That kiss was as light as a dragonfly touching water, or a gentle breeze caressing one’s face. It was so faint that if one wasn’t paying attention, it might have been mistaken for an illusion. However, Meng Ting’s lips carried a warmth that didn’t belong to the night, and as she leaned close, there was a faint, soft fragrance of a young girl.
On such a summer night, even an illusion would be enough to make one’s heart race out of control. And this was no illusion.
Jiang Ren, who had been walking steadily, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
Meng Ting slowly removed her hands from around his neck and covered her cheeks.
Her small hands were slightly cool, accentuating the warmth of her cheeks.
She could feel his heartbeat, strong and rapid, transmitted from the young man’s heart to her body.
How did she end up wanting to kiss him? And she did it.
Meng Ting now dared not look at his face.
Jiang Ren stood still for a long time. Apart from his intense heartbeat that she could hear, he seemed to not react at all.
Then he began to move forward as if nothing had happened.
Only his hurried and uneven steps betrayed his feelings.
As he walked, he suddenly burst into laughter.
His laughter was joyful as if he had secretly gained possession of an entire world.
The red light came on, and countless drivers waiting in their vehicles looked over. Meng Ting’s face turned bright red, and she wanted nothing more than to cover his mouth. Stop laughing, everyone is looking, it’s so embarrassing.
He put her down. Under the streetlight, the young girl’s cheeks were flushed.
He lifted her chin, making her look at him. “I didn’t feel wrong, I wasn’t dreaming, right? You kissed me?”
She didn’t speak. Why couldn’t this rascal stop asking?
“Meng Ting, you kissed me, didn’t you?”
“No, I didn’t,” she said, swatting his hand away. “Stop asking.”
His eyes were blazing, seemingly not needing her answer, full of unbridled joy. Meng Ting couldn’t bear such a gaze. She raised her arms, crossing them to cover her cheeks, blocking his view. Meng Ting was so embarrassed she was almost in tears. “And stop looking at me.”
Why… why did she kiss him…
There was no girl in the world as adorable as the one before him.
She had embarrassed herself to the point of tears.
Jiang Ren was truly afraid she would regret it. “You kissed me, so you have to take responsibility for me, you know?” He couldn’t help but smile. “You’re in trouble if you dare to dump me.”
The girl’s muffled voice came from behind her elbows. “My dad doesn’t allow me to date early.”
“Are you going to listen to him or me?”
She obediently replied, “To him.”
Damn, Jiang Ren laughed.
Seeing her pitiful state made his heart ache. He pulled her hands down and lowered his head, letting her cover his eyes. “There, now you can’t see.”
Meng Ting took a light breath.
Her small hands covered his eyes.
She felt him close his eyes and bend down, leaning close to her. Her cheeks were a rosy hue.
Meng Ting had never imagined that one day she would be with someone she had rejected all her life. It felt so strange as she looked at the young man who was much taller than her.
The cool breeze brushed against her cheeks, but it did nothing to dissipate the heat.
He laughed, “If you’re not going to be with me, why suddenly do something like that? Are you trying to kill me?”
She couldn’t speak.
He took her small hand and gently kissed her fingertips. “Meng Ting, you’re taking advantage of the fact that I like you.”
She said softly, “That’s not it.”
Those almond eyes were moist, possibly more helpless than she had ever been in her obedient seventeen years of life.
Jiang Ren didn’t want to force her, but he had already been restraining himself.
According to the usual pattern, the guy would often say, “Then I’ll wait for you to go to college.” But Jiang Ren couldn’t wait; he couldn’t wait even a minute.
She suddenly kissed him once, and he lost half his life bar. A few more times, and he’d give his life to her.
He held back his smile, met her eyes, and threatened in a fierce tone, “Give me an answer, Meng Ting. Do you want me to die by your hand?”
Meng Ting looked into his dark pupils, controlling her flushed cheeks. “I don’t.”
“Then what should we do?”
She didn’t know what to do either.
She didn’t dare to date early, let alone date Young Master Jiang. If Father Shu found out, he’d break his legs. Her mother in heaven would probably be angry too.
She was bewildered and at a loss.
Meng Ting’s eyes reddened as she told him the truth, “My dad really won’t agree. He’s had a hard life and has strong principles. If he knows I dare to date early, he’ll break your legs.”
Jiang Ren said, “Let him kill me then, as long as you like me.”
