69novels 063. Pulling and tugging
063. Pulling and tugging
"Why...why?!"
Lorenz let out a hysterical roar, his voice a mixture of anger, surprise, disappointment, and endless sorrow.
His hands gripped Eve's shoulders tightly, his knuckles turning white, as if only in this way could he prevent himself from losing control on the spot.
Eve's silence was like a dull knife, cutting into his heart again and again.
Hearing the heated argument inside, Xin Lai felt even more at ease.
He didn't go in to get involved; he just leaned against the wall, arms crossed, quietly listening to Lorenz's broken roar—the sound of a young man's beliefs shattering.
That's just how reality is sometimes.
It often takes many years of refinement for a young man to grow into a wealthy, powerful, well-connected, capable, and responsible man.
To shed the naivety of youth and acquire the composure of manhood, one must experience setbacks, swallow grievances, and get up on one's own after each fall.
Unfortunately, most beautiful love and joy occur during the innocent and ignorant period of adolescence.
Back then, with the support of their respective families, they loved each other unrestrainedly, passionately, and wildly.
The vows made under the moonlit flowers need not consider the mundane realities of daily life; the warmth of holding hands is enough to ward off any winter's chill.
However, such love will soon be destroyed once it loses the support of a material foundation.
This is why many 18 or 19-year-old girls are attracted to so-called "older men" after entering society.
This is a value reversal.
What we yearn for but cannot obtain in our youth is called adolescence. Only when we become men do we feel entitled to enjoy the youth of girls.
Teenage girls often choose to abandon the boy who was on the same starting line as them and turn to the arms of a man in order to gain more security, more material support and fewer worries.
This is indeed betrayal, but it's not about right or wrong; it's just the cruel law of reality.
Fortunately, although Xinlai was young, she was rich and powerful.
This also explains why seemingly perfect love stories often happen in wealthy families.
When material things are no longer an issue, love can retain its original form.
Xinlai didn't linger. She went to the garden alone, found a quiet spot, and sat down to wait.
The moonlight spilled onto the lake, shimmering like scattered silver.
He crossed his legs, one hand casually resting on his lap, the other hand on the back of the chair, his fingertips tapping lightly.
Like a wise man who sees through everything, he looked at the little white rabbit covered in wounds and pitifully walked into the garden.
Then, without realizing it, she looked up and her pair of purple crystal-like pupils met those bright eyes, one gold and one blue.
The air seemed to freeze at that moment.
"Xin...Xin Lai..."
Eve looked somewhat haggard, her head was down, her eyes were red, and she couldn't help but avoid eye contact when she saw Xinlai.
Her eyelashes trembled slightly, like fine powder falling from a butterfly's wings, carrying a certain fragile beauty.
Xinlai didn't speak, but just stared straight at Eve. An invisible pressure spread in the air, amplifying Eve's guilt infinitely.
One second. Two seconds. Three seconds.
Every second of silence was like a pebble thrown into the lake of her heart, creating ripples that spread outwards, making her increasingly panicked.
Eve walked slowly to Xinlai in her high heels, each step feeling like she was stepping on a knife's edge.
"Why is our lovely Miss Eve here later than me?"
Xinlai's tone was indifferent, as if she were questioning someone, yet it also revealed disappointment and a sigh.
His gaze shifted from Eve to the distant lake, as if she were no longer worthy of his attention.
It was this disappointment that momentarily threw Eve into a panic.
"Xinlai, it's not like that, let me explain..."
Eve looked at Xinlai with sincere eyes, her hands hanging helplessly in front of her, like a little girl who had been punished, carefully fiddling with her fingers.
The caressing of her fingertips revealed her restless anxiety.
"Explain what?" Xinlai scoffed, her tone implying "I misjudged you," without giving Eve another second glance.
"Explain why you went to see Lorenz?"
Xin Lai's tone carried a hint of self-deprecation, and a faint, bitter smile even appeared at the corner of her mouth. "Or should I explain why you came to see me again?"
"I……"
"Since you were willing to abandon me to go find Lorenz, he must have a way to help you get revenge, right?"
As she spoke, Xinlai rose with a sense of relief, slowly and deliberately straightening her clothes; every movement exuded a sense of detachment.
"In that case, let him help you find your things. I'll be going now."
Without giving Eve a chance to speak, Sinley brushed past her shoulder and walked away.
But the moment he turned around, a victorious smile appeared on his face:
He knew that some prey, the more you let go, the more they will chase after you.
Before I had taken two steps, I felt a soft hand gently pull my forearm.
The hand was cold and trembling slightly, yet it was clenched unusually tightly.
Xinlai feigned anger and turned around, ready to give Eve a good "lesson":
"How can you be so greedy? You want him, but you also want—"
Before he could finish speaking, Eve had already pressed herself against him.
He gripped Xin Lai's arm tightly with one hand to prevent him from leaving, while pressing his other hand against his chest and slightly tiptoeing.
Her breathing was rapid and hot, and her eyes held a desperate determination.
"Hmm."
She silenced Xinlai with a kiss.
The kiss was light, like a feather falling on water, yet it stirred up a storm in her heart.
Her lips were icy cold, and the moment they touched, even she didn't know what it meant—was it a plea to stay, a gamble, or something else entirely?
Xin Lai pulled her away coldly: "What are you doing?"
His voice was completely flat, as if the kiss just now was nothing more than an insignificant accident.
Eve's face had never felt so hot.
She never expected that she would act impulsively and kiss Xinlai in an attempt to keep her.
To my surprise, when I finally took the initiative, Xin Lai pulled me away!
Shame and resentment surged up at once, burning her eyes until they stung.
But she could clearly feel Xinlai's anger, or rather, she could feel the suppressed rage behind his deliberately maintained indifference.
"You! You bastard!" Eve cried out in a flustered voice, her tone already trembling with tears. "You won't listen to my explanation, and you're going to abandon me! What do you mean by this?!"
She stomped her foot, her high heels clicking crisply on the stone pavement.
Seeing Eve stamping her feet in frustration, gripping his arm even tighter with her hand until her nails were almost digging into his sleeve, Xinlai raised an eyebrow dismissively.
After seemingly pondering for a moment, he spoke as if bestowing a gift:
"Fine, I'll give you a chance to explain. Go ahead."
Eve pouted, tears welling in her eyes, and told Sinlai everything that had just happened between her and Lorenz.
She recounted Lorenz's questions, gave her own answers, and described the arguments and scuffles.
As he finished speaking, his voice trailed off, as if he had finally realized something.
"I don't want to go find him, it's just..."
"What is it?"
By the time Eve came to her senses, she was already in Xinlai's arms, but she didn't struggle at all.
She didn't even realize when she was pulled there; she only felt a warm breath envelop her, dispelling the chill of the night wind.
"Yes……"
She realized that what she was about to say was the answer to the question she had asked that morning, and she was so embarrassed that she couldn't say it.
Those words were like a piece of candy, burning sweetness on the tip of the tongue, yet impossible to spit out.
"You bastard!!" In desperation, Eve tried to use this seemingly fierce remark to get away with it, but Xinlai covered her mouth with one hand, preventing her from saying anything more.
"What is it? If you're satisfied, I won't hold it against you."