Xu Shen had not expected to enjoy Han Qiang's company. He barely remembered how she was in the past, but from what he had remembered she was truly a free spirit who seemed to enjoy being left alone. Remembering such a thing he found it strange that the woman would have to spend so much time talking to him and Xu Shen felt the same after they had finished talking that day. But he, later on that night, ended up dismissing it.
She was probably just being polite, Xu Shen thought but this thought disappeared after they spent each and every day in Maldives together.
And then, by the time it was time to go back home, Han Qiang was reluctant to be so far away from the man. She had grown accustomed to him.
T City and City R, where Han Qiang and Han Wei lived, were very far away from each other. So, both of them knew that they wouldn't see each other and they didn't have to guts to stop this fact until Han Wiang said,
Han Qiang: "You haven't been back to your homemade town in a while right? How about you come to City R with us? You can stay at my place for a little just to explore. What do you say?"
Han Qiang was desperate for him to stay and so she tried her best to find any way for him to stay but good for her, that wasn't hard.
"Just for a little bit."
***
Months and months had passed since Xu Shen had been in City R and everything was different.
With Han Qiang and Xu Shen living under the same house, the two deprecated the chores. By then, the two seemed like a true couple and here and there the two would experience a sexual tension within them which was hard to ignore but Xu Shen wasn't sure what to do.
It took months more for Xu Shen to accept that he liked Han Qiang and then, after that, he couldn't see Han Qiang without his heart almost beating out of his chest.
Seeing Han Qiang laugh or smile was just decide and it didn't take long until he had called for her.
Xu Shen never planned I'm telling her that. He was still unsure about loving again but this was a start...
As he thought this, the man's phone behalf to ring.
It was a text from Lu Shuya.
Lu Xiaoling and Tang Yian we're getting remarried.
Looking at Lu Shuya's text, Xu Shen felt his heart tighten slightly. He knew this was going to happen and he knew that it might be soon but truly seeing the confirmation of it really did hit Xu Shen hard.
So much so that for a moment he couldn't breathe...
Seeing how strange Xu Shen had become, Han Qiang approached him carefully and then she looked at his phone. Seeing the message, Han Qiang frowned.
"You're going to go?" She asked calmly.
Hearing her sultry voice, Xu Shen was pulled out of his trance. He then looked at the woman in her face with an expression so blue that it dyed the room in that colour.
Xu Shen: "Of course I'm going. I want to show support for Xiaoling."
"Are you serious?" Han Qiang asked with genuine shock.
Usually when two people got divorced. The ex partner would not be involved in many facets of the other partners live, especially not in the others new marriage... however, Xu Shen still felt responsible for the woman so he couldn't just let go.
"Xiaoling and I may be divorced but I promised we'd remain close friends and I never go back on my word." After saying this, Xu Shen averted his eyes from Han Qiang and said, "Either way, I can't avoid her for the rest of my life. I need to go back to T City soon... to begin with, I don't have any other place to live."
Xu Shen said this simply but a bit sadly.
"How about you live with me permanently?" Han Qiang said simply without any though
Xu Shen: "No I can't. I would owe you too much."
Frowning, Han Qiang said, "don't speak nonsense. You don't owe me anything! I really think that it would be more beneficial for the both of us. Plus I really enjoy your company."
"I'm flattered you want me to stay... I am but I can't impose more than I already have." Xu Shen said adamantly. Even if the opportunity was Great, he couldn't bring himself to accept.
Han Qiang frowned.
"You're not imposing! Why are you refusing so much? Do you not like me?" Han Qiang asked simply. She was not offended or angry. She just truly wanted to know how Xu Shen felt.
"No! Um... well... an unmarried man and an unmarried woman living under the same house is a bit... you know..." Xu Shen said awkwardly. He then looked up to Han Qiang's blank face and then he coughed to clear his throat. "People will think..."
Xu Shen was not finished making his point but then suddenly, Han Qiang grabbed both of the man's hands and held it warmly in her own.
"We're both in our fifties. Who cares what people think? Who cares about how fast we're going? Who cares if we're married or not!" Han Qiang said with fire in her eyes. "Aren't we both too old to care about what others think and to take things slowly."
Her words flew off her tongue eloquently and passionately. It was as if what she had said was the truth. And it was. Her truth.
Xu Shen was shocked about how Han Qiang said this. It wasn't like she was wrong but still... this was such a change of pace, that he wasn't sure how to act. Seeing this, Han Qiang sighed and then she squeezed Xu Shen's hands.
