Any Closer and I'll Lose Control - Chapter 54

The broad leaves of the Dutch monstera in the lounge area rustled as Meng Tang was pulled into Wei Chuan’s embrace, her elbow brushing against them.

The swaying leaves cast dappled shadows over the two entwined figures.

The boundless silence of the late-night hotel swallowed them whole, the cool scent of mint wrapping around them unnoticed.

The Adam’s apple so close to her sent Meng Tang’s heart racing to the peak of a rollercoaster.

Wei Chuan’s warm palm pressed against the nape of her neck, spreading a damp heat.

For a moment, her heartbeat stopped, then plunged downward in a dizzying freefall, completely out of rhythm.

Her pupils trembled slightly as her words wobbled like a tilde: “Wei Chuan, let me go…”

Even in sleep, his grip was absurdly strong.

Meng Tang felt like a basketball he had seized, unless he chose to shoot, there was no chance of breaking free.

Wei Chuan sensed something nuzzling against his neck. He reached out, patting absently, only to realize the weight didn’t match his family’s Maltese. Irritated, he cracked his eyes open.

How the hell did Ms. Chu feed the dog? It’s gotten so big in just a few days?

The half-formed complaint in his mind shattered the instant he met a pair of glistening amber eyes.

A faint electric current shot through his nerves, spreading from his fingertips to his entire body. Wei Chuan wondered if his vision was playing tricks on him.

Why is Meng Tang, why is she lying on top of me?

His scattered gaze drifted past the monstera leaves, catching a glimpse of the hotel’s long corridor.

Piecing together his memories, he recalled waiting for Meng Tang in the lounge. His phone had slipped from his hand, startling him awake, so he turned it off and dozed off.

Then, in his drowsiness, something soft had brushed against his cheek. Thinking it was his Maltese, he had pulled it into his arms.

Pulled it into his arms, just like that!

So… he was the one who initiated this?

“Let go,” Meng Tang urged, her face burning crimson, her throat tightening now that he was awake. “How long are you going to hold me?”

Wei Chuan abruptly released his grip, and Meng Tang pushed against his shoulders to rise.

“Wait, let me explain,” he blurted, afraid of being misunderstood. Instinctively, he pressed a hand to her back to stop her.

“What are you doing?” Her pupils shook.

“Hug, sorry,” Wei Chuan corrected, letting go. “I wanted to explain. I was asleep and thought you were my family’s dog, no, no, I’m not calling you a dog! I mistook you for the Maltese and accidentally held you. I wasn’t trying to harass you.”

“I know.” Meng Tang kept her head lowered, hiding the fluster in her eyes. “I saw you sleeping and tried to wake you. Since you’re awake now, I’ll head back to my room.”

The warmth in his arms vanished completely. Wei Chuan scrambled to his feet and chased after her. “Meng Tang.”

Her fingers jabbed at the elevator button repeatedly in her panic.

The doors slid open. With just a few steps between them, Wei Chuan seized the chance to slip in beside her.

Meng Tang instinctively retreated a step. Through the mirrored walls, Wei Chuan stole cautious glances at her. Silence stretched between them until the 17th floor.

The keycard grew damp in her palm from sweat. Without a word, Meng Tang strode toward her room.

Before she could swipe it, Wei Chuan stepped in front of her. “Are you… mad?”

“No.” She jerked her head up, only to lower it again the moment she met his unfathomable gaze. “Just surprised.”

Afraid he’d press for more explanations, she quickly added, “I’m tired. I need to sleep.”

Wei Chuan reluctantly stepped back, his eyes still fixed on her. Just before the door closed, he rushed out a question: “Are you free tomorrow?”

“We’ll talk tomorrow.”

With a “bang!” the door closed.

Meng Tang stood behind the door, raising her hand to press against her chest.

It was so strange, she had never felt this flustered and helpless before, unable to even meet someone’s gaze.

Closing her eyes briefly, all she could see in her mind was Wei Chuan’s drowsy, half-awake expression as he looked at her.

