Chapter 203: Delicate Dodder Flower

“Ah!”

That was so unexpected that Xiang Wan gave a squeal. She got so shocked that her heart almost stopped.

She turned around with an icy expression. She was fuming mad when she saw Bai Muchuan’s dashing face actually had a smile on it.

“You scared me!”

“Do I look so frightening?”

Bai Muchuan lowered his head with a puzzled look and placed his hands on her shoulders as he wanted to talk. At the same moment, Xiang Wan got up from her seat.

Her original intention was to hit him a few times on his chest and wanted him to coax her. So, she lifted her head while standing up at the same time as he was lowering his head. That caused the two of them to come face to face with each other. Their lips were less than two centimeters away from each other. They could hear each other’s breathing as well as their heartbeat, which seemed to be on the same frequency…

His eyes were twinkling like the stars, bright and starry.

As both of them looked into each other’s eyes, Xiang Wan could not help feeling flustered. Her heart was racing as though a deer was thrown into a tizzy.

His eyes were looking at her left and right.

On her left, it was her bed.

“Bai Muchuan…”

As the saying goes: although one might not have eaten “pork”, one would surely have seen pigs walk.

Weren’t all those hot, sizzling, censored scenes from the romance fiction novels happen under such circumstances?

Moreover, it was said that men were animals propelled by their lower body. The moment they have the feeling, self-control would be zero.

Oh no! Oh no!

Xiang Wan was flustered. She felt as if a thunderstorm was brewing inside her!

Don’t act recklessly! She pleaded inside her head. She was worried… worried that she might lose control and let him do whatever he wanted.

“Your face… something’s on your face?”

Bai Muchuan’s gaze paused on her face, and then his hand took something from her face.

“…”

The scene had changed so abruptly that Xiang Wan found it difficult to accept.

She hesitated for at least two or three seconds before she heard her own faint inquiring voice.

“What is it?”

As Bai Muchuan held his fingers together, she did not manage to see what was the thing on her face.

“Fur…” He said with his low, husky voice.

“?” Xiang Wan was slightly confused.

“A single strand of fur.” Bai Muchuan’s eyes formed a squint.

“…” Xiang Wan gave a quiver, her sweet little face rapidly flushed red.

When she looked at Bai Muchuan gazing at his fingers seriously, she gritted her teeth and suddenly had an urge to strangle this man who was seriously scrutinizing what he was holding on his finger.

“What strand of fur? If it’s a strand of hair, it’s a strand of hair…”

“Huh?” Bai Muchuan retorted her, “Hair is hair, fur is fur, how can it be the same?”

“!” Xiang Wan felt that she might collapse anytime if she continued arguing about this. “Fine, whatever you say,” she gave him a shove. “I need to wash up now.”

Bai Muchuan placed the little white fur in his palm. He touched it and then blew on it gently before shrugging his shoulders innocently.

“Well, if you must say that it’s a strand of hair, then it’s a strand of hair. Hm, it’s a strand of white hair from the white eyebrow Master…”

“…” Xiang Wan felt as if she was about to explode.

He was right. That was really a white fur.

She didn’t know if the fur had come from the soft fur of her clothes or quilt. It must have stuck onto her face when she was concentrating on her writing.

And she actually wrangled with Bai Muchuan over this matter.

What exactly was she concerned about?

Her face started to show an unusual shade of red. Bai Muchuan narrowed his eyes as he studied her.

“Little Xiang Wan, you’re so not innocent!”

“…” Xiang Wan gritted her teeth. “Young Master Bai, it’s time for you to scram back to your bedroom.”

“You’re so unfriendly.” Bai Muchuan grunted. “That’s not how you should behave while you’re in a relationship.” He suddenly turned to look at her bed. “I don’t want to sleep alone.”

“… You’re using the same excuse again?” Xiang Wan look at him defensively, both of her hands on her chair. Her body leaned backward as she tried to increase the distance between them, not wanting him to come close. “The one who’s not innocent should be you!”

“Hm.” Bai Muchuan took a deep breath and suddenly held her tightly by the waist. “Both of us—are not innocent.”

The air was as though suddenly cramped and constricted.

Xiang Wan found herself in a rather strange position.

He did not move whereas she could not move. After staying still for a while, Xiang Wan’s heart was about to jump out of her throat.

