Free Web NovelChapter 64: Ch 64: Reluctant Hands
The rich aromas of the finished courses still lingered faintly in the air—savory broth, roasted duck, and spiced goose—but the atmosphere between Su Wanyan and Mo Xingxue had shifted into something heavier, more fragile.
The two sat in silence for a while, each busy with their own thoughts. Su Wanyan looked at Mo Xingxue, her expression full of complexity, her heart mirroring the turmoil. Mo Xingxue felt her chest thump heavily, her breath growing ragged as she saw the look on Su Wanyan’s face.
A wave of fear washed over her—this moment felt dangerously close to the painful memory from the amusement park, when harsh words had driven a wedge between them and Su Wanyan had walked away.
Su Wanyan was merely stunned by the sudden reaction, but she quickly suppressed the painful memory. The past should stay in the past, she thought firmly. Clearing her throat and pushing down her complicated feelings, she smiled at Mo Xingxue with her usual gentle warmth. "What’s wrong?" she asked, her tone returning to its familiar soft and worried cadence.
Mo Xingxue looked at her, and her breathing slowly calmed as she realized Su Wanyan wasn’t planning to leave. Relief flooded through her, though she was still a bit taken aback by how quickly Su Wanyan had recovered. After all, Su Wanyan had always been the more emotional one between them. It’s been years since we’ve been apart, Mo Xingxue reasoned.
Although she hasn’t changed her crybaby nature, she must have developed better ways to handle stress. After thinking about it logically, she pushed the matter to the back of her mind. Instead, the words "I’m sorry" rose up in her throat.
She saw Su Wanyan’s right hand still resting on the table and stretched out her own left hand to clasp it. But just as their fingers were about to meet, Su Wanyan pulled her hand away.
Mo Xingxue froze. Su Wanyan herself looked surprised by her own action, eyes widening slightly. She hadn’t wanted to pull away at all; her body had reacted before her mind could catch up.
Realizing her mistake, Su Wanyan immediately stretched her hand back toward Mo Xingxue’s. "Sorry," she murmured softly, voice full of regret.
Mo Xingxue was shocked by what had just happened, feeling her heart drop to her stomach. When Su Wanyan apologized and Mo Xingxue felt warmth enveloping her hand, she snapped out of her stupor. "No," she said with a shaky breath. Realizing how it sounded, she quickly corrected herself. "No, it’s okay. I’m the one who’s at fault.. I’m sorry." Her words came out hurriedly, afraid Su Wanyan would misunderstand.
Su Wanyan looked at Mo Xingxue’s disheveled state and felt a deep wave of pity. She glanced at the glass of red wine still sitting on Mo Xingxue’s side of the table and understood. Mo Xingxue must have remembered that night.
In the original story, Gu Chengze had handed her drugged red wine to "toast" her rising career before taking advantage of her.
The complicated feelings Su Wanyan had felt earlier dissolved into protective anger. That... trashy male lead, she thought. Su Wanyan’s left hand clenched tightly under the table as she fought back fresh tears. I should’ve punched him more. But now wasn’t the time to cry. She looked at Mo Xingxue’s teary eyes and hardened her heart, pushing her own emotions down.
Her expression softened into something even gentler and softer. "No, you don’t have to say sorry," Su Wanyan said warmly. "It’s not your fault." She brushed her thumb gently over Mo Xingxue’s knuckle.
Mo Xingxue’s heart warmed at the touch, and her eyes stung with fresh tears. She still hadn’t told Su Wanyan the full truth about what happened and how Mo Yan came to be, but she felt like Su Wanyan already understood on some level. Still, Mo Xingxue knew that was impossible—it was simply the result of Su Wanyan’s never-ending kindness and understanding.
Suppressing her tears, Mo Xingxue felt an urgent need to tell Su Wanyan everything as soon as possible. As for what would happen to Gu Chengze once Su Wanyan found out.... Mo Xingxue didn’t care. What mattered was coming clean with her alpha and telling the truth about the past.
Mo Xingxue swiftly turned off the mic clipped to her collar, causing the fans watching the stream to go into chaos, demanding the staff order them to turn the mics back on. Fortunately, the crew following them had stepped away to the kitchen to promote Tianze, so no one was there to intervene. freewebnσvel.cøm
"I—" Mo Xingxue started, but she was immediately cut off by the sudden ringtone.
Su Wanyan was also taken aback by the call. She retrieved her phone from her pocket and glanced at the screen. It was one of the original owner’s co-workers—technically hers now too. Su Wanyan looked at Mo Xingxue apologetically and gently released her hand. "Sorry, I’m just going to take this call," she said, already starting to stand.
But just as she was about to walk away, Su Wanyan felt someone tug on her sleeve. It was Mo Xingxue, looking up at her with panicked eyes.
Su Wanyan was taken aback by the look—she had never seen it before, not in the original owner’s memories and certainly not in her own experiences. "What’s wrong?" she asked, her tone gentle, momentarily forgetting about the co-worker on the line who could potentially need her for an emergency.
