A Heart-Racing Dare - Chapter 3
I said nothing. My heart ached and tightened. The dim streetlamp left most of Zhaobei’s face in shadow, making him look so vulnerable it hurt to see. When he turned his head, I caught the faintest glimmer of tears in his eyes.
That did it. I wanted to punch Shen Xu into oblivion.
I sniffed, stepped forward, and wrapped my arms around Zhaobei’s waist. “Shen Zhaobei, that’s not true. You’re wonderful.”
[Oh, Zhaobei’s had such a sad life.]
[It’s all right, Zhaobei. You’ll forget that snowy night someday. Your Xia—your summer—is here.]
[Hold on, stop crying. Is it just me, or is this sly fox doing it on purpose?]
[Nonsense. Wouldn’t the heroine know if he were scheming? He just loves her too much.]
Exactly. Wouldn’t I know? Sob. He just loved me too much. How could that be a fault?
He went stiff for a moment, then awkwardly put an arm around my waist. The back of his hand touched my forehead. “Xiaxia, what’s wrong? Are you feeling ill?”
I shook my head, rose on tiptoe, and kissed him with a little uncertainty.
“Shen Zhaobei, let’s be together. Tomorrow we’ll go to your family and settle the marriage, all right?”
He stared, too stunned to answer. Oh, right. My kisses short-circuited his brain. I waited patiently. One, two, three.
“All right.”
Warmth like spring sunlight filled his eyes. I found myself staring. Then he pulled me close and held me without a word for a long time. The wind died down. In the quiet, there was only the gentle mingling of our breaths.
I let him hold me, then wondered if he was crying. I patted his back. “Don’t cry.”
His soft laugh sounded beside my ear. I rubbed it self-consciously. He was so close. I would have to get used to that.
The next day, I felt a little nervous as we knocked on the Shen family’s door. After all, the choice of partner for this alliance lay with them. I put on my most well-behaved smile.
“Uncle, Auntie—”
I looked up into Shen Xu’s face. My smile disappeared. “Move.”
Instead, he stepped forward and blocked the doorway completely. “Well, you were pretty bold yesterday. Jiang Xia, how long did you think you could keep up the act?”
“I’m not here for you. Move.” My voice was cold. He seized my wrist, pinning me close, his smile careless.
“Done with your little performance? Did you really think that would make me change my mind and fall in love with you? Jiang Xia, you read too many novels.”
The comments exploded.
[Step aside, the fortune-teller’s here. Shen Xu, you have the destiny of a jerk. Next!]
[Can somebody add a tipping feature? I want to tip him a slap.]
[And here comes the question: Shen Xu, why are you so unbearable?]
I frowned in disbelief. He was the one who had read too many novels. I’d barely said a word, and he’d staged an entire drama by himself.
The grip on my wrist suddenly vanished. Before I could react, Shen Xu hit the wall in an undignified heap, his face livid. Another pair of arms gathered me in. Zhaobei adjusted his cuff, smiling without a trace of warmth.
“Shen Xu, you’re a grown man. Do I really have to teach you to keep your distance from my fiancée?”
Shen Xu could only sit propped against the wall. He looked up in disbelief. “Fiancée? Are you fucking serious, Brother? You believe her lies? You’ve barely met her! Ask anyone how long she’s chased me. She’s just playing with you.”
“And if she is?” Zhaobei’s tone was mild, but there was menace in the way he approached his brother. “I would still choose her.”
This was going somewhere ugly. I hurriedly clung to his arm. “Zhaobei, wait!”
At my touch, his hostility vanished. He stood docilely and let me fuss over him. “I’m sorry, Xiaxia. I haven’t taught him better.”
It was a serious problem. I leaned toward his ear and whispered, “Don’t hit him here. Next time we’ll do it in secret—find a quiet spot and throw a sack over his head.”
His eyes lit up. He nodded.
[Ha! I love this villainous couple!]
[I’d contribute one slap.]
[Make that two from me.]
[No hitting him at home, but secretly? Absolutely!]
[Sweetheart, you’re a little cake that bites!]
