Chapter 142: The Kiss

Lo Xing glanced around; fortunately, no one seemed to be paying attention here.

Looking back at Gu Shiyan before him, who was saying he was wrong but showed not a trace of genuine remorse, she said, “I think your nickname should be—Dog!”

No sooner had Lo Xing finished speaking and was about to read Gu Shiyan’s expression, she was suddenly caught off guard as he cupped her face and kissed her. The previous kiss had been brief and light, so she hadn’t fully registered it.

This time, however, she could clearly feel the difference between a peck and a kiss.

Gu Shiyan arched his neck slightly, one hand cradling Lo Xing’s jaw, the other firmly wrapped around her waist.

He held her so tightly that Lo Xing was almost struggling to breathe before he finally paused for a few seconds.

Just as Lo Xing was recovering, she met his dark, moist eyes for a moment but couldn’t quite decipher what she saw, when suddenly he pressed his lips heavily against hers again, holding the back of her head.

The hand resting at her waist was restless too.

Lo Xing reached back to grip his hand, and when he hesitated, she teased, “Ticklish.”

He tightened his hold around her waist but didn’t move.

The kiss stopped as well.

Gu Shiyan remained against her forehead, breathing softly.

Lo Xing’s gaze lingered on his damp eyelashes and the redness around his eyes.

“You...”

His face was pale, which made the redness around his eyes even more striking.

He tilted his head, pulling Lo Xing close, his chin brushing her shoulder as he buried his face deeply.

Lo Xing was uncertain.

Had he just... no, that couldn’t be.

Blinking, she thought the idea of Gu Shiyan crying was too much to accept; maybe he was just tired?

Whatever it was, Lo Xing gently patted his back in a soothing gesture.

Backlit, she stared at the elongated shadow of the two of them embracing on the ground, lost in thought, when Gu Shiyan’s nasal voice whispered near her ear:

“Baby, kissing you feels so good, it’s like I’m dying.”

“...”

“Can I kiss you again?”

“...”

Lo Xing bit back her irritation at his third cheeky request.

“Another kiss, baby? Don’t you feel anything?”

Frowning, she stepped away from his embrace and pressed her hand firmly over his mouth, glancing around as a strange heaviness settled over her.

Though his eyes were still red-rimmed, his lashes were dry now.

She asked, “Were you crying or just tired?”

“Tired,” Gu Shiyan answered without hesitation.

“...” Lo Xing shifted her gaze away.

He leaned in and kissed her cheek briefly, then looked her straight in the eyes. “Did you feel anything just now?”

Lo Xing gasped inwardly and pressed her hand back over his mouth.

Together, they sat down on a bench.

---

Lo Xing glanced at the time; it was about time to leave.

“I have to go.”

Gu Shiyan grabbed her hand. “You haven’t answered me yet.”

“...” Lo Xing showed no expression.

Their shoulders touched; Lo Xing wasn’t sure if she had caught his scent or was simply too close to him, but the sharp, commanding fragrance he wore—stronger with tobacco than usual—filled her senses.

She knew he’d been under a lot of pressure lately. During the day, she rarely saw him smoking in front of her.

Occasionally, she had caught sight of him on the hospital rooftop, handling calls about the shareholders’ meeting with a half-smoked cigarette between his fingers.

Their fingers intertwined, and Lo Xing found his behavior somewhat puzzling.

She was about to leave, so why was he holding onto her like this?

Suddenly, Gu Shiyan pressed his palm to the back of her neck and bent forward, almost holding her in his arms.

Lo Xing’s lips tingled; his arms were stronger than she expected, firmly pressing against her back, radiating a sense of safety.

Perhaps because Gu Shiyan had been so obedient and considerate these past few days, she had forgotten that at his core, he was wild and fierce.

He left almost no room for her to breathe; any attempt to pull back was met with greater restraint.

Lo Xing’s nails dug deep into the back of his hand where their fingers were entwined.