“I…” Finally she plucked up enough courage. “But I feel that today’s a little late? Why don’t we… just rest for the day? If you really can’t sleep, why not try counting sheeps or something like that…”

“That’s a good suggestion,” laughed Bai Muchuan, who took a glance at Xiang Wan’s Peppa Pig pink bedsheet and revealed a meaningful smile. “I can count pigs too.”

“You—you’re annoying!” Xiang Wan raise her hand and hit him. “Stop joking all the time!”

“I’m not joking.” He suddenly spoke in a low tone, “Xiang Wan, I’m serious.”

Xiang Wan bit her lower lip as she looked at his face that was right in front of her. Her voice was as though blocked by cotton wool, unable to say a single word.

Bai Muchuan patted her head as he looked at her solemnly before suddenly pulling her over to him, embracing her tightly. “Little Xiang Wan,” he said slowly, burying his head in her neck, “I don’t want to be alone.”

“…”

How would he be alone?

Her bedroom was just next-door to his.

“Xiang Wan.” He called out to her again.

His tone was steady and cool, and his words seemed to only reach her ear after travelling a long and arduous journey.

“Don’t chase me away. I’ll just sleep on the sofa.”

“…”

How would the sofa be more comfortable than the bed?

A lot of doubts popped up in Xiang Wan’s head. She really couldn’t understand what Bai Muchuan was thinking…

If he really wanted to take advantage of her, shouldn’t he be brazen and shameless enough to squeeze with her in one bed?

Yet, he only asked for—a sofa.

“Bai Muchuan…” Somehow, Xiang Wan had a feeling that the man who buried himself in her neck seemed a little emotional. “Something on your mind?”

“No.” Although he sounded a little hoarse, his tone was firm. “I want to see you when I open my eyes.” He said this in a smiling tone with a tinge of tiredness.

“…”

Like he said… more important than she thought.

She asked, “Why?”

“So I’ll feel at ease.” Bai Muchuan looked at her. “That I’m still alive.”

Xiang Wan tilted her head in wonder as she observed him.

“What do you mean by that you’re still alive?”

Bai Muchuan did not utter another word.

“I can feel that you have a story inside your heart. But, unfortunately for me…” Xiang Wan puffed a sigh. “I’m not inside your story. Clearly, you don’t want to share it with me yet. And it seems to me that, I shouldn’t ask about it as well.

“However, I fell in love with you and I wanted to have a future with you. I feel that maybe we can try to communicate to learn more about each other’s lives. We can talk about our past and the kind of environment we grew up in? When we understand each other more, we can be more sure if we are right for each other…”

Bai Muchuan did not say a word but narrowed his eyes when he looked at her.

Xiang Wan felt slightly uncomfortable and flicked her hair out of habit. “This will also help when we have conflicts in the future… we don’t have to try too hard.”

She spoke from the bottom of her heart. She wanted to let him know how she felt.

“This is how I feel. It might not be mature, but you are welcome to add on.”

Bai Muchuan remained silent for quite a while when he suddenly chuckled. “Xiang Wan, you’re really calm.”

“Hm? Is being calm not good?”

“When you are calm and able to analyze your relationship, it simply means your emotional involvement is not enough.”

“…” Xiang Wan moved her lips and found herself at a loss of words.

That sure sounds reasonable , thought Xiang Wan.

The one who put in more feelings would be unable to stay calm.

“I’m calm because I do not want to be hurt in the future. It’s not that I did not put in enough feelings.”

“Maybe.” Bai Muchuan did not seem to be able to understand her point, but he cupped her face and gave her a gentle kiss. “You are subconsciously influenced by your family that when looking for a marriage partner,” he smiled. “You want to find someone that fits your conditions and are of decent, reputable background…”

“What are you saying?” Xiang Wan’s expression changed drastically. “I only like you.”

“Same for me,” replied Bai Muchuan in an instant. He stared into her eyes and laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that what you’ve said is a bad idea. On the contrary, I quite agree with you. The world has many temptations for you, and there are countless possibilities in the future. Reducing the risk of marrying the wrong man is the best choice for a smart woman…”

“So, are you smart?” Xiang Wan raised her chin slightly. “What did you consider when you choose me?”

