Roses in Flames

Ye Yuntang was somewhat absent-minded while eating. She was having a meal with her college classmates in the lobby, but out of the corner of her eye, she kept looking at the restaurant entrance where people were coming and going.

Xiao Lin was not seen.

About half an hour later, she saw Huo Yuan leave, completely covered up.

Ye Yuntang's heart, which had been hanging in her throat, finally settled back into her chest.

It seems she was overthinking it; Xiao Lin wouldn't go on a blind date if he already had a girlfriend.

Back at the hotel, Ye Yuntang took a shower.

I had barely put on my bathrobe when the doorbell rang.

She opened the door and her heart skipped a beat when she saw the man standing outside.

The man wore a long black overcoat with the collar slightly open, revealing a dark turtleneck sweater underneath. He exuded the chill of deep winter, yet his handsome appearance was captivating.

Without any hesitation, Ye Yuntang threw herself into the man's arms, wrapped her arms around his neck, tilted her head back, and placed a kiss on his thin lips.

The man chuckled softly, his large hand encircling her slender waist. "Missed me?"

Ye Yuntang nodded, "I've thought about it."

The man embraced her and stepped into the room.

The moment the door closed, he pressed her against the entryway and kissed her.

Their lips and tongues intertwined, carrying the longing and fervor of being apart for several days.

The surging heat instantly dispelled the chill outside.

The entanglement of lips and teeth disrupted their breathing and made their hearts stop beating.

His large hand, gripping her waist, tightened continuously, as if he wanted to meld her into his very bones.

When the kiss ended, he pressed her head against his chest.

I miss you too.

After saying that, he picked her up, sat her on the sofa, and placed her on his lap.

He took a card holder out of his coat pocket, which contained more than a dozen cards.

"This is for you."

Ye Yuntang looked down at the card holder he had placed in her hand. Inside were shopping cards for large shopping malls, membership cards for high-end restaurants, and diamond cards for brand stores—all cards that are difficult for ordinary people to obtain.

"These were all given to me by my older brother. I don't usually need them, but you can take them."

Ye Yuntang's lips twitched.

Why did he sound like he was giving away cabbages?

These cards together are worth a lot of money.

She also said that she would give him a gift of equal value, but he was so generous, how could she afford to give him anything?

What kind of rich boyfriend did she find?

"Aren't you afraid I'll squander your money?" she asked, raising an eyebrow with a smile.

"What are you afraid of? As long as you're happy."

Ye Yuntang's beautiful eyes were filled with tears as she looked up at him. "Xiao Lin, carry me to bed."

The man remained seated, his dark eyes half-closed. "From now on, call me Ah Lin."

Ye Yuntang's long eyelashes trembled slightly. Ah Lin was too intimate, and she felt a little shy. Her voice softened unconsciously as she said, "Ah Lin."

She had barely finished speaking when he picked her up.

He placed her on the bed, and the moment their eyes met, it was as if sparks were burning in the air.

He lowered his head and kissed her.

He didn't release her until she was almost out of breath.

"I'm going to take a shower."

Ye Yuntang hummed in agreement.

The hotel bathroom features a frosted glass wall. Under the dim light, the man's tall and slender figure is faintly visible behind the frosted glass, every line exuding a captivating charm.

Ye Yuntang's throat tightened, and an indescribable itch rose in her heart.

She stared at it for a few seconds, then suddenly got out of bed.

She took off her bathrobe as she walked to the bathroom door.

With a light touch of the fingertip, the door was pushed open.

Amidst the rising steam, the man was rinsing the foam from his hair. Water droplets slid down his sharp jawline, down his smooth neck, and into his well-defined chest.

Ye Yuntang's gaze swept over his well-defined abdominal muscles, then slowly moved downwards—

Seemingly sensing that someone was watching him, the man turned his head after washing his hair.

His breath caught in his throat when he saw the woman standing at the door.

His dark eyes deepened instantly, and his sexy Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"Yuntang, you..."

Ye Yuntang didn't give him a chance to finish speaking. She walked into the bathroom barefoot and naked.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his wet, handsome face, the bridge of his nose, and his thin lips.

Her fingers traced his chest, inch by inch, downwards.

He looked down at her, his hot breath brushing against her ear, "Can't wait?"

Ye Yuntang didn't say anything, and her little hand continued downwards.

The man gasped, "Yun Tang, you're incredibly bold."

She looked up at him, her beautiful eyes shimmering. "I've always been like this, you know that."

She nestled in his arms, showering him with soft, tender kisses on the corner of his lips. "Ah Lin, hold me tight."

