Chapter 49 This is so much like a romance novel.
"Minghua, you're drunk... Shall we get out of the rain first?" Tang Xiaoning suppressed the turmoil in her heart and tried to soothe the person in front of her who was on the verge of losing control with the gentlest tone.
With her other, unrestrained hand, she hesitated for a moment, then gently covered Li Minghua's tightly gripping hand with a soothing gesture.
The back of his hand was frighteningly hot, and the muscles beneath the skin were taut.
"I'm not drunk!" Li Minghua stubbornly retorted, like a child.
The fingers gripping Tang Xiaoning's wrist didn't loosen; instead, they tightened even more, as if it were the only piece of driftwood she had when she was drowning.
Her bloodshot eyes burned with a desperate stubbornness, and her rain-dampened hair clung messily to her flushed cheeks.
“I’m more awake than ever…! I know…” Her voice suddenly dropped, filled with deep self-loathing and struggle, “I know I shouldn’t… I’m your bodyguard… I should do my duty… stay away from you…”
Her gaze shifted painfully for a moment, then quickly returned to Tang Xiaoning's face as if drawn by a magnet:
"But...but here!"
She pounded her chest hard with her free hand, making a dull "bang" sound, as if she wanted to smash open her chest cavity so that Tang Xiaoning could see the churning blood inside.
"It won't listen to me!" she screamed, tears welling in her eyes in the dim light. "It feels bad when it sees you smiling at others! Like being pricked by needles... like being burned!"
You get angry when you see someone getting close to you!
I wish I could... drive them all away! It...it..."
She was breathing heavily, her eyes filled with a helpless yet frantic possessiveness:
"It just wants to hide you... hide you somewhere only I can see... only I can... touch!"
Her body swayed slightly from excitement and intoxication, and holding Tang Xiaoning's hand became her only point of support.
This chaotic, obsessive yet incredibly sincere confession, every word carrying a burning heat, struck Tang Xiaoning's heart heavily, branding her eardrums and soul.
The wasteland, which she had carefully protected for a long time and which had grown wildly after the "jealousy" incident at the pavilion, was finally ignited by the surging flames of emotion, and the sparks spread like wildfire!
Just then—
"Boom—!"
A thunderclap, seemingly tearing the sky apart, exploded overhead.
The long-brewing torrential rain finally poured down without restraint, like a celestial river cascading down.
With a "whoosh," large, icy raindrops pounded down with the force of thunder.
In an instant, the whole world was shrouded in a dense curtain of rain, and a misty spray rose from the bluestone pavement in the courtyard, splashing water that soaked the skirts and shoes of the two women.
The icy rainwater slid rapidly down my hair, cheeks, and neck, bringing a bone-chilling cold, and my clothes were instantly soaked and clung tightly to my skin.
However, Li Minghua seemed completely unaware of this.
She stared at Tang Xiaoning, who was also soaked by the rain, with despair and a last glimmer of hope.
In those eyes, burned red by alcohol, lust, and pain, all the coldness, restraint, and forbearance vanished, leaving only vulnerability and a pleading light.
Rainwater, mixed with what might have been scalding tears, streamed freely down her flushed face.
"Tang Xiaoning..." Her voice sounded so indistinct amidst the deafening rain, yet it pierced through all the noise with unparalleled clarity, reaching straight to Tang Xiaoning's heart.
"Tell me... what should I do?" The confusion and helplessness in that voice were like a dull knife, repeatedly cutting into Tang Xiaoning's heart.
Looking at this incredibly powerful "knight-errant" before me, I see him now so vulnerable and conflicted amidst the storm of emotions.
It forcefully restrained her, yet seemed as if it could collapse at any moment.
She was saying the most domineering things, but her eyes looked like those of a lost child.
Tang Xiaoning's heart felt as if it were being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, aching unbearably, yet also surging with overwhelming joy, almost to the point of bursting.
All hesitation, reserve, and concerns were washed away by the torrential rain and the lover's confession.
Tang Xiaoning took a deep breath of the air, which was filled with the scent of earth and the coolness of rain, and felt extremely excited.
She suddenly exerted force, and with her other hand, she tightly gripped Li Minghua's hand that was gripping her tightly.
His five fingers intertwined with hers, their palms pressed tightly together.
In the deafening downpour, Tang Xiaoning tiptoed, letting the icy rain wash over her face.
Her gaze met Li Minghua's bewildered and pained eyes, and with all her might, she declared loudly, word by word:
"Li Minghua! You utter idiot! You blockhead! If you like me, just say it!"
As soon as he finished speaking, this confession seemed to completely drain all of Li Minghua's strength and the armor she was wearing.
The next second, a tremendous force suddenly pulled Tang Xiaoning into a cold, damp embrace.
She could clearly feel Li Minghua's burning body temperature and hear her heart pounding wildly. Tang Xiaoning decisively stretched out her arms and tightly wrapped them around his strong, slender waist, burying her face deeply in his neck, which smelled of alcohol but made her feel incredibly safe.
