Golden carp are not creatures confined to a pond. (40-42)

"A Golden Carp Is No Fish in a Pond" by monkey,

Chapter 40: A Bet is a Bet (Part 2) 12/11/2002 - 12/12/2002

Hou Longtao returned to Shi Ya's house before 10:00, much earlier than expected. "Ah, you're back," Shi Ya was overjoyed, like a true wife, taking Hou Longtao's coat and hanging it on the hanger, then bringing him a pair of slippers. "Have you eaten? I made chicken soup, shall I heat up a bowl for you?" Before the man could answer, she had already gone into the kitchen.

Hou Longtao smiled and shook his head, sitting down at the table. Soon, a bowl of fragrant chicken soup was placed before him. "Is it good?" The woman stood behind him, stroking his shoulders with her hands. "Mmm...it's good." He drank it all in one gulp, wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead. "Phew, it's hot, I'm going to take a shower."

The warm shower washed away all his weariness. Shi Ya walked in naked, hugging the man's strong body from behind, her cheek pressed against his back. "Husband..." "Hey, I can't shower like this." Hou Longtao relaxed. "Just for a little while, let me hug you for a bit."

This "little while" turned into almost ten minutes. "Are you done yet?" "Okay, okay," Shi Ya stepped out of the bathtub. "I'll go back to the bedroom and wait for you." "Hey, didn't you say we wouldn't do it tonight?" "You're so naughty, I wanted you to hold me while we watched TV." He felt a light slap on the back.

"Sigh." Hou Longtao sighed, inwardly cursing himself for being useless, falling into the bottomless pit of emotions again. Originally, he only wanted to use this woman to vent his sexual desires, thus achieving his goal of psychologically retaliating against Shi Xiaolong, but once he discovered her attachment to him, he couldn't help but feel affection for her. He wondered when he would be able to get rid of this bad habit of his.

Naked, he crawled into bed and pulled the equally naked woman into his arms. "What do you want me to watch with you?" "The evening news." (If I remember correctly, the Beijing TV evening news is at 10:00.) "What's so interesting about the news? Let's change it..." Hou Longtao suddenly remembered something that was bothering him. The TV was reporting on traffic flow statistics at major intersections in Beijing. "Do you know Liu Jiang, the captain of the Xuanwu Traffic Police?"

"No, why?" Shi Ya rubbed her hair against the man's chest. "Nothing, just asking." Hou Longtao was a little disappointed. The appointment date was getting closer, but he couldn't find a single breakthrough with Liu Jiang. How could he not be anxious? A woman's

sixth sense is always strong. She seemed to sense that her young lover wasn't happy. "Is something on your mind?" "No, nothing." Hou Longtao didn't want to add to his worries. In any case, fate was in the hands of heaven, and there would always be a way out. He pulled Shi Ya into his arms and lightly kissed her lips. "Want to make love with me?"

"You...you just said..." The woman looked at him strangely. "Hmph, with a beauty in my arms, how can I resist?" He placed his hands on her two round buttocks and kneaded them. "Unless you don't want it." "Husband..." Shi Ya was overjoyed. She closed her eyes, pressed her lips down, and sucked the man's tongue into her mouth...

After sending Chen Xi to school, Hou Longtao went to the Jimen Hotel. Just as he was about to go in, a bald, burly man standing by the door called out to him, "Brother Tao, right? Brother Sheng asked me to greet you here. He's waiting for you in room 816. Here's the key card. Brother Sheng said you can open the door yourself." Upon closer inspection, he recognized this man as one of the two bodyguards who had followed Li Dongsheng when they first met.

Room 816 was a standard room. As soon as he entered the room, he saw Li Dongsheng, wearing only a short slit, lying on one of the beds. The two prostitutes from last night were kneeling naked beside him, one massaging his back and the other massaging his legs. "Hehe, Brother Sheng, you really know how to enjoy yourself." "Ah, Long Tao is here," Li Dongsheng pointed to another bed, "Come, come, Xiao Qin, go and serve Long Tao."

"Okay." The woman massaging his back happily got off the bed and went to Hou Longtao's side to help him take off his coat. "No need, no need." Hou Longtao brushed her hand away. "Long Tao," Li Dongsheng raised his eyelids slightly, "they're pretty good at massages, give them a try. Don't worry, they don't usually go out easily, they only serve people of some status, it's not dirty at all. If you hadn't said you wanted the best yesterday, I wouldn't have called them."

"Brother Sheng, what are you saying? That's not what I meant." Hou Longtao did think they were dirty, but Li Dongsheng had said so much, he couldn't be too disrespectful, so he stopped stopping the woman from undressing him, "Only serve people of some status? Have you ever served Captain Liu Jiang of the Xuanwu Traffic Police Team?" "Liu Jiang? I haven't." "Me neither." The other woman also gave a negative answer.

He hadn't had much hope; it was just a casual question, and if he didn't take it, so be it. "Wow, Brother Tao, I didn't expect you to be so muscular!" Xiaoqin exclaimed in surprise as she unbuttoned his shirt. Another woman couldn't help but look over. "Such beautiful muscles!" Xiaoqin even stuck out her tongue, licking one of his nipples, her right hand unbuttoning his pants, while her left hand eagerly slipped inside the zipper, rubbing his penis through his underwear.

"Hey, hey, hey, a massage is fine, but don't take advantage of me." Hou Longtao left the woman and lay down on the bed. Xiaoqin giggled, took off his shoes and socks, then knelt on his buttocks, kneading his muscles along his spine, making a "slap slap" sound. "Oh...oh...oh..." The pain and pleasure made the man cry out.

"How was it? Not bad, right?" Li Dongsheng laughed. "Longtao, didn't you say you had something to ask them?" "Oh...oh...right, right, how's that kid's in bed?" Hou Longtao asked through gritted teeth, his eyes closed. "Not so good," Xiaoqin knelt beside him, pinching his thigh, her eyes fixed on his firm buttocks peeking out from under his underwear. "That kid's still a virgin."

"What!? Really?" Hou Longtao's eyes snapped open, a chill running down his spine. “Really,” the other woman replied, “we each gave him five hundred yuan as a token of our affection.” “Come on, turn over.” Xiaoqin made Hou Longtao lie flat, knelt in front of his feet, lifted one of his feet with her left hand, and used her right thumb to gently press down on it.

“Ah…okay…tell me…tell me in detail.” The pleasure of this pain was indescribable. "At first, he acted all high and mighty, lying on the bed and demanding we 'give him a blowjob.' But as soon as we actually started, he came in less than thirty seconds. Later, he made me lie down, staring at my genitals, completely mesmerized, and stupidly said it looked much better than in the DVDs. I almost died laughing."

"Yeah," Xiaoqin chimed in, "We questioned him for ages, coaxing and cajoling him, and finally threatened that if he didn't tell the truth, we wouldn't do it with him. He's still just a kid. Brother Tao wanted us to do it with him, how could we dare say no? But he seemed genuinely scared, so he told us everything. Apparently, his girlfriend never let him touch her, and he was a virgin until last night."

"Qianqian..." Hou Longtao thought to himself, now feeling both like crying and laughing. The fairy's singing voice rang in his ears, the winter sun shining brightly like spring, his mind filled with Chen Qian's unparalleled beauty and pure smile, and before he knew it, he was aroused.

