Chapter 64 A Ridiculous Night "Don't touch there."...
She had almost never seen Meng Cenjun shed a tear. From childhood to adulthood, he always appeared in front of her as someone who was in complete control and invincible. She subconsciously thought that someone like him was born without the ability to shed tears.
He always disciplined and restrained her, giving her only the freedom within his sight; he always commanded from a superior position, telling her not to do this or that. During her rebellious adolescence, Lan Jia once wanted to rebel against him and defy him, maliciously imagining him being obedient to her and subservient to her.
One day, she will make him bow down to her.
But now that the day has finally come, she can't feel happy at all. It's like being weighed down by a big rock, making it hard to breathe.
Lan Jia finally understood that she didn't really want to escape from him, nor did she really want him to be humbled to the dust; she just longed for a healthy and stable intimate relationship.
Ten years, twenty years—their lives had become completely intertwined. To sever ties, to cut ties, required a ruthless and decisive act to truly let go. But she feared pain most of all, and she dreaded doing things she couldn't bear. So, no matter how much Meng Cenjun went too far, no matter how angry she became, as long as they were still family, she would always find reasons to excuse him, always believe he would change, and always forgive him.
What could she do?
She just didn't want to experience the taste of loss again.
That night, both of them were preoccupied and couldn't sleep well.
In the middle of the night, Lan Jia finally drifted off to sleep, but soon she was suddenly struck by a nightmare. Her whole body trembled, and she kicked and thrashed uncontrollably. In her dream, everything was pitch black, so black that she couldn't see her hand in front of her face. She was walking down a narrow passageway, her legs feeling weak and unsteady. She looked down and found that she was stepping on two mangled corpses, already highly decomposed. From their skeletal faces, she could vaguely make out that they were her parents, who had been dead for ten years...
Lan Jia screamed shrilly, but found herself unable to make a sound.
The desk lamp suddenly turned on, and a large hand reached out, anxiously patting her cheek. "Lan Jia? Lan Jia?"
With her ears closed and her five senses gone, she was completely isolated from the outside world. She didn't know how long she had walked when she suddenly lost her footing and fell into an abyss. She fell heavily and shuddered before suddenly waking up.
Meng Cenjun breathed a sigh of relief, touched her forehead, which was covered in cold sweat and was already ice-cold.
"I couldn't wake you up." He held her hand worriedly, as if she had just survived a disaster, and pressed it against his cheek.
Lan Jia was still not recovered, her vision unfocused, staring blankly ahead, "I dreamed about them again."
"I miss you so much, yet you keep bringing me nightmares..."
Ten years ago, they wouldn't let her see the bodies, but her mind still embellished and pieced together all sorts of gruesome corpses, changing scenes and images, tirelessly weaving one nightmare after another for her, like a series of interconnected nightmares.
For the first few years, she was almost afraid to fall asleep.
Now that she was finally getting over it, things have gotten even worse. All the pain from the past came crashing down on her, making it almost impossible for her to get up.
How could her life be ruined like this by a car accident?
Lan Jia's nose tingled, and two streams of tears instantly rolled down her cheeks. "It seems like I can never escape that day."
“Then let me do it.” He bent down and gently comforted you, “Let me stay by your side and help you get rid of this.”
"Lan Jia, you have a long future ahead of you. You will be happy and joyful, and you will be reborn." He touched her face and solemnly promised her, "No matter what the cost, your brother will do everything in his power to help you achieve your wishes."
As she awoke from the nightmare, these words flowed into her ears like gentle spring water, soothing and comforting. Lan Jia was immediately on the verge of tears again, but she decided to let them flow freely.
"Brother, we'll never be apart, right?"
"Of course, I'll always be there for you if you need me."
"I will always need you," she said pitifully, her lips trembling.
Meng Cenjun gave her a comforting kiss on the forehead, "Me too."
He stood up again and said, "Wait for me a moment."
Lan Jia nodded and watched him walk into the bathroom.
Meng Cenjun ran a hot water bath, wrung out a hot towel, and found a clean nightgown for her to change into. When she returned, she saw that Lan Jia had already sat up, looking up at the head of the bed in a daze.
That area was set aside separately for storage; it was a wide and deep niche filled with various odds and ends.
