我要再来一次

Chapter 165 Seriously?

Yu Chen was immediately pulled from his own world to the present the instant Luo Xiaolei hugged him. He attempted to turn around but when he felt her burying her face on his back as her grip on him tightened, he stood in place.

"About last night," she started, her voice weak. "I’m sorry. But... yes, I admit it. I am desperate to save you in any way I can because if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be here right now! I would have been... burned... all alone... in that –"

Abruptly, Yu Chen turned and put his finger on her lips, stopping her from speaking further. "Please, stop saying such awful things." There was horror in his eyes, as if it was harder for him to hear such a horrific thing, much more than herself.

"But it’s the truth! You came, risking your life just to save me from that inferno. Did you know? I already lost hope at that time, but then you came and saved me with no thought about your own life, as if you didn’t care if you got burnt with me in that fire. Now, is it wrong for me to desperately save you as well? I don’t want you to get hurt again. I don’t know what I would do if something bad ever happens to you again..." Luo Xiaolei realized her eyes were wet and she fought against the grief that was trying to overpower her.

The night Luo Xiaolei learned about Yu Chen’s condition, she realized just how grave his situation was. No matter how tight his security could be, his life would always be in extreme danger because he could die just by a simple wound. Luo Xiaolei had been worried since then because she couldn’t help but remember the rumors that she heard about Yu Chen back in her past life.

Yu Chen had always been a mysterious figure as far as she could remember. He never appeared in any television or tabloids or even in social media. At some point, a rumor that he actually died years ago circulated around. Some even said that he was comatose for years and some said he was bedridden and was just talking to his people and business partners through video calls. Nothing was ever proven to be true about those endless rumors but now that Luo Xiaolei knew all the danger surrounding Yu Chen and his body’s condition, she couldn’t help but feel anxious and scared. What if one of those rumor was true? She felt her heart shudder just by thinking about it.

Raising her hands, Luo Xiaolei cupped his face between her palms as she looked intently in his eyes. "... Yu Chen, I don’t want to lose you. I can’t lose you." she continued and Yu Chen’s eyes circled. Disbelief immediately flooded his eyes, as if what Luo Xiaolei just uttered were something so damn unbelievable to him.

Seconds passed in silence. She saw Yu Chen’s mouth open but no sound came out. He closed it again. Disbelief was still evident in his eyes. She waited for him to speak.

"You mean you didn’t do that just so you could repay me for saving you?" he sounded extremely hesitant and doubtful.

"Idiot panda." Was all Luo Xiaolei replied upon hearing his question. She pinched his cheek. "I already told you I don’t want to lose you."

Yu Chen held her wrists as his gaze became even more serious.

"Please make it clear. Do you mean you’re not forcing yourself to do this?" his eyes filled with confusion but also demanding answers.

His question made Luo Xiaolei frown at him and then she pinched him again. "You think I would do something like that because I felt forced to?" She narrowed her eyes. "Even though that was the hardest decision I made in my life, I decided to do it. That was my very own decision after coming to terms with myself. I chose to do it! I wasn’t forcing myself to do that, do you understand?!"

Yu Chen was stunned. His eyes widened again, still looking at her like he couldn’t believe what was happening.

"I’m sorry... I... thought that way because I thought you really didn’t like me." He said after another long deafening silence.

"H-huh?! What did you say?" Luo Xiaolei couldn’t believe what she just heard. "S-seriously? You think I don’t like you?"

He nodded and Luo Xiaolei almost lost it.

"W-what made you think that I don’t like you?" She was doing her very best not to burst out.

"Because you really didn’t want to marry me," he dropped his eyes. His face became hopeless.

Luo Xiaolei: ". . ."

Luo Xiaolei didn’t know what to say. She buried her face on her hands, feeling incredibly frustrated. But then, she was reminded that this man was a maiden in the first place. He was basically a noob when in came to relationships. But still... wasn’t this too much? How could he think like this?!

"Yu Chen, you’re so unbelievable! After everything that has happened between us, you still actually think that I don’t like you? How could you... I can’t believe you..." she mumbled as she helplessly shook her head before she caught his face again. Her eyes blazed as she moved her face closer to his.

"Look here, Yu Chen. I like you okay? I really really like you. Do you understand now?" she confessed seriously.

Yu Chen simply froze for a long while. He just stood there looking at her, his eyes slightly wide.

Luo Xiaolei didn’t speak as she waited for his reaction. However, time ticked by and Yu Chen remained frozen. His expression was almost the same as when she first kissed him. ’Wait... don’t tell me he’s going to faint...’

A little worried, Luo Xiaolei called out his name. "Yu Chen?"

The man finally moved. He yanked her towards him and embraced her tight. He even kissed her head twice.

"I’m happy." He then said, his voice huskier than usual and Luo Xiaolei felt her heart melt as his grip on her tightened.

After what seemed to be a very long time, Luo Xiaolei felt him dozing off so she pulled away from him.

"I think the medicine is making you dizzy now. Let’s go home." She said but the man was hesitant.

He looked like he still had something to say but Luo Xiaolei could see the heaviness in his eyes and the dark circles around it. It seemed like he didn’t sleep last night as well.

"It’s okay, you have to sleep now. I also have something to tell you but it’s late. Let’s continue tomorrow." She said and the man finally nodded.

...

They were holding each other’s hand when they stepped out of Yu Chen’s office, causing the men outside to heave a sigh of relief.

By the time they were inside the car, Luo Xiaolei pulled Yu Chen close to her and leaned his head on her shoulder.

"Sleep for now," she said as she caressed his hair. And in no time, Yu Chen fell asleep.

They were again left together inside the car because Yu Chen was still asleep when they reached Scarlet Hill.

It was already three in the morning when Yu Chen woke up. When he realized that he was still leaning on Luo Xiaolei’s shoulder, he slowly and carefully moved away.

He then carried her in his arms like a princess until they reached the bedroom. The little buns weren’t in the bed again.

Upon putting her down on the bed, Yu Chen sat right next to her. He raised his hand and caressed her cheek and then, he bent and kissed her lips. His eyes glimmering with some contradicting emotions – both sadness and happiness.

"Xiaolei... as promised, I’m going to bring you to that place tomorrow." He whispered. His voice sounded both hopeful and miserable. "I wonder if you can still say that you like me when you remember everything." His expression was pained again as he watched her peaceful face.