"Brother Sheng, Brother Sheng, look at him." Xiaoqin pointed at Hou Longtao, who was staring intently at her. Li Dongsheng got out of bed, dressed, and said, "Little girl, you're lucky. Have some fun with him." He then left with another woman in his arms. "This guy is still too young. He can't resist women."

A warm, wet sensation came from between his legs. Hou Longtao raised his head slightly and vaguely saw a woman's head moving up and down between his legs. He knew she was sucking his penis, so he put his head back on the pillow, staring aimlessly at the ceiling. In the blur, a smiling, long-haired girl appeared before him.

“Qianqian…” Hou Longtao stretched his right hand into the air, “stroking” the girl’s face, “Tell me you love me the way I love you.” Xiaoqin was licking the man’s penis with relish when she suddenly heard him muttering something unintelligible. Without looking up, she stroked his penis with one hand and held his thigh with the other, taking one of his testicles into her mouth and turning it around, asking unclearly, “Hmm… what did you say?”

“Tell me, tell me you love me.” “Hmm… hmm… I love you… I love you…” This time Xiaoqin heard clearly. With her professional skills, and given that this “customer” was no ordinary person, she naturally answered his request. Xiaoqin’s tongue pressed against the man’s anus, licking it gently and carefully.

“Ah…” Hou Longtao closed his eyes in satisfaction. In his mind, the person serving him was not a prostitute, but Chen Qian, whom he had been thinking about day and night. The penis Xiaoqin held in her hand was as hard as an iron rod, almost too tempting for her. Last night's boy wasn't even an appetizer for a seasoned woman like her; she still felt uncomfortable all over afterward.

She took a condom from her purse, put it on the man, and then, supporting his erect penis, sat down. The large, round glans parted her labia and vaginal walls, reaching all the way to her cervix. "Ah…" Xiaoqin let out a long breath and began to frantically twist her hips, violently thrusting up and down, her hands also kneading her breasts forcefully.

Hou Longtao was completely immersed in his fantasy world. Xiaoqin's slightly loose vagina couldn't give him much pleasure, but his boundless love for Chen Qian gave him an unprecedented spiritual enjoyment. As the woman reached her third climax, Hou Longtao also ejaculated...

Once in the car, after placing the miniature camera in the glove compartment, Hou Longtao was overjoyed. What could be better than knowing that his beloved girl had always protected her pure and innocent body, never letting him...

"How's your foot?" Hou Longtao casually asked the girl beside him. "Ah...it still...it still hurts a little." Chen Xi blushed slightly and lowered her head. This tiny movement was noticed by the man out of the corner of his eye. Hou Longtao's lips curled up, certain that he was close to success.

Hou Longtao recalled a time when he got into a fight and his arm was fractured by a wooden stick, but it only took three days for him to feel almost no pain. He had been driving Chen Xi around for two weeks now; her injury should have healed long ago, but she hadn't told him. There were only two possible reasons: either she had developed feelings for him, or she was the kind of girl who craved pleasure. Either way, she was definitely his.

"It's still early, let's go see a movie." Before he could even get a reply, Hou Longtao had already turned the car around. "Okay," Chen Xi agreed softly. It was their first "date," and the innocent girl was always a little nervous.

They arrived at the Dahua Cinema at 3:56. As soon as they got out of the car, before Chen Xi could even put on her gloves, Hou Longtao grabbed her hand. "Quick, there's a movie at four." The two ran to the ticket counter and bought tickets; the girl's legs didn't show any signs of limpness.

The "Daytime Cinema" at Dahua Cinema was filled with semi-circular sofas, each with a semi-circular canopy extending from its backrest. It resembled the chair Will Smith sat in during his exam in "Man in Black," but was much larger and more comfortable, more like a small karaoke room.

Hou Longtao had let go of the girl's hand while buying drinks and popcorn, placing the food on the round table in front of them. Both of them then took off their coats and put them aside. After the movie started, the atmosphere was relaxed because it was a comedy. But Chen Xi's mind wasn't on the screen. "Was he in a hurry when he grabbed my hand? Or did he… sigh." She reached into the bucket with her left hand to grab some popcorn.

Coincidentally, Hou Longtao's right hand was also in the bucket. Their skin separated almost immediately, and Chen Xi tried to pull her hand away, but the man was faster, grabbing her delicate fingers and slowly pulling them upwards until their hands finally clasped together. "Ah..." Two blushes immediately crept onto Chen Xi's pretty face. Fortunately, it was pitch black all around, and even the man beside her couldn't see her innocent expression.

Hou Longtao was surprisingly honest, simply holding the girl's hand without doing anything else inappropriate. But Chen Xi's heart was still unsettled. The last time she was so close to a boy was three years ago, and back then she could be said to have been quite immature. Her current state of mind was completely different from then, and her feelings for men were no longer the simple attraction between the sexes during puberty. "Why am I like this? Have I fallen in love with him?"

The man's body began to move, slowly leaning towards the girl, and his left hand reached out as well. "Ah... what... what is he going to do?" Hou Longtao's head was already close to hers. "Is he... is he going to kiss me? Should I... should I refuse? I can't let him think I'm frivolous, but... but I don't want to refuse."

Just as she was lost in thought, Hou Longtao stopped, his left hand reaching into the coat beside Chen Xi and pulling out his phone. "I forgot to turn it off." He then sat up straight, still gently holding the girl's hand. "Phew..." Chen Xi breathed a sigh of relief, unable to tell if it was relief or disappointment. During the one-hour and forty-five-minute movie, she basically didn't know what was going on, because a little deer was constantly pounding in her heart.

When the movie ended, their hands separated, and after putting on her coat, Hou Longtao naturally reached out his hand to Chen Xi again. The two walked out of the cinema hand in hand, like a couple. The man was handsome and refined, tall and imposing, while the woman was pretty and delicate. A pure white woolen hat with a round pom-pom on top made her look even more adorable; they were truly a perfect match.

"Brother Hou, our school has a dance every Friday night. Tomorrow night…would you like to come too?" Chen Xi asked softly, fiddling with the hem of her clothes. "Tomorrow night? I'm not sure if I'll have time. I can't say for sure right now. I'll let you know tomorrow." Hou Longtao thought that if Shi Xiaolong was also attending the dance, Chen Qian might go too, and he couldn't take that risk. This time, he was really overthinking it. If Chen Qian went, Chen Xi certainly wouldn't have invited him.

The car stopped at the intersection near the girl's house. "Didn't you say you didn't want your classmates to know about me? Why are you making me go to your school's dance?" "I...I didn't." "Didn't? Then why don't you let me park in front of your school every day? Parking there isn't inconvenient." "This...I...I..." Chen Xi really didn't know how to answer.

"It's okay," Hou Longtao got out of the car and opened the door for the girl. "As long as I can always see you, I don't care if others know I exist." "That's not what I meant, really, I...I, please forgive me." Chen Xi was afraid that their newly developing relationship would be hurt because of her unintentional actions.

"Hmph, silly girl." The man smiled and approached her, helping her button up the top button of her coat. "It's so cold, don't catch a cold." Chen Xi lowered her head shyly, feeling warm inside. Hou Longtao lowered his head, leaned close to her lips, and gently kissed her. "I'll definitely dance with you tomorrow night."

Benz had already disappeared from sight, but the girl remained standing there, a sweet smile on her face...

He found the phone number Xiaoqin had given him and dialed the number. "Hello, this is Hou Longtao." "Oh, Brother Tao, you missed me so soon?" "I missed you, and I need your help with something." "Wow, everyone knows Brother Tao is incredibly capable. Is there anything else you need my help with?" "Did that kid leave you his number yesterday?" "Yes." "I need you to call him out to a hotel tomorrow afternoon and tell him it's free."

