Chapter 104 Extra: Xu Junheng and Wen Haijing's Determination to Kiss Her
His palms were warm and dry, and the moment they touched her slightly cool skin, she felt an indescribable sense of intimacy.
Wen Haijing was dressed simply today, wearing a soft, off-white shirt and a knee-length blue skirt. The hem of the skirt swayed gently with her steps. Her outfit was clean and graceful, shedding the naivety of her student days and exuding a quiet, scholarly air. It created a harmonious yet slightly aloof beauty with the vibrant summer scenery outside the window at the end of June.
Xu Junheng led him to the seat next to where he had just been sitting.
"Sit down," he said softly.
He pressed Wen Haijing down into a soft sofa chair, his wrist still in his hand.
He then sat down next to her, still not letting go of her hand, but instead of holding her wrist, he completely enveloped her hand in his palm.
The waiter came over, and she forced herself to calm down and ordered a glass of water.
Between the small round tables, the air seemed to freeze. Outside the window, the June scenery was dazzlingly bright: blue sky, white clouds, and azure sea—everything was brimming with the vitality and energy of midsummer.
Inside the window, however, there was only silence. Only their clasped hands and the undeniable presence of each other, so close yet so close.
Wen Haijing had so much to say. She thanked him for his years of financial support and silent protection, asked him why he suddenly gave her such a large sum of money, and explained her complex and indescribable feelings at that moment... A thousand words were stuck in her chest, but she couldn't find a suitable way to begin.
She could only look down at her slender fingers, which were encased in his large hands.
He gently stroked Wen Haijing's hand, then broke the silence with his deep, slightly hoarse voice. His tone carried a deliberately restrained calmness.
"You're not saying anything. Is it because we've been apart for too long and we can't find anything to talk about anymore?" he asked, his gaze not on her, but on the bright scenery outside the window.
His words carried a hint of self-deprecation, "Jingjing, the money I'm giving you is just a small token of my appreciation. You don't need to do anything in return. Just accept it without feeling guilty."
These words were calm, restrained, and even carried an almost cruel dignity.
After saying that, he let go of her hand.
This was not the Xu Junheng she remembered—the strong, determined, and even somewhat domineering man.
He even added, "As for what happened back then... there's no need to bring it up again. I've always understood your difficulties. The fault lies more with me. I hurt you too deeply before; it was my fault."
Wen Haijing quickly shook her head, but Xu Junheng didn't see her shake her head. His eyes were still looking out the window. "You're graduating today and attending the graduation ceremony. You must have a lot of things to take care of. Go back early later. You're so outstanding now, you'll definitely have a great man who loves you in the future. I'll leave first thing tomorrow morning and won't bother you."
After saying that, he finally turned his head.
An impulse, mixed with a sense of urgency to clarify and a certain inexplicable heartache, suddenly surged into Wen Haijing's heart.
You need to make it clear.
Wen Haijing directly refuted his statement.
"No!" Her voice was clearer and louder than expected, drawing the attention of a group of guests at a nearby table. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she didn't care. She raised her head and bravely met his gaze. "It's not that I have nothing to say, and it's not that I want to send you away. I have a lot to say to you, but... I don't know where to begin."
Xu Junheng clearly hadn't expected her to retort so directly. "Then what do you want to say?" He reached out again and took her fingers in his hand.
"First of all, thank you, of course. Thank you for your help all this time. I know saying thank you is inadequate, but it's my truest feeling. Secondly, Mr. Xu, I know that your kindness to me may not be just out of sympathy or a sense of responsibility. I'm not completely indifferent to you either."
She finally uttered the words that had been buried in her heart for years, words she had never dared to utter aloud: "But you have a family, a wife. Four years ago was a mistake, a choice I made when I had no other options. So this time, I originally didn't intend to take the money; I don't want to be..."
She ultimately couldn't bring herself to say the words "third party," but the meaning was crystal clear.
This is the heaviest and most insurmountable obstacle in her heart, and the main reason why she has never dared to get close to him despite clearly sensing his deep affection over the years.
