Chapter Fifteen

“This photograph, you took it before I left for my business trip to America, didn’t you?”

On the phone screen was a picture of two people together. The photo was taken in the place where they once lived, now the residence of Nianqing. Beneath the decorative painting on the wall, a set of European-style sofas stood; seated on them were he and she, their laughter intertwined...

Through the photograph, the joy and lively conversation of that day seemed to echo once more in their ears.

‘Can’t you just smile for once?’

‘I don’t know how to smile in photos…’

‘Don’t know how? Let me help you…’

‘Hey, Nianqing, if you tickle me again, I won’t be so polite; don’t regret it then…’

Xiang Zuo turned the phone toward himself, gazing intently at that one and only photograph; their photograph… The sharpness of his brows and eyes seemed to soften unknowingly.

“Momo, I know you feel for your sister. She’s suffered a lot, but we can make it up to her in other ways! Looking at this photograph—can you still claim you don’t care about me at all?”

Zhang Momo’s face grew anxious. Taking advantage of his inattention, she snatched the phone out of his hand and shoved it into her pocket.

“It’s just a photo—what about it?” Her voice lacked conviction, her eyes darting away.

At that moment, cool air drifted from the central air conditioner overhead, ruffling the fine hairs by her ear. He gently gathered those strands and tucked them behind her ear, where she wore the diamond earrings he had given her…

“When we got married, you said you didn’t want wedding photos for the time being. Afterward, how many times did I suggest we take them, and you refused every time. Why did you take this picture right before I left for America? Why, when you’d already decided to swap Nianqing in during my absence, did you leave behind this photo? Momo, even now, you refuse to admit it…”

In the silence, the commanding man looked into her eyes and slowly bent his head toward her. Zhang Momo, seeing his handsome face draw nearer, suddenly covered her mouth.

“What are you trying to do…”

Xiang Zuo looked at her wary expression, helpless. He couldn’t help but laugh, having to wrestle with her stubborn hands—how much strength of heart did it take to handle such ambiguous intimacy?

“Momo!” The corners of his mouth carried a hint of reproachful indulgence. He rested his forehead against hers, his words soft and gentle—where was the stern ‘Xiang Zuo’ now? “We’ve kissed so many times before. Are you still shy?”

His words sent a jolt through her, a sudden rush of ants crawling beneath her skin. She could hardly believe her ears—what was this man saying? With that upright, noble face, how could he utter such brazen words? Was he really Xiang Zuo?

While she was dazed, he was not idle; one by one, he pried her fingers away, gentleness overtaking stubbornness, as if caressing her, until her five fingers were moved unconsciously to where they would not interfere. That slow tenderness abruptly became an overwhelming passion!

Without hesitation, Xiang Zuo captured her lips; it was as if he had suppressed this longing for millennia—at the first touch, their hearts melted. His warm, strong hand cupped the back of her head, his familiar masculine scent enveloping her, leaving her no room to retreat at all…

At that moment, Zhang Momo wanted to push him away, but how could she succeed? Her muffled protests were swallowed by him, his domineering tenderness threatening to consume her! Slowly, the wild storm softened into a gentle drizzle, which then turned into an endless, lingering embrace, inch by inch occupying her and extinguishing all resistance.

For a long time they clung to each other. When her cheeks were flushed and her eyes dazed with passion, he finally let her go, his gaze full of longing. “Still say you don’t like me? Hmm?”

He startled her with the question, and only then did she come back to herself from the blankness his kisses had left her in. Before she could speak, he cupped her flushed cheeks, reluctant to let go.

“Momo, I don’t care what you were thinking at the start. Now that you’re with me, you’re mine.” As he spoke, Xiang Zuo drew her head to rest gently against his shoulder, his hand caressing her long hair. “From now on and always, don’t say those foolish things again.”

His steady, powerful voice rang in her ears—gentle yet resolute, striking her heart with a tremor she could not name, sweet and bitter all at once. Zhang Momo’s heart was in chaos; she did not know how to face this man she had once shamelessly used. She had deceived him so thoroughly, made such a terrible mistake, yet he forgave her so easily, cherished her as before, indulged her—how could she ever repay a man like this?

Clutching the edge of his shirt in a death grip, she felt the warmth of his body through the fabric. Her voice was dull, the words stumbling out, “This isn’t fair to you… I wronged you. I really don’t want your forgiveness, because I can’t even forgive myself! And my sister… With you like this, I feel I’ve wronged not just you, but her too… I really don’t know how she—”

She didn’t finish, for a faint, fragile voice came from not far away: “You don’t need to worry about me.”

Zhang Momo jumped out of Xiang Zuo’s arms. Turning around, she saw Zhang Nianqing standing by the half-open door. Who knew how long she had been there! Her face was a portrait of despairing solitude, but as if determined to find a trace of a smile in that bottomless emptiness, she forced a faint curve to her lips. It was enough to steal one’s breath away.

“Truly, you don’t need to worry about me. I’m someone with no future. Ever since the accident, I can’t remember numbers beyond five, and I get dizzy for no reason…” As she spoke, she raised her hands, gazing at them with both regret and contempt. “Even these hands can’t play the piano as they used to… For someone like me, just being alive is enough. I have no right to hope for anything more…”

With that, she turned and walked out, calm as she had been when she entered—silent as a shadow.

Xiang Zuo frowned deeply, his gaze complicated as he watched Zhang Nianqing’s departing figure. Zhang Momo’s heart plummeted from the heights to the abyss, crashing to the ground and being cut to pieces by sharp stones, so painful she could not even cry out. Only when Nianqing’s figure had vanished around the corner did she snap back to herself and rush to follow.

“Don’t go!” Xiang Zuo gripped her hand tightly, regaining his composure as he looked at her with conviction. “I’ll find a chance to explain things to her.”

“Let go!” Zhang Momo’s heartache turned to resentment toward the man before her. Must she and Nianqing become enemies over a man? “My sister really loves you—didn’t you see her expression just now? She can’t take this blow…”

Xiang Zuo grew anxious at her struggles but refused to let go of her wrists. “Your sister isn’t as fragile as you think, Zhang Momo! Love is not charity; sooner or later, she’ll have to face reality!”

“That’s not your sister! She’s my own sister—my real sister!” Her eyes, unhinged by emotion, grew red. She bit Xiang Zuo’s hand hard; he cried out in pain, and in that moment she broke free and ran out.

Xiang Zuo frowned and gave chase. He watched as the elevator doors closed in front of him, jabbing the button as if it would break, anxiously waiting for another lift to reach the twenty-eighth floor…

In front of Shenglian Plaza, traffic and crowds bustled by. When Zhang Momo rushed outside and searched the street, there was no sign of Zhang Nianqing. In a panic, she stomped hard on the pavement. “Sister…” Ignoring the curious glances from passersby, she called out loudly, but Nianqing did not appear. Instead, the persistent “troublemaker” came running over.

“Momo!” Lou Keyu hurriedly jumped out of his car. “Where have you been? I saw your car parked here and have been waiting for you all this time.”