Impoverished Me Saving Love-Starved Rich Women

Chapter 39 : I Want to Be Your Lover

Mothers often feel they owe their children for not being able to provide good living conditions, regretting that their child suffers along with them. In this regret hides so much careful, cautious heartache...

But how would a child of that age feel bitter? A child's world is so simple. On days when the parents don't fight, even the air is light and cheerful.

She could rest assured lying on her mother's shoulder counting stars, or stuff little pebbles she'd picked up into her mother's hands as treasures.

These moments, for her, were the very best days. Wherever her mother was, there was peace of mind.

She still remembered the warmth of her mother's embrace, how her mother's large hands changed from tender to rough, and the light that flashed in her eyes when she called "Mama" in her baby voice.

But when sadness flashed through her mother's eyes, when sorrow appeared, what should she do?

She and her mother hid in the bathroom. Outside, things passed through her father's hands and scattered everywhere. In the clanging sounds, her mother's gaze immediately dimmed, full of sadness.

Little her felt sad too. She wanted to make her mother smile, as bright as when she herself looked at her mother, but didn't know how.

She was so anxious, afraid, and sad that she could only tremble and hide in her mother's arms, her small hands clutching at her mother's clothing corner, curling up even tighter in her mother's embrace.

Her mother looked down at little Ling Xi's tearful eyes, but she also didn't know what to do. She could only lovingly stroke little Ling Xi's head.

"Xixi, in the future you must keep your eyes open and find a good man who can stay with you for a lifetime."

Little Ling Xi raised her face, tears still hanging on her small cheeks. "Can't Mama always stay with me?" She paused, speaking earnestly in her baby voice, "How about I don't get married in the future? If I don't get married, Mama won't be sad, and I'll always stay with Mama!"

The smile on her mother's face froze for an instant, somewhat dim. She didn't speak, just held little Ling Xi even tighter.

"Xixi, people and things in this world all have two faces. One is 'form'—the appearance you can see. One is 'essence'—what's hidden in the bones. Eyes might be fooled by 'form,' but the heart won't deceive you. What the 'essence' is like, it knows with just one touch."

Little Ling Xi didn't understand what her mother suddenly meant by saying these things, but the child's vigorous curiosity was immediately hooked.

"How do you touch it?"

"Look at the eyes." Her mother smiled and tapped little Ling Xi's tender white face. This child was a beauty in the making, so she absolutely couldn't...

"A person's eyes can speak. When you look into someone's eyes, a voice will jump out from your heart. What that voice says is what the 'essence' looks like."

Little Ling Xi was still confused. Her mother smiled, her eyes full of tenderness. "Just like in the stories, your Prince Charming will be a world-class hero. One day wearing golden armor and holy clothes, stepping on seven-colored auspicious clouds to save you. That golden armor and holy clothes, the seven-colored clouds. That's 'form.'

"But whether or not he's wearing these things, no matter how difficult the road, he will come to save you. That is 'essence.'

"Go and spend a lifetime with someone like that, Xixi."

The night deepened. Ling Xi looked in Xie Ci's direction, her eyes feeling somewhat hot. A question surfaced in her heart, unable to fall, unable to scatter, leaving only a confused ache.

But Mama, you didn't tell me what to do if he already has someone else, what should I do...

This time, that gentle voice would never come to answer again.

Xie Ci was looking at the chat box at Ye Li's easily misunderstood words with a face full of dark lines.

What does she mean "come sleep with me"?

Although it's true I'm sleeping at her place...

But doesn't it sound way too weird?

But anyway, it really was late. Time to go.

Xie Ci secretly glanced at Ling Xi across from him. She held her phone, eyes cast downward, hair covering part of her face. The expression on her face wasn't clear.

Her WeChat account was a new one, probably just created, and moreover, he was still her first friend.

Xie Ci suddenly wondered why he wanted to secretly observe Ling Xi's expression. It's not like I did something shameful.

But he had to leave.

He really should leave now.

Xie Ci stood up, the chair behind him scraping with a grating sound that seemed abrupt in this quiet room.

Right, it's too quiet here. After I leave, she'll be alone. So quiet it's somewhat frightening.

"Ling Xi, it's getting late. I need to go.

"Ling Xi?"

Seeing Ling Xi didn't react for a moment, Xie Ci raised his voice.

"Oh, yeah haha, it's getting late, you should go back. If I remember correctly, it's almost curfew time, right..."

"Yeah. But there should still be time."

