Chapter 96: But I don't think my girlfriend would ever go back to an ex!

“The transition between spring and summer in Sorrento.”
“The cliffside road.”
“The wrath of Mount Vesuvius.”

After speaking, he crouched down to pick up her high heels, one by one, then took a step toward her.

Song Mi stopped the moment she heard the name Sorrento.

So, she hadn’t been mistaken?!

The person she saw was really him?!

How could he be here?

And what had she just said?

Drunkenness swirled around her chaotic emotions—so real, so resisting—that she couldn’t tell what she truly wanted.

Why was he here?

For a moment, she could only stand there, unable to move.

Wen Yanli strode past her, then turned back and stopped before her. “Mi’er, who am I?”

The tall figure of the man blocked the light, pressing down on her.

Perhaps because she was barefoot, Song Mi felt much shorter than him.

As if on cue, just as she prepared to lift her chin and look at him, her previously dulled sense of smell suddenly caught a trace of perfume!

She had smelled it before.

When she was injured by Lu Zhizhi and resting in a hotel bed, and he had come in from outside and approached her.

And when she shook hands with Rong Xin’an.

—So, he had come from beside Rong Xin’an?

Quickly, Song Mi took a step back in disgust, lifted her face to look at him, and smiled with a hint of mockery, “Oh, if it isn’t Lawyer Wen, long time no see!”

Then, she glanced down at the high heels he held—her shoes—“Thank you.”

She reached out her hand.

Seeing the woman frown and avoid him, Wen Yanli’s eyes darkened further. “I’ll take you back to the hotel!”

Song Mi blurted out, “No need!”

Her hand still extended.

But the man didn’t move an inch. Song Mi lost patience immediately. “Since Lawyer Wen picked up the shoes, you can deal with them as you see fit!”

As she turned, the man’s hand swiftly grabbed her arm. With pain and fury in his voice, he questioned, “Why?”

Struggling, she couldn’t avoid meeting his deep, fathomless cold gaze. His lips trembled. “Give me a reason!”

He was gripping her arm tightly enough that it went numb. “Drunk words reveal truth—you just said you only like the bird of paradise!”

“You said your attitude toward Qiao Yudong is the same as toward Huo Qingjue!” Wen Yanli stared unblinking, emotions surging beneath his eyes like a storm that could not be quelled.

If he let her go now, everything would return to square one.

Back to two months ago.

He knew all too well how cold and heartless she had been!

“And what about me!” Wen Yanli stepped closer, pressing her. “What exactly are you facing that you have to push me away, abandon me?”

“Song Mi, am I so unworthy of your trust, so unworthy of your devotion?”

He knew?

He knew everything?

Had he guessed on his own, or did Shen Yanye tell him something?

But no matter what, he couldn’t possibly know the specifics. He could never imagine what she was about to face!

A wave of dizziness hit her. Her shoulders swayed, and she nearly lost her footing. The man was quick and caught her waist, pulling her into his arms with urgency, calling her name, “Mi’er!”

Soon, he lifted her horizontally.

At a time like this, what could be more fitting than unconsciousness?

She couldn’t answer his questions.

Nor could she explain what she just said when she mistook him for Huo Qingjue!

If only she could drift into unconsciousness, oblivious to everything—it would be better!

But she didn’t.

Her wrists hurt, her arms ached, her feet throbbed, and her head pounded—all the pain mingled with the hazy intoxication.

The man carried her for a while before flagging down a taxi. After the car stopped, he placed her inside first, then got in on the other side, immediately pulling her back into his embrace.

Song Mi heard him on the phone.

He called Ye Zhao, asking about her hotel.

Only then did Song Mi remember Liang Liang and suddenly broke free from his arms. “Liang Liang is still at Yunshangju.”

“She’s in room 966.”

Wen Yanli instantly reached out and pressed her back into his arms, soothing her gently, “I’ll take care of it.”

Then she heard him make another call, probably to Feng Jue.

After hanging up, Song Mi, eyes closed, called softly, “Brother?”

Wen Yanli shuddered inside, then bent down to kiss the top of her head. “What is it?”

“Third time’s the charm!” Suddenly, the woman pushed herself up from his arms, leaned close, and grabbed his collar tightly. “If there’s a third time, you’re dead!”

Song Mi lifted her chin defiantly, eyes wide with anger.

Though Wen Yanli had no idea what she was warning him about and knew it was the drunkenness talking, he found it utterly endearing!

So endearing that he almost cupped her neck and kissed her fiercely.

But he didn’t.

Or rather, he dared not.

Because he feared losing control himself!

So he restrained himself, merely scratching her nose and asking, “Then tell me, what did I do wrong?”

At this moment, whatever Song Mi said or did was uncontrollable, like how she had walked barefoot for so long without feeling pain.

Hearing him, she frowned and sniffed but smelled nothing. She leaned closer, but still nothing. “Yesterday Once More!”

“I checked!” Song Mi glared at him!

