sbdcsierra Chapter 257 Xiao Zonghe's Confession
Chapter 257 Xiao Zonghe's Confession
"No," Xiao Zonghe coughed lightly, and his slender fingers adjusted his cuffs, which were already wrinkled. "Mom just returned to China and called me to ask you to come home for dinner. I happened to be nearby..."
"Tsk," Xiao Zongli rolled her eyes. "You can just call me home, why bother driving here in person?"
Xiao Zonghe's ears turned slightly red, but his expression remained calm: "It's just on the way."
"On the way?" Xiao Zongli gestured exaggeratedly, "Your company is in Zhongguancun, my apartment is in Chaoyang, and my mother's home is in Shunyi. How can this route be convenient?"
Xiao Zonghe ignored his sister's teasing and looked back at Yang Xining: "Xining, I heard you were back. I've been looking for a chance to visit you."
"I was just about to contact you." Yang Xining forced a smile. "I saw on the news that the Xiao Group recently won a port project in Southeast Asia. Congratulations."
Xiao Zonghe nodded slightly: "Thank you. But compared to business, I want to know more..." His eyes became deep, "Where have you been in the past five years? Can I talk to you for a moment?"
Xiao Zongli immediately protested: "Hey, this is my home! Is there anything you can't say to my face?"
Xiao Zonghe gave his sister a warning look: "Private matter."
"What kind of private matters can be..." Xiao Zongli said halfway, suddenly covered her mouth, eyes widened: "I understand! Okay, you guys chat! I'll go to the cafe downstairs and wait."
She walked to the door and turned back to give her brother an encouraging look.
The moment the door closed, the air in the apartment seemed to freeze.
Xiao Zonghe stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, his slender figure outlined by the backlight.
Five years have made him more mature, his jawline is as sharp as a knife, and his eyebrows and eyes are filled with the sharpness and calmness of the ups and downs of the business world.
"Xining." He called softly, his voice as low as the ending note of a cello.
Yang Xining unconsciously took a half step back, his back against the cold bar counter: "Boss Xiao, don't be like this."
"Mr. Xiao?" Xiao Zonghe smiled bitterly and walked slowly closer. "When did we become so unfamiliar?"
With every step he took, Yang Xining could smell the familiar aroma of cedar mixed with a hint of whiskey.
"Five years is enough to change a lot of things." She forced herself to remain calm, her fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the bar.
Xiao Zonghe stopped one step away from her, his eyes burning: "You know this is not what I want to talk about."
His gaze was so intense that Yang Xining had to turn his head away: "Then what do you want to talk about?"
"Where have you been these past five years? Why haven't I heard from you at all?" Xiao Zonghe's voice trembled with suppressed emotion. "I've searched almost the entire world for you!"
Yang Xining's heart trembled: "You... looking for me?"
"Don't play dumb." Xiao Zonghe suddenly grabbed her wrist with such force that it almost left a bruise. "You know how I feel about you... From the day you rescued me from that black dog's body, I have..."
"Xiao Zonghe!" Yang Xining pulled his hand back abruptly. "Calm down, um—"
Before she could react, Xiao Zonghe's lips had already pressed down on her.
The kiss was rough and urgent, like a traveler in the desert finally finding an oasis.
His teeth knocked against her lips, and the taste of rust spread in her mouth, but it only stimulated his desire even more.
Yang Xining's hand was on his chest, magic power gathered at his fingertips, but he did not release it for a long time.
Her mind told her to push him away immediately, but her body betrayed her will.
"Um...let go..." Her protest was swallowed up by the entanglement of lips and teeth.
Xiao Zonghe's kiss gradually became gentle, and his tongue lightly traced the shape of her lips, as if he was tasting some rare delicacy.
One hand went into her hair while the other slid down her waistline and stopped at the outside of her thigh.
Just when Yang Xining was about to indulge in this kiss, Xiao Zonghe suddenly groaned and propped himself up.
“I’m sorry, I lost my composure.”
Xiao Zonghe took two steps back and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his slender fingers.
At some point, Yang Xining's teeth had bitten through his lower lip.
Yang Xining's chest was heaving violently, his lips were red and swollen, and his black hair was scattered messily on his shoulders.
She wiped her lips fiercely with the back of her hand, and a dangerous light flashed in her black eyes: "Are you crazy?"
"Crazy?" Xiao Zonghe chuckled, his laughter tinged with self-mockery. "Maybe. I've been crazy since the day you disappeared."
He unbuttoned his suit and sat casually on the sofa, as if the intense conversation just now had never happened: "Sit down, let's talk."
Yang Xining stood there alertly without moving: "There's nothing to talk about."
"Those two kids," Xiao Zonghe suddenly asked, "are they one of the four of them?"
"No." Yang Xining shook his head, "He...is not in this world."
This was the closest explanation to the truth she could come up with.
Adilde certainly did not belong to the human world.
"That's good." Xiao Zonghe misunderstood her meaning. The corners of his mouth curled up in an almost invisible arc, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes.
His voice lowered, with a hint of pleading: "Xining, give me a chance. The children need a father, I can-"
"They don't need it!" Yang Xining interrupted him, "I'm enough for them."
Xiao Zonghe looked at her deeply and suddenly changed the subject: "Are you and Rong Tao in a relationship?"
"Of course not," Yang Xining said, eyes widening. "How could I be in a relationship with him? That's just nonsense made up by the media."
"If you need a place to hide away from the limelight," Xiao Zonghe pulled out a business card from his suit pocket and handed it to her. "The Xiao family owns a resort here. Feel free to contact me if you need anything."
Yang Xining didn't answer: "No need, I already have a place."
Xiao Zonghe placed the business card on the coffee table and turned to walk to the door. “Xining, I won’t let you go easily this time. Five years of waiting have exhausted my patience.”
He put his hand on the door handle and looked back at her for the last time: "Tell Zong Li that there is an emergency at the company. I'm leaving first."
The moment the door closed, Yang Xining slid to the ground as if all his strength had been drained away.
Her lips still ached, a reminder of the possessive kiss just now.
The phone vibrated. It was a message from Mo Junli: [The kids miss you. When will you be back?]
Yang Xining took a deep breath and replied: [Right away]
She stood up, straightened her messy clothes and hair, took a last look at the business card on the coffee table, and ultimately did not take it away.