TCBHIWAF Chapter 76

Chapter 76: Testing the Waters

Afterward, Qin Wanwan had a flash of inspiration. A radiant smile instantly bloomed on her face as she intimately took Ye Xingchen’s arm and coquettishly said, “Darling, I’ve also prepared a surprise for you. Tonight, let’s just have the two of us at home, okay?”

As she spoke, she deliberately rubbed her cheek against Ye Xingchen’s shoulder, her eyes full of anticipation and sweetness.

Ye Xingchen instantly understood. A charming smile curved his lips, and his eyes, deliberately filled with ambiguous intent, turned to Qin Wanwan. “Of course. I was truly impressed by that outfit you wore for me last time.”

Qin Wanwan couldn’t help but mentally scoff, “Roleplay and uniform temptation, playing it so wild. Doesn’t she care about her image?”

But in an instant, a charming smile deliberately appeared on her face, and she began to fabricate, “There are even better ones, Xingchen. How about I wear one for you tonight?”

As she spoke, she deliberately reached out, her fingertips gently drawing circles on Ye Xingchen’s chest.

Ye Xingchen really didn’t like such intimate contact, after all, it was just acting for the occasion. He subtly frowned almost imperceptibly, then quickly reached out and pinched Qin Wanwan’s hand, while using his eyes to signal her not to move.

Immediately afterward, he deliberately picked up the conversation, with a touch of playfulness, “Alright, then I’ll have to punish you properly tonight.”

Lin Yu, hearing this harsh dialogue, his originally gentle face instantly turned as pale as paper. His eyes widened, staring fixedly at Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan, his eyes full of pain and disbelief.

His breathing became rapid and erratic, his chest heaving violently, as if an invisible hand were tightly gripping his heart, kneading it forcefully.

He subconsciously grabbed Xia Meng’s hand tightly, as if it were his only support at this moment. Xia Meng was gripped so hard that she couldn’t help but gasp, but Lin Yu was completely unaware, his mind and eyes filled with the intimate scene of Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan, his heart aching like it was being torn apart.

Xia Meng noticed Lin Yu’s abnormality, turned to look at him, her eyes full of worry and doubt. Following Lin Yu’s gaze, she looked at Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan, a wave of bitterness rising in her heart.

She didn’t understand why Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan’s few jokes would cause Lin Yu so much pain. Did he like Ye Xingchen that much?

Just as Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan were about to turn their heads, Xia Meng’s heart tightened. She decisively pulled Lin Yu over and directly made a gesture as if she was about to kiss him.

In reality, her hand secretly blocked between their lips, just creating the illusion of a kiss.

This sudden scene stunned Ye Xingchen completely. The surrounding air seemed to freeze instantly, the atmosphere turning icy. Qin Wanwan also looked surprised.

Everyone’s gazes were cast over, and the originally lively conversation stopped abruptly.

After the “kiss,” she silently mouthed to Lin Yu, “Keep acting.”

Soon, the donation segment began.

The host began to speak: “Thank you, everyone, for taking time out of your busy schedules…”

…

Lin Yu looked somewhat dazed, casually writing a number on the donation form, donating 5 million.

Ye Xingchen, on the other hand, looked indifferent. With a wave of his hand, he unhesitatingly wrote down 10 million, and then quickly completed the payment.

As the donation segment ended, everyone moved to the banquet hall, resuming their conversations. The hall was filled with a buzzing sound of voices again.

Xia Meng took advantage of the gap to approach Lin Yu. “If you really don’t want to have that kind of relationship with him again, you must learn to control your emotions. If you want to be with him in your heart, you should tell him your feelings sooner.”

Lin Yu turned his head slightly, looking elsewhere, and said in a somewhat stiff tone, “I don’t want to be with him.”

But his clenched fists betrayed the unrest in his heart, as if even he himself couldn’t completely convince himself of this sentence.

Xia Meng looked at Lin Yu, her expression serious and focused, and slowly opened her mouth to say, “I’ve seen too many people miss the love of their lives because they don’t dare to face their hearts. The more you avoid feelings, the more painful it becomes. Only by facing them bravely can there be a chance for resolution.”

Lin Yu frowned slightly, a hint of entanglement and helplessness in his eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Xia Meng continued, “Moreover, I want to tell you that I have feelings for you. You can think about it carefully and consider me. I know you’ve always had Ye Xingchen in your heart, but I still want you to know my feelings.”

Lin Yu was stunned for a moment, a look of disbelief on his face. “Don’t joke around.”

Xia Meng looked serious, staring firmly at Lin Yu. “I’m not joking.”

“But I’m not who you think I am.”

“I also have my own secrets, a side that isn’t known to others.”

Lin Yu looked at Xia Meng in confusion, “What do you mean by that?”

Xia Meng took a deep breath and slowly said, “Everyone has their own past, and I’m no exception. But so what? That doesn’t affect my current feelings for you.”

Her voice was gentle and soothing, like a spring breeze, easing the frustration in Lin Yu’s heart slightly. He nodded. “Okay, I’ll consider it.”

Just then, Xia Meng caught sight of Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan walking towards them. A thought flashed through her mind, and a hint of decisiveness appeared on her face.

Xia Meng was wearing a dress as white as snow, like a pure lily. She subtly swirled the red wine in her hand, then pretended to lose her grip. The wine glass tilted, and some red wine spilled on her skirt.

Seeing this, Lin Yu instantly understood Xia Meng’s intention. He hurriedly took off his coat and gently draped it over Xia Meng’s shoulders.

At that moment, Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan had just approached.

Lin Yu simply went all the way, directly picking Xia Meng up in his arms, and said with a worried expression, “I’ll take you back.”

Originally, Ye Xingchen had planned to come over and indirectly test Lin Yu’s attitude, but this scene made him pause in his steps, his eyes instantly becoming complex and unpredictable.

Xia Meng nestled in Lin Yu’s arms, secretly raising her eyes to observe Ye Xingchen’s reaction, silently praying that this act would allow both Lin Yu and Ye Xingchen to see their own feelings clearly.

Lin Yu carried Xia Meng away in a hurry, leaving Ye Xingchen and Qin Wanwan standing in place.

Qin Wanwan gently tugged at Ye Xingchen’s sleeve and asked in a low voice, “Did we… lose?”

Ye Xingchen didn’t respond, just staring at Lin Yu’s departing figure with a gloomy face, as if he wanted to see through that back, his heart filled with mixed feelings, all sorts of emotions surging.

Qin Wanwan looked at Ye Xingchen and felt a little unbearable. She gently called out again, “Ye Xingchen?”

Only then did Ye Xingchen come back to his senses, taking a deep breath and trying to calm himself down. But his slightly trembling hands still betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

He gritted his teeth and said in a low voice, “Let’s go, we should go back too.” After saying that, he hurriedly led Qin Wanwan out of the banquet hall.

Along the way, Ye Xingchen was silent, staring blankly at the street scenes flashing past outside the car window, his thoughts already drifting far away.

Qin Wanwan secretly sized up Ye Xingchen, hesitating to speak several times, but finally couldn’t help but open her mouth, “Don’t take it too hard. Didn’t you say they were just acting?”

Ye Xingchen snorted coldly, mocking himself, “Acting? Acting so realistically, I don’t think so.”

Qin Wanwan sighed helplessly, knowing that nothing she said at this moment could comfort Ye Xingchen’s emotions, so she simply closed her mouth and said nothing more.