In the center stands a pure white angel statue, carrying a dreamcatcher with a string of feathers. Around it are several jars of smokeless and odorless candles, followed by a large pile of walnut wood photo frames, each containing photos of Lan Jia from childhood to adulthood: solo photos, graduation photos, group photos, photos with her parents, grandmother, Meng Cenjun... The most important people and the most important moments in her life are all captured here.
She placed them here, reminiscing about her happy past every day, while those who have passed away gaze upon their beloved ones every day.
Meng Cenjun stood not far away, feeling a dull ache in her heart for no reason.
How could he possibly let her get hurt again?
How could we possibly put her in any danger again?
Even if she thinks he's obsessive, extreme, and annoying, it's better than enduring the pain of losing her.
"Lan Jia," he called softly.
She then came to her senses and obediently sat on the edge of the bed waiting for him.
Meng Cenjun stood by the bed, cupped her cheeks in his hands, and gently wiped away the tear stains on her face, the sweat on her neck, and her collarbone with a warm towel. He then held her arms and wiped the moisture from her arms and palms clean.
She tilted her head back, her eyes as innocent as a fawn in the forest, calmly letting him manipulate and cherish her.
In the warm and quiet room, illuminated by a single lamp, the two met each other's gazes in silence.
Dreams are terrifying, but reality is familiar and safe. She desperately needs some reality to fill the emptiness in her heart.
Meng Cenjun stopped what he was doing, touched her lips with the pad of his thumb, and said, "Change your clothes."
She looked at him without saying a word, then reached out and unfastened the tiny beaded clasp at the very top of her nightgown.
He controlled his breathing, neither looking away nor turning his back.
Lan Jia met his gaze and untied her skirt piece by piece, leaving it open. She grabbed the two ends of the skirt and pulled it up over her head.
The temperature was pleasant, and with large areas of skin exposed to the air, she didn't experience the sensitivity or stress she had expected. Or perhaps she discovered that being exposed in front of him didn't make her feel ashamed. Maybe they had already crossed countless gradual stages and reached the end of an intimate relationship.
The sheets were dark and deep, a green close to olive, mixed with a hint of gray. Lan Jia sat on them, a small, white, flawless ball, like a warm, lustrous pearl, the only bright spot in his eyes.
This scene did not stir any romantic feelings in him. He looked into her eyes, unusually solemn and serious, as if it were a once-in-a-lifetime certainty:
To hell with sibling ethics.
To hell with what people say.
Forget about its moral principles.
To hell with his clarity and reason.
He loved Yilanjia.
He was certain and certain that he loved Ilanja.
He wouldn't say it until he was sure of her feelings.
Whether or not to start a relationship is entirely her choice.
Later, he dressed her again, choosing and fastening the clothes himself, one button at a time, carefully tending to his most beloved treasure.
After turning off the lights, the two lay down together again.
The atmosphere had already changed without anyone noticing, and both of them were well aware of it.
Lan Jia leaned closer, sharing the same pillow with him, and suddenly said, "Should we do something?"
Meng Cenjun remained silent for a long time before finally speaking hesitantly, "We agreed on this before."
She was disappointed. "Then when will the time be right?"
It needs to be stable, secure, and fully prepared.
At least until after marriage...
But how could he bring it up with her on his own initiative? She was too young, the age gap was too big, and no matter what method he used, it would feel like exploitation. Marriage wasn't a necessity, and she was still at an age where she hadn't had enough fun. If he brought it up at this time, it might provoke her rebellious side, which would be really disappointing.
Meng Cenjun swallowed these thoughts and phrased it differently: "If you're willing to stick to the same choice for the rest of your life..."
Lan Jia understood, "So you wanted to be my only one."
Meng Cenjun remained noncommittal, waiting for her reaction.
In the darkness, only Lan Jia's drawn-out voice could be heard, tinged with a hint of mischief, "Since that's the case, I really should think about it carefully and consider it seriously."
He felt a little uneasy after hearing this, and pinched her cheek, "Don't think about it anymore, go to sleep."
Meng Cenjun covered her mouth, afraid that she would say something shocking again.
Lan Jia whimpered silently and didn't move. Suddenly, as if playing a prank, she licked his palm.
He opened his eyes wide, then withdrew his hand; that small, damp spot felt like it was burning.
She pressed her advantage, smiling as she said, "No matter what, you have to make it up to me."