He wasn’t joking at all.
Meng Ting had never seen someone so willing to risk their life for love. She held back and held back, and what was initially helpless tears turned into a burst of laughter.
Her cheeks were still tinged with delicate pink, and her eyes were still moist.
It was hard to believe that such beautiful, clear eyes had once been hurt and slowly healed.
When she smiled, her eyes curved, and the corners of her lips turned up.
She was the sweetest honey of summer.
Jiang Ren said, “What are you laughing at? I’m serious, do you agree or not?” He looked fiercely stern.
Meng Ting blinked. “You’re so fierce…”
Jiang Ren’s expression froze. “No, I just… I’m afraid you…” Afraid she would change her mind, afraid that what just happened was just an illusion born of his desperate desire.
She placed her small hand in his palm. “Let my dad kill you then.”
Jiang Ren felt his reactions were exceptionally slow tonight. This sentence carried so much information.
So much that it drove him crazy with joy.
He was even grateful to the point of wanting to kneel before her, to cherish her in the deepest part of his heart. No amount of love seemed enough.
The intensity in his eyes made Meng Ting’s whole body feel hot.
In her entire life, this was the only thing she had ever done that deviated from principles and the expected path. She tried to control her gradually quickening heartbeat. “You’re not allowed to speak anymore, Jiang Ren.”
She was terrified he might do something more.
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he struggled to keep quiet.
“And don’t look at me either.”
Alright, he turned his head away.
Just don’t change your mind, please don’t change your mind.
So under the streetlight, he enveloped her small hand and walked forward. Jiang Ren barely dared to move, his whole body was sweating, yet he feared even the slightest breeze at this moment.
What if that cool air made her come to her senses?
She couldn’t change her mind. His heart wasn’t strong enough; he would go mad.
Young Master Jiang, who had grown up in this city, didn’t even know where he was walking.
After a while, when he finally calmed down a bit.
Jiang Ren cautiously asked her, “Where should we go?”
Meng Ting shook her head.
She was feeling very disappointed now. When Teacher Zhang left earlier, perhaps she thought it wouldn’t matter. After all, Wen Rui was young and promising, and also an investor in the organizing committee. Teacher Zhang might have thought the villa at Swan Nest was very safe, and that Meng Ting would be fine for just a short while. She might even have hoped Meng Ting would accept the promotional video shoot.
However, at that moment, Meng Ting was truly scared and helpless.
Now, she didn’t know what to say if she went back to face Teacher Zhang. Meng Ting didn’t know if participating in this competition was right or wrong. She had originally been eager to overcome her psychological fears and complete the competition. But after arriving, she discovered that there were many unpleasant things tainting the pure dreams of young girls.
The competition wasn’t just a competition; it involved too many other things.
Like Chen Ying and the others, she simply loved dancing.
After thinking for a long time, she asked Jiang Ren, “Is it true that the competition is legitimate?”
Jiang Ren’s voice was gentle as he honestly replied, “Yes, the judges are all famous dancers.”
A faint light appeared in her eyes. “Then I’ll go back to the hotel and wait for the competition to end.”
“Okay,” Jiang Ren said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”
Jiang Ren took a taxi to take her back to the hotel.
Because of all the back and forth, Chen Ying and the others were already asleep. Teacher Zhang was still waiting in the hotel lobby, looking genuinely anxious. When she saw Meng Ting return, she finally let out a sigh of relief.
Teacher Zhang apologized to her, “I’m sorry, I didn’t think it through at the time.”
Meng Ting nodded.
However, the trust that had filled her eyes when she left with Teacher Zhang was no longer there. Teacher Zhang sighed inwardly, knowing she was in the wrong. After all, Meng Ting was just a teenage girl, and it was natural for her to be scared in an unfamiliar environment. As the person she relied on, Teacher Zhang had thought it wouldn’t matter, that she could pick her up a little later without any problems.
Thankfully, nothing bad had happened.
Meng Ting went upstairs, returned to her room, and then opened the window.
The cool night air poured into the room. She rested her hands on the windowsill and looked down.
In the night, the young man was leaning against the back of the hotel. The boy who should have left long ago looked up, also watching her.
Jiang Ren: “…” When he saw her little head poking out, a thousand curses ran through his mind.
Meng Ting thought for a moment, then took out her phone.
Not long after, Jiang Ren’s phone rang.