"Huh? I have to keep him company? I'm so miserable." "You don't want to?" Hou Longtao's voice turned serious. "Of course I don't want to, but Brother Tao gave the order, how dare I disobey?" Xiaoqin said plaintively. "How about this, you can find another girl for him, but the most important thing is to keep him tied down, at least until 10 pm, is that alright?"

"Okay, I'll find a sister to keep him company, but she can't work for free." "Hmph, you don't need to worry about that, I won't treat those who have helped me unfairly." Hou Longtao hung up the phone, glad that he had chosen the perfect time to deal with Shi Xiaolong. As long as he didn't go to the dance tomorrow, Chen Qian wouldn't be able to go either. Hou Longtao was, after all, just a mortal. No matter how meticulously he calculated, he couldn't foresee the future. Man proposes, God disposes, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing…

Chen Xi sat on the edge of the bed, hugging her big teddy bear, her eyes fixed on the ground, a smile on her face. Thinking of the tenderness Hou Longtao had shown her that afternoon, and imagining the classmates looking at her with a mixture of blessings, praise, and envy as they danced together in the school cafeteria tomorrow night, her heart felt like it had been turned upside down with honey, and she couldn't help but giggle.

Chen Qian, who was reading at her desk, heard her sister's voice, turned around, and gently shook her head. "Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi." "Ah! What's wrong?" Chen Xi snapped out of her reverie, realizing her sister had seen her, and felt embarrassed, quickly burying her face in her teddy bear's head.

Chen Qian went over and sat down next to her sister, putting her arm around her shoulder. "Xiao Xi, tell me, do you have a boyfriend?" "No…no." Realizing her sister's expression was serious, Chen Xi lied. "Don't lie to your sister. You've been acting strange lately, just sitting there spacing out and giggling. It would be strange if you didn't have a boyfriend."

Chen Xi wasn't good at lying, and now that someone had given her an example, and since she was facing her cousin whom she'd grown up with, she stopped hiding it and affectionately hugged Chen Qian, acting coquettishly. "Sister, don't be so serious. Yes, yes, I have a boyfriend, are you satisfied now?" "You know our family rules, you're deliberately breaking them." Chen Qian's face remained gloomy.

"Sister, don't be like that, you talk just like Uncle and Aunt." Chen Xi shook her sister's body. "You're still young. There's a reason my parents set those rules. You're at the age where you're most impulsive. What if you get pregnant?" "Sister, what nonsense are you talking about?" Chen Xi pouted, let go of Chen Qian, and angrily turned her body to the side.

“Xiaoxi, listen to your sister, it’s too early for you to be dating. Boys these days are all… You know what I mean, the most important thing for us women is to keep our purity. You’re so pretty, there’s no need to rush, just wait a little longer, you’ll definitely find an ideal marriage partner, and then…” “Sister,” Chen Xi interrupted her, “What era are we living in? How can you still have such feudal ideas?”

Chen Qian grabbed her sister’s hand, “No matter what era, ‘remaining faithful to one man’ is a virtue for women.” “Okay, okay, even if you’re right, why are you still dating that scoundrel Shi Xiaolong? You’re not planning to ‘remain faithful to him’, are you?” Chen Xi had never understood why her sister favored Shi Xiaolong, and now that this topic was being discussed, she might as well clear up her doubts first.

“Xiaolong? Xiaolong… he’s different from other boys.” Chen Qian blushed a little when her sister asked about her love life. “Don’t let his seemingly glib and unserious exterior fool you; he’s actually a very good kid. Most importantly, he respects me a lot. He promised me he wouldn’t touch me before we got married.”

“Just because of that?!” Chen Xi couldn’t believe her ears. “Sister, you’re so foolish! There are plenty of men who will respect you. Shi Xiaolong is just a good-for-nothing playboy. You… you…” She was speechless with anger at her sister’s “ignorance.”

“Xiao Xi, you don’t understand. Unlike you, I’ve always been in top schools. There were a lot of bad kids in the schools I went to. They were always touching me inappropriately. Good boys like Xiaolong are so rare these days. I feel really relaxed with him.” Chen Qian’s face showed a bitter expression as she recalled her life of constant anxiety during her school days.

“Sister,” Chen Xi hugged Chen Qian again when she saw her like this, “I didn’t mean to upset you, but my boyfriend isn’t the kind of person you think he is. He’s not a child anymore; he’s a real man, both refined and polite, and he’s willing to take responsibility. He’s really not a bad person.”

“A man? How old is he?” “Twenty-four.” “Ah!? Men are more dangerous than boys, they…they…” Chen Qian wanted to say, “They’ve all probably had sexual experience, and they certainly wouldn’t let an innocent girl like you go.” But looking at her cute younger sister, she couldn’t bring herself to say it. “No matter what I say now, you won’t listen. You have to promise me, you have to control yourself, okay?”

"Okay, okay," Chen Xi kissed her sister's delicate cheek. "I promise you." "Then tell me, what's his name? What does he do?" "I won't tell you," Chen Xi playfully stuck out her tongue and stretched. "Ha... I'm going to sleep." Saying that, she crawled into the covers. She knew that her sister was now on the same side as her uncle and aunt, so she couldn't tell her everything.

"Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi," no matter how Chen Qian called, her sister ignored her. "Let's go out for dinner together tomorrow night, and then watch a movie." She wanted to get more information out of her sister later. "Ah, tomorrow night is not possible. I have to go to the school dance, and I won't be home for dinner." Chen Xi told her sister about her plans for tomorrow.

"The dance? Don't you never go?" "Well... I just want to go tomorrow. I'm so sleepy, I really can't talk to you anymore, phew..." Chen Xi pretended to snore. Chen Qian shook her head helplessly, "Ah, that man will definitely go tomorrow too. Okay, little girl, you play hide-and-seek with me, and I'll have Xiaolong take me too, see if I don't catch you red-handed." She smiled slightly, turned off the lamp, and got into her own bed...

Chapter 40 End.
Golden Scales Are No Mere Pond Author: monkey

Chapter 41 Heavenly Secrets Revealed (Part 1) 12/13/2002

Friday morning, the sky was gloomy, and by noon it started to snow, which lasted for several hours before stopping. "Why isn't he here yet?" Chen Qian looked at her watch, it was almost 7:50. She had arranged to meet Shi Xiaolong at the intersection at 7:20, but he hadn't shown up yet.

She dialed her boyfriend's number, and it rang for a long time before someone answered. "Hello." "Xiaolong, where are you? I'm waiting for you." "Ah... Chen Qian... um... huff... I... I have something to do, I can't go, ouch... ah... let's just... forget it for today." Shi Xiaolong's voice sounded strange, like he was suffering.

"Xiaolong, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell? What's wrong? I'm going to that dance party not just to dance." "Um... okay, okay, I... I'm busy, you can go by yourself." "Xiaolong, Xiaolong... sigh." The other end had already hung up. Chen Qian stomped her foot in anger and hailed a taxi...

Weekend dance parties at universities are very informal. They just turn on the colored lights on the ceiling of the restaurant and play some music. The main purpose is not dancing, but to provide students with an opportunity and place to socialize. Hou Longtao lost interest after dancing two songs, and Chen Xi also felt it was meaningless. It was a wise decision not to attend before.