"So what do you want to do?"
"Touch you."
“I’ve told you my boundaries.”
Lan Jia didn't respond, but slyly stretched out a hand and started moving around recklessly.
Meng Cenjun was dressed in thin, loose, and simple clothing, but she found it extremely alluring, which made it convenient for her to do whatever she wanted.
"Brother, come a little closer."
He tried his best to control his breathing and moved a little closer to her, to within arm's reach.
Lan Jia leaned closer, their noses touching, and nuzzled affectionately before she asked earnestly, "Do you like it?"
"In which aspect?" His voice was a little hoarse.
She was mischievous, like stroking a ball bearing, with back and forth movements that stirred subtle tremors.
"Like this."
“Not bad…” His rigid thirty years wouldn’t allow him to say anything more.
Unfortunately, she is someone who needs more positive feedback.
She wanted him to be completely captivated by her, both physically and emotionally.
It's a wonderful toy that belongs only to her, and she won't miss any opportunity to explore it.
Even with her eyes closed, she could still find him accurately. At that same instant, she suddenly grabbed the back of his head and kissed him forcefully.
Meng Cenjun felt an electric shock throughout her body, an unprecedented, invasive sensation rushing to the top of her head.
He grabbed her hand with lightning speed and pushed her shoulder, forcing her to stop.
Lan Jia was certain he wouldn't use too much force, so she stubbornly pressed her face against his, refusing to let go.
After a brief standoff, she was pushed aside in the chaos, and took the opportunity to bite his lip before turning over and bursting into laughter.
Meng Cenjun gripped her hand tightly, suppressing his anger as he asked, "Do you know what you're doing?"
Her prank had worked, and her face ached from laughing so much before she slowly calmed down and turned to him, "Are you angry?"
"You can't touch it." He was slightly annoyed.
Hearing his serious tone, Lan Jia pouted, "So stingy! It's one thing to not be able to use it, but you can't even touch it?"
Meng Cenjun sighed, "Are you sure you want to discuss this with me here?"
"Or are you trying to test just how much self-control I have?"
Lan Jia said proudly, "I need to know whether I can use it well and happily in the future." In the rush just now, and with a layer of clothing in between, she didn't actually feel anything at all.
Meng Cenjun fell silent again, but she didn't know that he was fighting against his reason.
Lan Jia rolled over again, wrapped in the blanket, and pleaded sweetly, "Please, I'm really curious, I really want to know, please grant my wish this once!"
"Are you sure?" he asked again.
Seeing that he was showing signs of relenting, she nodded frantically.
Meng Cenjun knew that Lan Jia would make a scene if she couldn't get what she wanted, so she simply granted her wish.
Besides... he belongs to her completely.
Having convinced himself of this, he said in a hoarse voice, "Give me your hand."
Lan Jia immediately handed it over obediently.
His large, warm hand covered the back of her hand, drawing her in and enticing her.
Perhaps it was because his body temperature was elevated, but even in his deep sleep he felt very hot, giving her a burning sensation. Maybe it was also because she was too excited.
He held her hand tightly without saying a word, generously letting her feel it fully.
After a while, Lan Jia suddenly withdrew her hand silently, shrank her head under the covers, and covered herself up completely.
Her face flushed, and she racked her brains to process the little physiological knowledge she had, feeling like a fully cooked shrimp.
It must hurt a lot, right? A huge difference in body size isn't good either; if there's disharmony, there might even be tearing, which would be terrifying. She's very sensitive to pain and has always been among the most pain-averse individuals.
Just thinking about it for a moment, the previous thought was instantly dispelled, and Lan Jia immediately entered a state of enlightenment.
Seeing that she was avoiding the issue and remained silent, Meng Cenjun suddenly felt like she had been rejected, and her mood became even more depressed.
After a moment of silence, he moved closer and asked her, "Isn't it stuffy in there?"
Lan Jia made a soft "hmm" sound and awkwardly crawled out of bed.
After hesitating for a moment, Meng Cenjun asked carefully, "Just now, was it that I failed to satisfy you?"
She shook her head. "I'm just a little scared."
What you learn from books is never enough. Although she talks a lot, when it comes to real-world application, she's actually a coward.
He hesitated, having considered the possibility of hurting her, and decided it was best not to start anything.
"It's okay, there are many other safe and secure ways to make you happy."
