first offered him a water bottle, or the rapt admiration she'd shown him while he practiced dancing, or her clumsy yet genuine concern for his back injury, or perhaps it was simply her unique, clear, and resilient presence among the crowd. Her every move, every frown, every smile, had stirred all his emotions since then.
Many people loved him, screaming for him, going crazy for him, but that passion could never truly reach his frozen heart, only exacerbating the loneliness deep within his soul. Meeting Feng Ling, far from alleviating this loneliness, only made him feel it more clearly—driven by the desire to possess her, the fear of losing her, the torment of not being able to obtain her, day and night. Her smile, her tears, her gentleness and thoughtfulness, her determination and hard work... He selfishly wanted to hide all of it, to keep it all to himself.
So, in countless late nights, he could only helplessly hate himself over and over again. "If only I had been born earlier." He looked at the stars outside the window, his voice filled with deep sighs.
Feng Ling was slightly startled and asked cautiously: "In this case... doesn't it mean that I am older?" She misunderstood and thought that he still minded the insignificant difference between siblings.
An Hesu turned his gaze back and looked deeply into her eyes, which were filled with deep sorrow and longing. "This way I can...have you sooner."
It wasn't a matter of minding, it was a matter of regret. Regret for not being able to participate in her life earlier, regret for letting her go through that relationship with Qiqi, regret for showing up too late, causing her to endure unnecessary hesitation and struggle.
These words stirred a tidal wave within Feng Ling, shaking her very soul. A surge of emotions, a mixture of heartache, touching emotion, and uncontrollable love, overwhelmed all her dams. Without further hesitation, she tilted her head back and kissed his cool lips.
This kiss was gentle and affectionate, carrying the meaning of comfort and complete surrender.
They stayed together for who knows how long, the night outside the window growing darker. Feng Ling's remaining sanity reminded her that she couldn't stay here overnight. She gently pushed him away and said, "I have to go."
"No." Anhesu immediately tightened his arms, like a child afraid of being abandoned, burying his face in the crook of her neck and greedily breathing in her scent. He had finally gotten her, and he didn't want to be apart for even a second.
"If you don't leave now, we'll be on the hot search together tomorrow." Feng Ling smiled helplessly and gently bit his strong forearm, leaving a shallow tooth mark.
"Then let's make it official." He almost blurted it out, his tone as casual as if he was discussing what to eat tomorrow morning.
Feng Ling was so shocked by his reckless attitude that she sat up straight: "Are you crazy? An Hesu! Your career has just started! No one will agree for us to be together!" She couldn't imagine what kind of storm that would cause.
"Are we going to stay like this forever?" An Hesu frowned, dissatisfied and stubborn. "I said I would protect you."
"You can't even protect yourself, yet you still want to protect me?" Feng Ling was angry and anxious. "Let's talk about it when you are more stable and your position is more secure." As she said this, she was about to stand up and get her bag.
An Hesu was truly furious. He stood up abruptly, rushed over to her, grabbed her shoulders, and forced her to face him. His eyes burned with rage, and his tone was more serious and urgent than ever before: "Feng Ling! Listen carefully! I'm not acting on impulse! I've already made it clear to the company, my agent, and even my family! There's no clause in my contract that restricts me from dating! Otherwise, do you think Sister Liangliang wouldn't have noticed the way I looked at you during rehearsal?!"
Feng Ling was completely stunned, staring blankly at his cheeks, flushed slightly with excitement, and his burning eyes. So... so long before they met again, when she was still unaware, he had already silently and firmly cleared away all possible obstacles from his own circumstances. He wasn't impulsive; he had been planning this for a long time.
She looked into his angry yet extremely serious eyes, gently bit her slightly trembling lower lip, and didn't know what to say for a moment.
Seeing her like this, Anhesu's anger instantly dissipated like a popped balloon, leaving only endless heartache and helplessness. He sighed, gently embraced her again, resting his chin on the top of her head, and compromised: "Okay, I'll listen to you. Wait a little longer."
"I'm sorry..." Feng Ling whispered in his arms, then added, "Thank you." This "thank you" was for his understanding and everything he had done silently. At this moment, she felt so clearly for the first time that in front of him, she had become a little woman who could be properly placed and protected by him with all his strength.
She suddenly recalled all the previous moments—his manager, Sister Jingjing, was such a shrewd and powerful figure in the domestic entertainment industry. How could she have been unaware of the ambiguity that was almost overflowing during their rehearsals? No wonder he'd asked her to be his backup dancer, and Sister Jingjing had agreed without hesitation; no wonder he'd stayed behind to wait for her after rehearsal, and no one had ever intervened or questioned him... It turned out this had long been a tacit understanding and consent.
Is he already... powerful to this extent? A super popular idol who just debuted and is on the rise can actually have such autonomy? Feng Ling blinked, and this thought flashed through his mind. He looked at An Hesu with eyes filled with amazement and... a hint of admiration.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him in admiration, her tone filled with exaggerated praise: "Anhesu, you are so amazing! I admire you so much!"
This sudden antics and straightforward "admiration" instantly made An Hesu laugh. The last trace of gloom on his face dissipated, and he couldn't help but reach out and affectionately scratch her nose with his finger, his tone filled with doting and a little pride: "Finally you understand? You must be obedient from now on. Come on, I'll take you home."
"No need! I can go by myself!" Feng Ling immediately shook his head.
"You went back on your word just as you said you would be obedient?" An Hesu raised his eyebrows.
“Chiu!”
Feng Ling didn't answer, but suddenly hugged his neck, kissed him loudly on the cheek without warning, and then said quickly: "I like you!"
Before he could react, she had already turned around like a nimble rabbit, opened the door, and ran out quickly, leaving only the sound of footsteps gradually fading away in the corridor and a voice that floated back, "Text me when I get home!"
Ankhsu froze in place, his fingers unconsciously caressing the spot he'd just been kissed. It seemed to still linger with the soft, moist touch and the faint scent of her body. A few seconds later, a truly genuine and brilliant smile finally spread across his face, like the first melting of ice and snow, illuminated by the warm sun.
He walked to the window and watched the small figure downstairs run out of the apartment door, get into a taxi, and disappear in the city's lights. He clenched his fists, then slowly unclenched them.
Just wait and see.
He has waited for so long, he doesn't mind a little more time.
Anyway, she is already his.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com