She had imagined a dance party like the ones she'd seen on TV, where everyone spoke softly and politely yielded to each other while dancing. But the reality was that over a hundred students were crammed into a small restaurant. As soon as the music started, they all rushed to the center of the room; as soon as the music stopped, the whole place was filled with noise, and the air wasn't even very fresh. The girl was practically dying of disappointment.

"Xiao Xi, let's go for a walk. Show me around your campus," Hou Longtao said, noticing the girl's unhappiness. It was a good opportunity to leave this chaotic place. "Okay," Chen Xi agreed, retrieving her coat from the temporary baggage storage. The two left the restaurant hand in hand.

As night fell, only a few people moved about the school. The air was fresh after the snowfall, and the two young people felt invigorated walking on the cleared path. "Brother Hou, I'm so sorry, I didn't know it would be so boring. Am I making you feel bored?" Chen Xi swung the man's arm back and forth.

"Hmph," Hou Longtao smiled slightly, "How could I be bored? If walking with a beauty like an angel after the snow is boring, then life really has no meaning for me." "You're so good at making me laugh." Chen Xi released his hand, took his arm, leaned close to him, and rested her head on his shoulder.

Hou Longtao turned his head and kissed the girl's jasmine-scented hair. "I'm not just teasing you, I mean it." Chen Xi didn't answer, only rubbed her cheek against his shoulder a few times. The two strolled along in silence, the feeling of which only lovers could truly understand.

After walking for a few minutes, Chen Xi suddenly left the man's side, ran to the roadside, squatted down, made a snowball, and with a mischievous smile, slowly approached Hou Longtao. "Hey, hey, don't mess around." Hou Longtao pretended to be scared and took two steps back. "Just one snowball fight, what's the point of snowing if you don't have a snowball fight?" "No

, no, no, my clothes are hard to wash." "I don't care, I don't care, just one snowball fight." Chen Xi tilted her head and pouted. "Okay, okay, just one snowball fight." The man stopped. "Okay." "Just one snowball fight, do you agree?" "I agree, I agree." The girl couldn't wait to throw the snowball in her hand. Hou Longtao dodged to the side, "Haha, you missed, you don't have a chance."

"Hey, you're cheating." Chen Xi frowned and shook her body stubbornly. "How did I cheat? You didn't say I couldn't dodge." "That didn't count, hit me again." "We agreed on just one, you can't go back on your word." "Who told you to cheat?" The girl turned around and went back to making snowballs.

Hou Longtao's wool coat cost over 35,000 yuan, and he was really worried about it if it got hit. Seeing the girl holding three snowballs in her hands, she turned and disappeared into the grove of trees by the roadside. Chen Xi saw him escape and wasn't about to let him go, so she followed him in. "You cheater, don't run away."

Hou Longtao stopped after only a few steps. The snow in the grove hadn't been cleared, and although it wasn't deep, it was still above his ankles, making it a bit difficult to run. Besides, he didn't really want to dodge. Leaning against a poplar tree, hands clasped to her chest, she shook gently, "No, stop it, really, really, please let me go."

Chen Xi, who had been chasing after him, stopped, taking steps closer. "Ah!" she suddenly cried out softly, stopping abruptly. "What's wrong?" Noticing the girl's large eyes staring at him from behind, her face slightly flushed, Hou Longtao peered out from behind the tree trunk. Not far away, a man and a woman were kissing, probably a college couple on a date under the cover of night.

"Let's go." Chen Xi threw down the snowball, brushed the remaining snow off her hands, and turned to leave. It was clear she was a little embarrassed by seeing them being affectionate; this was a golden opportunity, she couldn't miss it. Hou Longtao grabbed the girl's hand and slowly pulled her into his arms.

Chen Xi leaned back, her arm stretched straight out, head bowed, moving slowly, until finally the man's arm encircled her slender waist. Hou Longtao lifted the girl's chin with his right index finger and gently touched her lips with his own. "Xiao Xi..." The girl raised her lowered eyelids. The man's gentle and loving gaze made her less nervous, but even more shy. She turned her head away from the man's fingers and lowered it again.

Hou Longtao stubbornly cupped Chen Xi's cheeks with both hands, gazing into her bright eyes. "Xiao Xi, you are so beautiful. Your eyes are brighter than the stars in the sky..." "Don't... don't say that," the girl covered the man's mouth with her fingers. She knew what was about to happen. She closed her eyes, her heart filled with anticipation. "Brother Hou, kiss me."

First, her upper lip was gently sucked, then her lower lip. Chen Xi's breathing became rapid. She felt the man's tongue lightly tapping against her white teeth. She consciously opened her mouth wider to welcome him in. Every touch of their tongues thrilled the girl. "He's swirling his tongue around mine, ah..." This wasn't her first kiss, but it felt completely different from before. This man was more patient and knew better how to make a girl fall in love.

Hou Longtao's tongue flicked upwards, drawing the girl's soft "little tongue" into his mouth. It was wet and slippery, as if it might melt at any moment. "Fragrant, sweet, is Qianqian's tongue this delicious too?" She couldn't help but regret not insisting on entering that alluring little mouth to find out more seven years ago.

"Mmm..." Chen Xi's tongue was gently sucked. Although there was a slight pain at the root of her tongue, she didn't feel any aversion. All her strength disappeared, as if it had flowed into his body with the kiss. She leaned forward and wrapped her arms around the man's neck. The man's hands also left her cheeks, one supporting the back of her head, the other slipping inside her short coat, caressing her waist.

Their long kiss continued, showing no sign of ending. Chen Xi was already experiencing dizziness due to slight oxygen deprivation. "This feeling is so wonderful. I really don't understand what my sister is talking about. Why wouldn't she like it?" The girl simply didn't understand. She was now being intimate with the man she loved, while Chen Qian had been bullied by a boy she didn't like while trembling with fear. How could their feelings be the same?

Due to the slippery roads after the snow, Beijing's already congested traffic was even worse. It took the taxi almost forty minutes to drive from Gongzhufen to Xiaoyuehe. Chen Qian arrived at the restaurant, looked around, and didn't see her sister anywhere. "Qian-jie, you're here too." One of Chen Xi's classmates recognized her. "Why isn't Shi Xiaolong with you?"

"He...he had something to do." Chen Qian knew Shi Xiaolong's personality well and knew he was still a child at heart. Today, he was probably late for his date because he wanted to play with his friends, so she wasn't really angry with him. "Have you seen Xiao Xi? She said she came to the dance." "Xiao Xi and her boyfriend went out." "She left?" "No, they went to the grove." "How long have they been gone?" "About twenty minutes."

Chen Qian got directions and hurried out. She didn't assume anything would happen just because her sister was walking with a man, but as an older brother or sister, she was always a little overprotective, and she was also very curious about the man who had stolen her sister's heart, eager to see what made him so special.

Entering the grove, after only a few steps, they saw figures. A girl leaned against a poplar tree, her arms outstretched behind her, her head tilted back, her scarf draped over her shoulders, revealing her snow-white throat. Her eyes were closed, and her small mouth opened and closed repeatedly, as if she were saying something, but because she was quite far away, they couldn't hear anything. That girl was none other than their younger sister, Chen Xi.

A man's hands were inside Chen Xi's open short coat, rubbing against her waist through her tight sweater. The man was like a vampire, his entire face buried in the girl's neck, presumably kissing her. Because of this, Chen Qian couldn't see his face, but she felt that his back looked familiar; she must have seen him somewhere before.

