He released Shen Jin Huan and strode into the room, burying himself beneath the quilt in a fit of pique, his entire being seemingly etched with the words "utterly disgruntled".
Negative energy clung to him like a shroud. Truly, he'd endured his share of grievances out there. Yet, human nature is a complex tapestry.
Ji Yan was but a mortal, not a deity. At his tender age, the bouts of struggle and hesitation were inevitable. He'd withstood the allure, albeit at great cost. All he'd hoped for was to catch a glimpse of Shen Jin Huan's beaming countenance, for that alone would've buoyed his spirits, enabling him to press on with unwavering resolve.
However, what greeted his ears was neither delight, nor words of encouragement, nor her affectionate "I love you".
Shen Jin Huan's offhand remark of "You could've gone along with it" shattered all his defenses in an instant, rendering his every ounce of perseverance seem like a farcical jest.
Though men are taught not to shed tears easily, he was aggrieved, he was in anguish, and soon enough, the pillowcase beneath his head was sodden with his tears.
The crux of his pain lay in the fact that he knew Shen Jin Huan's words were uttered with genuine nonchalance, that she truly deemed it of no consequence.
Shen Jin Huan's gaze drifted aimlessly, settling on a spot in the distance.
To be honest, she didn't mind if those men she'd been with entered into relationships, got married, or had children after she departed, as long as their time with her had been unblemished.
In fact, she rather hoped they'd lead normal lives once she was gone, for otherwise, she'd always feel as if she'd left emotional debts in her wake.
However, her words that night could ultimately be traced back to the full manifestation of the affection marks.
Had there been even the slightest bit of the Chen Huan Pearl yet to be filled with affection marks, she'd surely have dealt with Ji Yan's situation in a different manner that night.
Even though she knew Ji Yan was seething with anger, Shen Jin Huan didn't step into the room. She mulled over whether to use this spat as a pretext to break up right then and there. But then, recalling how he'd fetched her milk tea and spicy snacks time and again, and how much energy he'd contributed, she thought better of it. She'd stay by his side for a few more days, after all.
He stewed in his anger for a while, but when Shen Jin Huan still didn't come in, his sense of uncertainty only grew, his mind awash with a maelstrom of wild thoughts.
Eventually, his resolve crumbled first. He rose and made his way outside, intent on making amends.
There he found Shen Jin Huan seated on the couch, knees hugged to her chest, gazing out the window.
For a fleeting moment, his heart ached fiercely. Why on earth had he lost his temper with her?
What a blasted fool he was!
He walked over, settling beside her, and gently enfolded her in his arms. "I'm sorry, Huane'er. I was just in a rotten mood earlier and didn't mean to lash out at you. I'm truly sorry."
"It's okay," she replied, her voice a soft murmur, her tea-brown eyes suffused with tenderness, and even the tiny mole on the left side of her nose seemed to radiate a gentle charm.
"Never push me away again. You're the only one I'll ever love in this lifetime. What you said really stung, Huane'er," he intoned, his voice tinged with despondency, his arms trembling ever so slightly as they held her, the air around him thick with a sense of dejection.
"I'm sorry, Ji Yan."
"Shall I carry you to bed?"
"Okay."
That night, he sought nothing more, simply holding her tightly in a tranquil embrace.
Shen Jin Huan, however, lay wide-eyed, passing the night in idle boredom, waiting for the dawn to break.
The view outside the window was a sight to behold. Suddenly, a meteor streaked across the night sky, vanishing in the blink of an eye. See, all that's beautiful is often ephemeral.
Ji Yan left at the crack of dawn. With the deal gone cold, a whole slew of follow-up matters awaited his attention, leaving him in a frantic scramble. He had to get an early start to sort things out.
After Ji Yan's departure, Shen Jin Huan, too, stepped out, looking resplendent in her finery. She was, after all, the most charming Huane'er in the world that day.
But alas, fortune seemed not to be on her side.
Hardly had she set foot outside when a group of men, bristling with aggression, blocked her path.