Chapter 29: Endless Resentment

  The atmosphere at the dinner table was slightly awkward, with Ze Yu, who had just joined us, casually picking up dishes and holding my right hand tightly with his left, as if he thought that if he let go of me, I would suddenly disappear.

  Ji Dong handed a piece of fish meat to Ruo Xi: "Ruo Xi! This is my specialty, come on, eat more!"

  "Ah! Thank you!" Ruoxi smiled sweetly at him, then picked up a piece of sausage and put it in his bowl. "I cooked it, so you should eat more too!"

  This scene is really annoying, if it wasn't for Yu being by my side, I would have probably escaped long ago. His arrival was truly timely and resolved the awkward situation of being sandwiched between them.

  "What was it that you originally called me for?" My right hand secretly exerted force, but still couldn't pull away from his grasp.

  He eats like a gentleman, with a soft expression and elegant movements, but isn't it tiring to use only one hand?

  He raised the corner of his mouth in a slanted smile: "I missed you, so I came to see you."

  Hearing his answer, I was truly caught off guard, my heart rate accelerated, and with my head lowered, my eyeballs were frantically rolling around.

  Then I heard him "heh" and laugh, holding my hand with a force, his voice full of playful tone: "You believed? Ha! You're so easy to fool!"

  I slightly furrowed my brow, looking at those deep and dark black eyes, he teased me in public again, still as despicable as ever!

  "Who got fooled by you? Only pigs would get fooled by you!"

  "You insist on calling yourself a pig, I don't care."

  Staring at his mocking face after the frost had melted, I really wanted to continue refuting him, but the remaining warmth on my face hadn't completely dissipated yet. If I said more, I would only reveal my true feelings. Calm down, calm down... It's still that same phrase: let you say a couple more sentences, it won't cost me any flesh. My ears don't listen for purity. I guessed right, this devil really loves to tease people after all.

  I stood up, looking down at him with a stern face, and didn't say another word. I glared at you, how can you still continue eating, young master!

  "Mei Mei, look at you! Haven't you heard that beating is loving and scolding is caring? They're truly worried about you, I'm really envious!" Rufei's soft voice chimed in, accompanied by a sweet smile.

  Yu pulled my hand closer to him, his eyes shining like stars, just like that night when we danced in the villa. His low voice was magnetic: "Don't you understand my intentions yet?"

  In the past, when watching soap operas, I would always roll my eyes at the cheesy lines, and I thought that if someone ever said those things to me, I would be so disgusted that I wouldn't be able to take care of myself. But somehow, no matter how awkward the words or actions were, he could make them seem special, as if they had been imbued with some kind of magic. He is my curse, and maybe I've already lost my immunity to him, maybe I was trapped from the moment I first saw him, but I just didn't want to admit it.

  "You... you... don't try to trick me, I won't fall for it."

  In my slightly trembling voice, his ink-black eyes were like a deep pool, staring at me tightly. I dodged my gaze, not wanting to collide with him and reveal my flustered heart. He stood up elegantly, gently lifted my hand, and bowed down gentlemanly, lightly kissing my fingertips in a dragonfly-like manner. His soft, warm lips touched my fingers, causing my hand to twitch like an electric shock. I wanted to pull away but was held firmly by him. I held my breath, and he seemed just like that refined, elegant young master dressed in classical attire.

  Why did he have to do this in front of Ji Dong and Ruo Xi? It's so embarrassing that I want to dig a hole in the ground! It seems that no matter how deeply I understand him, I still can't see his truest side. Forget it, let him tease me for a while, I should be used to it by now.

  Ji Dong suddenly stood up, his head bowed, and strode out of the room, creating a gust of wind that rustled my hair as he passed by. I watched him go, wondering if he was angry, feeling a little puzzled - were they allowed to be sweet while we weren't? Wait, what was I thinking? This wasn't even romance, just delusions! Yet, despite knowing this, I still shamefully hoped to live in these fantasies.

  Ruoxi then stood up and rushed out the door, hastily throwing me a sentence: I'll go take a look at him. The anti-theft door slammed shut with a loud "bang". I looked at Ze Yu in confusion, his mouth still had that sly smile, looking like he was plotting something, which made me feel a bit dizzy, so I quickly shook my head to clear the inappropriate emotions.

  It seems like there's something abnormal between Yu and Ji Dong. Previously, Yu seemed to want to use me to make Ji Dong uncomfortable. Fortunately, Ji Dong has already accepted Ye Creek, but his reaction just now makes me wonder if he still has lingering feelings for me? Although I don't know what grudge they have against each other, isn't Ji Dong always obedient to Yu? Yet Yu still wants to make things difficult for him, which is hard to justify... What kind of entanglement do they have with each other?

  "Aren't you Ji Dong's superior? Is this how you bully your subordinates?" I shook off his hand, feeling indignant on Ji Dong's behalf.