"Why do you smell like jasmine?" Hou Longtao said, licking the girl's snow-white neck while deeply inhaling her fragrance. "I... um... Brother Hou... ah... I just bought a new set... a set of shower gel and shampoo, do you... um... do you like it?" Chen Xi answered dazedly. Every time the man licked her, her body would shiver, but it felt so good.

Hou Longtao hugged the girl tightly, moving the battlefield to her ear, and sucked on her earlobe. "I like it, of course I like it. Little Xi, don't call me big brother anymore, call me more affectionately, okay?" "Ah... ah... ah... um..." The wet and sticky feeling in her ear made Chen Xi even more intoxicated. "Then... what should I call you?" "Just call me 'Brother Tao'." "Um... Brother Tao..." The two hugged and kissed again.

Chen Qian couldn't bear to watch any longer. If the two continued being so intimate, she didn't know what foolish things her young and naive sister might do. Just as she was about to step forward to stop them, the two in the throes of passion separated. Moonlight filtered through the bare branches, illuminating the man's face. A scholarly face came into view, but Chen Qian felt as if she had seen a demon. She quickly hid behind a tree, her foot snapping against a broken branch.

"Who? Who's there?" Hou Longtao turned around warily, but there was no one there. The atmosphere had been ruined. Chen Xi coquettishly hugged his neck, glanced at her watch—it was almost 9:20. "Brother Tao, take me home. My uncle says I have to be home before 10:30." "Okay," Hou Longtao kissed the girl again, helped her fasten her coat and scarf, and took her hand. "Don't rush, there's still an hour. I promise you won't get scolded." The two walked past the tree where Chen Qian had been hiding.

"Why, why him?" Chen Qian's heart pounded wildly. In her mind, Hou Longtao was always that scoundrel who had violently touched her sacred genitals, that scoundrel who had almost raped her, that thug who had made her secretly cry for days—a thoroughly evil person. She not only hated him, but she was also terrified of him. Even after receiving his letter from America and seeing him a few months ago as a successful white-collar worker, this impression formed over many years had not changed.

Standing there for an unknown amount of time, Chen Qian's mind was filled with the image of Hou Longtao pinning her down on the sofa seven years ago, forcibly kissing and touching her. "How could Xiao Xi like someone like him? What should I do?" The girl was on the verge of tears. She was afraid of that man, but her sense of responsibility as an older sister gave her immense courage. "I can't let my sister be bullied or deceived by him. He's a bad person..."

"Xiao Xi!" she called out, rushing out of the woods. There was no sign of her sister. Only a student who happened to be passing by was startled by her. Remembering Chen Xi's earlier words about going home, Chen Qian hurriedly hailed a taxi at the school gate. "Driver, Gongzhufen, please drive fast." She was determined, "I absolutely cannot let Xiao Xi be with him. I'm going to tell Xiao Xi everything he's done; he's a bad person." But when she arrived home, her sister hadn't returned yet…

Although the two had stopped to eat a few skewers of lamb on the way, it wasn't even ten o'clock when they reached the intersection near Chen Xi's house. "See, I told you we'd make it in time," Hou Longtao pointed to the car's clock. "Who knew the road would be so slippery? You still dared to drive so fast," Chen Xi stuck her tongue out at him.

"My car has the best anti-skid tires, and besides, I'm the…" "The best driver on the surface of the earth," the girl finished the man's sentence. "Alright, alright, you've bragged about it so many times already. We know you're a superb driver." Then they both laughed. "Brother Tao, I… I have to go," Chen Xi said reluctantly, looking at her boyfriend with lingering affection.

"Then why aren't you leaving? The car door isn't locked." Hou Longtao smiled. "What are you waiting for?" "Waiting...waiting for you to go out and open the door for me. Aren't you very gentlemanly?" "Hehe, what if I don't open it for you? Are you going to come home with me?" "Dream on," Chen Xi tilted her head back and reached for the door. "You think I really can't open it myself?"

Hou Longtao leaned over, wrapped his right arm around the girl's shoulder, and held her waist with his left hand, pressing her head against the back of the seat and kissing her. "Mmm..." Chen Xi gently closed her eyes, pulled her right hand back from the doorknob, and wrapped it around the man's neck with her left hand. She really loved this feeling of kissing her beloved.

He couldn't hold back any longer. Hou Longtao wanted to take it slow, but the hand on Chen Xi's waist refused to be controlled and began to caress the girl's thigh. "Mmm...mmm..." Chen Xi gently twisted her body, but didn't resist. She could accept this level of intimacy.

The man, however, wasn't so easily satisfied. After touching her through her pants for a while, he slipped his hand inside her sweater. Although she was wearing a cotton bra, he could clearly feel the outline of her demi-cup bra, and he could feel the exposed half of her breast—it was incredibly elastic. His fingers would immediately bounce back when he pressed down.

"Ah...Brother Tao...mmm...no..." Chen Xi grabbed her beloved's wrist and pulled it outwards. Hou Longtao noticed her weakness and assumed it was just a girl's characteristic reserve. He thought that if he persisted, she would eventually give in. So, instead of stopping, he intensified his efforts to pull her bra out of her pants.

The reality was not what the man imagined. Although Chen Xi had indeed fallen for Hou Longtao at first sight, she still felt their relationship was progressing too quickly. "Brother Tao...don't...don't do this...please...please...don't do this..." Her body swayed and her grip tightened.

Hou Longtao realized he had misjudged the situation and quickly withdrew his hand, slightly raising his upper body. "What's wrong, Xiao Xi? Don't you like it?" "No...no, I...I...can't we not rush this?" The girl blushed, her hands cupping the man's face as she lowered her head. "I...I've never let any other boy touch me like this before."

Hou Longtao suddenly pulled away, opened the car door, and got out. Though it was a different girl, the same expression and the same words flooded back. Memories from seven years ago surged into his mind, and his nose stung with tears. He had intended to rush out of the car to hide his feelings, but when he opened the other door, his emotions still wouldn't calm down. History is destined to repeat itself, but that repetition shouldn't happen to one person.

"Brother Tao, what's wrong?" Seeing the glistening in the man's eyes, Chen Xi didn't know what she had said wrong. Hou Longtao was a little emotional, pulling the girl tightly into his arms, as if she would disappear forever if he let go. "Xiao Xi... Xiao Xi, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's my fault, I was too hasty. Xiao Xi, don't be angry with me, I won't do it again, I'm sorry..." These words came from the bottom of his heart, but he was saying them to both of them at the same time.

"Brother Tao, I'm not angry." Chen Xi was overjoyed that her boyfriend cared so much about her feelings, and gently kissed him on the cheek. "Really not angry?" Hou Longtao looked up. "Really." The girl offered her fragrant lips. In the snowy landscape, the couple embraced tightly, their hearts filled with warmth...

Their parents had just received a call from their fourth uncle and had been taken to their grandfather's house to play cards, leaving Chen Qian alone at home. Pacing around the room, Chen Qian glanced at the wall clock; it was already 10:25, but her younger sister still hadn't come home. She was getting increasingly anxious. They had clearly left first, yet she had arrived home before them. A sense of foreboding crept in. She should have gotten her sister a cell phone.

Hearing someone open the security door, Chen Qian quickly went to open it and saw her sister, a happy smile on her face, searching for the key among a bunch of keys. Chen Xi looked up. "Ah, sis, you heard me?" Chen Qian pulled her inside. "Where have you been? Why are you so late?"

