Chapter 27: Never Seen Anyone Like You Before
Everything went much more smoothly after that. Xi Mintang was in great spirits as he drove, and Xiaoxiao asked, “Do you do this often?”
“Of course not. Too many points docked. But you did well—I thought you’d be screaming the whole time, but you were so calm. Did you have fun?”
Xiaoxiao came to a realization; this wasn’t just about having fun. Xi Mintang was facing fines and points on his license. She started to regret running into him tonight and dragging him into this mess for no reason. Her smile faded completely.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She replied in frustration, “I’ve never met anyone like you. If I put it nicely, you’re chivalrous; if I’m blunt, you’re reckless. If I’d known it would come to this, I’d have just broken the rule myself. I really regret it now.”
Xi Mintang laughed heartily, “Well, I’ve never met anyone like you either. Most people scramble for the benefits, but you rush to take the penalties. It’s strange—how does such a good girl get tangled up with someone like that?”
“Hmm? Who do you mean?”
“Oh, nothing, just talking,” Xi Mintang said offhandedly. Xiaoxiao realized that his wisdom lay in knowing when to stop. She knew perfectly well he was talking about Lin Shuo, but he didn’t press her about her feigned indifference. It took a certain mastery to turn a blind eye like that. Just his refusal to gossip earned her deep respect for his detachment.
“Just stop here—the alley’s too narrow to turn around,” she directed him. After Xi Mintang parked, she thanked him several times. He poked his head out to look at the supposedly narrow alley, smiling but not exposing her intentions; he understood she simply didn’t want to get too close to him.
As she got out of the car, she said politely, “Let me treat you to a meal some other time, if you’re free.”
“Are you cooking?”
“If you’re not afraid of food poisoning, I don’t mind,” she replied.
Xi Mintang nodded enthusiastically, “All the more reason to try. Look at us—we’ve been hit by a sign together, acted in a play together, and now we’ve broken traffic rules together. It would be a shame if we didn’t get food poisoning together too.”
His overwhelming optimism was infectious, and Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but smile. She truly enjoyed his sense of humor.
Her good mood lasted until she fell asleep. In the middle of the night, she was startled awake by her phone ringing. Ever since her father was hospitalized, she dreaded late-night calls, always fearing the worst. Without even checking the number, she asked anxiously, “Has something happened?”
There was silence on the other end, which only made her more nervous. Her heart leaped into her throat—usually, silence meant an unspeakable pain. She tried to steady her breathing, her eyes brimming with tears that threatened to fall at any moment.
“It’s me.” The cold voice on the other end chilled her to the bone. In the darkness, she could almost see his eyes from that night, burning with intensity. She shivered involuntarily.
“Open the door,” Lin Shuo commanded, and then hung up.
She knew Lin Shuo was standing outside her door. She wasn’t sure if, should she refuse to open it, he would lose his temper and kick the door in. But one thing was certain—she didn’t want to cause a scene for everyone to know about. Pulling on her coat, she tiptoed to the door; it felt as if she could smell the tobacco on him even through the wood.
She opened the door just a crack. Before she could see his expression, he shoved the door forcefully from outside. She staggered back several steps; he pressed forward, relentless. She didn’t know how much strength he used, but when her back slammed into the wall, pain shot through her bones.
He braced his hands on the wall, trapping her so she could only face him. His kisses rained down on her like a storm; her coat fell to the floor as he tore it off. In the small space, she did her best to evade him, but suddenly he stopped and let out a cold laugh. Startled, she dared not move.
Do Not Speak of Love in Lonely Hours - Chapter 27: Never Met Anyone Like You Complete!