TFS | Chapter 27

This wasn’t said outright, but the meaning was very clear.

Qi Yue let her go, his expression a little unnatural.

He didn’t even know what was wrong with him. It wasn’t like he minded when other people touched him, but with that awful woman, the second she touched him, his body reacted on instinct.

Was he supposed to say something this bizarre?

Qi Yue let out a heavy breath. Just as he was about to speak, the sound of a motorcycle starting up came from the intersection. Before long, a group of delinquent boys with dyed yellow hair came surging out from there. A few of them even glanced this way, their looks unfriendly.

Qi Yue’s expression suddenly turned strange.

Xu Linruan looked him over, then asked in a low voice, “You know those people?” He looked like he had some history with them.

The boy only looked at her, his expression complicated. Not just “know” them, they were old enemies. Two days ago, he’d found them obnoxious and even brought people to beat them up. And now, of all times, he’d ended up running into them alone. It really was a narrow road for enemies.

Qi Yue said nothing, and Xu Linruan more or less guessed it already. This kid definitely knew those guys, and their relationship was bad too. Otherwise, with his arrogant, unruly attitude, someone would have already come up to greet him.

Without a sound, she moved two steps to the side, planning to draw a clean line between herself and him. That way, if they ended up fighting later, she wouldn’t get caught in the crossfire.

Qi Yue still didn’t know what she was thinking, nor did he notice her little movement. He was busy figuring out which route to run down.

He wasn’t stupid. There were so many of them, and if they really fought, he definitely wouldn’t come out on top. He would never do something that brainless, getting beaten for no reason just to look tough.

Besides, Xu Linruan was here too. If she got hurt, not only would he regret it, she definitely wouldn’t talk to him anymore.

As the distance closed in, the gang’s taunting voices grew louder and louder. The boy made up his mind and decisively turned around, grabbing Xu Linruan’s hand and running.

The shouting behind them immediately grew louder.

Qi Yue didn’t care, and kept dragging her along for two whole streets.

Xu Linruan couldn’t keep up with his speed and nearly twisted her ankle several times. She was in a bad mood, so she reached out and狠狠掐了一把他的腰.

The boy sucked in a sharp breath.

He stopped at once, clutching his lower back as he turned around and glared at her, both angry and annoyed. His eyes seemed to ask why she had pinched him.

“Mm… Young Master, you can run on your own, so why drag me along too?” Wouldn’t that just prove their relationship was unusual?

She lifted her chin slightly. Her bright face had gone a little pink from the exertion, and her breathing had turned quicker.

Qi Yue got even more irritated hearing her tone, which was so intent on drawing a line between them. She pinched him just because of this, and pinched him that hard? Did this woman have any conscience at all?

She didn’t even think about why. Because he liked it, that was why. Wasn’t it fine if he just wanted to stick to her?

A burst of anger, the kind that came from having good intentions trampled underfoot, spread through his chest. Being rejected like this over and over again, he had a temper too, all right.

“What, you think I wanted to drag you along? That was an instinctive reaction, basic gentlemanly manners every man has. Don’t act like you’re special. If it were any other woman, I would’ve done the same thing.”

Qi Yue felt like this woman’s heart was made of stone, the kind that couldn’t be warmed up.

He rubbed the sore spot and looked back at her, his face once again turning into that keep-strangers-away expression. It was obvious he was angry.

“Oh, is that so.” Xu Linruan rubbed her wrist, looking calm and composed. “But they’re obviously here to chase after you. I was the one dragged into it, wasn’t I?”

Qi Yue was infuriated by that again. Especially the completely indifferent look in her eyes, which made him feel like he was minding someone else’s business.

“Fine, I’m the one being pathetic, I’m the one who likes sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong, okay? Go wherever you want now, it has nothing to do with me, all right?” The boy wore a cold face, his words carrying a trace of sulking defiance.

From that tone, he really did seem angry.

But if he was angry, so be it. What was that resentful look supposed to mean?

Xu Linruan raised her slender brows slightly and gave him a sweet smile that showed complete indifference. “In that case, I’ll go first.”

After saying that, she turned to leave. Her long, slender hair drew a soft curve through the air.

Qi Yue instantly felt a stifling sense of self-inflicted misery.

Was this woman really planning to just leave like that?

Did she have any conscience at all? He had kindly warned her, and she not only didn’t appreciate it, she even blamed him for dragging her into this.

He must have been blind to like her.

Just as the woman was about to leave, Qi Yue took a long stride forward, covering three steps in two, and wrapped his arms around Xu Linruan from behind.

The instant he held her, Qi Yue felt something inside him ease into place.

The boy’s heartbeat was a little fast, mixed with the scent of sweat from his body, giving off a very distinctive aura.

He held her tight against his chest, his movement forceful and urgent. Xu Linruan lost her balance and was pulled back against his chest in one motion.

Just as she was about to get up, she heard Qi Yue’s deliberately lowered voice from behind. “Shh, don’t move. Someone’s coming.”

The boy bent slightly, his hand at her waist, pulling her into his arms. His tone was half threatening, half coaxing. “You’re so pretty, you probably don’t want to get beaten up either, right?”