Wen Yanli frowned, then saw her eyes squint slightly, black pupils gleaming with a dangerously sharp light. “The perfume Rong Xin’an uses is called Yesterday Once More!”

“She wants to reconcile with you, Brother!”

—So she was jealous?

It was as if a pebble had been tossed into a serene lake, rippling endlessly.

Once this realization sank in, Wen Yanli felt his broken heart from two months ago instantly mended and filled.

—Rong Xin’an’s perfume?

That was possible. He recalled smelling perfume in the car just moments ago.

But when else besides tonight?

Just as he pondered, his collar suddenly tightened—Song Mi’s grip growing firmer, followed by her accusations: “Did you go on a date with her?”

“Did you pick her up at the airport?”

“Did you take her home?”

Before he could answer, she bit his lip fiercely—really bit—almost making him cry out in pain. “Mi’er, I…”

“Don’t explain!”

First biting, now pushing. She shoved him hard, then took a big step back and sat down, covering her ears. “I’m not listening!”

“If there’s a next time, you’re dead!”

Her fingertip still pressed against his lip. Wen Yanli covered his mouth and smiled softly and lowly, careful not to disturb the little woman lost in her emotions.

When sober, she would probably never act so coquettishly or stubbornly with him!

She just said “third time’s the charm,” so could she tolerate the scent of another woman’s perfume three times?

How much did she love him?

Was it like when she said, “I only like the bird of paradise,” so unique, so unwavering?

But he wouldn’t!

If he had suspected such things earlier, he would never have let her endure even once.

He had been careless.

“No!” Thinking this, his whole heart softened, but his voice remained tender and firm. “I won’t!”

Wen Yanli’s gaze locked onto her profile.

He wanted to say a hundred sweet words to coax her but dared not, fearing to wake her.

Unexpectedly, the woman soon turned her head, her expression aggrieved. “Three years, I only claim you for three years.”

“Let her wait for you for three years. After that, I will personally return you to her!”

Upon hearing this, Wen Yanli’s face and heart stirred with turbulent waves. His deep eyes became whirlpools, swallowing all vitality around. After a long moment, he found his voice. “Why three years?”

Song Mi stared at him for a long while, still unable to tell if this moment was real or just a hallucination.

It was all just a hallucination.

Torn between heaven and earth, her eyelids grew heavy, heavier, until she finally collapsed into his arms, whispering a prayer, “Promise me, okay?”

...

At the same time, Huo Qingjue and Qiao Yudong were frantically searching for her.

If they had known Song Mi would get out of the car and disappear, they would never have made a move!

Huo Qingjue immediately called Lu Zhiyuan.

Because the news of Song Mi at Yunshangju came from Lu Zhiyuan.

Fu Sisi’s close friend Zhou Manman was Zhou Manting’s elder sister, and Zhou Manting was dating Lu Zhiyuan.

Though Song Mi had clearly gotten out of the car and walked away, there was no guarantee Lu Zhiyuan hadn’t sent someone to watch her.

After all, their grudges weren’t new!

At this moment, Huo Qingjue realized his feelings for Song Mi had long surpassed friendship, alliance, and the pretense of being a boyfriend.

Maybe he had known all along but chose to ignore it because there hadn’t been a moment demanding confrontation.

Because he knew well that Song Mi had no feelings for him.

Lu Zhiyuan’s initial attitude was ambiguous. “Mr. Huo, why are you asking me about girlfriends?”

“Did I send you a message by mistake?”

He had no patience for beating around the bush and laid down the conditions directly. “Your batch of seasoning products from Lu Corporation is settled—no going back. But I can promise you that next month’s Lunar New Year special on the online mall will headline your products for three days.”

It turned out that calling Lu Zhiyuan was a desperate move, but Lu Zhiyuan immediately pledged to marshal all efforts to help find her.

By then, Huo Qingjue had been driving around the vicinity for several laps, contacting friends to check surveillance cameras, but it would take time.

Nearly an hour later, he drove to the hotel where she was staying.

He had gotten the hotel address from her assistant Lin Shen but was met with caution—no room number was given.

When he entered the hotel lobby and called again, Lin Shen said only, “I’ve contacted Miss Song. Mr. Huo, please go back.”

Huo Qingjue blurted, “Where is she now?”

“Has she returned to her room?”

Lin Shen’s lips were sealed. “Mr. Huo, please go back.”

He could neither order nor doubt her—so he gave up. “Please have her call me when it’s convenient.”

“Okay, I will pass it on.”

As he turned to leave, he saw a familiar figure entering through the glass doors.

In the next moment, he clearly saw the woman he had been desperately searching for being held in someone’s arms.

So after leaving Qiao Yudong’s car, she went to find Wen Yanli?

Huo Qingjue remembered clearly that day at the Queen Restaurant entrance, when she had suddenly asked him to fulfill the role of boyfriend and help fix her hair.