After she finished speaking, she could only wait for his reaction. Perhaps it was tacit agreement, perhaps it was an explanation of his and Lin Wanru's current situation of "each doing their own thing," or perhaps... something else entirely.
"Is that what you're worried about? Do you think Lin Wanru and I are still husband and wife?" Xu Junheng quickly asked.
Wen Haijing was stunned, and subconsciously nodded. "Isn't that right?" Wasn't that what he said four years ago? In all these years, he has never mentioned divorce.
“Jingjing,” he replied, “I officially divorced Lin Wanru four years ago, shortly after you went abroad. I am single now.”
"Four years ago? But you never told me why you hid it from me? Actually, I also..."
"Do you remember when I came to see you in the winter of your first year in Vancouver? I even bought an engagement ring that day, but when I saw Chen Ran laughing and talking with you, I thought he might be more suitable for you than me. I've always remembered your innocent smile that day. So, I haven't said anything all these years. I felt I wasn't worthy back then. Our beginning wasn't beautiful. And you've just started a new life. I was afraid that my getting close would be another burden for you."
This truth, which came four years late, was like a silent tsunami, sweeping away all of Wen Haijing's understanding.
It turned out that, without her knowledge, he had been so close to her, had made such plans, and yet, because of his self-righteous belief that he was "doing what was best for her," he chose to let go. Shock, bitterness, heartache, regret... all these emotions intertwined, making her throat tighten and her eyes instantly well up with tears.
Just then, a commotion suddenly arose from the direction of the hotel lobby.
A tour group of several dozen people was noisily checking in. The tour guide's loudspeaker, the tourists' laughter and chatter, and the sound of suitcase wheels all mingled together, surging towards the relatively quiet coffee shop area like a tide, instantly breaking the solemn and private atmosphere between the two.
Xu Junheng frowned slightly, clearly disturbed by the noise as well. He looked at Wen Haijing's tear-filled eyes, which clearly needed time to process everything, and then glanced at the noisy environment outside, before suddenly making a decision.
He leaned closer to her: "It's too noisy here. Shall we talk in my room?"
"Mmm." Wen Haijing met his gaze, nodded gently, and took his hand.
Xu Junheng stood up, intertwined his fingers with hers, and led her through the slightly crowded and noisy lobby toward the elevator.
Wen Haijing followed half a step behind him, looking at his tall and straight back, feeling the undeniable warmth and strength coming from his palm. The ice field in her heart, which had been dormant for a long time, seemed to be suddenly illuminated by the hottest sun at the end of June, and began to roar and melt at an accelerated pace.
Outside the window, early summer is in full swing, and the sun shines brightly.
With a soft "ding," the elevator doors opened. On the top floor, the corridor was carpeted with thick carpet and bathed in soft light.
The door closed automatically behind me.
Before Wen Haijing could even take a good look at the room's layout, or even before she could recover from the magnificent view outside the window, Xu Junheng had already turned around abruptly.
The next second, Wen Haijing felt her back press against the door, and his tall and imposing figure pressed down on her, completely enveloping her in his aura and shadow.
Before she could even process or think, his kiss had already landed.
Unlike the tentative attitude in the coffee shop lounge earlier, this kiss was like a volcanic eruption, a long-suppressed desire and confirmation, burning hot and urgent, pressing against her cheeks and ears, then moving down to her slender neck.
Wen Haijing trembled at his sudden, almost predatory intimacy, instinctively wanting to shrink back, but the icy shell in her heart, which had been crumbling under the impact of truth and emotion, shattered completely under such a scorching touch.
Wen Haijing wanted him to stay.
She didn't push him away or dodge. After the initial shock, she raised her head and presented herself more clearly to his lips. She even awkwardly but bravely raised her hands to hug his firm waist.
This subtle response was like the most potent catalyst.
Xu Junheng's breathing became heavy instantly. One of his hands braced against the door panel beside her ear, while the other hand, no longer content with lingering around her waist, caressed her shoulder and neck, and then moved downwards.
