Young Brave Hearts – CH 080

Chapter 80

In the end, she couldn’t win against him.

That night, Zhu Yunque finally gave in to Lu Rangchen’s insistence and bought the six bags.

Six different sizes and styles, enough to match almost everything in her closet. Of course, the price was outrageous; Lu Rangchen easily swiped his card for 165,000 yuan.

Everyone said Zhu Yunque was stubborn, but in reality, she felt Lu Rangchen was the truly difficult one. No matter how much she said no, the man remained unmoved, only letting the saleswoman pack them up.

The two seemed to be competing.

Later, even the saleswoman laughed, saying, “I’ve never seen a girl like you. Everyone else is eager for their boyfriend to buy them bags, and you refused.”

It wasn’t that the saleswoman was materialistic.

It was just that in today’s society, the jingle of a penny dropped on the ground was the true touchstone of love.

Zhu Yunque suddenly felt it was too sentimental to refuse any longer, especially since it was Lu Rangchen’s heartfelt gift.

But the pain was still there.

She knew this money wasn’t much for Lin Zhi and the old Lu Rangchen, but for Lu Rangchen now, it was a considerable expense.

While paying, Zhu Yunque felt a pang of regret.

After Lu Rangchen swiped his card and they left the store, she finally had a chance to say, “Don’t buy me such expensive things anymore.”

If she had known these bags were for her, she wouldn’t have touched such expensive styles in the first place.

Lu Rangchen chuckled at her, saying, “It’s just six bags; why are you making it sound like you cut six pounds off my body?”

“…”

Zhu Yunque choked, saying, “I didn’t mean that; I just—”

“Just worried about me spending so much money on you.”

Lu Rangchen looked at her with a knowing smile, saying, “We’ve only just started dating, and you’re already thinking about saving me money.”

His voice was low and gentle.

It was a tenderness that could melt an iceberg.

Zhu Yunque’s heart skipped a beat, as if something was stuck in her chest, and she suddenly didn’t know what to say.

She hadn’t received much love growing up; it was Lu Rangchen who made her experience being favored for the first time.

But what had she given Lu Rangchen?

She had given him nothing.

Yet Lu Rangchen had been so willingly devoted to her from beginning to end.

Taking a deep breath, Zhu Yunque felt utterly unworthy of her attention. She said, “Lu Rangchen, the way you’ve treated me makes me feel like I deserve to go to the eighteenth level of hell—”

The rest of her sentence was left unsaid.

Before she could finish, Lu Rangchen frowned and pinched her chin.

He wasn’t exactly superstitious, but he knew the power of words coming true.

Staring coldly at Zhu Yunque, Lu Rangchen’s tone was unusually serious. “Zhu Yunque, some things you can’t say carelessly, understand?”

He scoffed, a hint of displeasure in his voice. “What if you say something that gets you into trouble, leaving me all alone? Have you thought about that?”

“…”

Zhu Yunque was slightly taken aback.

She had never thought of it that way.

Her fair and innocent face was now pinched like a soft, fluffy rice ball.

In the past, she would have definitely struggled free, but now, she was as obedient as could be.

Lu Rangchen was amused by her appearance, cupped the back of her head, and couldn’t resist giving her a light kiss on the eyelid.

The elevator was going down, and there weren’t many people going the same way to the parking lot, so hardly anyone paid them any attention.

Zhu Yunque was no longer so shy; she grabbed Lu Rangchen’s collar and stood on tiptoe to kiss him back.

She kissed him, and Lu Rangchen lowered his head to meet hers.

His lips were soft and moist, carrying a refreshing malty scent, their tongues entwining lightly and deeply.

However, because they were in the elevator, they could only go so far. Later, in the car, they were still restrained, holding hands, palms pressed together, fingers intertwined.

On the way, Zhu Ping’an texted Zhu Yunque, updating her on Zhu Yuxuan’s situation. He sent voice messages, and Zhu Yunque, having nothing to hide from Lu Rangchen, played them aloud, so Lu Rangchen heard them too.

At the end, Zhu Ping’an told Zhu Yunque to properly thank Xie Han.

Zhu Yunque’s usually cool face furrowed slightly upon hearing this.

Lu Rangchen glanced at her, intending to tease her, but seeing her expression, he chuckled softly, saying, “Why are you acting so bitter when I’m not even dissatisfied?”

“…”

Zhu Yunque said, “I’m just suddenly feeling really annoyed.”

Lu Rangchen raised an eyebrow. “Annoyed by your dad?”

Although Zhu Yunque felt it might be inappropriate to say it aloud, she admitted it anyway: “Yeah, I’ve been annoyed by him for a long time.”

This was the first time Lu Rangchen had heard this girl so frankly express her negative thoughts.

Even during their closest times, that part of her heart remained a separate entity, untouchable by anyone. But now, she was telling him everything without reservation.

Lu Rangchen’s lips curled into a smile, and he asked patiently, “What’s bothering you about him?”

The car was nicely air-conditioned.

His scent filled the air, making Zhu Yunque feel safe and secure, and she had never felt such a strong urge to confide in him.

She wanted to tell Lu Rangchen so much.

She wanted to tell him how much she wanted to escape the clutches of Zhu Ping’an and Deng Jiali.

She wanted to tell him how bad, how wicked, and how selfish she was.

She wasn’t some perfect, flawless ideal; she was just an ordinary, very ordinary person.

But the words caught in her throat.

She didn’t dare, didn’t dare let Lu Rangchen see that unbearable side of herself.

So, in the end, she just shook her head and said it was nothing.

