It fell from his fingertips

Tang Luoqing stood frozen in place, her body ice-cold, her eyelashes trembling with wetness, and the burning heat from Zhou Jinbai's fingertips still lingering on her cheeks.

Her fingertips curled up, and she instinctively wanted to take a step back, but the next moment, her wrist was grabbed by the man under the umbrella.

Zhou Jinbai's dark eyes were fixed intently on Tang Luoqing's pale and disheveled face. His voice was low and very low: "Don't be so hard on yourself. You tell me to be kinder to myself, so why don't you?"

Upon hearing this, Tang Luoqing glanced at the wrist that was being gripped by the other party and paused in her retreating steps.

She stared blankly at the man in front of her, her long eyelashes fluttering wetly, concealing the surging soreness in her eyes, but her throat was choked, and she couldn't utter a single word.

After a brief silence,

"Listen to me, get in the car."

Zhou Jinbai's eyes churned with turmoil, yet his tone remained unusually gentle: "Leave the rest to me."

This time, Tang Luoqing didn't struggle anymore, letting Zhou Jinbai hold her wrist as she followed him unsteadily into the back seat of the car.

The car door closed, shutting out the howling wind, rain, and cold outside. The temperature inside the car was warm and cozy, enveloping Tang Luoqing's soaked body. Before long, she felt less cold.

In a daze, my chaotic thoughts drifted away uncontrollably.

Tang Luoqing vaguely recalled the last time she left the cemetery, when she was exhausted and fainted, she also fell into a warm embrace.

At this moment, Tang Luoqing was wrapped in a thick, soft blanket, which shielded her from all the cold wind and dampness, but she still couldn't help but sneeze.

Zhou Jinbai's eyes darkened.

He then raised his hand and pressed down the front partition, isolating the front and rear compartments and allowing the temperature in the cramped rear seats to rise slowly.

Throughout the entire process, Zhou Jinbai's gaze remained fixed on Tang Luoqing, who was soaked to the bone and pale-faced, his deep eyes swirling with emotion.

Then, Zhou Jinbai bent down, lifted Tang Luoqing's ankle, and, to her surprise, took off her shoe.

"Wearing this will make you catch a cold."

As Zhou Jinbai spoke, he took off Tang Luoqing's other shoe.

Tang Luoqing felt a pang of panic; her ankle had just been held in Zhou Jinbai's palm, and it was ticklish.

After breaking free, she quickly tucked her feet into the blanket and lowered her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling as she avoided Zhou Jinbai's overly intense gaze.

Meanwhile, the words he had spoken after waking up at Zhou Jinbai's house in Yunhu International suddenly echoed in Tang Luoqing's ears. He had said, "I said at the coffee shop that I would step back into Zhou Yanchen's place, but that agreement was conditional on him treating you well."

In just two short weeks, since their parting at Xinwei, she has been so wretched that Zhou Jinbai has witnessed her being wantonly hurt by Zhou Yanchen twice.

Tang Luoqing felt embarrassed.

But what lingered most in her mind was the glaring image: the scene in the bar and at the entrance just now, Zhou Yanchen with his arm around Su Leqi's waist, his eyebrows relaxed, and his smile carefree.

Su Leqi, who was being held in his arms, smiled and looked delighted.

The two leaned on each other, looking harmonious and well-matched, while she seemed to be the superfluous outsider.

It turns out that people's hearts really do change. Zhou Yanchen, who once doted on her and was meticulous in everything he did, offering her his love without reservation, could one day smile and embrace another girl, treating others with gentleness.

Tang Luoqing felt a lump in her throat, tears silently welling up in her eyes, the corners of her eyes turning uncontrollably red, and her vision blurred completely in a short while.

Tears rolled down her pale cheeks, landing on the dark blanket and leaving a small, faint damp patch.

Zhou Jinbai took in Tang Luoqing's reactions throughout, his gaze deep and intense.

Then, the man leaned forward and pulled the thin, trembling girl into his arms.

Tang Luoqing trembled, and in her panic, her first reaction was to raise her hand and break free from the sudden embrace.

Zhou Jinbai, noticing Tang Luoqing's resistance and panic, immediately released her, stepped back to his original position, and proactively created a safe and restrained distance.

The carriage fell silent again for a brief moment.

A moment later, Zhou Jinbai's prominent Adam's apple bobbed heavily, and his voice was low and hoarse: "Sorry, I crossed the line."

"But... I couldn't help it when I saw you crying."

Tang Luoqing was slightly taken aback, raised her eyes, and met Zhou Jinbai's deep and intense gaze.

Their eyes met, and Tang Luoqing's breath caught in her throat.

But she simply didn't have the energy to think about anything right now, including Zhou Jinbai.

Tang Luoqing slowly lowered her head and looked at the scenery rushing past the car window.

Time passed slowly, and the torrential rain that had been raging outside the window gradually stopped. The heavy dark clouds slowly dispersed, and the dark night sky gradually brightened.

Tang Luoqing opened the car window, and a crisp breeze blew in, dispelling most of the oppressive and stuffy atmosphere inside the car.

Tang Luoqing stopped crying and took a deep breath.

After an unknown amount of time, the car stopped.

Tang Luoqing looked out the car window at a high-end hotel with elegant decor and a tranquil atmosphere. She paused for a moment, then turned to look at Zhou Jinbai.

