Chapter 44: The Consequences of One Night's Intimacy

  Ling Han hit her. A wave of heartache surged up to the tip of his heart. Tears like sea waves quickly covered his eyes and fell down. Leng Xi bit his lip, turned back his slapped face, and met Ling Han's furious crimson eyes, hiding his gritted teeth and violent anger. His elastic face was also irritated by the hidden anger.

  Leng Xi's heart was even more pained. "I didn't do it on purpose. Really. You believe me, right? I really wasn't trying to..." She trembled with both shoulders, holding back tears, and hastily explained. She really hadn't meant to hurt his pride...

  "Fake woman, you're only fit to be a plaything." Ling's eyes were icy cold as he spat out the words through gritted teeth. The moment he stood up, he gave her a strong push. Qing Xi's slender body flew several meters away, landing on the ground with a thud, writhing in pain like a puddle of water.

  "Bang." Ling Han wrapped himself in a bath towel and stormed out.

  The creaking of the door shook Cold Creek's head, which had been dazed and confused, into a sudden jolt. A chill ran through her entire body, rapidly spreading to her brain nerves, accumulating, amplifying. Her mind was both cool and dizzy. She blinked away tears several times. Then her head went numb, losing all sensation. She collapsed onto the damp ground, merging with the water on the surface. The chill enveloped her entire being.

  After a long time, she didn't know how she woke up either. All she knew was that when she woke up, she was still lying alone on the cold and wet ground, with not a stitch of clothing on her body.

  Suddenly flashed in mind what Ling Han said before he went out: You are only worthy of being a puppet.

  A wave of pain flooded her entire throbbing heart, making every breath a sharp stab in her chest. She bit her red lips, and warm tears quickly filled her small face, shining with a watery light like the ripples on a clear spring.

  In Ling Han's heart, is she only suitable for being a plaything? Is it that Ling Han has never had feelings for her? Has he never shown any signs of loving her?

  She loves him so devotedly, so desperately wants to get his love. Is it right or wrong? She really hurts all over, especially her heart. When facing Ling Han's indifference, it hurts so much. Should she continue to be devoted? Should she persist?

  Leng Xi sat on the ground, hugging his own legs, curling up his body, letting tears fall down, dripping between his legs, dripping onto the back of his hand, but dared not cry out loud, fearing that Ling Han outside the door would hear him.

  At this moment, she is really very confused. No matter how hard a person tries to persevere, no matter how great the courage, when the things they insist on in their heart keep hitting a snag and are repeatedly struck down with a sad ending, does she still have the strength and confidence to carry on?

  "Ugh... Grandma, what should I do? You once told me that when faced with difficulties, I must persevere and have faith. Just like water dripping on a stone, it can eventually penetrate it. I really want to listen to your words, Grandma. Once I've made up my mind, I must see it through. But, Grandma, I'm so tired... so hurt. Does Ling Han not love me? No matter how hard I try, will he never fall in love with me?"

  Leng Xi buried his head between his legs. Tears welled up in his ancient spring-like eyes. His mouth muttered uncertain words.

  I don't know how long I've been sitting. All I know is that everything has become very quiet. The night is extremely still. There's not a single sound. Cold Creek only moved his body now. He stood up. With this movement, the numbness and pain swept through his entire body. His legs were so weak they felt like jelly. This was all due to the aftermath of Ling Han's rage.

  She pursed her lips and decided never to pay attention to Ling Han again. She wouldn't speak to him.

  She took a deep breath, feeling slightly better. She went to the shower and washed up. Wrapped in a towel, she opened the door and stepped out. The lights outside were shining brightly. Was Ling Han asleep?

  She tiptoed lightly and carefully walked towards the room, one step at a time, afraid of waking up Ling Han. Her gaze fell on the bed, empty and bare.

  The cold is not in the tomb.

  Realized it here. Leng Xi let out a breath. His shoulders relaxed. But in his heart, there was still a sense of loss.

  No wonder she hasn't gone out for so long. And didn't hear any movement from Ling Han. It turned out he had left. Leng Xi pouted and let out a breath, lying on the bed. "If you're not here, then you're not here. I won't worry about you again. I won't miss you again." She pulled up the quilt to cover her head and fell asleep.

  But where did Ling Han go? Will he be so angry that he goes out to drink? What if he gets drunk? Where will he sleep tonight? I haven't slept for half the night, my mind is full of questions. Ahhh, stop thinking about it! Don't think about Ling Han anymore!

  Leng Xi made a decisive flip, covered his own ears, and forced himself to stop thinking wildly.

  The next morning, Ling Han was still nowhere to be seen. Leng Xi went to work with a big black eye circle. His mind was also very absent-minded. He walked towards the bus station in a daze.

  "Whoosh"

  "Rabbit, stop."

  Leng Xi had just crossed the pedestrian crossing when a figure suddenly darted out from the side, creating a gust of wind in front of her and swiftly passing to her other side. She turned her head in surprise, only to see that the figure was being chased by someone who was running furiously behind it, with a speed that seemed almost like flying.

  She was shocked and her eyes widened. The person was: Bai Li Cheng.

  Before she could even cry out, Bai Yicheng's figure flashed by her side like a whirlwind, swiftly appearing in front of the person who had been desperately running away earlier. With a flying kick, he sent that person tumbling to the ground. Immediately after, that person was swiftly pinned down by Bai Yicheng's reverse grip. "Under broad daylight, you dare to steal things right under my nose? You think you can escape?" Bai Yicheng pulled out handcuffs and cuffed the thief, his movements elegant and smooth.

