Su Yue was startled but couldn't refuse.
After all, she had missed him for a long time.
The kiss grew more passionate, and before she knew it, Chen Ziming had slipped under her covers and was pinning her down.
His slightly rough large hand moved towards her skin, lingering on the softest parts that held him most captivated.
Su Yue, however, became a little more sober. Worried about his wound, she tried to stop him when the kiss shifted to her neck.
But before she could speak, he stopped again.
Chen Ziming propped himself up slightly, creating distance between himself and the girl beneath him, taking deep breaths.
However, when his gaze met Su Yue's eyes, filled with confusion and surprise, desire rekindled.
But he didn't kiss her again. Instead, he immediately shifted his gaze away from her and sat up.
Su Yue's mind felt a little hazy, as if she had finally realized something.
Except for the initial embrace, he had actively avoided intimacy with her all evening.
It wasn't because he felt unwell, but because he was consumed by a shadow and didn't want to go any further.
She sat up too, looking at the man in front of her.
He lowered his head, his expression unreadable.
"Chen Ziming," Su Yue called him. Seeing him look up, she asked cautiously, "Should I sleep in another bedroom?"
As soon as she said this, his expression visibly darkened.
Seeing this, Su Yue immediately wanted to comfort him, but heard him say in a low voice, "Didn't you say you'd stay with me?"
As he spoke, a faint light flashed in his eyes.
"I was afraid I was disturbing your sleep," she quickly explained.
"I won't be able to sleep if you leave."
She fell silent for a moment, not speaking further, but her mind raced, trying to figure out what to do.
Seeing her troubled expression, Chen Ziming's face softened slightly. He reached out, took her hand, and held it in his palm.
His voice also softened, a husky sound, "Baby, don't go. It has nothing to do with you."
Su Yue looked at him, nodded earnestly, and asked, "Can you sleep now?"
He lowered his eyes, thought for a moment, and answered truthfully, "No."
Su Yue let out a quiet sigh, a reassuring smile appearing on her face, and said softly,
"Then let's chat for a while?"
Chen Ziming was a little surprised, but seeing her sweet smile, his heart stirred.
So he nodded and replied, "Okay."
Su Yue first coaxed him to lean against the headboard, then continued with a smile,
"You told me before why you liked me, so let me tell you today why I like you, okay?"
There was another moment of silence, but soon he nodded again, "Tell me, baby."
She took another deep breath and finally began to tell her story:
"I only mentioned my stepfather before, not my biological father, right?"
"He was a worker, incredibly handsome, kind, and polite. He was liked by many girls back then."
"My mother was brought by relatives from her hometown to work as a nanny before she even finished junior high school. And her family never contacted her again after she left home."
"The relative's house and my biological father's house were in the same compound, and that's how he met my mother and started pursuing her. With his excellent qualities, my mother was naturally quickly moved."
"Their marriage was arranged by that relative. The people I should call grandparents never acknowledged my mother's identity, and naturally, they never acknowledged me."
"Not long after they married, I was born. My mother told me that when I was just born, it was the last happy time for our small family."
"Later, during the wave of layoffs, he lost his job, fell into despair, and started drinking."
"The family's savings gradually dwindled. My grandparents said they could provide financial assistance, but only if they divorced."
"He refused, so he started doing odd jobs outside. Perhaps people who have lived a smooth life cannot endure hardship. Before long, his mental state became unbalanced."
"I asked my mother, and it was when I was about one year old that he first laid hands on her."
By this point, Su Yue's voice couldn't help but choke up, and tears welled in her eyes.
The man sitting opposite her had already had his heart shattered.