Savage Kiss - Chapter 17

After experiencing intense emotional turbulence, the two of them sat in the same car, the atmosphere eerily quiet and awkward.

Shen Yanzhou remained silent, his expression cold, likely affected by the humiliation he had endured.

Xu Qingyi, having just parted ways with Shi Qing, wasn’t in high spirits either, leaning back weakly in her seat.

A long time passed.

She finally spoke up, “Thank you. I’m glad you weren’t hurt.”

Shen Yanzhou didn’t respond, forcing her into silence again.

Gradually, Xu Qingyi began to feel warm all over. The alcohol made her drowsy, but she couldn’t let herself fall asleep.

When they finally entered the coastal district, Xu Qingyi suppressed the urge to yawn and hesitantly said, “You can drop me off at Yijia Supermarket. I need to buy something.”

Shen Yanzhou knew the shopping excuse was just a way to avoid letting him take her all the way home.

But glancing at the supermarket less than a hundred meters away, he said, “I’ll wait for you.”

“No need.”

He countered, “My jacket is with you. I’ll come along to get it.”

Xu Qingyi didn’t want him anywhere near her doorstep, it felt dangerous.

He was dangerous.

Especially tonight, after drinking, she had even less resistance against him. It was too easy to cross the line.

So, she insisted, “I’ll bring it to the repair shop another day.”

Shen Yanzhou parked the car in front of the supermarket but didn’t unlock the doors, equally stubborn. “There’s something in the pocket I need urgently.”

Xu Qingyi scoffed, fueled by the alcohol. “What could possibly be urgent in the middle of the night?”

“Let me be honest, I just don’t want you coming to my place,” she added.

A brief silence fell in the car.

Raindrops began hitting the windows with sharp, clear pats.

“It’s raining. Open the door,” she urged. Otherwise, she really might not make it back.

Shen Yanzhou hadn’t been able to think of a legitimate reason to see her earlier, but now it came to him.

“Your umbrella is on my boat.”

He was just as blunt as she was. “Better take it back sooner rather than later.”

Xu Qingyi frowned at his words, was he complaining that her umbrella was taking up space?

Since things had come to this, she sat back and buckled her seatbelt.

For some reason, irritation flared in her. She was grateful for his help and even felt a pang of sympathy for him. But if he came to her place, what if she couldn’t hold back…?

What if, afterward, he started making snide remarks about her being improper?

She was doing this for his sake.

After a few seconds of the car not moving, she snapped impatiently, “Go already!”

Her voice, softened by alcohol, lacked any real bite. Strangely, the tense atmosphere seemed to shatter with her outburst.

Shen Yanzhou raised an eyebrow, as if holding back a laugh. “Red light.”

Xu Qingyi turned away and slumped back into her seat.

She could go an entire year without emotional outbursts, but around Shen Yanzhou, she never felt like herself.

The car finally moved, turning toward the harbor.

Xu Qingyi planned to grab the umbrella and walk back alone, refusing to let Shen Yanzhou escort her further.

When they reached the port, Shen Yanzhou got out and walked around to her side, holding an umbrella over her.

They only had one umbrella. The walk to the yacht was short, just two or three minutes.

“You go up and get it,” Xu Qingyi said, not intending to follow him aboard.

Shen Yanzhou glanced at her. “If I go up, I’m not coming back down. I’m staying here tonight.”

Meaning she’d have to go up with him to retrieve it.

Besides, with only one umbrella, if he went up to get it, she’d be left standing in the rain on the shore. By the time he returned, she’d already be drenched, what would be the point of the umbrella then?

When Xu Qingyi boarded the yacht, Shen Yanzhou reached out to steady her.

She flinched and quickly pulled her hand back.

It was only then that it finally dawned on her, why was she even here for a stupid umbrella? She could just leave it. Why had she insisted on coming to get it?

Even if I wanted to take it, it could wait for another day.

How did I end up provoked by just one sentence from him?

Shen Yanzhou opened the restroom door and turned on the light. “You go in first.”

The rain seemed to have grown heavier.

Xu Qingyi had already spotted her umbrella, folded neatly as if newly bought, placed carefully by the window near the bed.