"I'm not late," Chen Xi checked her watch, confused by her sister's anxious expression. "Hehe, it's only 10:29, just in time." "Little girl, you have no idea how worried I was! Tell me, where have you been? Are you alright?" Chen Qian followed her sister into their room.

"Sis, what are you talking about?" Chen Xi took off her coat and asked curiously, "What are you worried about? What happened? Ah..." Suddenly, as if remembering something, "Where are Uncle and Aunt? Did something happen to them?" "They went to Grandpa's house to play cards. Don't say anything else, where did you go?" "Where did I go? To the school dance, you know." "And then where did you go?" "Then I came back, sis, what's wrong with you?" Chen Xi was a little confused.

"Did you come straight back?" Chen Qian asked about what happened after leaving school, but Chen Xi thought of the time in the grove as something that happened after the dance. Thinking of how she felt when she was intimate with Hou Longtao, she couldn't help but feel shy. She sat on the edge of the bed, picked up the teddy bear, and kissed it on the face. "That's our secret, we won't tell her, right?" (If Hou Longtao knew that a teddy bear had become his substitute, he would probably be both amused and annoyed.)

Seeing the strange expression suddenly appear on her younger sister's face, Chen Qian was even more certain that something had happened during the half-hour time difference between her arrival home and her sister's arrival. She sat down next to her and took her hand. "Xiao Xi, you haven't already... you haven't... you haven't had a relationship with him, have you?" "Oh dear, sister, what's wrong with you these past few days? Why are you saying such strange things?" Chen Xi frowned.

"Xiao Xi, he's not a good person. Don't associate with him anymore." "Oh my god," Chen Xi leaned back, her face contorted with tears, "Sister, what are you saying? Hmph, hmph," she sat up again, pounding her thighs with her fists, "You're driving me crazy! You don't even know who my boyfriend is, what are you talking about?"

"I know, Hou Longtao. I went to the ball today too, and I saw you two in the woods... I've known him for a long time." Chen Qian grabbed her sister's hand again, "Xiao Xi, listen to your sister, I won't hurt you. He really isn't a good person." "Why did you go to the ball too? Were you spying on me? You've known him for a long time? How is he not a good person?" Chen Xi also became serious, staring into her sister's eyes as she asked.

"No, I wasn't spying on you. I just wanted to see what your secret boyfriend was like, I never expected it to be him." Chen Qian shook her head painfully. Her sister's expression didn't seem feigned, and Chen Xi sensed that something was definitely not simple. "Sister, tell me quickly, how did you meet him? Why isn't he a good person?"

"Do you remember? About seven years ago, there was a period when I was in a particularly bad mood." "I remember, I even asked you why, but you never told me." "That was because of Hou Longtao. He was a friend of my best friend's boyfriend. One day..."

Chen Qian told her sister what happened, "I was so scared then, I lied and said I would be his girlfriend, and he let me go. For several weeks, I was afraid he would come looking for me again. Finally, I mustered up the courage to write him a letter, telling him I didn't want a boyfriend." As she said this, her eyes were already filled with tears...

Chapter 41 End.

Golden Scales Are Not Meant for a Pond Author: monkey

Chapter 42 Heavenly Secrets Revealed (Part 2) 12/13/2002 - 12/14/2002

"Sister, don't cry..." Chen Xi reached out and wiped away her sister's tears, but her own vision was also a little blurry. The two sisters hugged each other. "Xiaoxi, do you understand now? He's not a good person. You should break up with him." Chen Qian stroked her sister's hair, speaking earnestly.

"But... Sister, that was seven years ago. Even if he was a bad kid back then, he's changed now. The Hou Longtao I know isn't like what you described at all. He's refined, steady, and a gentleman. Think about it, if he were really the kind of hopeless scoundrel you say he is, why would he stop bothering you just because of one letter?" Chen Xi sympathized with her sister's situation but didn't entirely agree with her assessment of her crush.

"Xiaoxi, do you think he's stopped bothering me? Two years ago, he sent me a letter from America filled with obscene language. I didn't dare reply. Who knew that just over two months ago he still found me and wanted me to be his girlfriend? Isn't that harassment?" Chen Qian stood up and looked out the window. "Why? Why won't he let me go?"

"Sister..." Chen Xi hugged Chen Qian from behind and burst into tears. She couldn't believe Hou Longtao would do this, but her sister would never lie to her. They were not only sisters but also best friends. "Is what you said true? Is it true? It's impossible, it can't be, he wouldn't do that."

"Don't you believe me? What more do you want from your sister?" "I believe you, I believe you." "Then you promised to break up with him?" "I promise, I promise you... Waaah..." Chen Xi cried bitterly. She was truly in love with Hou Longtao and couldn't give up so easily. But seeing her sister so heartbroken, she couldn't bear to let her think about the past again. So she verbally agreed with her, but in her heart, she was determined to go find Hou Longtao and ask him for clarification.

That night, the two sisters slept in the same bed. Chen Qian, exhausted from the rollercoaster of emotions she'd experienced in the past few hours—from fear and sadness to worry and the joy of convincing her sister—quickly fell asleep. Chen Xi, however, tossed and turned, unable to sleep, thinking about the tender moments Hou Longtao had shared with her, especially the scene at the intersection earlier—it just didn't seem real.

The next morning, when Chen Qian woke up, her sister was gone. There was a note on the table, left by Chen Xi: "Sister, I made plans to go out with my classmates. I might not be back until the afternoon." "That girl, so playful,"
Chen Qian shook her head. She had never liked any boy before and had no idea what heartbreak felt like. If she did, she wouldn't have been so skeptical that her sister was still in the mood to go out after what had happened the night before… She

could have slept in, but after more than two weeks of driving him around, his biological clock had been… messed up. Even without an alarm, Hou Longtao woke up before 8:00 AM. Downstairs at the coffee shop, he ordered breakfast, crossed his legs, placed his phone on the table, opened the newspaper, and took a sip of his fragrant coffee—truly leisurely. "Hmm?" He noticed the phone screen was blank. "I forgot to turn it on."
...

"The number you dialed is switched off." Chen Xi had been standing at the public phone for half an hour when he suddenly remembered Hou Longtao mentioning he stayed at the "Tianlun Dynasty" hotel. He decided to take a taxi directly to the five-star hotel on Wangfujing Street. "

Miss, could you tell me which room Mr. Hou Longtao from IIC Company is staying in?" Chen Xi asked the receptionist softly. "You're looking for Mr. Hou? He's having breakfast in that coffee shop, the one reading the newspaper."
"Thank you." Following the receptionist's finger, he could see the table where Hou Longtao was sitting.

Hou Longtao held the newspaper, but his mind wasn't on it. Liu Jiang's matter was truly baffling him. For a truly honest and upright official, those underhanded tricks were useless. Suddenly feeling someone staring at her, she looked up to see Chen Xi, dressed in white with a serious expression, standing silently across the table.

"Xiao Xi! You…why are you here?" The man was startled at first, then stood up and pulled out a chair for the girl. As she sat down, he gently kissed her on the cheek. "Missed me?" Hou Longtao sat back down. "Have you had breakfast? Would you like a cup of coffee?" Chen Xi just kept her head down, remaining silent.

