novelI Couldn't Hug You Properly While We Were Outside Just Now
| ← Ch.135 | Ch.137 → |
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
"It isn't embarrassing! I like him and there's no need to be ashamed of liking someone!" exclaimed Yan Zhiqing.
Yan Beicheng scoffed."It's no wonder you and Lu Weining are so close, you're both equally shameless. All you both care about are whether you like it, you don't care about what other people feel. Even if that person hates you, you don't care because you only care that you like him, am I right?"
Yan Zhiqing shuddered as her face went pale.
"Now, Wei Zilin is being polite to you because he's giving me face, but if you provoke him too much, he won't be giving face to anyone and even I won't be able to help you then. You're still young so have a bit of shame, " said Yan Beicheng.
"You always say how I have no rights to interfere in your relationship with Lin Chu, yet you come and interfere in mine?" roared Yan Zhiqing.
Yan Beicheng gazed at her coldly, his black eyes frosty like ink that had been poured upon unmelting ice. She shuddered at his gaze as her stubbornness slowly chipped away.
"Lin Chu and I reciprocated each other's feelings so we're in a relationship. Could you tell me how exactly is your wishful thinking a relationship then? We like each other and we're not causing other people distress by being together but you're making Wei Zilin, making our family, making everyone around us annoyed. That's the difference." Yan Beicheng coldly continued, "You say I'm interfering? I wouldn't have cared if you had bothered someone else, but I won't let you bother my friends. Yes, I am interfering in this matter. If you don't think you can continue staying in B City, then go back to Ning City! Isn't your college entrance exams less than 2 months away? You'll still need to go back when that time comes."
"I'm not going back!" shouted Yan Zhiqing. Her grip around the edges of the leather seat was so tight that squeaking could be heard.
"If that's the case, then behave yourself. Don't you dare think I'm just making an empty threat." Yan Beicheng squinted and said, "If something like this happens again, don't even think that you'll be as unrestrained as you are."
Yan Zhiqing shuddered once more before suddenly bursting in tears."Elder brother, are you my actual elder brother? As an elder brother, shouldn't you be helping your younger sister! I like Wei Zilin, so you should be helping me and creating an opportunity for me to be with him by letting me meet him and introducing me to him properly. You shouldn't be disgusted by me, making me seem like I'm some shameless woman and constantly scolding me! How could you do this to me!"
Yan Zhiqing sobbed hysterically, her tears flowing freely down her face.
As an 18-year-old young lady, youth was her best makeup, yet Yan Zhiqing did not understand this at her age.
Although the makeup on her face was exquisite, her youthfulness still shone through the best when she had none on.
Her crying had caused her mascara and eyeliner to clump together, so now it seemed like she had two massive ink stains on her face. Even saying she looked ugly now was an understatement.
Anger rose in Yan Zhiqing as she watched Yan Beicheng and his chilly attitude. Suddenly, she waved her fists as if wanting to hit him.
However, she couldn't be better than Yan Beicheng, who swiftly caught her wrists in a tight grasp before flinging them away without hesitation. Yan Zhiqing's back thudded loudly against the car door and she yelped in pain.
Yan Beicheng merely spared her a cold glance before he calmly got out of the car without a word.
Once the car door closed, Yan Zhiqing hit the chair in front of her in anger, crying and shouting as she did.
She was his younger sister, yet he was helping his friend and his girlfriend and ignored her completely!
Yan Beicheng got out of the car without any expression and Shao Huai came over. Yan Beicheng calmly said, "Send her to the family mansion personally."
"Yes, " replied Shao Huai with a nod before entering the car.
When he entered, Yan Zhiqing was still crying. Afraid that she might cause a scene, Shao Huai carefully locked the car doors so that she would not be able to open them.
"Let me out!" exclaimed Yan Zhiqing behind Shao Huai.
Shao Huai remained indifferent to her outburst and said nothing in response. Yan Beicheng had already told him that no matter what Yan Zhiqing said, he need not reply or care about, he just needed to act as if he did not hear her.
"I said let me out, are you deaf!" roared Yan Zhiqing, yet Shao Huai continued ignoring her.
"You're nothing more than a driver, yet you're acting so daringly!" Yan Zhiqing was completely beside herself with anger."Are you all looking down on me? My elder brother isn't helping me and even embarrassed me in public. Lin Chu didn't bat an eye at me too, so you're all looking down on me!"
Her anger grew even more as she spoke. Suddenly, she grabbed the bag next to her and smacked Shao Huai's head with it.