  "This police officer, I'm just a small thief, you don't have to go all out like this to catch me, almost got hit by a car, is it worth it?" The caught thief with a sly and cunning look was speechless, full of grievances.

  "Shut up, I saw you. You can't fly with your wings clipped." He Bai Yi Cheng wouldn't be hit by a car even if he wanted to. Just now, when he was crossing the road, a speeding car almost hit him. So what? He Bai Yi Cheng just had to practice his reflexes at this speed.

  Thief. Any criminal. Don't think of escaping his palm.

  Almost got knocked flying by a car.

  Good heavens! What a perilous thing this is! Leng Qing just heard it and her heart leapt to her throat, worried sick. She looked at Bai Yicheng's proud and carefree appearance, covered in dust all over, and she stared with her eyes wide open, calling out "Bai...Baili Cheng..."

  "Hmm, Xi'er, didn't scare you, did it?" Hearing Xi's cry, Bai Yicheng's mind wavered slightly, his eyes, which were covered with the sternness of a police officer, showed a hint of tenderness in an instant, and his voice also softened a bit.

  Leng Xi walked up to Bai Yicheng, using those lively water-like eyes to scan him from head to toe, making Bai Yicheng feel like he was in a daze, feeling embarrassed and awkward.

  Realizing everything was fine, Leng Xi finally relaxed and let out a breath of relief. Looking at Bai Yicheng with a serious expression, he said solemnly, "In the future, you don't have to be so forceful when catching thieves. What if you get hit by a car? It wouldn't be good. There are people who would worry about you. It's just a small thief, no need to risk your own life."

  Looking into Qingxi Hei Ling's eyes, at that extremely serious expression, Bai Yicheng felt a warmth in his heart. His clear and bright eyes became even softer, with a hint of daze. If every morning when he was catching thieves, he could meet Xi'er and hear her concerned words, even if he were to be hit by a car and die, he would feel content.

  "That's right. This girl is reasonable. I'm just a small thief, first time stealing something, how did I have the bad luck to run into a police officer like you who doesn't care about his life? It's really unlucky. Officer, please spare me if you can. Give me a chance to reform."

  It also awakened Bai Yicheng's dazed eyes for a moment. He poked the big man with his elbow and shouted, "Behave yourself! Before doing something, you should think about the consequences. Since you've done it, you should be prepared to bear the consequences. Who told you to take the wrong path? You deserved it."

  The thief was scolded by Bai Yicheng and hung his head in shame with a dejected look.

  Leng Xi pouted and took a deep breath, saying "In the future, think thrice before acting. Don't knowingly do something wrong just to continue doing it. I hope you can change your ways." These were the only words Leng Xi could say to the little thief.

  She raised her eyes and looked at Bai Yicheng, saying, "Then you continue working, I'm going to work too. Be careful, don't get hurt." Bai Yicheng nodded slightly, which was considered a response. Leng Xi turned his head.

  "Ah, Xi'er." Bai Yicheng suddenly stopped her again.

  "What's wrong?" asked Leng Xi, tilting his head and blinking his eyes.

  Bai Yicheng narrowed his eyes slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. He still asked, "You don't look too good. Didn't you sleep well last night?" He had already noticed the red kiss mark on her neck. When his gaze touched that kiss mark, his heart suddenly ached. Just thinking about it made him imagine what kind of intimacy Xi'er had with Ling Han yesterday.

  The palm print on Leng Qing's face was faintly visible, and the dark eye circles made Bai Yicheng's heart ache even more. Wasn't Ling Han being too harsh on her? He knew she hadn't slept well because of that matter, yet he still asked a question that added another wound to his already injured heart.

  Leng Xi's reaction wasn't the shy and timid kind that Bai Yicheng had imagined, but rather a subtle contraction of her pupils, with a hint of despondency, covering up the flash of grievance that had suddenly risen to the surface. She muttered a sentence, "It's nothing, I accidentally drank coffee instead of milk tea last night and couldn't sleep. I'm going to work now." Leng Xi didn't know how to express the grievances in her heart, nor did she want to. She found herself increasingly unable to understand Ling Han, realizing that she had never truly seen through him.

  She has always been drinking coffee as if it were milk tea, despite its bitter taste. It is she who brews sweetness in the bitterness and stores those sweet memories in her heart, creating a sweet flavor. If one day coffee could also become sweet, that would be great. If one day Ling Han could fully open his heart to her, tell her all his troubles, shed his cold frost, and treat her with sincerity, that would be even better.

  All day long, Leng Xi was distracted. He didn't do much work either. Ji Xin accompanied him by his side. She didn't say much and didn't ask anything.

  At the end of work, Ji Xinmei took the initiative to go home with Leng Xi. But Leng Xi hung his head and said, "You go back first, I'll take a walk in the street heart park across the road." She wanted to sort out her thoughts.

  Slumped over with a dejected air, sitting on a park bench with head hung low, Cold Creek let out a deep sigh.

  "Afternoon air is dusty, but there's plenty of oxygen, making it a great time to relax." A person suddenly appeared beside the creek, with a magnetic voice and a hint of a smile, saying...