"What happened?" Hou Longtao noticed the girl's unusual expression. "Why do you look so pale?" "Brother Tao, do you...do you know my sister?" In that instant, the man's mind raced. "She knows about me and Chen Qian? Did Shi Xiaolong tell her? No, the timing doesn't match. It must be Chen Qian who told her, so it's not a big problem." Having figured this out, he decided to play dumb. "Your sister? You have a sister? Heh, at your age, you should be an only child." Chen Xi was

n't in the mood for jokes. "She's my cousin, Chen Qian. Do you know Chen Qian?" "Chen...Chen Qian?" Hou Longtao's expression suddenly turned serious. He lowered his head, ran his hands through his hair a few times, then raised them again, his eyes filled with pain. "Chen Qian is your...your sister? It can't be...it can't be such a coincidence, can it?"

"So you admit you know her? Why didn't you tell me?" Chen Xi's lips trembled. The man was baffled by her question. "I've never denied it. I just didn't know you were sisters. I wasn't trying to hide anything. I never imagined you two were related. What do you want me to tell you?"

Chen Xi's question was indeed a bit illogical, but it was understandable that he had such doubts. In the vast sea of people, he didn't look for anyone else, but instead chose the sister of the woman he couldn't have. Anyone would have some suspicions about his motives. But now that he denied it, the girl felt there was no need to waste time on this issue. If what her sister said was true, then whatever the man's motives for pursuing her were, they wouldn't be pure.

"Tell me, did you...did you...did you...bully my sister?" Seeing the man's expression grow even heavier, Chen Xi knew her sister hadn't lied to her. Tears welled in her eyes. "You...you wrote to her from America? And you even looked for her after you came back?" Hou Longtao nodded. The girl was telling the truth, and most importantly, he felt it would be more advantageous for her to know these two things.

Chen Xi slowly stood up, closed her eyes, and two crystal tears slid down her cheeks. Without saying a word, she slowly walked towards the door. "Xiao Xi, Xiao Xi..." The man followed her. "Where are you going?" The girl remained silent. Hou Longtao sensed something was wrong, blocked her path, and grabbed her arms. "Xiao Xi, what's wrong? Say something."

"Slap." Chen Xi broke free from the man's hands and slapped him hard across the face, knocking his glasses off. "You scoundrel, don't touch me!" Before he could even react, she rushed out of the coffee shop. Hou Longtao gave an awkward smile to the staring customers and waiters in the coffee shop. "Misunderstanding, misunderstanding." He took a few quick steps, picked up his glasses, and said, "Screw you, I, Hou Longtao, have never cared about saving face."
He started running as fast as he could.

Chen Xi was already in tears when she left the restaurant. She just wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. She reached out, and a taxi waiting in the waiting area pulled up. Just as the hotel staff opened the car door for her, and the girl was already bending down to get in, Hou Longtao chased after her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her out again. "Xiao Xi, what are you doing?"

"Let go of me, let go of me..." Chen Xi cried as she pounded her fist against the man's chest with her other hand that wasn't being held. The surprised looks from the people made Hou Longtao very uncomfortable, so he quickly grabbed the girl's upper arm with both hands and shook her body back and forth. "Xiao Xi, calm down, calm down, let's talk things out." This

was the first time Chen Xi had heard Hou Longtao speak to her in such a stern voice, and she stopped crying for a moment. She looked at him with a wronged expression, and when she saw that his eyes were full of worry and affection, she pouted, hugged the man's neck, and cried again, "Why...why, why, why..." repeating the same sentence over and over.

Hou Longtao hugged the girl, gently stroking her hair, without answering her, because he had no idea what she was asking. His mind raced, analyzing the situation: "Even if Chen Qian told her everything about our grievances, her reaction shouldn't be this intense. What went wrong?" "Mr. Hou," the waiter's voice interrupted his thoughts, "Do you need another car?" Hou Longtao waved, letting the taxi drive away.

The girl's sobs subsided; she seemed exhausted. Hou Longtao kissed her hair. "Xiao Xi, shall we talk in my room? Don't get cold outside. If you have any complaints about me, you have to give me a chance to explain." After her heart-wrenching cry, Chen Xi had calmed down. She realized she had acted impulsively. Every story has two sides; she should give her beloved a chance to defend herself.

The two returned to Hou Longtao's suite in silence. "Sit down," Hou Longtao said, gesturing to the sofa in the living room. He took a can of Coke from the mini-fridge and placed it on the coffee table in front of the girl. He sat down beside her and took her hand. "Xiao Xi, what did your sister tell you?" Chen Xi shook off the man and sat on a small sofa to the side. "Never mind what she said. I want to hear your story now."

"Sigh," Hou Longtao sighed, and began to recount his love story, buried deep in his heart. "You know, what you told me last night, your sister also told me. Just because of that one sentence, my whole life has been changed..." Chen Xi's expression softened as the story unfolded, but her questions deepened. "His account is almost identical to what my sister said, but why does it sound so sad and poignant?"

"It wasn't until I saw your sister and her current boyfriend again that I realized that feelings, sometimes, are disproportionate to the effort invested," the man continued. "Later, I asked her out for dinner, and she said she didn't choose me because I wasn't a good person. If that's the case, why did she give me the illusion that we were mutually in love at Wenlong's house?"

Hou Longtao continued, almost to himself, "Seven years... no, subtract the three years I didn't realize how deeply I loved her, four years... a full four years. Not a single day went by that I didn't think about her, but I had absolutely no place in her heart. Sigh..." He didn't need to feign heartbreak or conjure up emotions; these were his true feelings, spoken naturally and effortlessly.

What normal girl doesn't yearn for everlasting love and admire a loyal and devoted man? Chen Xi was no exception. Although she was deeply moved, she wasn't to the point of losing her ability to think clearly. Words can't always be believed. She knelt down beside the man, gently stroking his thigh. "Brother Tao, I...I want to see the letter you wrote to my sister. Do you still have it?"

"If you want to see it, why didn't you ask your sister for it?" "She...she..." "You don't need to say anymore, I understand."
Hou Longtao had already concluded that Chen Qian must have torn it up, and the girl's hesitation only confirmed it. The man stood up, shook his head, and walked into the inner room. "Come with me." Chen Xi knew she had touched a sore spot again, but if the letter was still there, she had to see it. It was a choice between two equally desirable things.

Hou Longtao connected the notebook to the printer, printed out the letter, and handed it to the girl. Then he sat down in the chair by the window, lit a cigarette, and thoughtfully turned to look at the sky outside.
When he was studying in the United States, his major was Information Systems, but he also had a minor in Modern Psychology. He knew that written words on paper were more impactful, more likely to resonate with people, and sometimes easier to understand than text on a computer screen.

Chen Xi slowly retreated to the edge of the bed and sat down. The letter was short, only three and a half pages of printed paper. It recounted in the third person how the two met, how he realized his mistake on the verge of death, and how much he missed Chen Qian in the United States. Every word was filled with endless longing and love. (See Chapter 8 for details; the content of the letter is similar.)

"Impossible!" Chen Xi was a little dumbfounded. She hadn't seen any of the obscene words her sister had mentioned. Only in the penultimate paragraph did Hou Longtao use some not-too-excessive sweet talk, such as "stroking her hair" and "kissing her lips." In this day and age, it was perfectly normal for such words to appear in a love letter to a beloved girl; they were hardly obscene.

In fact, what Chen Qian meant by "disgusting" was this very part. Because she always believed Hou Longtao only wanted her body and only had that dirty, lustful desire for her, she found his act of writing to her after disappearing for five years to try and win her back even more shameless. Every seemingly affectionate word from Hou Longtao was just a way to trick her into bed.

