Chapter 172: Control Me, Own Me, Capture Me |
The four of them walked together, and even in a crowd full of people dressed in ancient costumes parading through the streets, they stood out far too much.
On one hand, it was because their clothes were too dazzling—bright red, ink-black, and pure white, three vivid colors clustered together, easily making people unconsciously take a second look.
On the other hand, it was their ridiculously photogenic faces, which made many mistake them for event staff for tonight's festival.
"Hehe, everyone on the street is staring at you right now, Jiang-classmate."
Su Muzhi leaned close to Jiang Linyuan's ear, her fingers hidden beneath her red sleeve poking hard at his waist, a pleasant scent of incense wafting from her body.
"Maybe they're looking at the two of us together."
Jiang Linyuan recalled the words they'd exchanged when they first met and smiled back.
Su Muzhi froze for a moment at his words, then narrowed her eyes with a grin.
"Back then, it was just the two of us. But not anymore."
"Pretty much the same, isn't it?"
Jiang Linyuan said.
"Hehe, not even close."
The two of them whispered behind the others.
Shen Guoguo walked at the front, glancing at the silent Shen Wanyu, then turning her head back repeatedly to watch the two chatting and laughing behind her.
She felt deeply frustrated.
Big Brother Jiang was obviously entangled with that Bad Woman Su, so why wasn't Wanyu-sis saying anything?
Wait, actually, Wanyu-sis and Big Brother Jiang weren't boyfriend and girlfriend either, so she couldn't really say anything.
But... but those two weren't a couple either! Wanyu-sis, what are you even thinking! And Big Brother Jiang too!
"Wanyu-sis, you're walking too fast. Look back at Big Brother Jiang."
Shen Guoguo held Shen Wanyu's hand and whispered a reminder.
Shen Wanyu stopped in her tracks, glanced at Shen Guoguo, then cast a sidelong look at Jiang Linyuan.
"Does he need that?"
"How could he not need it? Department Head, I need it the most!"
Jiang Linyuan walked forward, holding Su Muzhi's hand as he stood beside her.
Su Muzhi watched his movement, her brow lifting slightly, but a moment later it relaxed again, her face breaking into a smile as she said to Shen Wanyu:
"He has two hands, you know. If you want to hold the other one, just beg me, and I might reluctantly agree."
Shen Wanyu let out a faint laugh.
"I never knew such things required your permission."
"Oh, really?"
Su Muzhi raised her hand that was interlaced with Jiang Linyuan's, shaking it in front of her.
"Then don't hold out any hope."
"Su Muzhi, you're just burning through whatever capital you have. They say those who are loved act fearless. How long do you think you can be loved like this?"
Shen Wanyu glanced at Jiang Linyuan, then turned and walked away.
Su Muzhi's face went blank. She turned to Jiang Linyuan, gripping his hand tightly.
"What does she mean?"
"No idea, no idea."
Jiang Linyuan shook his head.
Su Muzhi stared at Shen Wanyu's retreating figure, slowly letting go of Jiang Linyuan's hand. She had wanted to say, "Let's go."
But the words that came out were different.
"Follow her."
If that's what you want.
The two didn't hold hands anymore. They followed behind Shen Wanyu, eventually walking up to her side.
Dusk had fallen, the dark blue sky gradually turning black, but the crowd on the street hadn't thinned—if anything, it had grown.
Lanterns—colorful ones, palace-style ones—began to light up.
The group ran around for a good while until Xiao Su was the first to tire out, so they found a place to rest.
"Xiao Su, your stamina sucks."
Jiang Linyuan handed Su Muzhi a bottle of water.
"Can't help it. Unless you want to carry me on your back and keep going?"
Su Muzhi blinked, grinning as she spoke.
"No way. If I carry you, the Department Head might get mad again."
"Let her be mad..."
Su Muzhi started to speak instinctively, but the words died on her lips. She glanced at Shen Wanyu, who was accompanying Shen Guoguo to buy candied hawthorn sticks, and fell silent for a moment.