Her entire body was trapped in Gu Shiyan’s grasp, unable to retreat, her mind hazy, their warm breaths mingling indistinguishably.

The muscles of the arm holding her waist tensed, veins standing out vividly.

The other hand, clasped with hers, felt sore from her grip.

The broadcast played in multiple languages—German, French, then Italian and English.

Lo Xing only understood the last one. She wanted to speak but couldn’t find the words.

She could only shake the hand that was intertwined with Gu Shiyan’s.

He slowly stopped, and just as Lo Xing thought it was over, he kissed her once more, then brushed past her cheek to whisper near her ear, “You’re ignoring me.”

Lo Xing: “...” Did she even have a chance to respond?

“Hurry up, it’s your turn.”

Gu Shiyan held her back as she tried to pull away. “Then answer me first.”

Lo Xing watched the time slip by as the broadcast returned to English.

In a flurry of confusion, she nodded rapidly. “Y-yes, yes, yes, yes!”

“Wow.” Gu Shiyan teased, eyes wide with mock surprise. “You have so many feelings, baby. Even better than me.”

Before Lo Xing could kick him, he dashed off on his own.

Lo Xing muttered, “...Dog.”

As he neared, Gu Shiyan glanced back to watch her leave the hall before disappearing inside himself.

Just as Lo Xing stepped outside, her phone buzzed.

It was a message from Gu Shiyan.

A photo. Lo Xing tapped it open.

Her pupils dilated, cheeks burning, and she cursed, “Dog!”

The photo captured their embrace and kiss from a downward angle—frozen in time.

Her mind reeled. Gu Shiyan had even taken a secret photo!

She sent back a bombshell reply.

---

No response came; Gu Shiyan had likely already boarded his plane.

Her phone screen lit up with an incoming call.

Lo Xing hesitated, sensing why he was calling.

She pressed her lips together and answered.

“Hello...”

Her eyes dropped to the floor, where her small shadow lay dark and silent.

“I heard from Luo Zhuo that you’re staying in Country A...” Shen Que’s voice fell silent.

Lo Xing hadn’t told them yet. She whispered, “Does Yun Cai know too?”

The line was quiet for a long moment before Shen Que’s voice came, “Are you more afraid of her knowing and getting hurt than of me getting hurt?”

“Shen Que, if it were you, you’d choose to stay too.”

“If I hadn’t asked, would you have never told me?” He hesitated. “Is it because you like me, that you...”

“No.” Lo Xing smoothed her wind-tousled hair. “In my heart, you and Yun Cai are both my friends, my family. I didn’t mean to hide anything. Shen Que, don’t overthink it. I didn’t purposely distance myself from you.”

“...Are you outside?”

Lo Xing lowered her eyes and nodded.

With anyone else, once she knew their feelings, she would have cut all ties cleanly.

But Shen Que was different. Because of the age gap between her and Luo Zhuo, they only saw each other during holidays when they were children.

She had spent more time with Shen Que than with family—it was impossible to sever ties just because of his feelings.

Still, she didn’t want to see him suffer.

That balance was difficult to maintain.

“You should go back soon. I hear the wind is strong. When you do, remember to...”

“Shen Que, I can remember what you said myself. Take care of yourself, okay? You sound hoarse from catching a cold.”

Lo Xing wanted to hang up.

He replied, “I’ve taken medicine, thank you. He hasn’t come looking for me anymore.”

Lo Xing knew he meant Shen Runji. “That’s the lawyer my father and brother hired. I didn’t do anything.”

She cleared herself completely, drawing a bitter smile from him.

Lo Xing ended the call quickly.

After a moment, she sent a message.

The room was dark, no lights on, the only sounds the chirping of insects outside and the faint vibration from her low battery phone.

A dark silhouette sat on the sofa.

The old house had poor sound insulation; suddenly, the noise from next door broke the silence.

Shen Que blinked very slowly.

Bang bang bang—

The door shook from the pounding.

“Shen Que! Shen Que!”