Chapter 246: 178 Jiang Yanting, we once had a child (3 updates)_2
The two were so close they could almost hear each otherās breath.
Shen Zhixian was stunned for a couple of seconds, motionless, silent.
She was very thin, and even though she wore a thick coat, he could easily encircle her waist from behind. Jiang Yanting rested his chin on her shoulder blade, his breath, unfailing, blowing into her neck...
"You smell so good."
His lowered voice was exceedingly magnetic, these words seemed to explode right beside her ear.
Her entire being, from the inside out, rapidly flushed with blood, her pretty face instantly turning bright red, she tucked in her neck, wishing she could bury herself in her scarf.
"Jiang Yantingā"
Just as she was about to struggle, she heard someone coming downstairs, and since it was a neighbor, whom they inevitably encountered entering or exiting, the voice was familiar, and she struggled even harder.
"If you move again, I canāt guarantee what I might do to you in front of your neighbor, can I?"
Shen Zhixian listened as the footsteps drew closer, not daring to make any significant movements.
And the neighbor, clearly seeing two people embraced in the stairwellās inner corner, could only see Jiang Yanting from the back, with Shen Zhixian in his arms, seeing nothing else. The neighbor, feeling embarrassed, quickly left.
Only then did Shen Zhixian break free from his hold, turned to face him with surging emotions inside but still feigned calm on her face, "You came so early, is something the matter?"
"I told you, Iām taking you to meet someone."
"Actually..." Shen Zhixian bit her lip, "I think Iāve pretty much heard it all from Xie Duo, and I donāt think weāre suitable."
"Thatās all in the past, now we both have our own lives, and actually, itās quite good this way."
"Letās not disturb each other anymore."
...
Jiang Yanting looked at her, "Do you still like me?"
"To be moved, that stuff is just hormones playing tricks, even if I liked you in the past, this state couldnāt possibly last for so many years, besides..."
Shen Zhixian didnāt finish speaking when Jiang Yanting stepped forward, cupped her face, and viciously kissed her.
Her mind buzzed.
As if something had exploded in an instant, it left a void.
But no matter how she struggled, she couldnāt shake him, until, with determination, she viciously bit him, tasting the metallic flavor of blood, and he still didnāt let go.
"Shen Zhixian, look into my eyes and repeat what you just said!"
His fingers were tightly gripping her shoulders, the force so great it was even painful.
Shen Zhixian was also pushed to the brink, and with an unexpected burst of strength, she pushed him away, "Jiang Yanting, you were at the hospital that day too, donāt you know what disease I got? I wonāt be able to have children anymore!"
"Youāve already had a child for me..."
His words were cut short.
"Heās long gone!" Her voice was soft, as if she was talking about something insignificant, "Gone, from the moment he was born, I couldnāt save him..."
She gave him an easy smile, which was enough to wrench Jiang Yantingās heart.
"I only glanced at him in a hurry, all wrinkled and actually quite ugly. No matter how much they spanked him at birth, he didnāt cry, and I hadnāt expected that weād still lose him in the end."
"I never even heard his voice!"
"I feel so useless; having a baby nearly killed me, and then I couldnāt even save the child. I donāt know how to face you."
"Seeing you always brings back the past, and the pain stirs up in me, I simply canāt sleep..." Shen Zhixian placed a hand over her heart, "I canāt cope, do you understand?"
Jiang Yanting said nothing, just pulled her into his embrace, but this time she didnāt struggle, only let out a quiet laugh.
"Even if I do like you, I canāt face you..."
"You have your own child now. No child hopes for their father to find them a stepmother; I canāt face him either."
"Letās both live well and let each other go."
Initially, Shen Zhixian thought that speaking about such a matter might be earth-shattering, but she hadnāt expected to inform him in such a calm tone, the weight lifted from her chest, giving her some relief.
But Jiang Yanting could hear the despair and helplessness behind each word after the grief.
So each word she said felt like a thousand pounds, pressing hard on his chest, making it difficult for him to breathe and leaving him to choke out:
"Is the child... really gone?"
Shen Zhixian laughed bitterly as she broke free from his embrace.
"Iām sorry, back then I..."
"Forget it, thatās all in the past."
"Who told you the child was gone?"