Chapter 159 Warmth
"Aren't your parents and Yan Fangshu going to take you back to the hotel? It's so late, it's not safe for a girl to be on the road alone."
"Chen Xingzhi, you don't need to worry about Mei City's security. It's 2034 now. What kind of danger can you encounter on the main road?"
The sidewalk under her feet was cut into a chessboard of light and dark under the interweaving of street lights and human shadows. Ren Limeng quickened her pace again, her long black hair swung out a sharp arc in the evening breeze. She really didn't want to pay attention to Chen Xingzhi, but Chen Xingzhi suddenly seemed to have taken the wrong medicine, and the taciturn man turned into a chatterbox.
"Did I offend you today? Why are you speaking so harshly?"
Chen Xingzhi followed Ren Limeng step by step, and noticed that Ren Limeng's face was full of indifference that showed he didn't want to pay attention to anything. He frowned slightly, leaned sideways, and stood in front of Ren Limeng. With his upright posture, his cold face seemed softer in the interweaving of light and shadow, and through his deep eyes, he hid all the subtle concerns.
"Did you have a fight with Mom?"
“Shen Xingzhi!”
Ren Limeng was like a furry lion whose tail was stepped on. Her tone exploded instantly, her almond eyes widened, and there was no smile on her lips anymore. She stared at Shen Xingzhi and said, "My affairs have nothing to do with you!"
After saying that, Ren Limeng turned slightly to the side, preparing to walk around Shen Xingzhi and leave.
"Ren Limeng, have you lost your memory? We both... had that incident yesterday, and today you're turning your back on me?"
Shen Xingzhi grabbed Ren Limeng's wrist, but she shook it off fiercely. He didn't get angry, but just curled his lips slightly, his eyes locked on the person in front of him, "Why, do you still want to hear my confession again?"
"We are just partners. How many times do I have to say this? Shen Xingzhi, we are both old. Can you please be more busy? I am really tired today."
Ren Limeng turned slightly to the side, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her voice filled with fatigue. She sighed softly, her red lips pressed into a straight line, her whole body still filled with irritability.
As they looked at each other, Ren Limeng almost wrote the three words "stop it" on her forehead. She waited for Chen Xingzhi to get angry and turn hostile as expected, but she only saw Chen Xingzhi gently rubbing his brow with his other hand and smiling helplessly.
"This is my business."
The matter-of-fact tone was firm and indulgent, making it difficult for Ren Limeng to ignore it. She was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but clench her hands, listening to Shen Xingzhi slowly continue, "It seems that we just parted on bad terms?"
The probing gaze was deep and revealed an indescribable concern. Ren Limeng suddenly couldn't stand Shen Xingzhi's black eyes that were like a stream flowing in the mountains. It seemed that they were slowly flowing over her body, and a warmth was silent and omnipresent.
She turned her head slightly, her tone unconsciously softened, "It has nothing to do with you."
Ren Limeng lowered her head and walked around Chen Xingzhi, slowing down her pace and moving forward. Her face still seemed determined, but subconsciously, Ren Limeng caught the movement behind her. It was a steady and rhythmic sound of footsteps, neither fast nor slow, but with a reassuring power.
"Uncle and aunt... this is also for your own good. I understand..."
Just as Shen Xingzhi started to speak, Ren Limeng suddenly stopped, turned her head and rolled her eyes at him, interrupting his consolation. She blurted out, "For my own good? This blessing is given to you, are you willing?"
Ren Limeng was really tired of hearing the phrase "it's for your own good". It was like an unbreakable spell, or like a mountain on her shoulders, making her breathless.
Over the years, whenever her parents said this, no matter what she thought, she would be like a joke in front of them. They didn't care about her thoughts at all, they just wanted her to choose according to their wishes, and they called it doing it for her own good!
Even though she knew that her parents' original intention was indeed for her own good, Ren Limeng was still very tired. She didn't know if her parents had ever thought about it from her perspective and understood her choice from her point of view.
She was able to perform such a brilliant and coherent rendition of "The Female Imperial Concubine" yesterday, yet her mother kept asking her tonight if she didn't like Huangmei Opera. She always thought her choice was a spur-of-the-moment decision, that she didn't want to go home!
In addition to accusations and questioning, can they put themselves in her shoes, even if it is just to get a little closer to her heart!
Looking at the boundless night behind Chen Xingzhi, Ren Limeng's eyes seemed to be stained with some pure black, and as the light faded, they became increasingly silent.
"...I do."
Shen Xingzhi's Adam's apple rolled slightly, and he felt Ren Limeng's restrained collapse. He lowered his head and looked at her seriously, "Ren Limeng, at least you still have a chance."
The black pupils seemed deeper than the thick night. The cold and hard black color concealed all the past. The flat voice had no emotional fluctuations, but seemed to carry all the bitterness. Ren Limeng looked up in surprise, her heart suddenly tightened, and she reacted immediately.
What did she just say?
She was so emotional just now that she actually forgot that Shen Xingzhi's mother had passed away. Even if Shen Xingzhi suddenly gave up hosting, no one would care about his choice anymore, and he would never have the chance to face his mother again.
Everyone has his or her own story. The long river of life rushes forward, hiding too many little-known joys and sorrows.
She has her troubles, but maybe she is... lucky enough.