Shao Huai said nothing but instead suddenly stopped the car. As he evaded Yan Zhiqing's flurry hits, he quickly pressed a button that activated the partition between the front and back seats of the car.
Thereafter, the entire world fell into silence and Shao Huai continued driving.
...
Yan Beicheng idled about outside his office building to calm down. His reflection could be seen reflected in the windows of the building and he realized that he looked quite unsightly.
Fearing that he might scare Lin Chu, he quickly took out his phone to check his appearance. He relaxed his facial muscles, pulled his lips into a smile that was maintained for a while before returning after he felt that he finally looked decent enough.
Noticing that Yan Zhiqing was no longer behind him, Wei Zilin raised his eyebrows.
Yan Beicheng sighed before he spoke."The matter with Zhiqing, she's caused a lot of trouble for you and I'm sorry. I'll keep a watch over her but she has to go to school sooner or later, so I can't guarantee that I'll be able to keep my eye on her 24/7 so that she won't run-off. Once her stubbornness acts up, she disregards everyone, so you don't need to give face to me. She won't be coming to look for you for the time being. But if she does so in the future, don't hold back from scolding her. Reject her how you would reject any other woman. There's no need to act all polite just because she's my younger sister."
"Being cruel to her and letting her understand the truth is better than letting her continue her obsession, " said Yan Beicheng, his brows furrowed, obviously because of how troubled he was by this whole incident.
"I understand, " said Wei Zilin with a nod.
Lin Chu caught sight of Yan Beicheng's irritation and, without caring about Wei Zilin's presence, quietly took a hold of his hand and squeezed it lightly.
Yan Beicheng lowered his gaze to see the expression of concern on Lin Chu's face.
Her delicately clear face was looking up at him, and he was completely reflected in her defined eyes.
Her clear and calm temperament was like refreshing spring water that had been poured over his body. Suddenly, he did not feel so irritated anymore.
"I'm fine." Yan Beicheng smiled and continued, "Zhiqing was making me quite annoyed, but I'm fine."
He lifted his hand and ran his trimmed fingers through her long hair, sparing a single glance at his watch as he did so."It's getting late, I'll take you to dinner first."
"Aren't you in a hurry to go back to the company? You're quite busy today, right?" asked Lin Chu.
He seemed to be in high spirits he arrived, but his face was exhausted from work. Nobody knew what he was so busy about until the fatigue showed on his face.
"Since I'm already out, I might as well eat with you before going back. It won't be much of a difference, " said Yan Beicheng.
He had already eaten while he was in his meeting before, so he was about half-full now. Yan Zhiqing had made him quite angry, so he did not have the appetite but he was worried that Lin Chu was hungry.
Zheng Yuntong had already left with Shen Zongyi, so she would be alone otherwise, which was something he could not feel at ease about. He was afraid that she would eat simply and not eat properly.
Yan Beicheng was worried that Lin Chu would not eat properly just as Lin Chu was worried that Yan Beicheng would only think about working and nothing else. He had only eaten a few mouthfuls at lunch, and he did not care to eat a lot as well, so she was worried that he might tire himself out sooner or later.
Therefore, she did not insist on her stance and agreed to go eat with Yan Beicheng.
Just as the pair of them left, Yan Beicheng realized somebody was behind them. He turned around to look and saw Wei Zilin trailing them from behind.
"..." Yan Beicheng stopped walking in annoyance and sneered at Wei Zilin, "Why are you following us?"
Wei Zilin said nothing."..."
Was it okay for someone who had just apologized properly earlier to show such annoyance to the same person they had apologized to now?
"I was frightened by your younger sister just now, " said Wei Zilin blankly.
"..." Yan Beicheng clicked his tongue."Off with you. I want to have dinner with my girlfriend, don't join us as a third wheel."
"..."
Where was the promise to be good friends?
Lin Chu looked at Wei Zilin, who was standing alone and felt guilt tugging at her heart.
The handsome and upright Second Master of the Wei family was currently standing alone before them, the very picture of pity.
Yan Beicheng was unwilling to have Lin Chu focus on another man for so long, even if the man was his friend, so he quickly pulled Lin Chu away."Stop staring, he's just putting on an act."
Lin Chu said nothing."..."
Was it truly okay for him to treat his friends this way?
Yan Beicheng tugged at Lin Chu's hand and said, "I have a business dinner tonight so I can't come to pick you up. I'll have Shao Huai drive you home instead."
"Aren't you very busy lately?" Lin Chu's attention was diverted and she forgot about Wei Zilin.
