She hesitated for a moment, didn’t even turn on the light, and simply got out of bed to open the door. Just then, a flash of lightning outside illuminated the room like broad daylight, and in that instant, Xiao Yun saw the concern on Leng Xuan’s face as he gently asked her, "What’s wrong, Xiao Yun?" Suddenly, her heart soured, and her tears flowed even more fiercely. In a burst of emotion, she threw herself into Leng Xuan’s arms, sobbing with a ’woo, woo’.
Leng Xuan was taken aback, feeling the soft, fragrant warmth and an indescribable sense of strangeness. His face flushed involuntarily, but he quickly forced himself to calm down, silently cursing the word ’sleazy’. Then he gently patted Xiao Yun on the back, whispering, "It’s okay, don’t cry, Xiao Yun. Is there something you want to talk to me about?"
Xiao Yun felt that Leng Xuan’s embrace was both solid and warm, and she found herself reluctantly yearning but was ultimately too embarrassed to keep clinging on to him, so she soon let go, her face blushing.
She thought about how Leng Xuan had taken off his clothes to shelter her from the rain, how he had confronted Ling Xuejiu for her sake and how he had come to comfort her in the middle of the night. Plus, the change in Leng Xuan after he wore his school uniform, all of these had deeply imprinted in her heart. Her feelings for Leng Xuan had completely surpassed gratitude.
She wasn’t entirely without possessiveness; on the contrary, because of her innate reticence, it was very hard for others to understand her inner thoughts. In her bones, she was a very strong girl, and if it was something—or someone—she liked, she would find a way to have it for herself. Leng Xuan was so outstanding that if she didn’t make her move early, she didn’t wish to see him claimed by someone else in the future.
Listening to Leng Xuan’s tender words of concern and not speaking herself, Xiao Yun simply kept crying in his embrace, which began to make Leng Xuan feel a bit awkward. After all, he was a man, and with such a beautiful woman in his arms, it wasn’t easy for a normal man, who was no saint, to resist the urge. Blushing, he said, "Xiao Yun, let me help you to the bed. Don’t think too much, just have a good sleep, and when you wake up tomorrow, everything will be fine."
Xiao Yun didn’t respond to Leng Xuan but let him guide her inside. Just as Leng Xuan was helping Xiao Yun lie down on the bed, preparing to leave, suddenly, Xiao Yun grabbed his hand while still crying and whispered softly, "I’m scared..."
Leng Xuan paused, then smiled, "What are you afraid of, Xiao Yun?"
"I... I’m afraid of the thunder. My mom... my mom," she sobbed, "my mom died on a day like this."
A pang of sympathy struck Leng Xuan as he recalled Xiao Yun’s tragic past. He tenderly touched her forehead, saying, "Don’t be scared, I’ll sleep in the living room. I’ll just leave the door open, alright?"
Xiao Yun didn’t say anything but gently shook her head.
With a bittersweet smile, Leng Xuan said helplessly, "Alright then, I’ll stay here and watch over you as you sleep. Once you fall asleep, I’ll go out."
Xiao Yun finally broke into a smile through her tears, closed her eyes, and the corners of her mouth lifted into a sweet smile.
However, in the darkness, Leng Xuan couldn’t see the change in Xiao Yun’s expression. He only felt her gripping his hand, tightly, so very tightly, as if she feared he would leave her as soon as she let go. Whether intentional or not, this action made Leng Xuan’s heart ache with a bitter sweetness for this pitiful girl, who was heartbreakingly vulnerable...
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