"I, I..." Ling Xi's eyes were somewhat hazy. She stood up unsteadily, licking her somewhat dry lips, as if wanting to say something.

Xie Ci just quietly watched her.

"Let me walk you out."

Just five short words, but Ling Xi spoke them with some difficulty, as if squeezing them out from between her teeth.

Xie Ci nodded.

Ling Xi's delicate, pretty face bore the flush of alcohol. She stood up holding the chair's armrest, and just as she took her first step, she swayed.

Her footing became unstable and her body fell forward uncontrollably. Xie Ci almost instinctively reached out. His palm first pressed against her waist, then his arm tightened, steadily catching her in his arms.

Inertia carried both of them backward several steps until his back hit the wall.

A soft "click" sounded and the lights suddenly went out.

Darkness immediately surged up, filling every corner. Ling Xi's soft, warm body pressed close against Xie Ci. Her nose rested against his shoulder, and her pleasant body fragrance mixed with alcohol overflowed, becoming even more alluring.

Xie Ci's arms encircled her soft, slender waist, barely enough to grip, his fingers even sinking into her soft flesh.

The person in his arms was very light. Two large soft masses pressed against his chest, along with warm breath. Her hair brushed past his nose tip, bringing a heart-trembling sensation.

Both of them were stunned for a moment, neither speaking. In the silent darkness, only their overlapping breathing remained, along with the increasingly clear warmth belonging to each other.

Xie Ci came to his senses, somewhat frantically trying to pull his hands away from Ling Xi's alluring waist. However, just as he moved away a little, the person in his arms trembled. Two slender arms wrapped around his back, tightly pressing herself into his embrace.

It had to be said, Ling Xi's figure was truly too lethal for men, especially when she held on so tightly. Her graceful curves were clearly imprinted in Xie Ci's mind, and for a moment he felt somewhat parched.

But he suddenly understood.

This is a hug. Nothing more.

The person in his arms was trembling lightly. She hugged tighter and tighter, nuzzling against the hollow of his neck like a small cat shivering in the darkness, her breathing becoming rapid and moist.

Could Ling Xi be somewhat afraid of the dark?

Xie Ci's hands returned to circle her waist, stroking her back, holding her in his embrace.

And so, the two of them accepted each other's body warmth in the darkness. The room was dark, still silent, but the feeling in his arms became increasingly real.

Xie Ci held her carefully like this, as if afraid of disturbing the person in his arms, not quite daring to move, his mind thinking about what to do next.

But suddenly, Ling Xi moved first. She pulled her face away from Xie Ci's chest. Just when Xie Ci thought this embrace was finally going to end, he felt warm breath appear by his ear, along with Ling Xi's trembling voice.

"Xie Ci."

"Mm." Xie Ci swallowed, somewhat nervous.

"Will you... will you be unfaithful?"

Her voice carried the slight hoarseness of alcohol, barely squeezed out from her throat, her soft lips almost touching his earlobe.

Xie Ci's brain crashed. He searched in his mind for the definition of unfaithfulness: unfaithfulness usually refers to simultaneously having feelings for multiple members of the opposite sex, maintaining ambiguity or even dating...

But Ling Xi didn't wait for his response. Her hands pressed against his back, grabbing his clothes into wrinkles. She remembered that woman leaning against the car window with a brilliant smile, and certain things she had deliberately ignored suddenly surged up.

Just like the lingering sourness at the end of that candied hawthorn.

"Do you, do you want to have m, many girlfriends?"

As the words fell, she could feel Xie Ci's breathing pause. In the darkness, his gaze seemed to fall on her face, carrying shock.

Actually, Ling Xi didn't know why she asked these questions either. She had clearly decided to obediently send Xie Ci home, then obediently continue hugging her pillow alone, counting the stars outside the window as she fell asleep.

But now being held by him like this, feeling his incredibly real warmth, those desires she had just buried deep in her heart sprouted again.

The last time I was embraced in such a warm hug, it was still Mama...

Her nose stung, and she grew anxious. "You... say something~"

"Why are you asking this?" Xie Ci was really confused, utterly bewildered.

"I..." The person in his arms lowered her voice, seeming to tremble slightly. Her breathing also became extraordinarily light. The hands behind him also loosened a bit, then gripped with some strength, as if unwilling. After the unwillingness, she gave up on something, carrying an extremely humble intention to retreat.

But just as she moved slightly away from his embrace, just as the cold had dispersed the warmth a little, she hugged him tightly again, even tighter than before, as if saying she never wanted to separate.

"I... I want to be your lover!"