The dense, cold rain fell like a woven curtain, as if a giant water curtain had been drawn across the sky, completely enveloping the two little figures.
The sound of the rain poured down, drowning out the courtyard, the distant whispers of Fu Bo and Xiao Cui, and Xiao Cui's murmured "Heavens..."
It also completely drowned out all the noise, discipline, hesitation, and boundaries that should not exist in the mortal world.
Tang Xiaoning's earth-shattering words, "If you like me, just say so!" tore through the heavy gloom that shrouded Li Minghua's chaotic emotions.
“I like…you…” Li Minghua murmured unconsciously.
The rain washed over her face, and the water seemed to carry away the last trace of mist.
In those eyes, reddened by the effects of alcohol, the turbulent storm slowly subsided and settled, leaving only a clear and bright light after the clouds had parted.
“I…” She seemed to want to confirm something, her lips moved, but she couldn’t utter a complete sentence.
The power that had been ignited and rampaged through my body by alcohol suddenly dissipated, replaced by a near-exhaustion-like tremor.
"Yes! You like me!" Tang Xiaoning still stood on tiptoe, her ten fingers tightly gripping Li Minghua's already soaked clothes that clung to her chest, as if afraid that she would regret it the next second.
The cold rain streamed down her hair and cheeks, but she paid no heed. Her voice pierced the pouring rain, tinged with a clear sob, yet brimming with a desperate, reckless courage:
"Otherwise, why are you jealous? What's wrong with you? Why are you so obsessed with hiding me away?! Li Minghua—"
She tilted her head back, her eyes, washed exceptionally clear by the rain, fixed intently on the other person, with a stubborn accusation: "You coward! Don't you dare admit it?!"
This series of questions, tinged with sobs, struck Li Minghua's heart like the sharpest awl.
The confusion brought on by the alcohol was almost completely washed away by the cold rain and the scalding words.
She stared blankly at the girl in front of her, who looked like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on and whose fur had stood on end—fierce yet aggrieved, but with bright, piercing eyes.
My heart felt like it had been violently struck, aching and throbbing, before being completely filled by a surging warmth, so full it almost overflowed.
Those emotions that she had been wrapped up, deeply suppressed, and even dared not face with layers of "duty," "responsibility," and "should not" are now like a flood that has finally broken through the dam, surging and rushing, with nowhere to hide.
“I…” Li Minghua took a deep breath of the cold air, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
Her voice was dry and hoarse, yet it carried a resolute determination, like someone who had broken free of their shackles and was determined to succeed: "I like it!"
Before she finished speaking, she tightly grasped Tang Xiaoning's small, cold, and wet hand that was clutching her clothes.
The warm, thick palm completely enveloped the trembling hand.
She lowered her head slightly, her gaze fixed intently on Tang Xiaoning's tear-filled, expectant eyes, each word piercing the sound of the rain and reaching the depths of the other's heart:
"Tang Xiaoning, I love you."
It's not a vague "like," but the most straightforward, solemn, and passionate promise of those who live the life of a wanderer—"heartfelt joy."
This is about offering your whole heart to the other person without reservation.
Splash—
The rain poured relentlessly down on the two of them, their faces and bodies, while the world around them was enveloped in a deafening white noise.
The moment Li Minghua uttered the words "I love you," Tang Xiaoning felt as if the world had fallen silent.
All I could hear was the pounding of my own heart and that confession echoing in the rain.
The tears that had been building up for so long burst forth, mingling with the cold rain, and streamed freely down her face.
She had waited and hoped for so long, and this cold and hard piece of wood finally... finally spoke up!
"You, you bastard!" Tang Xiaoning could no longer hold back, crying while simultaneously raising the corners of her mouth in a smile.
With her free hand clenched into a small fist, she pounded it harmlessly against Li Minghua's equally soaked chest.
"You scared me to death! Why did you drink so much? What's wrong with you? I thought... I thought you..." Thinking of her previous worries and anxieties, her voice choked up again, and her fists went limp.
Li Minghua remained motionless, letting the kitten-like fists land on him.
Seeing her in a disheveled state, crying and laughing at the same time, the huge rock that had been pressing on her heart for who knows how long seemed to suddenly shatter and dissipate, and an unprecedented joy almost overwhelmed her.
She loosened her grip, raised her slightly trembling fingertips, and with utmost care, gently wiped away the cold traces of tears and rain on Tang Xiaoning's face.
"I'm sorry..." Li Minghua's voice lowered, filled with deep remorse, "It's my fault... I will never drink again."
Her fingertips lingered on Tang Xiaoning's slightly cool cheek.
"Who...who cares whether you drink or not!" Tang Xiaoning sobbed, burying her wet cheeks in Li Minghua's equally cold, wet, yet firm chest.
The voice came in a muffled tone, with a strong nasal quality:
"Don't...don't scare me like that again! If you have something to say..." She looked up, her eyes red-rimmed, her tone commanding, "just tell me! Do you hear me?!"