Frustration churned in her heart, mixed with a hint of anticipation.
"You care about her a lot?"
"Of course."
Su Muzhi stared at Jiang Linyuan, an indescribable feeling welling up inside her.
"And me? Do you care about me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? The answer to that is 'of course,' too."
Jiang Linyuan said.
"Hehe, then if I keep acting like this, will you still care about me?"
"Keep acting like what?"
"Like this—showing you off like a toy, wanting to control you, forcefully holding your hand, forcefully kissing you, and in the end, forcefully interfering with everything you do."
Su Muzhi's eyes curved into crescents as she tilted her head and smiled.
"...Probably not. Xiao Su, you should understand this feeling better than anyone, shouldn't you?"
Jiang Linyuan gazed at the endless stream of people passing by and said.
"Yeah, I figured as much. Even when my own mother treats me like that, I feel disgusted. If it's like that between mother and daughter, it's even worse for other relationships."
Su Muzhi took a sip of water, letting out a soft laugh.
"It's not quite the same, you know. When Auntie Shaqima does it, at least there's love behind it."
"What do you mean? That I don't love you?"
"You said it yourself."
Su Muzhi smiled sweetly.
"But I get jealous. Isn't that liking someone?"
"Possessiveness is part of love, but it's not the whole of it."
Jiang Linyuan snatched the water from Su Muzhi's hand.
"Let me give you an example. Suppose one day, I'm holding hands with some girl you don't know. What would you think?"
Su Muzhi paused, then said:
"I'd think your hands were dirty."
"And what if I was holding hands with Shen Wanyu?"
"Furious. So furious I'd want to beat you to death, and her too."
"What about holding hands with Yu Songsong?"
"A little angry. Angry enough to want to make trouble for you and watch you suffer to make up for it."
"And what if I was holding hands with Lin Yilin?"
"Doesn't matter. I'd think it was fun."
Jiang Linyuan took a sip of water.
"Don't you think what you're saying is weird? Jealousy has targets? Normally, if someone runs into the person they like being intimate with a third party, no matter who that third party is, they'd be pretty furious, right?"
Su Muzhi nodded.
"That should be the case."
"So, Xiao Su, do you still think you like me?"
"I'm trying my best to like you."
"But I can't see it."
Jiang Linyuan looked at Su Muzhi's face. Her crimson robe fluttered like a phoenix crown and bridal gown, the smooth silk and her delicate features making even the palace lanterns and streetlights fade into insignificant background.
"You should hate me, loathe me. Because I've kissed and hugged you, and then turned around to laugh and chat with other girls."
"Instead of constantly pressuring me, hoping to tame me."
"I give you everything of mine, so you have to accept me too. Otherwise, I'll control you."
"That's what's in your heart. If I eventually accept you, would we be happy? This is a love built on force and threats."
Jiang Linyuan's voice was light, almost carelessly detached, as if he were talking about something that had nothing to do with him.
I'm sorry, Xiao Su. From now on, you can ask me to do anything.
Su Muzhi listened to his words, then suddenly burst into laughter—a carefree, unrestrained laugh that made her crimson robe seem almost arrogant, like a ruthless queen from the annals of history.
"Then try chasing other girls. Make me angry because of you. Make me depressed because of you. Make me heartbroken because of you. Like someone who truly likes you."
"Yeah, hate you, despise you, detest you, and all that. And then, in the end, realize that this is what it means to like you."
"Hehe..."
She lifted her long, fair neck like a proud fox, half her face bathed in the lantern light, looking impossibly alluring.
"Control me like a toy. Own me. Capture me. Make me your possession. Jiang Linyuan, can you do it?"
Her voice was soft, as if she were talking about something perfectly ordinary. Then she shook her head and blinked.
"Yeah, no. You have to do it."
Staring at her face, Jiang Linyuan let out a deep sigh.
To hell with the A-Class Card!
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