CHAPTER 195: CHAPTER 195: BREAKDOWN 2_1

Yan Xixi felt both ashamed and grateful. Clearly, Huang Xiaojue had prepared for this. After all, he knew better than she what kind of scoundrel Liang Sheng was.

Previously, she had silently thought he was blaming her and had felt unhappy about it. Little did she realize then how much he had already done behind her back. Who else, if not out of deep concern, would make such meticulous preparations for me?

"Xixi, you must not act so impulsively in the future. It is better to offend a gentleman than a villain. Starting tomorrow, I will arrange for someone to drive you to and from work, just in case."

"Is that really necessary?"

"I cannot take the risk. I have already contacted a car rental company. They will send someone to pick you up and drop you off starting tomorrow morning, at least until this dangerous period has passed."

Yan Xixi had never expected her momentary heedlessness to cause such significant trouble. She murmured, "I can cover the cost of the rental car myself."

Huang Xiaojue chuckled. "You really are a fool. All you need to do is stay safe; leave the rest to me."

She could not refuse him. She had long been accustomed to relying on Huang Xiaojue, and a warmth spread through her heart. How wonderful it was to have someone with you, protecting you, when you were scared and in danger.

As he held her hand on their way home, this warm sentiment grew even stronger.

Once inside, Xiaojue did not rest. He first checked all the doors and windows. Noticing the bedroom balcony window was slightly askew, he fetched some tools and made a slight adjustment.

"Alright, Xixi," he said. "Make sure to lock all doors and windows tonight."

She could not help herself and gently hugged his waist.

This was the first time she had ever initiated a hug with him—even when they were dating back in their student days, she had never done such a thing.

Huang Xiaojue was exceptionally pleased. He whispered softly in her ear, "Do not worry; everything will be fine after this period passes. As far as I know, Liang Sheng will be moving to Canada soon after he retires. He will not keep pestering you over such a trivial matter. I only arranged for the car as a precaution, so please do not feel any burden on account of it."

Truthfully, I didn’t feel much of a burden. Having been a swindler for many years, if my psychological resilience were really that poor, I would have been scared to death long ago. But now, my heart suddenly relaxed—incredibly so—because I knew someone else was taking care of everything for me. After struggling to make ends meet in a state of constant anxiety for so many years, who had ever truly looked out for me like this? Wasn’t I allowed to be a little weak, just for a moment?

Especially as his breath came in warm gasps and his embrace tightened, she leaned against his chest. A thought suddenly surfaced: Let it be this way then. I will marry Xiaojue. It was just as my mother said on her deathbed: ’Apart from Xiaojue, no one will ever treat you this well.’ The wisdom of elders seldom steers one wrong—even if Xiaojue’s mother deeply dislikes me, I will still marry him.

When his lips covered hers, she accepted without a second thought. More than just accepting, she actively responded.

As he gazed at her long, moist eyelashes, delicate as cicada wings, he could almost see his own reflection in her large, dark eyes. It was the first time since their reunion that he had sensed such tenderness and love in her gaze. This feeling was reminiscent of the heart-fluttering intoxication after their first kiss under the campus moonlight all those years ago.

He was ecstatic. A fire of passion ignited throughout his entire being.

Just then, the doorbell suddenly began to ring, loud and incessant. They tried to ignore it, but the ringing persisted, frantic and unyielding.

They continued to ignore it, but the doorbell seemed to have gone completely haywire, the noise now shockingly intrusive. Huang Xiaojue had no choice but to release her and check the video intercom. There was no one there. He had no idea which careless person could have pressed the wrong button.