Yan Beicheng nodded before he started talking about work.
Although Lin Chu could not offer any help, he was still willing to share about his work with her. He did not need her help, he just liked this feeling of intimacy.
It was nice having someone close to him listen to him talk about work and life because they cared about him. They were like husband and wife, both talking about the happenings in their life, both understanding one another.
After strolling for a short distance, they went into a nearby restaurant and ordered a few simple dishes.
As she listened to Yan Beicheng talk, Lin Chu still felt slightly troubled because she could not offer much help. Things like collaborations that Yan Hui was currently in were things she could not touch at all, let alone business deals Yan Hui was fighting for.
All she could think of was to let Yan Beicheng be less busy with her matters since he was busy enough already.
The pair ate a simple meal, and despite Yan Beicheng trying his best to hide it, Lin Chu could tell that he was eating quite hurriedly.
Once they were done with their meal, Yan Beicheng sent her back to Lin Yi, where Shao Huai was waiting at the entrance.
Noticing Yan Beicheng and Lin Chu's return, he went up to them and said, "Master Yan, I have sent Miss Yan back. Old Master Yan and Old Madam Yan have already been informed as well."
Since the two elders of the Yan family already knew, then Yan Zhiqing would be watched closely. Although Shao Huai did not say anything, Yan Beicheng understood clearly.
"I'm going in now, you can go now, " said Lin Chu.
She felt slightly down since she could not help him, the most she could do was to not hold him back for too long.
Yan Beicheng glanced at Shao Huai and the man retreated a distance away without a sound.
Lin Chu found their exchange weird so once she retracted her gaze from Shao Huai's retreating figure, she turned to look at Yan Beicheng in confusion.
"Follow me into my car." Yan Beicheng took hold of Lin Chu's hand, his defined fingers slowly taking the space between her fingers.
Lin Chu blushed and glanced around them to discover that Shen Zhongyi and Zheng Yuntong had returned.
Zheng Yuntong was slightly slow, so she did not realize Lin Chu's awkwardness at first. She was still waving happily at Lin Chu and was about to go up to her when Shen Zhongyi pulled her back.
He pulled her to the side by her wrist and Zheng Yuntong immediately blushed, though she had no idea why she felt slightly embarrassed. She looked around and released that a few colleagues from Lin Yi were looking at them and suddenly realized the situation she was in.
"What are you doing?" Zheng Yuntong attempted to break out of his grasp.
To no avail, Shen Zhongyi's grip remained tight around her wrist, his skin like fire against hers. He was so warm she was getting goosebumps and her face flared up as red as an apple."You... Let go of me!"
"Can't you see they're both in their little world? Don't run up to them and butt in." Shen Zhongyi pulled her into the office building before his grip around her wrist loosened.
Zheng Yuntong quickly retracted her hand and the smoothness and softness in his palm were gone in a flash. All Shen Zhongyi felt now was a sense of emptiness, like he had lost something.
His deep black eyes stared at her hand, which she had clenched into a tight fist out of nervousness, that hung by the side of her leg. He suddenly felt like going up to her to catch her clenched fist in his palm once more.
His long fingers twitched slightly, but he held himself back. To prevent himself from acting on impulse, he coughed dryly into his closed fist and said, "Whatever it is, don't you go over to bother them."
"I... I understand." Zheng Yuntong felt shy and embarrassed for unknown reasons. Her face was as red as a tomato, making her originally clear face charming and full of seduction.
The charming red spread to her hairline and blended into her soft hair.
Shen Zhongyi's deep eyes darkened and he had to resist reaching out to touch her soft hair.
"I'm leaving now, you should go back... to work too." Shen Zhongyi said dryly before suddenly turning around, his actions stiff and unnatural.
Although he did not smile much usually and most of the people working at the company, regardless of gender, all thought he was too serious, that did not mean he was a blunt person. On the contrary, as Wei Zilin's assistant, he worked efficiently and handled things smoothly. He knew how to change his attitude depending on the people he was with.
This was the first time he had spoken so bluntly since he had no idea what to say exactly.
After he had walked a fair distance, he started getting annoyed. Why had he changed the topic of conversation suddenly, what if Zheng Yuntong misunderstood him?
He placed a fist by his face. He did not know what was going on with himself; why was he treating Zheng Yuntong like this?
Zheng Yuntong has been working in this company for quite a while, and they have always met frequently before yet he had never felt anything special toward her.
However, why has he been losing his calm recently? If one were to call this fondness bred from familiarity, why is it not happening to anybody else?