  He raised an eyebrow: "Oh? Which eye did you see me bullying him with?"

  Although my reaction was a bit dull, after watching for so long, I could see some clues. Calmly and faintly smiling, I said: "Although I don't know how the winter melon offended you, but it's useless. He now likes Ruoxi, using me to provoke him is completely the wrong approach. You'd better stop, you really look like a child."

  "Hah! You didn't disappoint me, you're quite clever, interesting!" He raised the corner of his mouth, his big hand wrapped around my shoulder, I twisted my body but was still firmly fixed in his arms.

  "So, can you forgive him? Donggua admires you so much, even if he made a small mistake, you shouldn't punish him like this. As the leader, you should have the demeanor of a leader!" I tried to push him away while reasoning with him.

  "It's none of your business." He gripped me tightly, his voice cold once again.

  "You're wrong, Winter Melon is my brother, his affairs are mine too. If you want me to compensate for his mistakes, I have no complaints. But if you want to harm him, I absolutely disagree, I will definitely work hard to protect him!" I said clearly and firmly.

  "It's impossible for me to forgive him. You're dead set on it, do you think you can stop me just because of you?" The cold tone and fierce gaze.

  He turned back into the devilish man I first met, as if every time he mentioned Ji Dong, his eyes would fill with endless hatred.

  I really can't ignore his blatant emotions, I want to know what kind of hatred he has fallen into, which made him change so much: "Did he take away your first love? Or did he betray you and make you lose a lot? Or... or... are you just jealous?" I kept guessing the possibilities, his icy face gradually dyed with anger.

  "His mother snatched away my dad, and made me become a fatherless person just like him." A loud roar burst out from his lungs, his eyes filled with painful expression, without any concealment, exposing in front of me, making my heart also ache intensely.

  Then he pushed me hard again, and I stumbled and fell onto the cold ground. My heart ached as I looked at him, still standing there with his head hung low. I managed to catch all the sorrow in his eyes, even more intense than that night at the dance party. As if possessed, I got up and rushed towards his back, tightly wrapping my arms around him from behind. His heart was actually very fragile, and at this moment, except for me, no one else could give him a warm hug and comfort.

  I felt his body tremble slightly, but he didn't shake me off again. Gradually, his breathing calmed down, and he moved slightly again. I secretly let out a sigh of relief, but suddenly realized that my behavior was very shameless. I quickly let go of him and turned my face away. My slow-reacting heart finally started racing. Good grief! How could I have taken the initiative to throw myself at him? I must be crazy!

  "I stuttered nervously: 'I... I'm sorry! I... didn't mean to...'"

  A soft chuckle came from beside him: "Heh! I still love seeing your flustered expression."

  I looked at him in disbelief, his change was too sudden. Just now he was still in so much pain, but immediately he recovered as if nothing had happened. It seems I really was worrying for nothing. However, the look on his face just now didn't seem fake, maybe he's just being stubborn.

  I gazed into his deep eyes: "Suit yourself, if you really think I have any use value, why don't we make a deal?"

  He raised an eyebrow and looked at me with great interest, waiting for my next words.

  "That's a grudge between our fathers' generation, you shouldn't drag Ji Dong into this. If you really want to take it out on someone, come after me! I'm willing to take the punishment for him!"

  No wonder Ji Dong's expression was one of hatred when he mentioned his mother, he must have felt very guilty towards Ze Yu and also very painful. How could I bear to see him being bullied by Ze Yu again? Moreover, I couldn't help but worry about Ze Yu either. Recalling the night of the dance party, the person who had died in his heart was probably his father. This boy with a severe attachment to his family would not easily open up his heart knot. A strange feeling arose from the bottom of my heart, since I had already taken this muddy water, I might as well take it all the way.

  "Hmph! Are you going to atone for his sins?" His eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if my words had enraged him, and he stepped forward quickly to grasp my shoulder, his fingers increasing in strength until they pinched my shoulder painfully. "Alright, from now on, you must absolutely obey me!"

  "I want you to be my girlfriend, a real one." He whispered in my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine.

  What does it really mean? Is it asking me to perform more thoroughly, more realistically? Although it's hard to maintain myself when facing him sometimes, I'll still try my best to do perfectly.

  "You have to promise me, not to make any moves in front of Ji Dong again." Ji Dong and Ruo Xi's feelings are just starting to warm up, I don't want Ji Dong to make any more extreme moves because of me, nor can I let Ruo Xi get hurt again.

  "Huh? Didn't you say he didn't like you, and yet you're still afraid of this?" He let out a cold laugh, slightly lowered his head, and stared straight into my eyes.

  "Don't worry about this, it's just my one condition."

  Stars twinkled in his eyes, and with a casual nod: "I promise." Great literature.