Chapter Forty-Five: "She Loves Him, and He Loves Her"

“Hmm…” Leng Zhen felt aches in her waist and back as she slowly sat up, looking around.

“Zhen, you’re awake.” Cheng Yunting came upstairs holding a bowl of porridge. He hurried over and placed it on the bedside table. “Are you alright? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?”

“Cheng Yunting, stay away from me. We are strangers now.” Leng Zhen looked at him with disgust and edged closer to the window.

“Zhen, please, for your health, have this porridge, alright? Hmm?” Cheng Yunting brought the bowl to her, humbly pleading.

“No.” Leng Zhen knocked the bowl over. “Stay away from me. I don’t want to see you.”

“Please, Zhen, I’ll get you another bowl, just be good.” Cheng Yunting lowered his head and began picking up the broken pieces.

Leng Zhen couldn’t hold back any longer. “Cheng Yunting, didn’t you hear me? Stay away! I don’t want to see you. How dare you use me as a substitute? Damn you!”

She buried her head in her hands and began to cry, muttering softly, “Why can’t you just stay away from me? Why won’t you let me forget you… Isn’t that possible…”

Hearing her words, Cheng Yunting didn’t know what to do. He completely ignored the wound on his hand, his eyes reddening as he gently embraced her. “Don’t cry, Zhen. Take care of your health; that’s most important. You’re still pregnant. Shen Dongling said your emotions can’t fluctuate too much. Even if you don’t want this child, you must take care of yourself.”

Leng Zhen raised her head at his words, looking helplessly around. “I’m pregnant? Is it true?”

“It’s true.” Cheng Yunting nodded. “Even if you don’t want the baby, you must mind your health. Let’s not cry anymore, alright?”

“Mm.” Leng Zhen wiped her tears and touched her stomach. She hadn’t expected that she was nurturing a tiny life within her. Slowly, she lay back down.

“I’ll go get you some porridge.” Cheng Yunting gently covered her with the quilt.

Suddenly, Leng Zhen grabbed the corner of his shirt. “What will it take for you to let me go?”

Cheng Yunting was taken aback. “I’ll bring you porridge first, alright?”

“Mm.” Leng Zhen closed her eyes and nodded.

…

Cheng Yunting closed the bedroom door as if escaping and sat at the entrance, closing his eyes.

He truly didn’t want to let go, but sooner or later, Leng Zhen would leave him…

If it were the old Leng Zhen, she would have fought with Cheng Yunting, but now, the person before her was the boy she’d loved for ten years; how could she bring herself to hurt him?

Even if Leng Zhen wanted to fight him, Cheng Yunting would never fight back—he would only let her vent her emotions.

If she could just let it out, Cheng Yunting might be a bit more at ease, but when she kept it inside, his heart was always in suspense…

To put it simply: she liked him, he liked her, but the two were not together, plagued by misunderstandings.

Ah, they tormented each other like this, and no one could persuade them otherwise. Tsk, it’s such a troublesome affair.

After sitting for a while, Cheng Yunting went to get her another bowl of porridge and placed it on the bedside table, cautiously watching her profile, afraid she might wake.

After a moment, he slipped out, remaining at the door like a guardian deity.

He kept smoking, one cigarette after another, finishing an entire pack.

If he couldn’t guard her at her bedside, then let him be her guardian at the door.