She flicked on the bathroom light and splashed cold water on her face to cool the rising heat in her cheeks.

Wei Chuan lingered outside the door, unmoving. He pulled out his phone and sent Meng Tang a message, reminding her to lock the deadbolt.

After waiting for a long time with no reply, Wei Chuan turned away dejectedly, only to run into Li Hanjin at the corner, instantly bristling with wariness.

“What are you doing here?” Wei Chuan glared at him, displeased. “Meng Tang’s already asleep.”

Li Hanjin scoffed coldly. “You keep blocking me from seeing Meng Tang. Are you afraid of me?”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” Wei Chuan sneered. “A disgraced senior who got kicked out of the sect should be treated like a dead ex, has no one ever taught you that?”

Li Hanjin mocked, “You’re so guarded against me. I almost thought you knew the reason I left the sect.”

As he spoke, his eyes flickered with an unsettling depth, making Wei Chuan clench his fists inexplicably.

Suppressing his anger, Wei Chuan let out a cold laugh.

“Honestly, I couldn’t care less what sin you committed to piss off the old man. He always seemed pretty easygoing to me.”

Li Hanjin froze slightly. “You’ve met my master?”

“Don’t go calling him your master now,” Wei Chuan said, impressed by Li Hanjin’s shamelessness. “Of course I’ve met him. During the National Day holiday, I spent two days in Yanqing, saw the crabapple blossoms, studied the Wood Identification Technique, visited the Shuiyue Temple. Oh, and Aunt Fang’s cooking was amazing.”

Li Hanjin’s expression turned to shock. He hadn’t expected Wei Chuan to have followed Meng Tang back to her hometown!

Having achieved his goal of provoking him, Wei Chuan scoffed and brushed past Li Hanjin, heading straight back to his room.

Even after showering, he couldn’t sleep. Dazed, he leaned against the headboard, his mind filled with thoughts of Meng Tang.

Her eyes hazy with sleep, struggling weakly, she squeezed out a soft, breathy protest: “What are you doing? Let me go.”

That voice was like a tantalizing hook, scratching at his heart, which pounded so hard it threatened to burst from his chest. He gripped her slender waist and pulled her tightly against him.

“Let go.”

Wei Chuan heard himself say dumbly, “I don’t want to.”

“You!”

Meng Tang was startled for a moment, her slightly parted lips as pink as cherry blossoms.

Wei Chuan, unable to control himself, raised his hand and pressed his thumb against the corner of her mouth, rubbing gently.

Meng Tang was frozen by the unfathomable darkness in his gaze and instinctively pressed her lips together.

The momentary pressure drained the color from them, leaving them pale and unappealing. Unable to bear it, Wei Chuan leaned in abruptly and sealed his lips over hers.

Their breaths tangled as he boldly pried open her lips, stealing a taste of her softness.

His heart felt like it was about to explode, his body growing hotter by the second. Wei Chuan pressed closer, only to hear a loud “thud.”

His eyes flew open.

There was no Meng Tang in front of him, just the blindingly white ceiling light.

Wei Chuan paused, realizing he had been dreaming.

A shameless dream.

In that dream… he had kissed Meng Tang?

“Fuck.” Wei Chuan buried his face in the blanket. “What kind of dream was that?”

He felt guilty, toward Meng Tang, toward Xu Heqing, and toward Xie Lingyin.

How could he covet his friend’s admirer in his dreams? Worse still, she was his crush’s roommate.

Wei Chuan felt the weight of his sins pressing down on him, repeating to himself like a mantra that it was Xie Lingyin he loved.

“Knock, knock…” The sound of rapping echoed against his door.

Wei Chuan froze, instinctively turning his gaze toward the entrance.

“Wei Chuan, are you up yet?”

His senses went blank, the whispered words fading into nothingness. He felt like a puppet, its strings pulled by the person standing just outside.

With a heavy step, he strode toward the door and pulled it open with a soft click.