"I'll go out and get something first."

She held out her little hands. "I brought it in."

He glanced down at her, and the moment their eyes met, he picked her up.

Her long legs immediately encircled her waist.

In the humid air, for a moment, only the sound of each other's heartbeats remained.

Ye Yuntang was held tightly in the man's strong hands. She wrapped her arms around his neck and looked at his high nose and thin, rosy lips.

She kissed him again, taking the initiative.

The air in the cramped space became ambiguous and thin.

Both of them seemed to be caught in an out-of-control vortex.

……

Around 3 a.m., the two finally fell into a deep sleep.

She felt weak all over and leaned against him. She wanted to ask him if his family had arranged for her to go on blind dates, but she was too tired and fell asleep before she could even say it.

While still half asleep in the morning, Ye Yuntang felt someone kiss her forehead.

She opened her eyes and saw that Xiao Lin was already dressed and standing by the bed.

He was bending down to kiss her forehead.

"What time is it?" Ye Yuntang asked in a soft, hoarse voice.

"It's 7:30. You can sleep a little longer. I have something to do and need to go home."

Ye Yuntang rubbed her temples; the two of them had been too wild last night, and her back was still a little sore.

"I'm flying back home today."

Xiao Lin raised his long, slender fingers and brushed the hair away from her cheek. "What time was your flight?"

"11:30 a.m."

I'll try my best to get there and take you to the airport.

Ye Yuntang shook her head, "No need, it's very convenient for me to take a taxi there myself. You just returned to Beijing, you must be very busy."

Xiao Lin pursed his thin lips. "Don't you want to stay another day? We haven't even had a date here yet."

"No, I promised Mom I'd go home today. I've been so busy with work lately that I haven't had a chance to spend much time with Mom and my brother."

Xiao Lin did not force her any further.

After Xiao Lin left, Ye Yuntang did not sleep again.

At 9:30, she checked out of the hotel and left.

She pulled her suitcase to the side of the road, intending to hail a taxi, when suddenly a luxury van drove up.

The car window rolled down, revealing a graceful and elegant woman sitting inside.

The lady wore a smoky gray haute couture suit, and diamond earrings accentuated her fair complexion. Her every move exuded the composure of someone who had long held a high position.

When Ye Yuntang saw the noblewoman looking at her, a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

The lady cut to the chase, "Miss Ye, I am Xiao Lin's mother. I would like to invite you to get in the car."

Ye Yuntang's heart sank suddenly.

She instinctively gripped her suitcase tighter, but after a moment of panic, she quickly composed herself and politely greeted, "Hello, Auntie."

The driver got out of the car and put Ye Yuntang's suitcase into the trunk.

Ye Yuntang knew she had to get on this bus. She put her hands in her coat pockets, hesitating whether to call Xiao Lin.

But after a few seconds, I decided not to call him.

Xiao Lin's mother, Xie Manqing, subtly observed Ye Yuntang. Her gaze, though not sharp, was like a large net, capturing Ye Yuntang's unease and nervousness.

"Miss Ye," Xie Manqing said, her tone polite yet distant, "I know you're dating our Ah Lin. I arranged for him to go on a blind date yesterday, but he didn't go. Did he come to see you last night?"

After Ye Yuntang sat in the car, she straightened her back and placed her hands on her knees. She roughly guessed what Xiao Lin's mother was going to say next, and her heartstrings tightened.

Given the Xiao family's capabilities, they probably started keeping an eye on her as soon as she arrived in Beijing.

Or to put it more bluntly, the Xiao family had already conducted a background check on her and were clearly dissatisfied with her, which is why they sent Xiao Lin on a blind date.

Ye Yuntang lowered her long eyelashes; in fact, she was well aware of her own limitations.

She knew in her heart that as long as she was with Xiao Lin, sooner or later his family would come knocking on her door.

She was prepared to be humiliated or advised to break up with him.

Ye Yuntang met Xie Manqing's gaze and nodded. "Yes, he came to see me last night."

Knowing that Ye Yuntang was going to the airport, Xie Manqing asked the driver to take the car to the airport.

"Our Xiao family has always valued marriage between people of equal social standing," Xie Manqing's voice remained gentle, yet carried an undeniable weight. "Ah Lin has been stubborn since he was a child, and once he's made up his mind, it's hard for him to change it. But as his mother, I can't help but consider everything for him."

She paused, her gaze returning to Ye Yuntang's face, each word gentle yet piercing, "You've been divorced. Some past experiences can't be erased by feelings alone. Ah Lin's life shouldn't have such 'flaws'."