All the surging irritability in her heart seemed to be poured out by a bucket of cold water, and even though she still couldn't let go of this matter, Ren Limeng's reason finally overwhelmed her emotions in an instant. She secretly raised her eyes and glanced at Chen Xingzhi, and inexplicably felt a bit of belated guilt in her heart. She was really going backwards as she poked someone's wounds like this!
Why did you let your emotions get the better of you?
You can act calm and composed when you meet someone in the theater, but why can't you hold on for a few more minutes after you come out?
It's like rubbing salt into someone's wound, a big handful at that, and then pressing it hard for half a minute. She really... didn't mean it!
Ren Limeng lowered her head slightly, pursed her lips, and said softly, "I'm sorry."
Regret flooded Ren Limeng like a tide. Her cheeks puffed up slightly and she was racking her brains to think of a remedy. The next second, her eyes were spinning and a cool breath with a faint citrus scent blew towards her.
"Calm down, huh?"
Shen Xingzhi's low voice sounded beside Ren Limeng's ears. He gently and irresistibly pulled Ren Limeng to the side and pressed her deeply into his arms.
The slightly rising ending tone was clear on the silent sidewalk, but Ren Limeng couldn't pay attention to so much at the moment. There was only one thought in her mind - Chen Xingzhi hugged her on the street?
Are there any paparazzi nearby?
She is already overwhelmed with trivial matters and doesn't want to have any more troubles!
What's more, why did Shen Xingzhi hug her?
Although the night was a little chilly, the warmth that surrounded her, accompanied by the steady and regular heartbeat, brought a reassuring throbbing.
"Shen Xingzhi, in public, are you crazy? What if you are photographed?"
Ren Limeng's body stiffened slightly, and then her heart skipped a beat. She reacted immediately, and tension instantly spread throughout her body. She twisted her body restlessly, pushing her hands forward hard, trying to distance herself from Shen Xingzhi. She looked up in panic, her eyes unconsciously looking around.
"Admit it if you take the photo."
Shen Xingzhi answered in a deep voice without hesitation, his hands firmly wrapped around Ren Limeng, his movements gentle but firm, “Don’t worry, I’m here.”
No matter what happens, he will always be by her side, never leaving her side.
"Let me go. What relationship do we have that needs to be acknowledged?"
The power gap between men and women made it impossible for Ren Limeng to get away, but there seemed to be no pedestrians around. Ren Limeng was pulled by Chen Xingzhi to the tree next to her, and the large shadow seemed to become a natural barrier between the two.
Ren Limeng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Shen Xingzhi's increasingly shameless attitude made her feel helpless. The sharp words she spoke with all her strength seemed to hit a ball of cotton. It became too difficult to let go of Shen Xingzhi after he angered her.
Listening to Shen Xingzhi's sonorous words, Ren Limeng just chuckled, tilted her head and looked up at Shen Xingzhi, the coldness in her eyes was more glaring than her smile.
“Shen Xingzhi, there is only cooperation between us.”
Ren Limeng reiterated their relationship with a serious look in her eyes. She pushed Shen Xingzhi away with her hands and unconsciously clenched her fists. Her fingertips turned white, but in the end she just used all her strength to push Shen Xingzhi back.
Even if she made more profit from this cooperation, he still didn't lose out.
Besides, he was the one who insisted on bringing it to my door.
Even if he suffers a little loss, she is...justified.
"Okay, okay."
The eyes of Ren Limeng and Shen Xingzhi collided fiercely in the air. In the unyielding stare, Shen Xingzhi's eyes were as deep as the abyss, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, and he pulled out a faint smile. His voice revealed a little hoarseness that Ren Limeng could not hear, and each low word was particularly dangerous and charming in the cold and lonely night.
"Li Meng, I've helped you so much tonight, can I ask for some compensation?"
Shen Xingzhi did help her a lot during the recording tonight, both overtly and covertly.
Moreover, Ren Limeng recalled the photos and hundreds of handwritten signatures she received from Teacher Qi Yunxi on WeChat in the evening. She felt that he was really thoughtful. He was so serious and attentive to her junior brothers and sisters in the drama school. Ren Limeng was not an ungrateful person.
A hint of hesitation flashed in Ren Limeng's eyes, and her hands paused slightly. Shen Xingzhi noticed this subtle change and instantly tightened his arms, locking Ren Limeng tightly in his arms. He lowered his head and buried his handsome face in Ren Limeng's neck, and his warm breath sprayed on Ren Limeng's ears.
"Just hold me for a while."
There was a hint of coquettishness in Shen Xingzhi's low voice. He put his arms around Ren Limeng and gently stroked her back with obvious comforting meaning.
All of Ren Limeng's senses were filled with the man's somewhat overbearing citrus scent, which brought an irresistible warmth that gradually soothed all the troubles in her heart, and brought her heartbeat even faster.
The time around her stopped at this moment. Although Ren Limeng's hands were not fixed by Shen Xingzhi, she seemed to have no strength to move. She buried herself silently in Shen Xingzhi's arms, lowered her eyes and pursed her lips to hide all her rationality.
No matter how calm and composed the smile on her face is, she will feel tired in the dead of night and will crave the warmth in front of her.
Just consider it...a reward.
When cooperating with others, both parties should get what they need, so that no one owes anything to the other.
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