“Me?” Bai Muchuan looked at her coolly. “There’s none. Xiang Wan, I don’t know if I can give you the love you needed, but I can promise that—as long as I like you, my life belongs to you.”

“…”

Why did he talk about life in such a manner?

This sounded too grave and serious!?

Xiang Wan was perplexed and amused at the same time. “So you’ve said all these so that you can sleep in this room for the night?”

“Hur.” Bai Muchuan grunted a laugh as he swept another cool gaze at her bed. “I won’t touch you until you’ve accepted me fully. Don’t worry, I’ll sleep on the sofa!”

“…”

It was said that a girl would usually be melodramatic and pretentious to the extreme for her first time.

Xiang Wan felt hot and numb inside. She was at a loss of what to say.

There was a sense of awkwardness in the silence.

A moment later, Xiang Wan muttered, “I admit I do have some concerns, but I do accept you…”

“Oh.” Bai Muchuan looked serious as he nodded. “So are you saying that I… can?”

Oh gosh! Xiang Wan’s face felt hot and she glared at him.

“Just be glad you can sleep on the sofa. I accept you as my boyfriend, but I won’t just…” She paused for a while and nodded her head, as though she was accounting for herself. “At least we should wait till both of our families recognize our relationship, right?”

Love is a matter of two people.

But marriage is a matter that concerned two families.

For both of them, it was a relationship with marriage in mind.

“I understand,” Bai Muchuan looked at her, “so, I respect you.”

“Thank you!”

“So can I sleep on the sofa tonight?”

“…” This fellow, why did he keep mentioning the sofa?

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“Xiang Wan—” Bai Muchuan squinted his pair of crystal clear, peach blossom eyes which could easily make one lost in his gaze, and difficult to gather enough courage to refuse him. “I have to go back to the Capital tomorrow to take care of some business. It’s going to take several days. Are you sure—you bear to kick me out tonight?”

His sudden change of topic stunned Xiang Wan.

He’s leaving tomorrow? Why only tell me now…

Xiang Wan looked at him quietly and gave a sigh.

“Alright.”

“You’re so obedient—come, let me give you a hug.”

“…”

Bai Muchuan spread his arms and Xiang Wan leaned toward him slowly.

This time, he embraced her very carefully.

For a long time, nobody talked.

But there was no hanky panky business.

“…”

They were separated by each other’s not so thick clothes. Xiang Wan’s homewear clothes felt a little warm, and she was not wearing her bra. Hence, she felt a little awkward to be held by him like this.

She gave a cough, looked up at his chiseled face, and struggled a little. “Bai Muchuan…”

“Hm?” He lowered his head to look at her. The temperature in his breath seemed to have risen. “Why? You want?”

“…” This fellow seemed to really like flirting with her.

Xiang Wan felt that the little fox inside her heart was about to stretch out its tail.

She rolled her eyes and said, “I want-t—” To wash up and rest for the day.

She did not manage to finish her words when she felt the grip around her waist tighten, and before she could react, Bai Muchuan’s face pressed down toward her. She felt a glimpse of a shadow over her head when a hot kiss fell on her mouth like a raindrop, drowning her voice and conquering her lips. Her knees felt weak as if she was stepping in the void—she could only cling on to his shoulders tightly, like the weak and delicate dodder flower.

“Xiang Wan…”

“Hm.”

“I want too…”

“I wanted to say…”

“I know.” Bai Muchuan’s dark-colored eyes were scorchingly bright. The smile at the corner of his eyes felt like blanketing seaweed that entangled her heart.

Next, he pressed his thumb on her lip where he caressed it gently, cupped her face, and kissed her so intensively with a fervent urgent need that she had never known before.

…

Is there a man who purely depended on a woman emotionally that he couldn’t live without her?

While taking a bath in the bathroom, Xiang Wan stroked her almost swollen lips that he kissed earlier while she kept thinking about the question.

Bai Muchuan’s outburst of feelings to her that night was no doubt, abnormal.

After studying books on psychology for a long time, Xiang Wan more or less understood the topic better. When coupled with her strong sixth sense, it was easy for her to distinguish the abnormality in his mood…

She was also able to clearly determine that the change occurred after he awakened from his nap.

Did he have a nightmare?

Xiang Wan recalled the times where she woke up in the middle of the night due to nightmares—the loneliness and emptiness she had felt then. Gradually, she was able to empathize with him.

