Spoiled Sparrow

In front of her was the man's burning body heat, and behind her was the cold wall.

Between ice and fire, Ruan Qing used her last shred of reason to hang up the call just before she could catch her breath.

He stepped back slightly, his nose brushing against the corner of her eye.

In the dark and quiet stairwell, the disordered breathing sounds were amplified, automatically blocking out the crowds moving around outside the security door.

Fu Chen's voice was extremely low: "Are we still going to see him?"

Ruan Qing's cheeks were burning, her hands and feet were weak, and she couldn't hear what he was saying at all.

Answer me.

He tightened his grip.

Seeing her silence, his anger and jealousy intensified.

Before she could catch her breath, he leaned down and sealed her lips with his...

a long time.

The phone screen lit up, and Fu Chen stopped what he was doing.

"Open."

Ruan Qing turned her head away: "Why should I?"

"I have no obligation to show it to you."

"Mr. Fu, your wedding is just around the corner, isn't this a bit inappropriate?"

Each barbed remark infuriated Fu Chen more than the last.

Fu Chen held her chin with one hand, looking down at her.

"Really? I don't think so."

His teasing gaze was fixed on her eyes, and he deliberately leaned close to her ear and whispered something.

"Don't you think this is more exciting?"

Really shameless.

Ruan Qing stepped on his black leather shoes.

"abnormal!"

Caught off guard, Fu Chen felt a sharp pain in his foot and instinctively loosened his grip on her hand.

Ruan Qing seized the opportunity, struggled, and jumped out from under him.

She stepped back outside the door, her chest rising and falling slightly.

Her reddened eyes were hidden in the darkness, and her voice trembled with anger: "Fu Chen, please let me go..."

"I will never live in your captivity in this lifetime."

After she finished speaking, she turned around and closed the emergency exit door.

Fu Chen stood there, the faint pain in his feet relieved by Ruan Qing's words.

almost.

*

Ruan Qing rushed out and opened the door to the lounge.

Tears streamed down her face; she hadn't had time to wipe them away.

She swiped the screen and saw the message.

It's okay, I'll wait for you.

A sense of guilt arose spontaneously.

Ruan Qing removed the makeup that Fu Chen had smudged, and the grievance in her eyes slowly faded away.

She changed into her own clothes and called Lin Yun'en.

"Beep...beep...beep..."

No one heard.

Three hours had passed since the appointed time. She gathered her things and went to keep the appointment.

*

The top floor of the International Building.

He Xunnan sat alone in the private room, looking down at the building across the street.

Twenty-three gift boxes of various sizes were neatly arranged on the table, covering the entire surface.

He savored the fragmented sounds from the phone call earlier; he knew what they were, but he didn't pay them any mind.

He accepted.

He Xunnan wore a headset and followed Louis's instructions at all times, suppressing his negative emotions.

After a long wait, he finally heard a knock on the door.

He got up, and Ruan Qing pushed open the door.

Her pupils dilated slightly as her gaze swept over the boxes.

"This is......"

He Xunnan walked towards her and gentlemanly pulled out a chair.

He walked to the seat opposite him, sat down, and straightened his clothes.

His voice was very low: "Ruan Qing, let me tell you a story, a long time ago..."

*

Twenty-three years ago.

Y City, a resort.

"Xiao Li, can you guess if Mommy's tummy is carrying a little brother or a little sister?"

Pei Yu sat on a bench with her pregnant belly, and 8-year-old He Li lay on her belly.

He Li: "I guess it's my younger sister."

"Oh? Why?"

Despite his young age, He Li said in a serious tone, "Because I'm already here to protect you, you don't need a younger brother."

Pei Yu patted his head and laughed, "So, do you like your little sister?"

like?

He Li looked at Pei Yu, shook her head and then nodded: "Yes, if Mom likes it, then I like it too."

"Xiao Li, you're a good child. Mom believes you can protect your little sister, right?"

"Okay!"

afternoon.

He Li sat alone on the swing.

Aunt Zhang from next door walked up to him.

"Aunt Zhang~"

He Li is an outgoing child who greets everyone he meets; all the uncles and aunties at the surrounding resorts know him.

Aunt Zhang put down the kimchi jar she was holding and sat down next to him.

"Xiao Li, your mom won't want you anymore after she has a younger brother or sister."

He Li's smile vanished instantly, and he roared, "You're talking nonsense!"

Aunt Zhang leaned closer: "Hmph, just you wait and see. If you don't believe me, ask Liu Erwa next door. He's their biological son, but the whole family is biased after his younger brother was born."

"I heard from your father that they're going to take the baby and leave this small place. You'll see whether they do or not."

"You blockhead, why don't you learn to be smarter? In the end, you'll only be able to live on the beach watching dead fish and rotten shrimp."

He Li stood up and kicked her kimchi jar to pieces.

He pointed at Aunt Zhang and cried, "No, no! You're lying to me!"

Aunt Zhang picked up a tree branch and started hitting him: "You brat, I've been patiently teaching you, and you still kicked my jar! Are you out of your mind?"

Aunt Zhang, who worked in the fields year-round, pinned He Li to the ground and beat him mercilessly with both hands and feet.

A lame man named Li Asi, who was passing by, ran over and pushed Aunt Zhang over, yelling, "You filthy widow, all you do is bully people!"

He pulled He Li, who was crying on the ground, to his feet: "Little brat, what are you crying for? Fight back!"

Enraged, Aunt Zhang roared like a madwoman, "A stinking brat from a pile of rats, actually thinks he can marry a rich man and live in the city? Bah!"

"Who doesn't know you killed both your father and mother..."

.......

Before the age of 5, He Li grew up relying on the kindness of others for food.

Until the place was taken over by a big boss and turned into a tourist resort.

He raised himself by taking photos with tourists, helping them catch fish, and weaving flower baskets.

Later, he met someone.

At dusk, a woman wearing a pale yellow dress strolled barefoot along the beach.

The sea breeze lifted her long, loose hair, and "brought" her hat to his feet.

He crouched down to pick it up, and when he looked up again, he felt an angel running towards him.

The setting sun cast its light on her face, blurring her features.

She bent down, her gentle voice following her words: "Thank you, little one."

That was the first time he saw her, and even though he couldn't see her face clearly, he would remember her forever.

The angel who brought him light and hope...