To be honest, he had been a tyrant for most of his young life, used to doing whatever he pleased, and had never been afraid of anything. However, at that moment, he was a bit scared to answer the phone.
“Jiang Ren,” she said, “why haven’t you left yet?”
Jiang Ren said, “Do you want to hear the truth?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“I’m afraid I’m dreaming.” Afraid that when he wakes up, she’ll be gone.
From a distance, he had a sense of unreality and absurdity. Had he won her over?
“I’ve been thinking carefully,” her voice was soft, but the young man downstairs felt like he was being stabbed, or like a death row inmate awaiting his final verdict.
Good students like her sometimes care the least about promises. A simple “I wasn’t thinking earlier” or “I was impulsive earlier” could erase everything. Jiang Ren’s voice was hoarse, “Don’t say it. Go to sleep, I’m heading back. Don’t you have a competition tomorrow?”
He was truly afraid she would say that after thinking about it, she still felt they weren’t suitable. That she was just too upset earlier and wasn’t thinking clearly.
Moreover, one was under the light on the third floor, while the other was in the darkness at the bottom of the building.
Jiang Ren couldn’t see her expression, he could only feel endless anxiety.
Love in youth is so pure and simple that her single smile could keep him reminiscing for half a day, but it’s also so painful that even the slightest setback is terrifying.
He gritted his teeth, ultimately unable to bring himself to hang up the phone. Even just hearing her breathe was good.
Meng Ting laughed softly, asking him with a hint of sweetness, “Were you very happy just now?”
Yes, my little sweetheart.
Whatever you want to say, say it all at once, can you stop torturing him? His heart was racing, and he felt like kicking every tree he saw to relieve his nervousness.
The young girl’s sweet voice was soft, “I’m slow to react. I think I only realized after I came back. I’m a bit happy too.” She spoke about her feelings sincerely and shyly, completely unaware of the impact this had on someone who was almost going crazy with love for her.
Jiang Ren was caught between laughing and not laughing.
Finally, he suppressed the trembling in his voice and said, “Can I come up to see you?”
“No,” she rested her chin on the cool breeze, her cheeks burning hot now. She had never been in love before and didn’t know what this strange, sour, yet sweet feeling in her heart was.
However, she didn’t dare to see him again. Telling him that she was happy too was to put his mind at ease, so he could sleep well. But that was already the limit of what she could do.
After saying such things, if he appeared in front of her now, she would feel so embarrassed.
Jiang Ren! Really! Wanted to just give her his heart and be done with it.
Kept it in his chest, cherishing her sweetness. And she might never know that when she honestly spoke such serious words, it made his life bar keep dropping.
How could she be so unfair?
Meng Ting said, “I’m not lying to you.”
He couldn’t help but smile, “Mm.”
“So go home and sleep.”
“Okay.” He wouldn’t be a man if he could sleep.
Jiang Ren didn’t know how he made it back. By the time he returned to his apartment outside the military compound, took a shower, and messed around for a while, it was already four in the morning when he looked at the clock.
But his eyes were bright. He called He Junming.
He Junming was on the verge of a breakdown.
He Junming, with an air conditioner blanket around his waist, called out “Brother Ren” in a daze.
Jiang Ren’s voice was unusually calm, “Meng Ting is my girlfriend now.”
He Junming mumbled an “oh” in his half-asleep state. Some people could dream even when they weren’t fully asleep.
Jiang Ren didn’t care at all. He hung up and called Gao Yi.
Gao Yi was sound asleep, holding his wife.
Seeing the caller ID as Young Master Jiang, he woke up considerably.
Gao Yi glanced at the time, 04:32.
As a dedicated branch company manager, he said, “What can I do for you, Young Master Jiang?”
Heaven knows when he learned earlier that the organizers wanted Meng Ting to go over, he immediately contacted Jiang Ren. It almost turned into a disaster, scaring him out of his wits. He had just managed to fall asleep, and now this young master was calling again.
The voice on the other end of the phone was excessively calm. Gao Yi even suspected he was speaking with a straight face.
“Meng Ting is my girlfriend.”
Gao Yi: “…”
However, within that calmness, the upward lilt at the end of his sentence was hard for Gao Yi to ignore. Gao Yi didn’t know if it was true or not, he blankly said, “Congratulations, Young Master Jiang.”
The rationally calm voice that was forcibly restraining itself replied, “Mm.”