Chapter 65: Give Me a Little Time
“Sorry, you two, we’re fully booked tonight because of the number of guests. There’s only one room left,” the receptionist said with a smile.
Xia Yu hesitated, about to speak, but Zhao Sijie interjected, “One room is fine, it’s not a big deal, right? What do you think?”
“Yu, are you really going to turn me down?” she teased.
Since the girl didn’t mind, Xia Yu had nothing more to say. Besides, the alcohol was making him dizzy and he was too tired to look for another hotel. He nodded.
When they reached the room, Xia Yu said, “The bed is yours, I’ll take the sofa,” and went straight to lie down.
Zhao Sijie was feeling a little unwell herself. She glanced at him and then went to sleep.
Soon, the sounds of their slumber filled the room.
Xia Yu didn’t know how much time had passed when he felt a tickling sensation on his cheek. Opening his eyes in a haze, he saw Zhao Sijie sitting in front of him, staring at him intently.
“Sijie, aren’t you going to sleep?”
“I woke up again, Yu. I suddenly realized you’re actually quite handsome,” she said softly.
The dim light from outside filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow on her face and lending her an ethereal beauty.
“Stop messing around and go to sleep,” Xia Yu said, closing his eyes again, still sleepy.
Just as he was about to drift off, he felt someone pressing down on him. Before he could open his eyes, his lips were sealed.
“Huh?” Xia Yu looked at Zhao Sijie, bewildered.
“Yu, I... I like you...” Zhao Sijie’s voice was gentle and excited.
Perhaps it was the alcohol, and perhaps it was Xia Yu’s youthful vigor, but his nose began to bleed.
And so, the two succumbed to their desires after drinking...
The next morning.
Zhao Sijie was the first to wake. She stood in the bathroom, staring at the marks on her body.
“Oh god, what have I done?” she muttered, clutching her hair in disbelief, trying to recall what had happened last night.
It was a little blurry, but not completely forgotten. Her cheeks flushed deeper, feeling feverish.
“Oh god, I actually... with Yu...”
She didn’t know how long she stayed in the bathroom, but when she emerged, her appearance was composed.
Xia Yu was awake as well, staring blankly at the streak of crimson on the bedsheet.
“Yu...” Zhao Sijie’s voice trembled with embarrassment, her cheeks flushed again.
Xia Yu snapped out of his daze and looked at her.
“Yu, I’m sorry about last night...” Zhao Sijie vaguely remembered being the one to initiate things. She was both embarrassed and ashamed.
“Why apologize...” Xia Yu sighed. He never expected Zhao Sijie to be inexperienced. He remembered she had initiated everything—but who’d have thought such a passionate girl would also be a novice.
“Yu, let’s just pretend nothing happened,” Zhao Sijie said, almost in tears, not daring to meet his gaze.
Xia Yu’s feelings were complicated. Drinking truly led to trouble.
He also wanted to pretend nothing happened, but the blood on the sheets made it impossible. What kind of man would he be then?
Wouldn’t that make him a scoundrel?
He got up, dressed, and walked over to Zhao Sijie, gently wiping away her tears. “I remember you said last night... you like me?”
Zhao Sijie’s cheeks grew even redder. She bit her lip, then finally admitted, “I don’t know when it started, but yes, I do like you.”
Xia Yu forced a smile. “Since it happened, if you don’t mind, could you give me a bit of time?”
Surprised, Zhao Sijie looked up. “Yu, do you mean we can be together?”
“What else? Can you really pretend nothing happened?”
Zhao Sijie glanced at the crimson stain on the sheet. For any woman, her first time was precious, the most significant thing. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have remained so guarded through university and into work.
Master of romance Hu Hansan once said: A woman’s husband may not be the man she loves, but the man she gives herself to for the first time is always someone she loves.
Though Xia Yu was seen as a failure by others, Zhao Sijie saw the shimmer in him, his warmth, and the sense of security he always gave her.
That’s probably why she unknowingly fell for him.
“Alright, Yu, I’ll listen to you,” Zhao Sijie said, blushing.
Xia Yu smiled, and the two left the hotel.
Not much was said on the way; the sudden shift in their relationship was overwhelming, and they needed time to adapt.
He dropped her at her office before returning to the villa.
“You’re something else, coming home at noon and leaving the kid by herself,” Xiao Jun said as soon as Xia Yu arrived.
“Where’s Xiaomi? Is she alright?” Xia Yu asked, concerned.
“She’s fine. Upstairs, doing her homework like a good girl,” Xiao Jun replied, tossing him a cigarette and lighting one himself. “Zero, let’s have a proper talk.”
Xia Yu looked at him, leaning against the car and blowing smoke rings. “What do you want to say?”
“The restrictions are gone, so why keep hiding? Aren’t you going back?”
Xiao Jun had harbored this question for a long time. If Xia Yu revealed his true identity, he would be revered as the young master of the Xia family, celebrated everywhere, living a life others only dream of.
But instead, he remained at the bottom, which Xiao Jun couldn’t understand.
Xia Yu wasn’t surprised by the question. He chuckled lightly. “Because this is real life.”
“The Xia family’s young master can get endless admiration and smiles, so many that you can’t tell sincerity from pretense. Don’t you think life is more genuine and relaxed now?”
Xiao Jun was at a loss, shaking his head. “Zero, you’ve changed.”
“I remember back in the Northern Territories, we were all trainees under Della. You told me then, ‘You’ll conquer this land.’ I thought you were crazy, but you were so bold, rising from battle to battle, proving yourself.”
“You swept away all the forces, making them fear and never dare to encroach on Yanxia’s interests.”
“You said, when you reached the top, you’d be an invincible war god!”
He sighed. “I never thought the war king of old would end up like this.”
“Are you done?” Xia Yu smiled calmly. “This is life. You’ll understand in time.”
With that, he flicked away his cigarette and went inside.
......
Lin Yuqing woke with a start from a nightmare, her eyes wet as she opened them.
“Yu... Sijie, you can’t...”
In her dream, Zhao Sijie and Xia Yu were together, happy, while she could only watch helplessly.
It felt as if she’d lost something important.
“Did I make a mistake? I clearly love him...”
“No, I have to find out!”
Lin Yuqing sprang from bed, washed up, and rushed out to find Zhao Sijie.