Every time he met Zheng Yuntong, he could always ignore that slightly strange feeling in his heart before, yet he could not ignore it at all now.
Now that he thought about it, since when did these feelings began?
Probably... probably since the annual meeting.
As Shen Zhongyi pondered about it, he had returned to his office without knowing it. Once he snapped out of it, he grew perturbed again; he did not know what Zheng Yuntong thought of the way he treated her just now.
On the other hand, Zheng Yuntong did not think much of it. She merely felt that this Shen Zhongyi who had suddenly turned blunt and was still serious was the usual Shen Zhongyi!
...
After Zheng Yuntong left, Lin Chu could not fight against Yan Beicheng and was dragged into his car.
Realizing that Shao Huai was standing a short distance away, she felt embarrassed.
"I couldn't hug you properly while we were outside just now." As Yan Beicheng spoke, his hot hands were already attached to her waist as he pulled her into his lap.
Behind her was the front car seat, in front of her was Yan Beicheng's sturdy chest, and the car door was next to her. Lin Chu felt like she was trapped with nowhere to run to.
Noticing the dark eye circles, Lin Chu touched them forlornly, the tips of her fingers running lightly against the thin skin beneath his eyes."I'm sorry, I can't help you much with work."
Perhaps this was why rich people preferred to organize marriages with other families that were of equal social rank. Since every one would have a wide network of contacts, whenever either family needed help with work, the other family would be able to offer help.
Unlike her, who could only watch in vain.
Although she did not say it, her worries were etched into her face, and Yan Beicheng understood her thoughts immediately.
His thick and luscious eyebrows furrowed to the middle as if he was angry, as if he wanted to punish her. His hands that were holding her waist started squeezing her.
However, once Lin Chu frowned because she was uncomfortable, he felt his heart ache and he immediately loosened his grip, choosing instead to massage her waist.
Once his hands reached her back, he pushed her into his embrace and hugged tightly.
His lower abdomen felt hot to the touch, but Lin Chu did not shy away even though she was trembling in his touch. Under his serious gaze, she did not dare raise her head.
She felt like a child who had done something wrong, but she did not know what she did wrong.
It was rare for her to see Yan Beicheng so serious. He had always treated other people like this, but never her.
The hands that were originally on her back now ran its hot fingertips along the erotic curves in her back until it reached the back of her neck, to which it then moved to hold her face.
"I don't need any help with everything I'm dealing with at work. If I need to rely on the help of others to accomplish things, then that means I have a problem with my capability. I would be the one that cannot run Yan Hui and does not deserve to be the President of this company. If that's truly the case, then I should just step down so that I don't embarrass the Yan family. If I need help, the old man's network is bigger than anyone else's so I don't need the help of my in-laws." As Yan Beicheng spoke, his slender fingers pinched her nose lightly.
"So, I don't need any help from you with work. I'm not having the old man help me, nor will I ask anyone for help. You don't have to worry about not being to help me with work because I don't like a woman that is always pointing fingers at my work either. All you have to be responsible for is loving me." Yan Beicheng lowered his head to give her a peck on the lips before he asked, "Are we clear?"
"It hurts me to see you so tired." Lin Chu rested against his shoulder, her forehead snug in the curve of his neck."I think I'm quite useless because I can't do anything to help you."
"You understand me, you don't blame me for working and not spending time with you. Unlike some people who would think themselves clever and think negatively of my work. You don't act on your initiative by doing things that you assume will benefit me. You've always trusted me, and you are my biggest pillar of support. Perhaps you don't know this, but what you're doing right now is what I like the most and that is what helps and supports me the most."
Lin Chu said nothing in reply and instead wrapped her arms around his waist pulling him into a tight hug.
Yan Beicheng lowered his head and their eyes met. His warm lips started planting kisses from the corner of her eye to her lips. As he did so, he said, "I'll be going out drinking tonight so I won't have much of an appetite. Cook some soup for me, I'll drink it when I come home."
"Okay." Lin Chu's lips pulled into a smile. As long as he liked it, she would not get upset over anything.
His promise that he'll drink the soup when he came home felt particularly warm and affectionate.
Yan Beicheng gave her light kisses from the corner of her lips to the middle, his tongue slowly but surely entangled with hers. He whispered huskily, "Being with you means I want to make you happy and not have you worry. When it comes to working, not everything is a success. Some business deals happen while some fall through, the most that I can do is put my everything into all that I do. Even if it fails in the end, it has nothing to do with you. All this worrying you're doing for me will only make me feel even guiltier."
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