He saw then that a man was sitting at a window table inside—the man was Wen Yanli.

He understood her intention immediately.

She was putting on a show for the man behind the glass!

He didn’t know why they had broken up. Song Mi had never mentioned Wen Yanli in front of him.

But he remembered distinctly that it had been two months since she asked him to be her nominal boyfriend.

In other words, they had been apart for two months.

Given Song Mi’s character, what were the chances she would change her mind after deciding something?

While he pondered this, the approaching figure drew nearer.

He wasn’t sure if the man saw him.

But in reason and feeling, he couldn’t pretend not to see them.

Speaking, he stepped to the right and intercepted the man’s path. “Lawyer Wen!”

He glanced at the person in his arms. “Mi’er?”

Song Mi gave no response—she appeared to be asleep.

Wen Yanli’s aura was cold and desolate. After she said, “I only claim you for three years” in the car, he felt as if plunged into an icy abyss.

Three years.

Where would she go after three years?

Even after three years together, could she so easily let go of him?

He didn’t believe it!

So all the way, he asked himself whether to gamble or not.

If Huo Qingjue hadn’t called him or blocked his way, even if he had seen them, he wouldn’t have stopped.

Yet the other did both—and said, “Lawyer Wen, hand Mi’er over to me!”

Then Huo Qingjue stepped forward, reaching out.

Only now did Wen Yanli’s senses fully detach from his previous emotions and return to reality.

He coldly raised his eyes to meet Huo Qingjue’s gaze. “Why should I do that?”

Noticing the aggression in the other’s eyes, Huo Qingjue’s gaze flickered but he smiled, “Because Song Mi is my girlfriend now.”

“Girlfriend?” Wen Yanli’s face was calm as water. “Mr. Huo, you’re awfully quick to take your fake relationship seriously.”

Hearing this, Huo Qingjue’s brows lowered instinctively, but the curve of his lips remained. “Lawyer Wen, are you still haunted by your heartbreak?”

“Mi’er is wonderful, worth your lingering thoughts.” He reached toward Song Mi, wanting to brush her hair aside. “But I don’t think my girlfriend would go back to an old flame!”

Of course, his hand did not touch her hair.

Wen Yanli stepped aside with her in his arms, his tone cold and commanding. “Mr. Huo, you’ve overplayed your part.”

“Whether it’s a play or real, Lawyer Wen doesn’t decide.” Huo Qingjue’s eyes betrayed his challenge. “Why be so persistent, knowing there’s no future?”

A dark shadow flickered in Wen Yanli’s eyes as he glanced sideways at him repeatedly. Suddenly, he looked down at the woman in his arms. “She is the future.”

With that, he strode past Huo Qingjue.

“Does Lawyer Wen think the Wen family will accept Mi’er?” Huo Qingjue abruptly turned to fix his gaze on Wen Yanli’s back, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Even your mother disapproves—would the Wen family agree?”

“If you’re destined not to give her a future, why hurt her again?”

Seeing Wen Yanli pause, Huo Qingjue took two steps forward and then one more, turning to block his path again.

This time his tone softened. “Since you’ve parted, it means you weighed things carefully. So what can a sudden reconciliation change?”

Tightening his arms, Wen Yanli glanced down at the woman in his embrace and finally asked, “What did she say to you?”

“Nothing. She said nothing.” Huo Qingjue’s voice remained even, or perhaps restrained. “But I think when she sobers up, she won’t want to see two months of effort wasted.”

Huo Qingjue thought he had chosen his words carefully; he didn’t want to escalate the conflict.

To be blunt, he had no standing.

Because Song Mi had no feelings for him.

Yet Wen Yanli didn’t even twitch an eyelid after hearing this, nor did he show any intention of letting go. “Mr. Huo, please leave.”

—He was still telling him to go.

And then he bypassed him, walking away!

In that moment, Huo Qingjue could almost hear his own teeth grinding.

But there was nothing he could do.

After the fight with Qiao Yudong, he was badly hurt.

But he was unwilling to give up!

Meanwhile, Wen Yanli carried the woman a few steps further and suddenly heard behind him, “Let’s go up together!”

Ignoring it, he kept walking toward the elevator.

Unexpectedly, Huo Qingjue really followed.

They went all the way to the door of the presidential suite, which was fingerprint-locked. Wen Yanli freed one hand and said, “Fingerprint lock.”

Huo Qingjue understood and complied.

Soon, the door opened.

Wen Yanli carried her to the bed, laid her down, pulled the covers over her, making sure every corner was tucked in.

Song Mi had been sleeping deeply in his arms but woke up startled when placed down. Upon opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was his face. “Lawyer Wen?”

“Did I dream you?”

She thought she was dreaming and instinctively reached out to touch his face, smiling, “Brother, you’ve lost weight.”

Wen Yanli’s throat tightened. He held her hand against his cheek, “Yes, you dreamed of me.”

Just then, his phone rang abruptly, breaking the silence.