Chapter 233: Cousin
Zhao Dong was startled, and his cigarette quivered. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Lin Qingyun stared at him deeply, her tone devoid of any discernible emotion. It was eerily calm—so calm it was strange.
"You don't have to rush to deny it. I'm a woman, so I can naturally tell when another woman's gaze is… off. A woman's intuition is very sharp, too. If I'm not mistaken, Sixue might have feelings for you."
"Are you serious? That's ridiculous! How could she possibly like me? You… you're overthinking things!" Zhao Dong touched his nose and quickly explained.
Lin Qingyun narrowed her beautiful eyes, looking out the window with a complex expression. "Zhao Dong, what I'm trying to say is… if you like Sixue too, I can accept you two being together. Sixue is my best friend… I know she's a very good woman."
Zhao Dong slammed on the brakes, bringing the car to a screeching halt in the middle of the road.
The night wind rustled through the falling leaves scattered under the dim streetlights. A fog lingered in the distance, and everything was terrifyingly silent.
"Lin Qingyun, stop being so full of yourself, and stop acting like you're some kind of saint, so magnanimous and open-minded. Do you have any idea how much I hate it when you talk like that? As if you're the most enlightened, selfless person in the world… I hate it. I really, truly hate it."
Lin Qingyun's face turned pale. "If you hate me so much, then let me out! Let's break up!"
Zhao Dong frowned and said coldly, "Do you think I don't have the guts? Do you think I'm going to grovel at your feet? Lin Qingyun, why do you have to be so hysterical sometimes?"
"How am I being hysterical? All I said was that if you two like each other, I would let you be together. What's so hysterical about that?!"
"Hah! How magnanimous of you! Lin Qingyun, what a great humanitarian you are!"
Zhao Dong turned off the engine and spoke, word by word. "Lin Qingyun, you listen to me! We are legally married. Even if there are no feelings between us, even if it's just a marriage of convenience, we still have the certificate! You are my wife! You're so generous you'd just give your own husband away? Do you think that makes you noble? Pah!"
Lin Qingyun bit her lip so hard she trembled with anger, her face ashen. Suddenly, a cold sneer formed on her lips. "Zhao Dong, what right do you have to say that to me? Maybe I'm not noble, but you're definitely not devoted only to me! Don't think for a second I don't know what you've been doing behind my back."
For a moment, Zhao Dong was at a loss for words. After a few seconds of silence, he said, "Lin Qingyun, if you tell me, right now, 'Zhao Dong, I'm willing to live a proper life with you. I'm willing to see you as my real husband, not just some shield against public opinion. I'm willing for us to be a real couple, to share our joys and sorrows, and never leave your side'… If you can say those words to me, I swear I will cut off all ties with any other woman. But can you say it?"
Lin Qingyun fell silent. She clenched her fists so tightly her nails dug into her palms, and her body trembled slightly.
Zhao Dong laughed, then sighed softly. "Lin Qingyun, since you can't say it, since you can't see me as your real husband, what right do you have to judge or restrain me?"
Speechless, Lin Qingyun turned to gaze out the window, the rims of her eyes turning red.
Neither of them spoke again. After finishing his cigarette, Zhao Dong started the car, and they sped along the expressway.
Thirty minutes later, the car arrived at Lin Qingyun's villa. It came to a stop, but Lin Qingyun remained in the back seat, staring out the window, completely lost in thought.
Zhao Dong glanced in the rearview mirror and finally spoke. "We're home. Get out."
Lin Qingyun seemed to snap back to reality. Without another word, she got up and exited the car.
Between the alcohol she had drunk, the bumpy ride, and the cool night wind, she suddenly felt dizzy. The moment she stepped out, she swayed, lost her footing, and started to fall backward.
With lightning-fast reflexes, Zhao Dong was out of the car in an instant, catching her in his arms.
Just like that, Lin Qingyun found herself pressed against Zhao Dong's chest, feeling the solid warmth of his body. She felt a momentary daze as she looked up at his face, her eyes filled with unspoken resentment.
Gazing into her eyes, Zhao Dong was also somewhat transfixed. Lin Qingyun's delicate, supple body felt so soft in his arms, sending ripples across the lake of his heart.
The moon hung high in the sky as a gentle breeze swept by.
Finally, Lin Qingyun bit her lip and asked resentfully, "How much longer are you going to hold me?"
Zhao Dong was taken aback for a second before he answered in a deep, affectionate voice, "I want to hold you for a lifetime. Can I?"
Lin Qingyun's gaze darted away, her cheeks flushing. "You… let go of me."
"You haven't answered my question," he insisted.
Zhao Dong's eyes were intense. Lin Qingyun's heart was in turmoil, her breathing grew rapid, and her body began to tremble involuntarily. She couldn't clearly define the feeling that washed over her at that moment. Panic, shyness, nervousness, bewilderment, confusion, conflict… A myriad of emotions churned inside her. Staring at Zhao Dong's face, she was completely mesmerized.
Under the moonlight, their faces slowly drew closer… and closer.
Soon, they were near enough to hear each other's breathing. Zhao Dong could feel the tickle of her warm breath on his skin. They both closed their eyes. Lin Qingyun unconsciously clutched his clothes, her body tense and her heart pounding in her chest. She could feel his breath, a sensation born perhaps from the haze of alcohol or a surge of emotion. She, too, found herself involuntarily leaning in, closer and closer…
Just as their lips were about to touch, a whooshing sound cut through the air!
Zhao Dong's eyes flew open, his pupils shrinking at the sight of a dark shadow lunging toward them! Almost instinctively, he shoved Lin Qingyun behind him and thrust a palm out to meet the attack!
BANG!
Zhao Dong violently coughed up blood as if he'd been hit by a truck. He was sent flying backward, crashing hard into the villa's courtyard.
Lin Qingyun screamed, stunned by the sudden turn of events. Seeing Zhao Dong on the ground, she rushed to help him up without a second thought. But the moment she took a step, a man's deep voice rang out.
"Qingyun, stop right there!"
Lin Qingyun froze. She slowly turned her head to look at the newcomer.
Under the streetlight, she saw his face clearly. He had resolute, handsome features, with a square jaw, thick eyebrows, and large, piercing eyes that radiated vigor.
Stunned, Lin Qingyun could only stammer, "Cousin? What are you doing here?!"