A secret tryst? Her brotherly love triangle backfired.

Chapter 140 "I was a bit reckless that night, did I scare you?"

Tang Wanwan felt a little uncomfortable and turned to leave.

He was stopped by someone next to him.

"Are you really planning to avoid me like the plague and never have anything to do with me again?"

Tang Wanwan froze, her hand gripping the wine glass tightening unconsciously, but she didn't turn around.

She wore a moon-white dress, her long hair was tied up, revealing her delicate and slender neck, and her pearl earrings swayed gently in the night breeze.

Shen Zhixing's gaze fell on it, and he smiled gently, "I just like you and honestly told you my feelings. I didn't do anything wrong, did I?"

He spoke in a calm tone, his slender figure leaning against a nearby pillar, his face hidden in the shadows.

"You may not be able to accept my feelings for a while and choose to run away, but don't decide to become strangers to me because of what a man said."

Even if a deal falls through, goodwill remains.

Besides, they've known each other for three years.

From the age of fifteen to eighteen, he spent three years in Z City, frequently visiting the Tang family.

She treated him openly and honestly as an elder, and had no defenses against him.

In truth, he knew her far better than Shen Xianyu had in the past three years.

He watched her grow from an innocent young girl to a graceful young woman.

Even if he did have some unusual thoughts, he never revealed them to her.

She was in poor health and had always been a well-behaved and obedient girl since childhood.

He was afraid that such an immoral relationship would frighten her.

If she hadn't suddenly broken up with Shen Xianyu and gotten together with Jiang Yanzhi without hesitation, he might have continued to endure it.

In her presence, he was always a gentle, tolerant, and good-tempered elder.

Although he was only seven years older than her.

And now, it seems she intends to never have anything to do with him again.

It was simply because she was afraid of upsetting Jiang Yanzhi.

Shen Zhixing sighed softly, "Wanwan, if you decide to stay away from me, it can only be because you hate me as a person, not for any other reason, understand?"

It's not that he can't accept her rejection.

She just couldn't accept that she listened to her 'boyfriend' and cut ties with him.

This is the girl he has been patiently protecting for three years.

He was first struck by her beauty.

Finally, I fell in love with her clean and resilient inner self.

The pine trees stand tall on the mountain, and the wind rustles in the valley.

She has an independent will and shouldn't be a worldly woman manipulated by her 'lover', who, once her boyfriend speaks, wishes she could never have anything to do with any man again.

His words carried a very heavy meaning.

To Tang Wanwan, it sounded like she was love-struck and had abandoned their three-year friendship for her boyfriend.

She turned around, frowning, and said, "I didn't."

Shen Zhixing looked at her and slowly nodded, "That's good."

"I was a bit reckless that night, did I scare you?"

He smiled and explained, "I haven't come to see you these past few days because I've been giving you time to process this."

Let me digest this...

What to digest?
Tang Wanwan glanced at the clinking glasses in the inner hall and whispered, "There's no way we can be together. You should find someone else you like."

Shen Zhixing was able to detect a hint of admonition in her tone.

She wanted to persuade him to turn back from his wrong path.

Shen Zhixing sighed softly, "If I could change it, I would have done so long ago."

The voice sounded very distressed.

Tang Wanwan pursed her lips and stared at him.

In those beautiful almond-shaped eyes, there was confusion, disbelief, and... a sense of helplessness about what I could do.

Shen Zhixing smiled, "You're only eighteen, you have a long future ahead of you, how can you be so sure there's no possibility between us?" He had already crossed the most difficult line.

I can't think of anything else that could be a problem.

Nothing will ever be able to stop him from wanting her again.

Even she herself can't do it.

He has plenty of time; he can slowly wear her down.

No matter how tight her defenses were, he could always find a way to break through.

Tang Wanwan couldn't argue with him and said with a headache, "I'm going back."

This is really not a place to talk, especially since, in the eyes of the people inside, their relationship is that of a niece-in-law and uncle.

Shen Zhixing nodded slightly. "Alright, I'm going back to the capital the day after tomorrow. I'll have a farewell dinner at your house tomorrow, and we can talk then."

Tang Wanwan: "...Was this a spur-of-the-moment decision, or did my dad invite you a long time ago?"

"What do you say?"

Shen Zhixing looked at her and smiled: "Wanwan, I came here tonight specifically to see you."

So, tomorrow too.

What farewell banquet? It's clear the real intention is not what's in the wine.

This person used to come to our house for meals every few days.

But now that she knew what he was thinking, and seeing the almost overflowing smile in his eyes, Tang Wanwan felt that he was shameless.

She said, "If my dad knew what you were planning, he would never let you into the house!"

"That's hard to say," Shen Zhixing's smile deepened. "Wanwan, take off that elder's filter and look at me fairly. Am I really that bad?"

Is he bad?
Thinking of the suppressed gasps of the girls around her in the hall just now, Tang Wanwan pursed her lips, her wine glass, which she had been holding for too long, wobbled slightly.

Shen Zhixing glanced at it and frowned.

He reached out and took the glass of wine, first sniffing it, then taking a sip as if unsure and swallowing it, before finally his face darkened.

"You drink?"

In his memory, Tang Wanwan was still a frail and sickly beauty.

Let alone alcohol, even for ordinary beverages, I can only drink a few kinds that don't have many additives.

How dare she drink alcohol in her condition?
The man, who had remained calm and composed and observed proper etiquette all night, broke his composure.

He grabbed her shoulder and leaned down to look at her face. "How much did you drink? Are you feeling unwell anywhere?"

The sudden approach of the aura made Tang Wanwan stiffen, and she quickly said, "I'm much better now, and I can drink alcohol again."

Shen Zhixing frowned deeply as he carefully observed her expression.

We haven't seen each other for many days.

We're in the courtyard now, and although there are lights flickering, they're not bright enough.

So, after talking for so long, he hadn't noticed that her physical condition was unusually good.

Her porcelain-white skin had a hint of pink, her eyes were bright and expressive, and her lips were red and her teeth were white.

She looked great. Compared to the porcelain doll she was before, her appearance was still the same, but... she seemed reborn.

She has been given a new lease on life.

Shen Zhixing's eyes narrowed as she recalled her experiences and changes over this period.

When you like someone, you'll unconsciously start to care about them.

Over the past few years, he wouldn't say he knew everything about her situation, but he certainly kept a close eye on her at all times.

Last time at the hospital...

Shen Zhixing's Adam's apple bobbed slowly as he asked her in a hoarse voice, "When will your body be able to drink alcohol again?"

"..." Tang Wanwan choked, refusing to answer, only saying, "Let me go."

Shen Zhixing gave her a deep look, then slowly let go of her hand. "Let's go inside. It's windy at night."

He stood by the fountain, letting the girl turn around and leave without looking back, disappearing into the night.

After a long while, he slowly raised his arm and drank the wine in the cup.

(End of this chapter)