Looking at the man deeply in the eyes, Han Qiang said, "Look... I want to be with you. I want to see you everyday. What do you want?"
Hearing Han Qiang say this, Xu Shen froze. Never had he ever heard anyone say such words to him. That they wanted him... these were words that exploded in Xu Shen's heart, causing an infinite amount of emotions to spread to every extremity.
Though at the back fo his mind, Lu Xiaoling still remained. Her smile and her voice remained etched in his heart and this was normal. She was his wife for so many years, but as he saw her smile in his mind, Xu Shen felt himself smile and then, as if he could see her wishing him well, Xu Shen sighed with relief.
He had to let go and begin anew.
Xu Shen: "I want to be with you."
Hearing this, Han Qiang smiled with youthful vigour. She then let go of Xu Shen's hands and wrapped her arms around his neck. She hugged him tightly as her radiant smile remained ever so bright on her face. Even when she pulled away to kiss Xu Shen shyly on his lips, it still remained.
For a moment, the two kissed, allowing themselves to be fully free with each other but just as they sunk deeper and deeper, a sound of someone gagging came to both their ears.
Fast as lightning Xu Shen and Han Wiang released eachother and then they looked towards the door where Han Wei stood hunched over as if he was about to spill his guts.
Seeing this, Han Qiang frowned.
"Brother, get out." Han Qiang said simply.
Hearing this, Han Wei quit his act and then he started at his sister with disappointment.
"Aren't you going to ask why I'm here?" Han Wei asked.
"To be a bother. I already know." Han Qiang said without shame as she rolled her eyes.
"Not even close but seeing what's going on here, I think I just might." Han Wei said as he crossed his arms over his chest and then walked towards Han Qiang and Xu Shen.
For a moment, Xu Shen felt as if he would get punched, but once Han Wei was close, her approached Han Qiang antagonistically and said,
"Listen yo wild child, don't you dare hurt Shen! He's a softie who's already had his heart broken before and he doesn't need that to happen again. If I so much as hear that you make him cry, you and I will have a chat!" Han Wei said strictly. He was like a father giving away his fragile daughter.
Hearing this, Han Qiang scoffed, "Like you have to tell me that Captain obvious!"
After the two bickered for a bit, Han Qiang left to go to the bathroom leaving Xu Shen and Han Wei alone. Once the two were sure Han Qiang was not eavesdropping in them, Han Wei turned to his old friend and said,
"Take care of her."
Hearing this, Xu Shen nodded, "Of course I will. You have my word."
Han Wei accepted this. He accepted Xu Shen and Han Wiang as a couple but still, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"I trust you... I do... but She's my sister. So... you know the drill. Treat her right, and don't break her heart." Han Wei said as he touched the back of his head.
Meanwhile, as Xu Shen listened to what the man said, a slightly smug smile appeared on his lips revealing all of his emotions all at once.
Seeing this, Han Wei frowned.
"Look... it's not like I care about how her relationship ships end up okay? It's just it would be annoying if she came crying to me okay? So quit giving me that face!" Han Wei said awkwardly. He was trying his best to convince Xu Shen that he didn't care much but truly, Han Wei had always been soft and protective when it came to his little sister but he was too much of a tsundere to even dare to admit his true feelings. "Also, Don't tell her I said that, she'd probably be disgusted."
Xu Shen laughed. "You can count on me. In both respects of course. Qiang... Your sister is truly a special extremely. I'll rest her with the utmost love and respect."
After he said this, Xu Shen was going to bow to Han Wei and thank him for setting him up with Han Qiang but Han Qiang suddenly entered the room and said,
"You better! I'm already planning on being the best lover you've ever had."
Hearing this, Xu Shen's face reddened and then Han Wei's face darkened.
"Save the foreplay for after I'm long gone!" Han Wei said.
Glaring at him, Han Wiang put her hands on her hips and then she said, "if you don't want to hear it then leave!"
After saying this, Han Qiang turned her gaze to Xu Shen and then she gave him a devilish smile.
"Leave brother. Before you see something you can never unsee."
Hearing his sister say this, Han Wei turned pale and then he ran out of the room cursing Han Qiang before he gave Xu Shen as warning look.
After the man was long gone, Han Qiang walked over to Xu Shen and then she sat in his lap before she kissed the man on the lips.
Looking at the mad with a smirk, Han Qiang Said,
"Now... where were we?"