novelraw Chapter 156 - Promise
Chapter 156 - Promise
In the middle of the night, while Fan Xiao Yao was asleep, Huang Li woke up. He stroked her face lightly with his thumb as he stared at it.
"I'm sorry..." He whispered softly before he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.
Huang Li didn't have a choice. Fan Xiao Yao will only hold him back and make things harder for him. It pained him, knowing that he has to leave her like this.
He loves her so much but he once promised Shi Enxi that he was going to protect her and to be there for her in times of trouble.
Someone wanted her life. Someone wanted to ruin her happiness so how can he just turn a blind eye to it when he can actually do something?
Before he could leave the bed, Fan Xiao Yao grabbed his arm.
"Huang Li..." She opened her sleepy eyes. "You're leaving..."
He was surprised by her words. Did he wake her up? He was actually trying to be as gentle as possible when he touched her earlier. He should have been more careful instead.
She sat up and covered her n.a.k.e.d body with the blanket. She lowered her head. "I can't stop you... Can I?"
"Xiao Yao..."
"I will wait... So don't end our relationship..." She released his arm.
He could see tears falling on the blanket and his c.h.e.s.t tightened at the sight of it.
She finally turned her wet gaze at him, forcing out a smile. "I will wait for you... Okay?"
It even made it harder for him, seeing how Fan Xiao Yao was trying to be understanding for him.
He pulled her into his warm embrace all of a sudden. How can he deserve someone like her?
She buried her face on his shoulder as she hugged him back. Even if it was the cruel truth, she has always known that if Huang Li was going to choose between her and Shi Enxi, he will never choose her. It was the harsh reality for Fan Xiao Yao.
She couldn't hate him for it. She couldn't even hate Shi Enxi... She has always known that even if she was trying to win over Huang Li's heart...
She was the type who was willing to sacrifice and give more to others. Her martyr heart was not something she could just harden especially when it came to the two people that are close to her.
She pulled away from the hug and wiped her tears before she forced out a smile for him. "I won't stop you from leaving so you have to promise me that you'll come back, okay?"
"Okay..." If she put it that way, Huang Li couldn't really leave her.
"Say... Do you love me?" She asked as she lowered her head once again. The nervousness in her eyes couldn't be seen because of the darkroom.
"I do." He replied. There was no sign of hesitation in him. He was sure of his answer. "I love you, Xiao Yao."
She smiled bitterly, "How about... Xiao Xi? Do you still love her?"
Her question took him by surprise. It caught him off-guard.
On the other hand, Fan Xiao Yao refused to look at him since she was scared. She regretted asking the question as soon as she said it.
Cold sweat dripped down her forehead. Her hands were sweating and she was feeling so uneasy the more Huang Li stayed quiet. Her anxiety was getting ahead of her.
What should she do? She wanted to open her mouth and tell him to forget about it but her mouth wouldn't to her. No words were spilled and it only made the air around her heavier.
"I once loved her." Hang Li's voice was finally heard. "I know that my actions right now are making you doubt my love for you but... I really do love you, Xiao Yao."
The warmth coming from his hand was slowly spreading in her body. It was as if a light was slowly growing inside the darkness within her.
It was so comforting, so cozy.
"I love you but I can't just ignore the things that are happening to Xiao Xi." He brought her hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on it. "Even if I love you... I cannot break my promise with her. I am supposed to be there... To help her..."
She finally raised her head just to look at him with a gentle gaze in her eyes, "Then I'm not going to make you choose anymore..."
She pulled her hand away from his hold and reached forward to touch his heel instead. "Xiao Xi is also my friend... If I am in your position, I might probably do the same."
He never received such kindness in his life. It was only when he met Fan Xiao Yao. Her kindness, her gentle touch, her soft gaze... It was so different, he wanted to continue on feeling her touch... He wanted to continue seeing her.
Her presence meant so much for him. As he gazed back at her, it was as if he was seeing an angel in human form right now.
"I want to help you... But as you can see, I'm a useless girl. I'm not smart like you, or Xiao Xi. I am useless-"
"You're not useless." He placed a hand on top of her hand that was touching his cheek. "How can you be useless when you're the source of my strength?"
Her heart raced at his words. Tears welled up in her eyes. She never thought that she was going to receive such kind words from him.
"I may not see you for a while but... I promise to come back." The moonlight that entered through the window showed Huang Li's gentle smile as he made his promise to her. "After everything is over... Let's get married."
Her eyes went wide with his words. Did she hear it right?
"Are you... Proposing right now?" She was still looking at him in disbelief.
He chuckled lightly, "I don't have a ring right now tho..."
"I don't care. If you're proposing right now, propose me in a different way." Tears streamed on her cheeks despite her words. The happiness she was feeling was just too overwhelming.
He wiped her tears with his thumb, "How should I propose when I don't have a ring?"
"I told you that I don't care if you have a ring or none."
"Then... May I stop your period for nine months?"
"..." She didn't think that he was going to propose that way but... She did tell him to propose in a different way.
"Yes!" She replied with the sweetest smile she can muster. The happiness inside her was just so overwhelming. "But you can do that after we get married hehehe~"
Fan Xiao Yao's tears continued to flow down her cheeks as she smiled at him. It was more beautiful than anything he saw in his life. It was something he will never forget.