Xu Linruan really didn’t want to get beaten up, but she also didn’t want to be taken advantage of.

She turned her head slightly, and warm breath brushed against the side of his neck. “Not wanting to get beaten up is one thing, but the problem is you’re holding me too tightly. I can barely breathe.”

Her red lips parted slightly, her voice light and airy. He faintly caught the scent of body wash drifting off her, clean and faint, almost elusive.

Qi Yue’s heartbeat quickened. He almost leaned in to kiss her on reflex, but he still held back at the crucial moment. He hadn’t forgotten the “miserable state” from that day, and he hadn’t forgotten that they had already broken up.

If he still couldn’t restrain himself, even he would look down on himself.

The boy turned his face away and loosened his grip a little. His voice was calm and cold. “This is only temporary. I don’t mean to take advantage of you. Once those people leave, I’ll naturally let you go. You don’t need to care so much.”

That was what he said, but if Xu Linruan hadn’t personally felt his thundering heartbeat, she really might have believed his nonsense.

If anyone else saw this guy’s cold face, they would only feel uneasy. But Xu Linruan was different. She had a steady enough mindset. Not only was she leaning against his chest, she was shameless enough to even complain that his chest was too hard.

Her hand moved behind her to feel around, and her voice carried a hint of confusion. “Do you have something on you? Why does it hurt so much when I lean on it?”

Qi Yue froze for several seconds, almost furious enough to die on the spot. How much did she dislike him for her to say that? He used a little force, pressed down on Xu Linruan’s shoulder, then flipped her around and pinned her against the corner of the wall.

The boy pressed over her, one leg wedging between hers, staring at her with burning eyes. “Xu Linruan, do you think I have a very good temper?” So she dared to be so bold, teasing him over and over again, playing with his bottom line?

As he spoke, his breath spilled all over the side of her neck.

Xu Linruan felt a bit of ticklishness by her ear. She tilted her head slightly, and loose strands of hair slipped down onto her cheek, making her gaze look even more innocent as she looked at him.

Qi Yue hated this kind of expression on her most, one with no fluctuation at all. Just like before, he had been that angry, and she still wore that same calm, gentle look.

His fingers threaded through the loose hair by her ear, and he held the back of her neck. “What do you think our relationship is now?”

Before she could answer, he continued, “We already broke up. If you don’t like someone, then don’t randomly tease them. Don’t rely on the fact that someone…” likes you and think you can act however you want.

He didn’t say the rest out loud, because saying the same thing too many times would make it feel less precious.

And besides, she had been the one to bring up breaking up first. Why should he let his mind be dragged around by a woman who didn’t even like him?

Once he figured out the key point, Qi Yue’s originally restless emotions gradually settled down.

He let go of the hand he had been holding the whole time, deciding not to keep entangling with her. But then he heard the girl ask something rather heartless. “…You said I was relying on someone else for what?”

She tilted her head up slightly, her tone far too flat. In those black-and-white eyes of hers, his reflection was mirrored back at him. It was a little laughable, Qi Yue thought bitterly.

“Heh, nothing.”

He lowered his eyes and stepped back, putting distance between them. “I mean the people outside already went far away. If you want to leave, you can go now.”

“Oh, really?” Hearing that, Xu Linruan didn’t drag things out. She poked her head out and looked around. There really was no one there anymore, so she took a few steps forward, preparing to leave.

Qi Yue stood in place for a few seconds, his face expressionless as he watched the girl walk away without looking back.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth and thought that it had just been a game to pass the time anyway. What was there for him to be angry about?

Thinking that, Qi Yue turned and left in the opposite direction. After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.

He turned his head and looked in the direction the girl had gone, a surge of resentment gathering in his chest. Even though he kept telling himself not to care, not to feel hurt, when it really came time to let go, it still felt terrible.

Qi Yue grew irritated, abruptly kicking a pebble by the roadside into the air. He drew in a deep breath, then turned and chased after the direction Xu Linruan had gone.

Gritting his teeth, his eyes were slightly red.

What letting go? What leaving?

Was he some mild-tempered, well-behaved young master?

That kind of cowardly thought didn’t suit him at all. He wasn’t a charity case. The possessiveness in his bones was stronger than anyone’s. He was arrogant, and he was willful.

If he liked something, if he wanted something, then he would definitely get it. No matter what means he used, even if he had to snatch it, he would snatch it back.

Qi Yue’s pace grew faster and faster, as if afraid he’d be too late, until he finally broke into a run.

He kept chasing until he reached the intersection, where he finally saw her.

Qi Yue was a little anxious, breathing hard from the intense movement. He coughed, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath, trying hard to steady his breathing.

Far away, headlights flashed.

Xu Linruan reached out to flag down a taxi and was just about to get in.

Then came a loud thud.

A hand reached out from behind and slammed the door shut.

“Wait…”

The taxi driver rolled down his window and leaned his head out. “A little couple having a fight here? Are you getting in or not?”

“Mm… I am.” Xu Linruan was just about to open the door.

The boy behind her suddenly grabbed her wrist, stopping her movement, then called out to the driver, panting, “We’re not getting in. We’re not taking the car.”