Lu Jinghan gently caressed Han Xi’s back with his palm, his voice tender as he comforted her, "Don’t be afraid, girl. I’m here with you now, it’s all over, it’s okay."
Back at the hotel, Lu Jinghan carefully laid Han Xi down on the bed, covered her with a blanket, and then went to the living room outside.
He sat down in front of the sofa, leaned forward to pick up the cigarette box on the coffee table, pulled out a cigarette and lit it, the scarlet spark flickering at his fingertip.
The phone in his pants pocket suddenly rang, and Lu Jinghan tilted his body slightly to the side, took out his phone, glanced at the screen, and then pressed the answer button.
Fu Bin said something over the phone, and through the light smoke and haze, one could sense the coldness brewing in Lu Jinghan’s unfathomable eyes.
After hanging up the phone, Lu Jinghan took a few more puffs before leaning forward to extinguish the cigarette in the ashtray, and got up to go to the bedroom.
Han Xi murmured softly, crying in her sleep, her mouth kept uttering, "I don’t want to marry you... let me go, help me..."
Lu Jinghan lay sideways on the bed, raised his hand to draw Han Xi into his arms, as if by some spiritual connection, being held by Lu Jinghan stopped Han Xi’s crying, her small hands instinctively wrapping around Lu Jinghan.
"I’m sorry, girl, I didn’t protect you well, it won’t happen again."
In the dim light, Lu Jinghan gently stroked Han Xi’s back, his deep eyes as affectionate as the sea.
In the morning, Han Xi woke up in Lu Jinghan’s arms, smelling his familiar scent, she smiled contentedly.
Raising her head, her view was of Lu Jinghan’s deep, defined features, the sunlight streaming through the white curtains casting a glow on Lu Jinghan’s profile, adding a touch of tenderness to his entire being.
Lu Jinghan smiled and opened his eyes, his fingers stroked into Han Xi’s hair, gently rubbing.
Han Xi pressed her face against Lu Jinghan’s chest, her fingertips drawing circles in his palm, "I’ve been missing you since we parted, especially the moment when Li Chenghao abducted me. I missed you so much I almost cried, afraid I would never see you again. I’ll never be apart from you again."
Lu Jinghan lightly patted Han Xi’s back, his voice carrying a tenderness he had for no one else, "I promise, we’ll never be apart again."
Han Xi’s voice was slightly hoarse, with a thick nasal sound, "Actually, I was pretty scared yesterday, afraid you wouldn’t arrive in time..."
"Silly girl, it’s me who didn’t protect you well, it’s my fault." Lu Jinghan looked at the girl with self-blame.
Listening to Han Xi, Lu Jinghan’s entire heart felt like it was thrown into a meat grinder, piercing with pain. If he had been more cautious at that time, Han Xi wouldn’t have been taken away by Li Chenghao, and none of those chaotic events would have happened afterwards.
"Don’t say that, it’s not your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Li Chenghao for being too stubborn. He obsessively couldn’t let go of the past, even going against the grain, but he didn’t realize that, actually, living well individually was the best way for me and him."
"Luckily, you’re okay, otherwise I wouldn’t know what to do."
If anything had happened to Han Xi, Lu Jinghan would surely have killed Li Chenghao without hesitation.
Han Xi sat up from the bed, rubbing her impossibly hungry stomach, "Jinghan, I’m so hungry."