His fingertips unbuttoned the top button of her shirt, then the second, then the third.
Wen Haijing's body tensed abruptly, her cheeks and neck already flushed red. She closed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling violently, letting his lips trace the open neckline and press against her delicate collarbone.
The touch was hot and moist, and his refreshing masculine scent sent shivers down her spine.
Soon, a red mark appeared near Wen Haijing's collarbone.
However, just as Xu Junheng's kiss lingered on her collarbone, intending to explore downwards, and his hand was about to pull off her shoulder strap, he paused slightly.
His gaze fell on the edge of her soft bra, which was exposed by her open shirt—an extremely ordinary, even old-fashioned, light-colored cotton bra.
The edges were already faded and lost their elasticity from repeated washing, and some were even pilling. The fabric where the shoulder straps were connected had obvious frayed edges due to repeated washing and wearing.
It wasn't a new model from any brand, nor even the most common affordable style found in department stores. It was a basic piece of clothing worn down by time and frugality.
At this moment, all of Xu Junheng's actions seemed to have been paused.
He remained bent over, his gaze fixed on the faded, pilling fabric. The surging desire in his deep eyes receded like a tide, replaced by an unexpected pang of heartache.
His fingertips, which were originally hot and aggressive, now trembled slightly as he gently touched the rough, bubbly edge.
"Jingjing," his voice was filled with deep heartache and disbelief, "can't you afford to buy yourself a nicer dress to wear underneath? Haven't you been wearing this one for years?"
Wen Haijing opened her eyes because of his pause and the sudden question, her hazy eyes still filled with the mist of emotion.
Hearing his words, she followed his gaze and looked down at the exposed edge of her bra. Her cheeks burned even more intensely, a mixture of embarrassment and the awkwardness of having her habitual frugality exposed.
She opened her mouth, her voice soft, "I want to pursue a master's degree, but I'm too embarrassed to ask you for money again, so I'll be frugal. I still have quite a bit of the money you gave me four years ago."
Wen Haijing sensed the pause in his breathing and understood what a poignant scene that old bra had become in his eyes.
Her heart softened, and she felt a little embarrassed and helpless. She gently ran her fingertips through the short hair at the back of his head, her voice soft and gentle. Her explanation was simple and practical: "It really doesn't matter. The clothes are worn close to the skin. They may be a little old, but when worn underneath, no one can see them except myself."
She slightly adjusted the open collar of his shirt. "I've taken good care of my outer clothes. I buy them properly from department stores, like Old Navy. They're decent and durable. I even bought two new outfits last Black Friday. My cousin Xueyan often gives me pocket money, so I'm not struggling."
She spoke very seriously, trying hard to prove that she wasn't being harsh on herself.
But the more he heard this explanation, the more it tore at Xu Junheng's heart.
She emphasized "not suffering". She was used to considering the most basic needs as fulfillment, but she forgot that in Xu Junheng's heart, she deserved better, more comfortable and more decent things, even the most intimate clothing.
His gaze couldn't leave the old, pilling bra.
A strong, aching sensation rushed to the tip of his nose, and Xu Junheng's eyes instantly reddened, with moisture gathering in his deep eyes.
He was no longer the powerful CEO Xu who dominated the business world. At this moment, he was just an ordinary man whose heart was deeply hurt by the traces of frugality that his beloved woman unintentionally revealed.
He didn't say anything more.
Xu Junheng simply lowered his head again, transforming his heart full of tenderness, regret, and surging love into even more delicate and tender kisses, imprinting them again and again on her cheeks, shoulders, neck, and collarbone, as if trying to use his warmth and breath to carve a brand new mark that belonged to him.
"Jingjing, I'll take you out to eat later, and then I'll take you to the mall to buy you some new clothes, okay? Including... the clothes inside, I'll pick them out for you, okay? Wear them for me tonight, would you like that?" Xu Junheng asked, one hand bracing against the door and the other holding her waist.
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The two finally met up! They're together!
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Mr. Xu has begun his offensive; he's starting to understand how to truly love someone.
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