Hearing his earnest words of comfort, Lan Jia breathed a sigh of relief, but then found it strange and amusing. A few months ago, she would never have believed that she would now be lying in bed with her strictest and most terrifying brother, discussing such profound topics.
She thought about Meng Cenjun seriously and realized he wasn't inherently rigid, cold, or boring. Perhaps he just needed someone to unlock his potential, push him beyond his limits, and lead him to explore new horizons. Isn't that how movies and novels always portray characters? The protagonist, a perpetually aloof and unapproachable, is always paired with a mischievous and adorable little devil.
And her relationship with Meng Cenjun was probably similar.
The more Lan Jia thought about it, the more amused she became by the idea. Just as she was about to share it with him, he hugged her first.
He was burning up so hot that she almost thought he had a fever, so she asked cautiously, "Brother, what's wrong?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she instantly felt that she had asked a pointless question, and her whole body stiffened inch by inch.
There is a noticeable foreign body sensation in my lower abdomen...
"Should I not have touched it?"
She was on the verge of tears, afraid that he would make her take responsibility.
Meng Cenjun said in a muffled voice, "It's my fault."
He hadn't expected himself to be so sensitive; anything related to her seemed to throw everything into chaos.
Lan Jia didn't know what to say.
After a while, his voice changed slightly, "Help me."
Her ears turned red, and she stammered, "What should I do?"
He held her hand.
Later, after an unknown amount of time, she was so tired that he was still holding her hand, his palm burning hot.
In her dazed state, she mumbled, "Brother, isn't it sinful for us to do this under the angel statue?"
He kissed her, saying, "I'm the one who's guilty."
"I don't want you to go to hell."
"Then let's live well."
Love each other well.
The next morning, Lan Jia slept soundly until she woke up naturally.
The film crew had flexible leave, and after working non-stop for almost half a month, she finally got two days off.
As dawn broke, Meng Cenjun left long ago, and there was no warmth left beside her.
Lan Jia sat up and subconsciously looked at the hand. Thinking of that absurd night, she felt even more ashamed and indignant and collapsed back into bed.
My wrists were still slightly sore, but each finger had been carefully cleaned, so you couldn't tell what kind of "torture" it had endured.
The trash cans were empty, the room was tidy, and even the air was clean, as if someone had deliberately erased all traces.
Various forms of resistance still exist. She knows they cannot go public yet, but she still feels a little disappointed for no reason.
When I'm in a bad mood, shopping is the only way to cheer myself up.
Having some free time today, Lan Jia went out alone after lunch to go on a shopping spree at the mall. It just so happened that Qiao Zimu's birthday was approaching, and she needed to hurry up and pick out a gift for him.
She spent the entire afternoon shopping, completely absorbed, and didn't stop even when her feet ached. Lan Jia thought that if she didn't study design, she could be a professional buyer. Many people praised her for her good taste and high standards when they received gifts from her. The more she thought about it, the more smug she became, and she couldn't wait to share her haul with her family.
Just as she was about to return home laden with her purchases, she received a message from Song Qingqu that he had something for her.
The two had a good relationship with the cameraman on set. Once, when he took leave, he asked Song Qingqu to take stills for the film. In his spare time, he also took some film photos for Lan Jia. He happened to have a darkroom at home, so he figured the film was probably ready and he asked her to pick it up.
Lan Jia asked him for the address and immediately had Zuo Tai take her there.
The trunk was packed full, and shopping bags were piled up around Lan Jia. She happily unpacked and admired the bags along the way.
In contrast, Zuo Tai in the front row was unusually solemn, his eyes constantly glancing at the rearview mirror.
She sensed it too, and asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"
"Miss, it seems like a car has been following us."
At this moment, in the CEO's office of the Pine Building.
Meng Cenjun had just finished work and was about to go home when there was a knock on the door.
Zhou Qin brought in some documents and said with a solemn expression, "We've found some new information about Song Qingqu."
Meng Cenjun responded, took the book, and began to read it, her expression gradually darkening.
Song Qingqu, originally named Li Qing, was born to Li Ping.
And Li Ping was the driver who caused the car accident years ago.
Author's Note: I've finally officially confirmed my feelings! [Milk Tea]
Happy National Day, everyone!
By the way, I usually announce my leave of absence or anything else in the author's announcement.
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