She walked over to retrieve it, then turned to leave, pausing mid-step.

Shen Yanzhou leaned his umbrella against the door outside, closed it, and casually stripped off his shirt, revealing his toned upper body.

His shirt was completely drenched. Xu Qingyi glanced down at herself, no wonder even the hem of her skirt was almost dry.

He hadn’t bothered to shield himself with the umbrella at all.

Wringing out his shirt, Shen Yanzhou gave her a faint look. “Don’t be moved. It’s just because I’d been drinking and didn’t dare let you get wet. Otherwise, the blame would’ve fallen on me again.”

Who said I was moved?

Xu Qingyi stepped around him toward the door.

Shen Yanzhou took a step back, blocking her path, one hand resting against the door lock.

Her expression cool, she stared at him.

Shen Yanzhou spoke. “Just a few words.”

He finished what he’d meant to say during the basketball game. “I didn’t ignore your messages on purpose. I was on a business trip and had some personal matters to handle back home. Got too busy and forgot.”

“I’ve never looked down on you. That day was my fault. If you want to buy a car, come by another time to check it out.”

Xu Qingyi couldn’t keep looking at his face, nor could she let her gaze drop lower. With nowhere else to focus, she fixed her eyes on the door lock.

His hand rested there, fingers elegant, the skin flushed red from exertion, veins faintly visible.

He continued, “There’s no need for us to act like we have some deep-seated grudge. You don’t have to avoid me, and I won’t be troubled or bother you again.”

Xu Qingyi only half-listened, eager to leave as soon as possible.

Though the yacht wasn’t small, the restroom was relatively cramped. In such close quarters, she could acutely sense Shen Yanzhou’s presence, the scent of his body wash, or perhaps cologne, or aftershave.

Even if he did nothing, just standing this close to her felt like blood tempting a vampire.

And now, of all times?

“Xu Qingyi.” Shen Yanzhou frowned when she gave no response, calling her name again.

He even shifted slightly, standing directly in front of her.

Now even closer.

Belatedly, Xu Qingyi lifted her gaze to meet his. “How do you know my name?”

The last time, after checking out the car with Shi Qing, he’d called her by name for the first time, and she hadn’t even registered it then.

She’d never told him what she was called.

In her line of sight, Shen Yanzhou’s lips moved slightly as he casually offered an answer. “Front desk records.”

Right. Xu Qingyi averted her eyes from his lips again.

But her mind was left with one burning thought: His lips were sharply defined, they’d be good to kiss.

Why wasn’t he moving aside yet?

Shen Yanzhou lowered his gaze to study her.

Then, abruptly, he asked, “Is he your boyfriend?”

The moment Shi Qing arrived, she’d perked up, all traces of fear, pity, and fragility gone. Was it because girls put their best foot forward around someone they liked?

Xu Qingyi cut off her thoughts, frowning. “Who?”

Shi Qing?

“Or is it just that kind of casual relationship?” Shen Yanzhou pressed.

Xu Qingyi’s denial turned into, “What’s it to you?”

And then silence fell between them.

Shen Yanzhou might have smiled faintly as he leaned back against the small long table by the door. “Consider it an exchange for saving you tonight. Answer the question.”

“Do you like that type?”

“No.” Xu Qingyi couldn’t stay any longer. Seizing the moment when he wasn’t blocking the door, she reached for the lock.

She twisted it twice, but it seemed to have locked even tighter.

She tried turning it the other way.

Still wouldn’t budge.

Annoyed, Xu Qingyi turned her head to glare at Shen Yanzhou.

Shen Yanzhou reached out, pulling her slightly toward him as he prepared to get up and open the door for her.

But Xu Qingyi stumbled over his ankle, losing her balance.

As she was about to fall, Shen Yanzhou instinctively wrapped an arm around her waist, preventing her from hitting the ground.

Acting on instinct, Xu Qingyi also grabbed at whatever was within reach in that split second.

When everything settled, the air seemed to freeze.

Xu Qingyi found herself pulled against Shen Yanzhou’s chest, while the lifeline she had grabbed turned out to be the waistband of his pants…