Chapter 30: Refusing a Hug Is Like the Sky Falling Down

In light of her days at the old residence, Jiang Yu deeply loathed having anyone pressed up against her. Yet, she didn’t repulse He Lian’s approach; thus, when she snuck into the man’s guest room that night, she hadn’t hesitated much before mounting him.

Perhaps it was because her hopes were pinned on this man, and as she had wished, he had brought her away.

She possessed a dependence on He Lian born from insecurity.

Giving him a hug wasn’t a difficult matter.

However, right now was absolutely out of the question.

She couldn’t hug him.

Not even for a second.

Once she hugged him, it would be endless.

Jiang Yu simply clamped her arms tightly to her sides, leaving not a single gap between her arms and her body.

He Lian had waited gleefully for a long while. When he lowered his eyes and caught sight of her subtle movement, his heart skipped a beat. He threw the towel covering Jiang Yu’s head straight to the side.

That handsome, sharp face burst abruptly into her view, forcing Jiang Yu to lean backward.

Under his semi-dry black hair, He Lian’s facial features were distinctly defined. As the overhead light cascaded down, it actually softened the unique sharpness between his brows and eyes.

Jiang Yu had to admit, He Lian was the best-looking man she had ever seen in her short life.

An exquisite physical shell.

An exquisite wildness.

But still, no.

Jiang Yu simply supported herself and crawled to the side, hugging a pillow in her arms to pretend she was going to sleep.

He Lian blinked in confusion, then pressed his lips tightly together.

It was over.

The little fool was no longer craved him.

It was over, over, over.

No hugs during the day, no lovemaking at night.

“It’s over, the sky has fallen down.”

Uttering his inner thoughts without any restraint, He Lian slumped onto the bed as if he had been sentenced to death, his heavy frame causing the bed—and Jiang Yu beside him—to bounce slightly.

Her eyes widened in disbelief as her gaze landed on He Lian’s solid back and shallow lower back dimples.

The sky fell down just from this?

She knew this matter was important, but…

Was it really this important!

He Lian rolled over and rested his forearm across his eyes. Taking advantage of the fact that Jiang Yu couldn’t understand, he muttered continuously: “It’s over, it’s over, my life is over. What’s the point of me even living?”

He had thought Jiang Yu liked him.

Yet the moment this little fool arrived in Jinzhou, she became as parched as the local weather.

He Lian suddenly recalled Shen Jin’s words.

[ So admit it, He Lian, you weren’t under any drug effect that night at all. You just saw how easy Jiang Yu was to bully and your animal instincts flared up. ]

[ He Lian, you really are a fucking beast. ]

He Lian grit his teeth slightly. Those words were truly spot on.

Whether it was the first time or the second time.

He had used the drug as an excuse to toss and turn Jiang Yu over and over again.

Looking back now…

Especially the second time, Jiang Yu hadn’t done anything at all; rather, it was him who…

A beast, a true beast.

A thick wave of guilt suddenly surged inside He Lian. Just as he was preparing to get up, a cool, tiny hand grabbed his forearm, and a soft murmur came by his ear: “…He Lian.”

The next second.

Jiang Yu saw a dark shadow spring forward, and her whole body fell backward.

He Lian supported her slender waist. Thinking he had just experienced an auditory hallucination, he became immensely excited, his eyes shining brightly.

“A-Yu? Did you call my name? You—you—you call it again!”

“…”

Jiang Yu felt as though she were being chased by a wolf.

Looking at He Lian’s left arm propping up beside her, the wound on it had only just shown signs of healing—it was likely sustained when he tried to save her that day.

Her eyes turned somewhat obscure.

She did feel quite guilty.

Whatever, come what may.

Jiang Yu reached out her arms, wrapped them around He Lian’s neck, and pressed her whole body against him: “He Lian.”

The girl’s supple arms rubbed against him. Her paper-thin, delicate skin made He Lian tremble uncontrollably. He easily pulled her into his embrace, then lazily fell back, supporting her waist with a touch of helplessness.

“A-Yu, if you’re like this, how am I supposed to make a move? You don’t understand anything, I really feel like a beast.”

Jiang Yu, who was propping herself against his chest: “…”

Living such a conflicted life.

Who would have thought He Lian actually possessed such a strong sense of morality?

He had much more humanity than she had imagined.