"Okay." Li Minghua's heart softened completely.
She tightened her arms and pulled the crying and laughing little person into her embrace.
Her damp, cold clothes clung to her skin, the chill still lingering, but the warmth emanating from the trembling body of the person in her arms was like the most ardent current of warmth, instantly soothing her entire heart, filling every corner, leaving no gaps.
“From now on,” she gently rested her chin on the top of Tang Xiaoning’s head, her voice low and solemn, “I will tell you everything.”
Every word of a promise carries a heavy weight.
The two embraced tightly in the gradually thinning rain, each wanting to melt the other down and merge them into their very bones.
All the anxiety, all the doubts and tests, all the bittersweet feelings of gain and loss, vanished in the soul-stirring words "I love you" and the all-out embrace.
The cold rain completely dispelled the lingering effects of the alcohol, and also restored Li Minghua's usual energy and... composure.
Li Minghua finally regained her composure. Her brows furrowed, and she looked down to see that Tang Xiaoning's face was pale and her lips were slightly bloodless.
She immediately bent down, put her arms under Tang Xiaoning's knees, and with a little effort, lifted her up steadily in her arms!
"Ah!" Tang Xiaoning exclaimed as her body was suddenly suspended in mid-air, instinctively stretching out her arms to tightly hug Li Minghua's neck.
"Don't move." Li Minghua's voice was decisive. He picked her up and turned to walk towards his room, his steps steady and swift.
"You'll catch a cold if you're soaked to the bone." The tone was as concise as usual, but the concern in his eyes was obvious, and there was even a hint of annoyance.
Nestled in her strong arms, Tang Xiaoning looked up at her taut, smooth jawline and her still bright red earlobes. A sweet warmth instantly dispelled some of the chill on her body.
She softly hummed in agreement, pressed her cheek against her slightly damp neck, and became as docile as a satisfied cat, no longer moving, letting her carry her through the corridor where the rain was gradually subsiding.
Li Minghua's room was simply furnished, carrying her unique cool and clean aura.
She deftly and carefully placed Tang Xiaoning on her own bed, which was covered with plain-colored sheets. She quickly rummaged through the closet and pulled out a few of her own clean undergarments and inner garments, stuffing them into Tang Xiaoning's arms: "Change quickly, you can't wear wet clothes anymore."
Her tone was urgent and worried as she turned to go to the outer room: "I'll go to the kitchen and get a bowl of ginger soup to ward off the cold."
"Oh..." Tang Xiaoning held the clean clothes that still carried the fresh scent of Li Minghua, her heart trembling slightly.
Seeing Li Minghua's ears turn bright red, yet she still tries to remain calm and bustle about, a smile crept onto her lips.
She was wrapped in a blanket, only her small face, flushed from the heat, was visible. Her eyes shone brightly as if filled with stars. She deliberately drew out the last syllable, softly calling out, "Minghua~"
Li Minghua paused at the door, stopped, and turned back to look at her with a questioning gaze: "Hmm?"
The depths of those eyes, which had regained some of their coldness, softened as they looked at her.
"Just now... in the yard," Tang Xiaoning blinked, her eyes sparkling with a playful, knowing question, "did you say... you 'love' me?"
Her fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the blanket, revealing a hint of anticipation. She wanted to confirm it repeatedly, a thousand times, ten thousand times.
Li Minghua's body tensed up, as if he had been acupunctured.
Her ears, which had finally cooled down a little, suddenly turned bright red again. Her gaze swept across Tang Xiaoning's bright eyes and finally settled on the candlestick beside her.
Her Adam's apple bobbed before she let out a very low but incredibly clear "Mmm" from deep within her throat.
It's still a crisp, single word, but this time it has a slight trailing tone, which sounds rather cute.
"Then..." Tang Xiaoning pressed her advantage, snuggling forward while still wrapped in the blanket, her voice soft and sweet, "How much do you admire me?"
She extended her slender, fair little finger and waved it in the air, a sly yet sweet smile on her face: "Oh, I don't care, it's settled! From now on, you, Li Minghua, are my... um, my sweetheart! Come on, let's stamp this, no take-backs allowed!"
Looking at her childish behavior and the little finger waving back and forth, the last trace of forced composure in Li Minghua's eyes completely melted away, replaced by a gentle and doting smile.
Instead of hooking the little finger as Tang Xiaoning had wished, she strode back to the bedside.
Under Tang Xiaoning's gaze, which was filled with doubt and expectation, Li Minghua leaned down slightly.
Warm fingertips with calluses gently brushed aside a damp stray hair from Tang Xiaoning's cheek.
Immediately afterwards, a kiss as soft as a feather yet burning hot landed gently on Tang Xiaoning's smooth, slightly cool forehead.
The sensation was crystal clear, carrying the unique softness and heat of Li Minghua's lips, pressing against the skin like a brand, instantly igniting the blood in Tang Xiaoning's entire body.
"stamp."
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