Chen Xi couldn't possibly fathom her sister's feelings, and she didn't have time to figure it out. She could only assume there was a huge misunderstanding between them, and even so, Hou Longtao's image in her mind was reshaped. But compared to her earlier heartbreak, the real problem was only now emerging. The girl could see how deeply her beloved loved her sister, but what was she? If he loved her sister so much, were his feelings for her genuine?

“Brother Tao…” Chen Xi squatted down in front of the man, supporting his knees, and looked up at him. “Do you…do you still love her?” “Hoo…” Hou Longtao sighed, running his fingers through the girl’s long hair, letting the soft strands slip through his fingers. “I’m not the kind of heartless man. I’ve loved her deeply for four years, and it’s impossible for me to forget her so easily. But I’m also very clear about one thing: forced love is never sweet. Since Shi Xiaolong can bring her happiness, I can only wish them happiness. A true man can take it and let it go, haha…”

Hou Longtao's laughter was more heartbreaking than his tears. Anyone could see the extreme pain beneath his feigned calm smile. Most importantly, Chen Xi noticed it. "Brother Tao, then...do you love me?" "Since having dinner with your sister two months ago, I haven't contacted her again because I know she's doing well. But sometimes, in the quiet of the night, I still think of her, almost to the point of insomnia..."

Chen Xi bit her lip and lowered her head. She loved her sister. She always thought her sister was the most beautiful woman in the world, but she herself was no less beautiful. She didn't understand why her sister could make such a good man so devoted, even to the point that he wouldn't answer her questions and only poured out his heart to her sister.

“But for the past two weeks, I can fall asleep in five minutes as soon as I lie down on the bed, because I know that a girl who is more beautiful and lovely than Chen Qian will be waiting for me the next morning. Especially after last night, I am even more certain that she is the one who is worth my feelings.” Hou Longtao cupped the girl’s face, and the two of them stood up. “Tell me, my feelings for you will not be as unrequited as my feelings for your sister.”

"No, no, Brother Tao..." Chen Xi hugged the man's waist, burying her head in his chest, overjoyed. She finally knew how deep the man she loved's feelings for her were; all the words about her love for her sister had become a prelude to this last sentence.

Hou Longtao kissed the girl's forehead. "If you're still angry with me, hit me a few more times. I really wronged your sister when I was young. I completely understand if you want to avenge her." "Ah..." Chen Xi then noticed that his glasses were crooked; one of the glasses' legs had been twisted from being hit. A wave of guilt washed over her. "Brother Tao, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have... I shouldn't have..."

"It's okay. I don't know what your sister said to you that made you so angry. Anyway, she should have been punished seven years ago. Her sister made amends for her; it's retribution. But didn't you notice? We just had our first..." "Fight, how can you see a rainbow without going through wind and rain? I'm sure our relationship is deeper and stronger than it was a day ago."

In this society, men are considered the stronger gender. Even when hurt, they should be able to hold back and never expose their emotions—the so-called "boys don't cry." The worst part is that most men also think this way, viewing emotional expression as a sign of weakness. But in reality, women, especially those pursuing serious relationships, are more moved by occasional genuine expressions of affection from men than by unwavering strength.

Chen Xi felt that way now. She truly loved the man holding her more and felt she could tell him anything. "Um…I…I hit you just now, it wasn't…it wasn't about what happened seven years ago. I think you were still a child then, so I don't really blame you. It's mainly about these two recent things."

"Huh?" This was completely contrary to Hou Longtao's expectations. Apart from being kicked by Ru Yun, this was probably the most outrageous thing he had ever predicted. "Why? You're talking about writing the letter and asking her out to dinner, right? Why do these two things make you angry?" "You're chasing after me, but you're thinking about my sister. How can I not be angry? But the main thing is that I really thought you were the kind of shameless, persistent bad person my sister described. Actually, I think my sister has hated you since she was little, so it must be a misunderstanding."

Hou Longtao suddenly released the girl's body and sat down on the edge of the bed, his face full of pain and confusion. He originally thought that Chen Qian didn't accept him because she simply didn't like him or had no feelings for him. Even after having dinner with Chen Qian, he only used the reason that he was a "bad person" as an excuse. He never expected that the woman he loved so much actually "hated him since she was little."

According to his original plan, after he and Chen Xi "made their relationship public," he would occasionally invite Chen Qian and Shi Xiaolong out for meals and outings. Every woman needs to be loved, even a strong woman like Ru Yun, let alone a girl in her early twenties. Based on a woman's nature, Chen Qian would unconsciously compare her boyfriend to her sister's. One was mature, stable, gentle, and considerate; the other was immature, playful, and lacking in romance—the superiority was self-evident.

Then, he would create an "accident" to make Chen Qian discover a video of Shi Xiaolong soliciting a prostitute, and simultaneously use the video of Shi Xiaolong being sodomized to force him to let go. He could then take advantage of Chen Qian's most heartbroken moment, giving her a strong shoulder to lean on and a place to cry on. (This was a plan devised before he fell in love with Chen Xi, without considering her feelings; in reality, it was already a plan that wouldn't work.)

Now, things have turned out differently. Chen Qian not only dislikes him but also harbors seven years of hatred. He was confident he could make a woman who had no feelings for him, or even a woman who hated him, fall in love with him, but changing a woman who hated him was not so simple. For a moment, Hou Longtao felt utterly disheartened. "Why? Why does she hate me? Xiaoxi, go. Let's not see each other again, so we don't bother each other."

Chen Xi saw the man's face turn pale and quickly sat down beside him. "Brother Tao, what's wrong? Why don't we see each other again? My sister has a prejudice against you, but I don't." "Don't be silly," Hou Longtao suddenly cried out, his voice choked with emotion. "Xiaoxi, you're too naive. Love isn't enough in this world. Don't you understand? Your sister will never agree to us being together. From her perspective, she's doing it for your own good. Can you blame her? Can you betray your family for me? Even if you could, my conscience wouldn't allow me to force you to do that."

“We can figure out a way slowly, or we can just not tell my family at all.” “How long can we keep it a secret?
A year? Two years? Or ten or twenty years? This contradiction is irreconcilable. Because your sister hates me, her parents won't accept me. Do you think your parents will accept me? Your whole family is against us. What are you going to do? Xiaoxi, it's better to end it now than to suffer for a long time. Go away, let me be alone for a while.” Hou Longtao leaned back, threw his glasses aside, covered his eyes with one arm, and his whole body was trembling slightly.

Chen Xi was also a little foolish. She knew in her heart that, putting aside her parents, her uncle and aunt had also raised her, and her sister was her best friend. She couldn't possibly break ties with them for a man.

This was all because of her sister's misunderstanding. Once that misunderstanding was cleared up, everything would be fine, but this couldn't be done overnight. If she hid her relationship with Hou Longtao, she wouldn't achieve this goal at all. But if she didn't hide it, forget about changing her sister's image; just mentioning it would probably cause an uproar at home.

No wonder Hou Longtao was considered a "chosen one"—he inadvertently said the most appropriate thing at the most opportune moment, "Xiao Xi, what's done is done, there's no changing it. Aren't you leaving?" The girl, almost in despair, suddenly found a beacon in the darkness. She pressed herself against the man, kissing him passionately, her hands actually unbuttoning her white jeans…

End of Chapter 42

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