Ye Yuntang's face paled slightly, and her lips moved as if she wanted to say something, but she couldn't utter a word.

Yes, she is divorced.

This is something she can't change.

In an ordinary family, a successful unmarried man might not be approved by his family.

Not to mention a prominent family like the Xiao family.

She always knew it in her heart.

"Miss Ye, I'm not here today to criticize you." Xie Manqing raised her hand to tidy a stray hair at her temple, her movements elegant and graceful, yet carrying an invisible pressure. "You should be a smart and insightful person. Some choices are better left unsaid, rather than waiting for others to speak. After the New Year, I will have A-Lin transferred back to Beijing. This will be the best outcome for both you and A-Lin."

Ye Yuntang is a smart woman; how could she not understand Xie Manqing's meaning?

After Xiao Lin was transferred back to Beijing, the two no longer worked in the same place, and their relationship gradually drifted apart.

After a moment of silence, Ye Yuntang looked at Xie Manqing and said, "Auntie, Xiao Lin probably doesn't know that you came to see me today, right? You also said that he is very stubborn. If you could persuade him to break up with me, he probably wouldn't have come to see me. I will talk to him about your visit today. If he agrees to break up, I will never pester him."

After saying that, she paused slightly, "If he is unwilling, please don't come looking for me again. Just take care of your own son."

Ye Yuntang didn't look at Xie Manqing again. She said to the driver, "Stop the car."

The driver stopped the car.

After taking her suitcase from the trunk, Ye Yuntang stood by the roadside to hail a taxi.

The van's window was still open, and Xie Manqing looked at Ye Yuntang again.

She stood by the roadside, her back straight, her eyes revealing an indomitable tenacity, as if that was her dignity, something that no one could take away or crush.

Soon, the taxi arrived.

After Ye Yuntang got into the car, she maintained a tense and calm expression until she relaxed a little.

Her shoulders slumped.

The more composed she appeared in front of Madam Xiao, the more disheveled she looked at this moment.

Madam Xiao's words still had a significant impact on her.

A storm raged in my heart.

Her breathing tightened, and her nose felt sore.

After arriving at the airport, her phone rang.

It was a phone call from Xiao Lin.

She didn't answer.

Xiao Lin sent several more messages.

One of the questions asked her if his mother had come to see her.

It seems he already knows.

She did not reply either.

He seemed a little anxious and texted her to wait for him at the airport.

Ye Yuntang's mind was in a mess. After changing her registration card, she turned off her phone.

She entered the waiting room.

She didn't want to see Xiao Lin.

I don't want to see them, at least not right now.

She sat in a deserted corner, her eyes lowered, silent.

From the day she learned about his background, she knew that she and he had no future.

The difference in their social status was like an insurmountable chasm between them.

She maintained a degree of calm and rationality, not wanting to completely succumb to temptation.

She had already mentally rehearsed the moment when his family came knocking on her door.

But when you actually face it, you still feel sad, heartbroken, and at a loss.

Perhaps he is unwilling to separate now, but once he is transferred back to Beijing, the distance between them will dilute their passion.

Feelings can fade away silently and eventually dissipate.

Ye Yuntang sniffed and told herself that it was okay.

Life is long, who can't live without whom?

It's just a fleeting infatuation, a moment of pain, but it will all pass.

She understood the reasoning better than anyone, but the thought of gradually drifting apart from him and never having any contact with him again still made her heart ache.

My nose stung, and a tear rolled uncontrollably from the corner of my eye, landing on the back of my hand.

Scalding hot and heavy.

She hurriedly turned her face to the side, wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, her eyelashes trembling with wetness.

She's so disappointing.

Why are you crying?

What's there to cry about?

It was almost time to board the plane. Ye Yuntang composed herself, picked up her small suitcase, and left the waiting room.

After boarding the plane, she took out her earphones from her bag and put them on.

Just as she was about to put on some music, suddenly, a large hand reached out and gripped her wrist tightly.

Ye Yuntang lifted her long eyelashes and saw the man standing in front of her, her eyes showing an incredulous expression.

"Why did you come up here?"

Xiao Lin didn't answer her. He gripped her wrist tightly and pulled her up from the seat.

He grabbed her suitcase with his other hand and forcibly dragged her off the plane.

"Xiao Lin, where are you taking me?"

Ye Yuntang wanted to break free from his grasp, but the man held her tightly.

"I'm sorry," he turned to look at her, "I didn't know my mother would suddenly come to you today. You've been wronged, but please don't give up on this relationship so easily. Leave the rest to me."