"I guess you don't want to go back right now, you can stay here for the night."

Zhou Jinbai seemed to have anticipated what Tang Luoqing wanted to say. He glanced at her tear-streaked face, then turned to look at the hotel lobby outside, adding, "Of course, if you have any other places you'd like to go, just tell me."

Tang Luoqing glanced at Zhou Jinbai, then looked back at the magnificent hotel entrance, a warm feeling washing over her.

She really didn't want to go back to the home she lived with Zhou Yanchen. There were too many memories there, and Zhou Yanchen's shadow was everywhere. She knew without even thinking that if she went back, the image of Zhou Yanchen embracing Su Leqi would keep replaying in her mind.

Most importantly, that was Zhou Yanchen's home, not hers.

But milk candy...

The thought had barely formed when a deep voice sounded again from the side.

"If you're worried about the candy, I can have someone bring it over."

Tang Luoqing's heart skipped a beat, and she looked at Zhou Jinbai in surprise, not expecting that he would even think of milk candy.

But Tang Luoqing still shook her head: "Could you please... take me back to Yujing Bay?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Jinbai frowned slightly, and a brief look of surprise appeared in the man's usually indifferent and cold eyes.

In a short while,

Zhou Jinbai withdrew his gaze, his eyes darkening, and sat up straight, his tone losing its gentleness: "Drive."

The car restarted, and silence returned to the carriage.

But it's clear that something else is mixed in with the silence.

Even Tang Luoqing, who was in the midst of heartbreak and disappointment, could slightly sense the change in atmosphere.

She knew what Zhou Jinbai was thinking, assuming that she would rather go back to where Zhou Yanchen was, and that she still couldn't let go of Zhou Yanchen.

Indeed, Tang Luoqing couldn't let go; after all, he was the man she had truly loved for a year.

but……

The car quickly arrived at the entrance of Yujingwan, entered the community without any hindrance, and drove straight to Building 10.

Tang Luoqing looked at the man beside her with some surprise.

She knew this was a high-end residential area where unfamiliar vehicles weren't allowed in, but why...?

Never mind, it doesn't matter anymore.

Tang Luoqing loosened the blanket wrapped around her, composed herself, and sincerely thanked her: "Thank you for tonight."

Then, she put on her wet shoes, opened the door, and prepared to get out of the car, but before she could even push open the door, her wrist was once again grabbed by the man beside her.

"Tang Luoqing, I'm going to find Yan Chen now and talk to him. But... enough is enough. If he hurts you again, I won't back down."

The man's voice was low and husky, revealing an indescribable restraint, and he gripped Tang Luoqing's wrist very lightly, as if afraid of hurting her.

Tang Luoqing was speechless for a moment; her lips opened but no sound came out.

Although her mood had improved after about an hour, she could only barely manage to stop crying. Or perhaps, because she had cried so much before, she was able to stop crying after only a short while this time.

But that doesn't stop her from having a completely chaotic mind right now, unable to sort out any thoughts at all.

Fortunately, Zhou Jinbai did not insist on her taking a stance, nor did he try to make her stance less firm.

Just like now, after going around in circles and returning to Royal Bay, seeing her distraught and helpless appearance, the man released Tang Luoqing's wrist, his tone softening again, with a reassuring tone: "Let's go upstairs and rest first."

Tang Luoqing nodded, opened the car door, got out, and walked into the building without hesitation, then entered the elevator.

Downstairs, in the car, Zhou Jinbai peered through the window, his gaze following the girl's slender and forlorn figure until Tang Luoqing's silhouette completely disappeared from sight. Only then did he slowly withdraw his gaze and ask in a deep voice, "Where is Yan Chen now?"

Assistant Shen quickly reported to the leader: "At... Ye Yan Club."

Zhou Jinbai looked out the window again and saw the lights on the second floor come on. The man ordered the car to start, and the car started moving.

Half an hour later, the Yeyan Club was ablaze with neon lights and filled with the noise of people.

Assistant Shen strode into the depths of the club and found Zhou Yanchen, who was frolicking and playing in a noisy private room. He then invited Zhou Yanchen out directly.

As Zhou Yanchen and his assistant Shen walked out of the club, he looked up and saw a familiar figure in the back seat of the car in the night. When he saw that it was his older brother Zhou Jinbai, the casual smile on his face vanished instantly, and he was genuinely startled.

"Big brother?"

"Get in the car."

Another half hour passed, and in the professional boxing room on the first basement floor of Yunhu International.

The spacious venue was brightly lit and so quiet that you could almost hear an echo.

Assistant Shen handed over two brand-new sets of professional boxing protective gear. Zhou Jinbai took them and casually threw one set on the ground in front of Zhou Yanchen. His movements were swift and decisive, and his aura was fierce and imposing.

"Big brother, what, what are you doing?"

Zhou Yanchen sobered up instantly. Looking down at the boxing gloves and protective gear on the ground, he had a vague sense of foreboding.

Zhou Jinbai looked down at his flustered younger brother, slowly and methodically putting on his boxing gloves. Every movement was steady and powerful, carrying an extreme sense of pressure.

Then, the man coldly lifted his eyelids: "Last time in Xinwei, I said that if there was a next time, it wouldn't be hitting the sandbag. Tonight, I'll keep my promise."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanchen, who had just bewilderedly put on his boxing gloves, felt his legs go weak.