Although this fellow had a heart of steel, there might be some things that he could not get over with?

When Xiang Wan finished bathing, she noticed that Bai Muchuan was leaning on the sofa with his eyes closed. It seemed that he had fallen asleep again.

He haven’t washed up yet!

She wanted to wake him up, but before her voice came out of her mouth, she swallowed them back.

Just let him sleep! Don’t worry about him.

She took her hair dryer and went outside her bedroom to blow dry her hair before climbing to bed and did some surfing on her mobile phone.

Second Young Master Mu’s “The White List” had not updated for a long time. His reviews and comments page were filled with all kinds of comments and spams. Readers gathered daily to reminisce deeply about their beloved author who had gone missing in action. The atmosphere at the reviews and comments page were so lively that it felt like a huge community with all kinds of comments that keep emerging endlessly. Tens of thousands of comments and replies that stacked tall like “high-rise buildings” were as though everywhere…

Such popularity, such influence, and the cohesiveness of the fans…

Xiang Wan was envious as well as adored him. Nevertheless, she was also vexed from all the waiting as Second Young Master Mu failed to update day after day.

Who didn’t like money? There was so much money for him to earn, but he could actually have the heart to fail to update everyday!

Xiang Wan was complaining inside her head when she heard Fang Yuanyuan’s voice.

“Sis, are you asleep?”

Xiang Wan was startled and quickly sat up on her bed. She swept a glance at Bai Muchuan who was sleeping on the sofa before she made her way out gingerly and closed the door.

“You’re back?” After Xiang Wan asked that question, she smelt the odor of alcohol on her. “You’ve drank wine?”

Fang Yuanyuan’s cheeks were red as tomato. She rested an elbow on Xiang Wan’s shoulder and sniffed her. “Didn’t you go for a dinner gathering?” She grinned, “Don’t tell me you didn’t drink wine?”

“…”

Yes, Xiang Wan drank wine as well.

But she had been back for quite a long time already. Moreover, she had already taken a bath, the smell of alcohol was long gone.

Looking at Fang Yuanyuan’s intoxicated look, Xiang Wan frowned as she helped her to sit on the sofa. She also prepared a glass of honey water for Yuanyuan.

“Who did you hang out with tonight? Why did you drink so much?”

“Colleagues!” Fang Yuanyuan managed to drink some honey water although she in her drunken state. She suddenly grumbled. “Too sweet!”

“…” This girl, if she was not her cousin, she would have thrown her away.

“Sis…” Fang Yuanyuan leaned in close with a wide grin and glanced toward Xiang Wan’s bedroom. “You let him sleep inside your room? You two…” She put up a finger each from both hands to make the contact action, wearing an ambiguous smile. “Slept together?”

Xiang Wan: “… We didn’t.”

It was obvious that Fang Yuanyuan did not believe her. Xiang Wan was too lazy to explain about this as well and asked about her directly.

“Where have you been up to today?”

Recently, Fang Yuanyuan was not her usual self; she was constantly in an abnormal state of excitement.

Ever since that day she gave Huang He a tight slap at the main entrance of the Criminal Investigation Unit, she never mentioned his name again. From then onward, she would always stay out late with all kinds of excuses. She would have dinner with someone or a gathering with another; her middle school friends, high school friends, university friends… she didn’t let her grade school friends off, either.

Now, it was her colleagues’ turn.

Xiang Wan was a little distrustful of her.

“Yuanyuan, this is supposed to be your private life and I shouldn’t be interfering. But recently, the way you’re behaving, I feel that you shouldn’t be living like this. Even if we are hurt, we have to look forward and move on. There will be better men waiting for you, agree?”

In actual fact, when Xiang Wan said this, she had thought of Huang He.

The tip-off that Bai Muchuan received that day… there was a high chance that Huang He was the informant.

Xiang Wan really could not think of another person being the informant besides him.

Since Fang Yuanyuan liked Huang He so much, she wanted Yuanyuan to leave some leeway for herself as both of them might still get a chance to be together. Hence, she wanted to persuade Yuanyuan not to behave too recklessly lest she regret it in the future.

However, Fang Yuanyuan laughed the moment she heard that. She pulled Xiang Wan down on the sofa and started to talk.

“You know, I met a great guy tonight. He’s definitely much better, a lot better than him!”

