Chapter 68

Chapter 62: Tension Builds

Wen Liang gave a rough outline of Liu Zhihe's plan. The more Zuo Yuxi listened, the angrier she became, especially when she heard that Bai Huan and the others intended to drug the girl. The coldness in her eyes was chilling even across the coffee table. Wen Liang got up and sat beside her, knowing that since that night, Zuo Yuxi had become extremely sensitive and deeply resentful about such matters. He softly comforted her, "We know about it now, so they won't get away with it. Don't worry, people do things, and heaven watches. Those who commit sins will never be forgiven..."

Zuo Yuxi gave a bitter smile and shook her head, "The truly guilty in this world have always lived well."

It was easy to imagine that after such humiliation, not only could she not take revenge, but she could only watch the masterminds live freely. Given Zuo Yuxi's character, her frustration and anger were understandable. Wen Liang squatted down, held her hands, and placed them on his incredibly elastic thighs, feeling her slight warmth through the thin pajama pants. "So, for some things, if heaven doesn't do it, we will. For some people, if heaven doesn't care, we will! We must leave some justice, otherwise, if I lose hope in this world at such a young age, wouldn't that be very sad?"

Zuo Yuxi looked down at the young man's face and suddenly realized that in just three months, Wen Liang had shed much of his naivety and immaturity. His every move exuded the unique charm of a mature man. His deep, black eyes were as warm as jade, his straight nose exuded a heroic aura, and his thin lips were tightly pressed together. His healthy skin made him seem full of vitality. He was a boy with a gentle smile, but also a man with a solid presence. Zuo Yuxi leaned down, her cool forehead touching Wen Liang's, and they remained like that, unmoving for a long time.

Somewhere along the way, only in front of Wen Liang did the famous cold beauty of Qingzhou's political circle reveal her innermost softness. This unconditional trust was invaluable and worth cherishing for a lifetime.

The familiar music of the news broadcast began, and the standard Mandarin of Luo Jing and Xing Zhibin woke the two. Wen Liang leaned close to her ear and whispered with a low laugh, "If you don't let me up, I'll fall into your arms."

Zuo Yuxi, tickled by his breath, tilted her head and laughed, "Go ahead, see if you can fall. I know kung fu..."

Wen Liang's hands on her thighs tightened as he tried to stand, but his legs, numb from squatting, suddenly gave way, and he fell forward. Zuo Yuxi, already weakened by Wen Liang's playful teasing, screamed and tried to block him with her hands, but ended up being heavily pressed onto the sofa.

For a moment, the sound of the TV disappeared, and everything around them seemed to vanish. In the large room, the only things they could feel were their pounding hearts and each other's warmth. Lying on the sofa, one leg straight and the other bent, her long black hair cascaded to the floor, her eyes half-closed, and her lips slightly parted, her face and neck were flushed with a captivating red. Wen Liang bit his lip hard, using all his willpower to roll off her and sit on the floor, breathing heavily. Zuo Yuxi calmed down, sat up, and straightened her disheveled clothes. After a moment, seeing Wen Liang sitting with his back to her, she chuckled and kicked him lightly with her bare foot.

"Brat, you're getting bolder. If you do it again, watch out for me... hmpf!"

Hearing this nickname that belonged to Xu Yao, Wen Liang sighed and turned to grab her ankle, smiling, "What will you do? What will you do?" His fingers tickled her foot, and Zuo Yuxi giggled, kicking him a few times. Both were masters of controlling their emotions, and with deliberate effort, the awkward atmosphere was quickly dispelled.

It was already dark outside, and Zuo Yuxi's stomach growled. Wen Liang realized how quickly time had passed; it seemed they had only spent a short time together, but three hours had already gone by.

"It's too late. Let's go out and find a place to eat."

Zuo Yuxi suddenly became interested and said excitedly, "How about we go to the supermarket and buy some ingredients to cook? I haven't cooked in ages."

The more he understood Zuo Yuxi, the more he felt for her. During the seven or eight months since Zuo Jing left, having a home-cooked meal must have been a luxury for her. Not wanting to dampen her spirits, Wen Liang snapped his fingers and said, "Let's go, let's go, to the supermarket!"