Mo Xingxue was also surprised by her own actions, but the sight of Su Wanyan standing up and leaving had triggered the painful memory from the amusement park. Hearing Su Wanyan’s question, Mo Xingxue decided to be brave. "Stay... Stay with me," she said, looking at Su Wanyan desperately. "Don’t leave me again.. please." Her voice grew smaller and smaller with each word.
Fortunately, thanks to Su Wanyan’s enhanced hearing, she caught every murmured syllable. Su Wanyan smiled softly and patted Mo Xingxue’s head gently. "Sure, I won’t leave," she said. Feeling her words needed more weight, she continued, "I’ll stay here... with you."
Mo Xingxue felt her eyes water again, but her heart filled with overwhelming joy and relief.
Seeing that she had reassured Mo Xingxue, Su Wanyan finally remembered her co-worker. She answered it, turning her back slightly to the camera for privacy. "Hello?"
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The night market, surprisingly bustling even in the bright daylight hours, stretched out before Han Jiho and Qin Yuran like a vibrant tapestry of colors and scents. Stalls lined the wide pedestrian street under colorful awnings that fluttered gently in the breeze. Strings of lanterns swayed overhead, their warm hues mixing with the natural afternoon sunlight to create a lively, festive atmosphere.
The air was thick with the mouthwatering aromas of street food—sizzling grilled meats, fragrant spices, steaming dumplings, and sweet candied fruits. Vendors called out cheerfully to passersby, while shoppers wandered leisurely, chatting and sampling treats. It was a hybrid market indeed, open all day but retaining that lively, nocturnal charm through its decorations and energy.
Han Jiho and Qin Yuran walked side by side, each holding a stick of juicy, perfectly charred kebabs. The meat was tender and flavorful, coated in a savory sauce that left a pleasant spice on the tongue. Qin Yuran swallowed her bite and looked around, unable to hold back her curiosity. "Why is this place called a night market when they are open during the day?" she questioned, tilting her head in genuine confusion as she took in the bright surroundings.
Han Jiho gave her a flat look that clearly said just shut up. Qin Yuran immediately fell silent, her expression turning obedient under his stare. Seeing her like that, Han Jiho couldn’t help but let out a low chuckle. "They’re a hybrid type, duh," he answered, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Qin Yuran wisely ignored the sarcasm and hummed thoughtfully. "I see."
The two fell into a comfortable silence again, simply enjoying the peaceful stroll and the lively atmosphere around them. They wandered past various stalls, eyes scanning for new food options that might catch their interest.
Because they were walking so closely, their hands kept brushing against each other accidentally. At first, they could ignore it, but after it happened three more times, the awkwardness became impossible to dismiss.
Qin Yuran wisely slipped her hands into her pockets, playing it cool. Han Jiho looked at her in amusement and chuckled softly. Then, remembering her earlier story about never having held an omega’s hand, he stretched out his own hand. "Here," he said, offering it to her plainly.
Qin Yuran looked at him in confusion, wondering if he had finally lost his mind. Han Jiho felt his annoyance rise and barely held back the urge to smack the back of her head. "You haven’t held an omega’s hand yet, right?" he said, deliberately hitting on her nerves.
Qin Yuran’s mouth twitched, but she remembered she was trying to be a gentlewoman and held back any sarcastic remark. Instead, she retorted, "No thanks. The only omega’s hand I’ll hold is Song Meiyu’s." After she said that, her eyes shone brightly with determination.
Han Jiho looked at her with a hint of approval, but wanting to tease her further, he suddenly pulled her hand out of her pocket and held it firmly. "Oops, my hand moved on its own," he said in a deadpan, dry tone.
Qin Yuran’s feet halted, her eyes twitching. She immediately tried to pull her hand back, but Han Jiho’s grip was surprisingly strong. What is with his monstrous strength?! she lamented inwardly, feeling her alpha pride take another hit. She couldn’t help but think of her good buddy Zhao Yichen and pity him. You’re pursuing a monster, bro.
Perhaps sensing her thoughts, Han Jiho’s hold tightened. "You’re thinking about another rude thing, aren’t you?" he asked, suppressing his annoyance.
Qin Yuran immediately shook her head. "No! Of course not! How could I?" she said, feeling the blood drain from her face. Ouch, ouch, ouch, she thought. She turned her head to the side, looking aggrieved, but still managed to send a silent wish to her friends. I hope Zhao Yichen and Su Wanyan have better date experiences! Qin Yuran prayed desperately.
But remembering who Zhao Yichen was paired with, she quickly took it back. Nevermind Zhao Yichen. I hope Su Wanyan is having a nice date, she thought sincerely.
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Before y’all bite the living daylights out of me, this was AshesOT’s idea... I’m innocent, I swear! Also, I can finally do the time skip, yay!!!