WIth the mention of “him”, Fang Yuanyuan gnashed her teeth.

“Who does he think he is? He’s nothing. Hmph—” After Fang Yuanyuan said this, she smiled at Xiang Wan with vindictive pleasure in her eyes. “Guess where I went this evening?”

“…” How would Xiang Wan know where she went?

“Grand Orchid Pavilion!” Fang Yuanyuan let out a self-satisfied smirk before exhaling heavily. “That great guy I met… he’s rich, good-looking, and definitely better than him in every aspect… I went there deliberately. I want to piss him off.”

“…”

Huang He had gone back to work at Grand Orchid Pavilion when he got out of the detention center.

Xiang Wan only came to know about this a few days ago while they were still investigating Zhou Dequan’s case together with Bai Muchuan.

At the same time, she also got to know that Huang He was still together with Tian Danyue.

What’s the point of Fang Yuanyuan bringing other men to drink there?

What did she want to prove? Did she want to find out who’s the most distressed and who’s the most heartbroken?

“… I’ll piss him off. Let him die of anger, *sshole, this *sshole…”

Fang Yuanyuan continued cussing. Not sure if it was the effect of alcohol or she was suddenly overwhelmed with sadness as her eyelids drooped, and her head lolled forward…

Hence, Xiang Wan held her shoulder and she saw the tear-streaked face of a young woman as well as a grief-stricken smile.

…

An intoxicated Fang Yuanyuan made such a racket in the living room.

But strangely, Bai Muchuan must have slept like a log for he did not come out of her room.

In a way, that was a relief for Xiang Wan as she could take care of Fang Yuanyuan fully. She helped to clean her face and got her a change of clothes while Yuanyuan was yelling deliriously about in her drunken stupor. After that, Yuanyuan wailed on her bed, letting her tears flow freely as she cussed Huang He over and over again…

…

“I’m in so much pain. Sis, my heart is dying in pain.”

…

“We’ve promised that we’ll never give up on each other. We’ve promised that we’ll only have each other in our lives.”

…

“We’ve promised that he won’t mind me being plump and I won’t mind him for being thin…”

…

“He promised that I’m his first and only woman… Why? They’re all lies! Lies!”

…

“I’d rather die. If I die, I won’t feel so sad… but I can’t. I can’t take it lying down and I can’t bear to part with my mom…”

…

“I saw that woman today. She’s so vampish like a temptress. He’s still working there. She sized up the men while drinking there… she would throw flirty glances at men who looked at her… Why did he like a woman like her? He’s not afraid of being cuckolded?”

…

“Hahah! The b*tch is indeed a match with the dog, everlasting and unchanging…”

The mention of “everlasting and unchanging” made Xiang Wan thought of the note “everlasting and unchanging” from the WeChat red packet in her mobile phone.

She looked at Fang Yuanyuan who was half-drunk and half-awake. After staying silent for a long time, Xiang Wan finally spoke her mind.

“His indifference to the woman’s vampish behavior has proven one thing.”

“Hm? What is that?” Although Fang Yuanyuan had been drowning her sorrows in alcohol, her ears were still good.

Upon hearing that, she raised her tearful eyes and looked dolefully at Xiang Wan.

Xiang Wan patted Yuanyuan’s head and ran her fingers through her hair. “It means that he doesn’t love her.”

Fang Yuanyuan’s eyes went agape all of a sudden. She stared at Xiang Wan as if she was suddenly enlightened and got up from her bed without saying a word.

“I need to go find him. I want to find out if he loves me… Sis, he loves me…”

“Yuanyuan!” Xiang Wan hugged her to put a stop to her madness. “You need to sober up first. You can always wait until tomorrow to ask him.”

“No, I want to go to him now—” Fang Yuanyuan took a look at her but realized that Xiang Wan was looking sternly at her. She suddenly covered her face with her hands and cried bitterly, squatting beside her bed. “Actually, I know that he loves me… I saw his eyes. When I was drinking with other men, he will look at me just like that… he look at me… he kept looking at me… he loves me…”

Fang Yuanyuan started to sob uncontrollably with her shoulders moving in rhythm as she cried. She was so grieved that she couldn’t control herself and sat directly on the ground.

“But… why did he not want me anymore… he don’t want me anymore…”

…