C23 Overbearing But Gentle

Du Xiaoxiao didn't want to cry. She didn't want to be classified as weak in front of the man she despised, but no matter how many times she tried to stop herself, her tears just kept coming.

"Don't cry." Gu Tianqi frowned in confusion. "It's okay now."

"I...It's not like I want to cry!" She shook her head, clenching her jaw. Did he think that she wanted to cry in the first place? Grabbing the suit around her body, she turned away. "I just can't help myself...I can't stop them from falling."

Her body was completely out of control. Her throat was hurting, and she could feel her eyes already throbbing from all the tears she had shed. She trembled in front of him, unable to look up.

"Calm down...You'll hurt yourself if you continue to cry like this." He tightened his hold on her shoulder.

Did he think she didn't want to stop? However, just as she was about to snap back, she felt her legs suddenly go weak.

However, before she could slide against the wall, he immediately held her in his arms.

He stared at Du Xiaoxiao for a long time. Her hair was in disarray and her teeth were chattering. He could even see dried blood on her chin, and he let his thumb wipe that away. There was an unexplainable pang in his heart.

"Du Xiaoxiao, I won't be taking advantage of you–this is just to help you calm down, okay?" He slowly took a step forward. He waited for her to say anything, and when she didn't, he slowly leaned in for a kiss.

She allowed him.

Gu Tianqi licked the corners of her mouth as his hand stroke the back of her hair. This kiss was different from before. There wasn't any heat or lust, instead, it was warm and gentle.

She could feel him steadying her as his fingers ran up and down her hair. It was as if he was calming her through his lips rather than through his words. A few seconds had passed, and he finally pulled away.

"Don't be afraid, okay?"

She slowly relaxed under his grip. When he finally pulled away, her face turned beet red. "Thank you," she murmured, unable to look him in the eye. "I'm fine now. That was...yes..."

She felt slightly better so she removed herself from his grip. Although she still appeared flushed, she had finally steadied her footing.

However, just as she was about to get up, he held her waist.

"Don't move," he whispered. His voice was slightly deeper than normal. "You're fine, but I...just give me a second."

What? She blinked. However, when she felt something poking her back, she froze.

She didn't need to be a genius to know what it was. The moment she felt it in her back, she immediately jumped forward.

"Let go of me, I want to get up," she murmured.

Gu Tianqi raised his eyebrows. "You really have no conscience," he teased. "I saved you, and you turn against me?"

"I..."

What did he mean by turning against him? Was she the only one feeling awkward and embarrassed in this situation? She turned away, unsure of what to do.

She shivered.

"I can't help you with that," she stuttered.

"You can clearly help."

Who else could help him? His right hand? He certainly didn't want to do it himself.

Du Xiaoxiao was speechless. The air had cooled all around her as she blinked, feigning ignorance. She didn't even want to say another word. It was far better than doing what needs to be done.

Gu Tianqi looked around, forgetting about their previous conversation. The dark alleyway was an ominous sight, and his lips curled. "This place...you won't be able to forget it that easily," he slowly said. "It will leave a shadow."

It had. As he was saying it, the man's face flashed in her mind, and she fell silent. Her body started trembling all over again as she leaned against his arms. While she didn't say a word, her actions said enough.

"It will leave a shadow in your heart, but all you have to do is overcome it." He held her. "You'll soon forget about meeting him here."

"You say it so easily, but how can you forget such a terrifying thing?"

"I can help you forget." He stared at her deeply. "The only thing you need to remember tonight is me...and you..."

"I..." She paused. "What should I do?"

What was she supposed to do?

Her breathing had become rapid, and she could feel her heart racing in her chest.

There was an unbearable tension between them. An inexplicable emotion clutched her chest, and she could feel herself trembling beneath him. "Should we–uhmf–"

Before she could finish her sentence, she had already kissed her deep in the lips.

His arms wrapped around her waist as he pulled her close against his chest.

The alley was covered in darkness, and all they could hear were two distinct voices. They seem to be groaning as they grind against each other's bodies. The woman pulled him even closer.

"I...Should we do it here?"

"I'll handle it." He was a little overbearing, but there was a sense of gentleness in his words–which was different from the last time they had encountered each other.

After an unknown amount of them, the two finally came out of the alleyway. There wasn't anyone around but the two shadows striding down the street. If one could look closely, one could see her beet-red face.

Du Xiaoxiao held his shirt close to her. Her legs were still a little sore from the scene they had caused back at the alley.

What the hell had she done?

Was she crazy?

What was she even thinking?

Du Xiaoxiao staggered, but just as she's about to fall, Gu Tianqi immediately grabbed ahold of her. "You can't even stand properly," he lectured. Traces of concern flashed in his eyes. "I'll carry you to the car."

"There's really no need. I can walk on my own," she hurriedly replied.

However, he simply ignored her resistance and carried her bridal style.

Rather than being reasonable with this woman, he might as well just do it directly. Besides, she always refused him at every turn, even if she needed help in the first place.

"You always say no, but when I start doing it, you don't even complain," he murmured almost fondly.

"I..." She scowled.

Please, he was the one who had wanted to do it, not her! Even then, as he was carrying her back to the car, she couldn't help but feel differently towards him. There was a little warmth in her heart that wasn't there in the first place.

He was differnt.

Ever since he had saved her, it was as if her walls started burrowing down.

All her resistance towards him weakened.

After carrying Du Xiaoxiao into the car, he sat on the other side.

Just then, she immediately thought of Du Hengyu. Had he gotten home? If he did, then he'd definitely be worried when he'd see her like this. She paled at the thought and she hurriedly grabbed his arm.

"Don't talk for a second," she said. "I'll just call my brother. If he's at home, I can't go home like this."

"You have a brother?"

She nodded. "Ever since my parents passed away, it has been just the two of us."

The scene yesterday played in his mind, and his eyebrows rose. "How old is your younger brother?"

"He's in college, so he might not be home tonight." She shrugged. "But I still need to ask."

Ah, so the guy he saw yesterday was her younger brother.

If they were to depend on each other ever since they were kids, then it was obvious why they'd be so close with each other. It really wasn't that big of a deal. His face softened.

"Call him." The corners of his lips rose. "I won't speak."

She nodded, dialing his number. "Hello, Hengyu," she said once the phone was picked up. "Are you home?"

"No." There was a short pause before he asked, "What's wrong? Did something happen?"