Ah well, this physical body was her only bargaining chip. Since He Lian liked it, she would give it to him. At least before the man grew tired of it, she would remain safe.

Besides, He Lian thought she was a fool.

And it didn’t matter what a fool did.

He Lian only saw Jiang Yu suddenly lower her head, followed by a sensation of warm moisture against his neck. As those soft lips brushed across his skin, his entire body instantly stiffened as if he were about to explode, and he couldn’t help letting out a muffled groan.

She had only done it twice, yet she learned quite fast.

“Little… little fool?”

“Jiang Yu? A-Yu! Don’t mess with me. If you keep this up, I’m gonna move! I’m no good guy.”

“I’ll count to three.”

“Three!”

“…”

Before Jiang Yu even had time to snort in her heart, her slender waist was seized by a broad palm.

Her entire body was lifted up.

The next day, as the eastern sky turned fish-belly white.

Jiang Yu was awakened by noises in the courtyard. Just as she tried to roll over, her entire body ached as though it had been disassembled and crudely pieced back together. After huddling in the blanket for a long while, she barely managed to sit up.

It really hurt.

Her bones felt like they were going to break.

Fortunately, He Lian possessed a very dominant and arbitrary nature; she didn’t need to do anything, just obediently let herself be handled.

Jiang Yu glanced at the nightstand. She didn’t know where He Lian had gotten a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, but she could tell it was children’s clothing again. Resigned, she put them on and tiptoed to the window.

The courtyard was full of men.

All neatly dressed in uniform, undergoing physical training.

Jiang Yu looked out toward the hanging clock on the watchtower outside the yard.

It was only five o’clock!

Back at the old residence, she could sleep until seven!

Jiang Yu scanned the crowd and easily found He Lian, who was practicing target shooting.

Bare-chested under a tactical vest, the man wore combat pants wrapping his long legs and combat boots on his feet. He wore no other protective gear, not even noise-canceling earplugs. Standing sideways with a gun, he pulled the trigger cleanly.

BANG!

A hundred meters away, the palm-sized paper target was pierced right through the center!

However, there was no way Jiang Yu could see that clearly; her face was almost pressed flat against the glass.

What was He Lian shooting at?

Was he shooting at Li Meng’s head?

Li Meng came running over holding the paper target. Catching a movement out of the corner of his eye, he pointed upward.

Jiang Yu then saw He Lian look up toward the second floor.

The man’s stern countenance melted into a bright, lighthearted smile the moment he saw her—devoid of his troubled look when unhappy, and lacking his wild madness from the night. There was only genuine, heartfelt joy.

Jiang Yu froze for a moment.

She mumbled awkwardly under her breath.

Who knew which one of them was the real fool?

Just as she was thinking, He Lian heard something and turned his head, seeing Shen Jin enter through the courtyard gate pulling a white suitcase plastered with My Little Pony stickers.

“You’re here?”

He Lian spoke in a casual tone.

Shen Jin didn’t answer, darting a glance toward the second-floor bedroom window where Jiang Yu stood.

Dropping the suitcase, he ran straight for the door of the main barracks.

“Fuck!”

He Lian took off in hot pursuit.

He was one step too late.

Reaching the upper floor, Shen Jin slammed open the bedroom door with a bang.

Jiang Yu, still standing in her original spot, looked at him in confusion.

Shen Jin scrutinized her carefully.

She didn’t look like a fool, though she didn’t seem particularly sharp either. He then glanced over at the messy bed and the faint bite marks on Jiang Yu’s neck, swallowing hard.

Not bringing her to Jinzhou…

Instead, keeping her in the Citadel to serve as his own source of pleasure!

What a sin!

He Lian rushed in, cursing in uncontrollable rage: “Are you fucking rushing to be reincarnated?!”

Shen Jin shook his head, speaking in utter disappointment.

“He Lian, oh He Lian… you really are a living beast!”

“You didn’t even spare your own nephew’s fiancée!”

“You absolute Cao Cao ¹ Cao Cao (155–220 AD) was a prominent Chinese warlord, statesman, and poet who rose to power during the fall of the Eastern Han dynasty. In the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao is portrayed as a villainous, scheming tyrant—summarized by his famous literary quote, “I would rather betray the world than let the world betray me.” But I think he meant “You absolute Devil!” here because of the idiom, “Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives” (the Chinese equivalent of “speak of the devil)” !”

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