Zuo Yuxi jumped up like a little girl, ran to the bedroom, and changed into a light yellow plaid long-sleeved shirt and black tight jeans. Her fresh and elegant style made Wen Liang's eyes light up. At this moment, Zuo Yuxi looked very different from her usual self, without the legendary coldness and pride, she seemed like a cute and friendly neighbor. Standing next to Wen Liang, they looked quite well-matched.

They didn't drive down the stairs but walked out together, Zuo Yuxi casually linking her arm with Wen Liang's, laughing from time to time. As they passed the gate, the two security guards looked at each other in shock, taking a while to recover. One of the taller guards said, "Is that the one from Unit 6?"

"Probably," the shorter guard replied uncertainly, "But isn't 602 the Ice Queen?"

"Ice can melt too!" The tall guard, a high school graduate who once dreamed of being a male Sanmao, said, "She smiles like the pig's feet that Old Luo just cooked, making me drunk from the inside out."

The shorter guard said enviously, "Bro, you're so cultured!"

There was a large supermarket near the Imperial Garden that had recently opened. They divided the tasks, with Zuo Yuxi buying oil, salt, and other seasonings, and Wen Liang buying vegetables and meat. They also made a bet: whoever reached the checkout first would wash the dishes that night. In his previous life, Wen Liang had lived alone in Beijing for many years. First, he lived with Tan Yu, who got lost in supermarkets. Once, he wandered around Carrefour for a long time and couldn't find his way out. By the time he bought the groceries, the worms in his stomach were starving. Later, with Liu Yan, he kicked Tan Yu out. He thought that with such a virtuous woman, buying groceries would be a breeze. But reality taught him that practice makes perfect. He painfully discovered that Liu Yan, though not lost in supermarkets, could draw a satellite navigation map after one visit. Unfortunately, she was not good with numbers, and the groceries she bought were either too much or too little, or missing something, leaving Wen Liang speechless.

Pushing the shopping cart in the supermarket again, playing the same game, Wen Liang felt a sense of time and space blurring. It seemed like this was Qingzhou, but also Beijing, and the person was Liu Yan, but also Yuxi.

After buying the food needed for dinner, Wen Liang hurried back to the checkout, glancing into the seasoning section to tease Zuo Yuxi if she was still there.

But he was stunned.

Next to Zuo Yuxi stood a refined man, with clear features and a tall stature. He exuded a strong scholarly aura and a generous, manly charm, a rare combination that made him very attractive. He was blocking the path, holding Zuo Yuxi's shopping cart and speaking urgently. Zuo Yuxi's face was full of anger, and she tried to pull the cart but failed. Just as she was about to turn away, a soft yet incredibly strong hand grabbed the cart's handle and pulled it, causing the man to stumble and release his grip.

The cart slid past and crashed into a shelf.

"Excuse me, sir, do you have a problem?"

Wen Liang rarely truly got angry, but the calmer his tone, the more intense his suppressed anger. How dare someone harass Zuo Yuxi in such a public place? Do they think a high school student isn't a protector of the fair?

"Who is he?" The refined man, humiliated by Wen Liang's strength, still managed to ask Zuo Yuxi without changing his expression, not even looking at Wen Liang.

Wen Liang extended his right hand and waved it in front of the man's face, "If you're not cross-eyed, please look here. A person with manners knows to look at the person they're talking to. This isn't even a matter of manners, just a way to avoid proving an old saying."

The refined man couldn't resist and moved his gaze to Wen Liang's face, asking, "What old saying?"

"Only a dog's eyes will look down at a person!"

Zuo Yuxi chuckled, her laughter like a blooming flower, filling the room with fragrance. The refined man stared at her, smiling bitterly, "I've known you for so long, and I've never seen you laugh at me like that. If this makes you happy, it's no big deal for me to be scolded."

Wen Liang realized his judgment might have been off. They seemed to know each other well, and this wasn't just a simple harassment. He suddenly felt a bit uncomfortable but kept his expression neutral, saying, "Sis Zuo, do you know him?"

Zuo Yuxi, who knew Wen Liang better than anyone, especially after their intimate moment, could tell what he was thinking. She gave him a playful glare, took his hand, and said, "I don't know this person. Actually, what you said earlier was wrong. Some people not only have dog eyes but also a face that everyone hates. Let's go!"

Wen Liang was pulled away, but the man still turned to give the refined man a mischievous wink. Watching the two of them walk away together, the refined man clenched his fists tightly, his eyes full of jealousy.

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End of Chapter 62