novelraw Chapter 0108 An Embrace on a Stormy Night
Chapter 0108 An Embrace on a Stormy Night
Three o'clock in the morning.
City A experienced its strongest convective weather event since the beginning of autumn.
The wind howled outside the window, as if countless vengeful ghosts were pounding on the glass.
Lightning tore through the dark night sky, illuminating the bedroom in a blinding white light, followed by a deafening clap of thunder.
"BOOM—!!!"
A deafening explosion seemed to erupt right overhead.
big bed.
Wen Ning, who had been huddled under the covers trembling, suddenly sat up in shock.
She's afraid of thunder.
I've been afraid since I was a child.
What's more, the night she broke up with her three years ago, it was also raining heavily and thundering just like that.
That had become her PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder).
Fear overwhelmed her like a tidal wave.
Wen Ning hugged her knees and huddled in a corner of the bed, pressed tightly against the wall.
He covered his ears tightly with both hands, his whole body trembling violently.
The bed next to me shifted slightly.
Jiang Ci woke up.
He's always been a light sleeper.
The sounds of people around him and the annoying metallic clanging instantly snapped him back to reality.
He opened his eyes.
They didn't move immediately.
Instead, he used the flash of lightning to look at the woman at the corner of the bed.
She looked terrible.
Her long hair was disheveled and covered half of her face.
The small section of her chin that was exposed was so white it was completely devoid of color.
He was shaking so badly that he looked like he was being sifted through a leaf.
Jiang Ci's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible hand.
But he didn't show it.
He sat up.
With a "click," the bedside wall lamp was switched on.
The warm yellow light dispelled some of the eerie atmosphere.
Jiang Ci leaned against the headboard.
He looked at Wen Ning, a cold, mocking smile curving his lips.
"What's wrong?"
He spoke, his voice hoarse from just waking up.
"So scared?"
Wen Ning raised her head slightly upon hearing his voice.
His eyes were unfocused and filled with terror.
"Jiang Ci... Lei..."
"I heard you."
Jiang Ci casually straightened the neckline of her pajamas.
"It's just thunder."
He turned his head, staring at her pale face, his tone turning harsh:
As the saying goes, "If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear."
"Miss Wen is so scared..."
"Did you do too many bad things back then? Are you afraid that God will punish you?"
That's a very hurtful statement.
It was like salt being sprinkled on Wen Ning's wounds of fear.
Wen Ning bit her lip.
Tears rolled in the eyes.
Yes.
She had done something wrong.
She abandoned him, hurt him, and even... cursed this damned fate.
"BOOM—!!!"
Another thunderclap.
It was even louder than the previous one, making the windows rattle.
"what!"
Wen Ning screamed.
She completely ignored Jiang Ci's sarcasm, instinctively burying her head in her knees and shrinking her body into an even smaller ball.
He dug his fingers into his scalp, trying to shut out the terrifying sound.
That kind of helplessness.
That kind of vulnerability on the verge of collapse.
Jiang Ci looked at her.
The cold smile on his face gradually froze.
He remembered three years ago.
It was also a stormy night.
She cried on the phone, saying, "I'm scared."
At that time, he would not hesitate to hold her in his arms and coax her all night long.
What now?
Now he is the creditor, and she is the prisoner.
He should watch her suffer and enjoy the thrill of revenge.
but.
Looking at her trembling shoulders.
Listening to her suppressed sobs.
Jiang Ci discovered.
He can't.
He simply couldn't stand idly by.
The body is more honest than the brain.
Even faster than reason.
Just as the next bolt of lightning struck.
Jiang Ci made a move.
He stretched out his long arm.
He put his arm around Wen Ning's waist.
With a forceful scoop.
"Splash—"
The sound of a gold chain being straightened.
Wen Ning felt a sudden lightness in her body.
next second.
She was forcibly pulled into a broad, warm, and incredibly familiar embrace.
"Well……"
She didn't even have time to struggle.
Two warm, large hands had already covered her ears.
Perfectly fitted.
It was covered up tightly.
That instant.
The world is quiet.
The thunder was blocked out by those hands, turning into a muffled, distant rumble.
Only one sound remained in my ears.
That was the steady, powerful heartbeat from Jiang Ci's chest.
thump.
thump.
thump.
Wen Ning froze.
She slowly opened her eyes.
Before me was Jiang Ci's dark gray pajama collar and his prominent Adam's apple.
"Don't move."
His voice came from above.
Because my ears were covered, it sounded muffled, but it felt like the sound was being transmitted through my bones, reaching straight to my heart.
"Behave yourself if you don't want to die."
He spoke threateningly.
But the arms holding her were very tight and steady.
It's like an impregnable fortress, keeping out all the wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.
Another bolt of lightning flashed by.
Wen Ning instinctively shrank back.
Jiang Ci immediately increased the pressure on his hand.
He pressed her head against his chest.
He even lowered his head and rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Don't be afraid."
He sighed.
The sarcasm in his voice finally crumbled.
All that remained was a deep sense of helplessness and a resigned compromise.
"I am here."
"There's nothing to be afraid of."
I am here.
These two words sound like some kind of incantation.
It instantly shattered all of Wen Ning's defenses.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
His pajamas were soaked.
She no longer resisted, no longer feared.
She reached out and wrapped her arms tightly around his lean waist.
She snuggled herself into his arms.
She greedily absorbed his warmth and sense of security.
original.
Even if he hates her.
Even if he locks her up.
When danger comes, he is still the one who will protect her at the first moment.
That night.
The thunderstorm lasted for a long time.
Jiang Ci maintained that posture throughout.
He covered her ears and hugged her.
Until the person in my arms gradually calmed down, stopped trembling, and fell into a deep sleep.
He slowly released his grip.
My arm is so sore and numb that I'm about to lose all feeling in it.
By the dim light of the wall lamp.
Jiang Ci lowered his head.
He looked at Wen Ning's hand, which was still tightly gripping the hem of his clothes even in her sleep.
That hand, due to the ordeal of the past few days, was so thin that the veins were clearly visible.
Jiang Ci extended his finger.
He gently wiped away the tear stains from the corner of her eye.
"Jiang Ci."
He said to himself.
His voice was full of self-deprecation and disdain.
"You're so despicable."
Mingming vowed to take revenge.
I clearly said I would make her suffer.
The results of it?
You forget everything just because someone sheds a couple of tears.
You'll become that fool who only knows how to protect her again.
"never mind."
He closed his eyes and rested his chin on the top of her head.
He hugged her tightly again.
Just this once.
He lied to himself.
"It's because it's too noisy and it's affecting my sleep."
Outside the window, the wind and rain were gloomy.
inside the house.
But it was the most restful night's sleep they'd had in the past three years.