She didn’t speak, and Lu Rangchen didn’t press her. He tightened his grip on her hand, then suddenly remembered something and gently curled his lips. “So, he asked you to bring Xie Han home for dinner. Are you still going to?”

Zhu Yunque remained silent.

A different emotion finally appeared in her eyes. She looked at Lu Rangchen, both amused and exasperated, and said, “Are you crazy, or am I crazy?”

It has to be said, Lu Rangchen’s stubborn temper was truly infuriating for her.

Even after being rebuffed, she still smiled and said with interest, “Anyway, you know what’s going on.”

“…”

Because of this, that night Zhu Yunque, for the first time ever, didn’t reply to Zhu Ping’an. For some reason, she didn’t want to be disturbed by anyone and immediately put her phone on silent.

Lu Rangchen, as if sensing her intent, also put his phone on Do Not Disturb.

Zhu Yunque witnessed this firsthand when Lu Rangchen took her to the supermarket to buy groceries and pay the bill.

She didn’t know if she was acting on her subconscious or what, but she glanced at the family planning products on the shelf.

Lu Rangchen used to be very picky about these things, always preparing everything himself, so she never had to worry about it. She only knew he used the lightest and largest sizes; Zhu Yunque had hardly ever paid attention to them. Now, seeing them, she finally knew what the brand looked like.

Unfortunately, she’d been lost in thought for a little too long, and Lu Rangchen turned around and caught her red-handed.

The man raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze unreadable, a mix of danger and amusement. “What are you studying?” he asked.

“…”

Zhu Yunque felt uncomfortable even looking at him.

“I didn’t look at anything.”

She changed the subject. “Are you done shopping? Let’s go.”

Unexpectedly, Lu Rangchen pulled her back slightly, still with that ambiguous smile, and said, “What’s the rush?”

Zhu Yunque: “…”

Zhu Yunque knew he was a bit of a rogue, but she didn’t expect him to be so blatant now. Right in front of her, he took a box of condoms from the shelf and threw it at the checkout counter.

The sales clerk, used to this, scanned the barcode and read out the price.

So Lu Rangchen took out his phone and paid again.

Throughout the whole process, he remained leisurely and unhurried, showing no guilt or embarrassment whatsoever.

The only one who felt awkward was Zhu Yunque, standing behind him.

And the two young women at the checkout next to them deliberately glanced at her, their eyes full of gossip.

After only a few glances, Lu Rangchen took her hand.

Zhu Yunque, her thin ears burning, felt a long-absent shyness and flutter in her heart. Amidst the envious gazes of those around her, she followed him.

On the way home, Lu Rangchen didn’t let go of her hand.

Their apartments were just one floor apart. Lu Rangchen followed her to the 17th floor and escorted her to her door.

The doorway was the same as before.

A three-tiered shoe rack stood by the door, the men’s slippers still brand new.

Lu Rangchen glanced down at them and said, “You can get a different pair later.”

“It’s not like you can’t wear them.”

Zhu Yunque looked at him casually and said softly, “I bought them according to your size…”

She didn’t dare look at Lu Rangchen again, unlocking the combination lock with her hand, as if that could hide her slightly flustered guilt.

But Lu Rangchen wasn’t stupid; of course, he knew what she meant. He just hadn’t expected this girl to have more ulterior motives than he imagined.

Perhaps she had given him a clue.

Lu Rangchen’s lips twitched slightly, then he suddenly remembered something.

So he locked the door. Zhu Yunque had just turned on the light in the entryway when she felt a strong force press her against the door.

The light was dim.

It was hazy and indistinct.

Some long-suppressed emotion swirled between their eyes.

Lu Rangchen pressed her down, his breath close.

He held her like a leash, his long hand controlling her narrow waist, but he wouldn’t kiss her, deliberately provoking her.

The man’s voice was deep, husky, and sexy as he said, “So, ‘Mr. Chen’ is also me, isn’t it?”

Her thoughts were completely exposed.

Zhu Yunque’s ears burned, and her snow-white skin flushed a faint blush.

But she insisted on looking directly at Lu Rangchen from below, unwavering, her clear eyes rippling like water. Her hands, restless, slid down his narrow waist, settling on his supple abdominal muscles.

Her fingertips then gently hooked his belt.

Hidden there was a passion and desire, more unrestrained than Lu Rangchen’s heartbeat, suppressed for eight years.

Finally, Zhu Yunque spoke in a trembling voice, “Lu Rangchen, all these years, have you thought of me?”

A question that Lu Rangchen didn’t need to ask, yet it was a hole in Zhu Yunque’s heart that she could never fill.

Every sleepless night she spent thinking of him, she wondered if Lu Rangchen thought of her, even just a little. And back then, she never dared to hope that one day she would ask him that question herself.

Even more unexpectedly, almost the instant she finished speaking, Lu Rangchen grabbed her chin and kissed her fiercely.

He forcefully pried open her lips and teeth, sucking and biting her, his magnetic voice, as if grinding from his abdomen, muffled, “Zhu Yunque, do you have any conscience, huh? In these past eight years, who’s been thinking of whom?”

The kiss was as fierce as a sudden storm.

Zhu Yunque could barely breathe, and in an instant, Lu Rangchen dragged her by the buttocks and carried her to the sofa.

Their breaths mingled, Lu Rangchen pressed down on her, her long, black hair cascading down.

Her wrists were pinned above her head.

Zhu Yunque’s tongue went numb from his sucking, and soft moans escaped her lips, yet she willingly surrendered like an addict, unwilling to let go.

It was as if if she let go, Lu Rangchen would return to her dreams, never to be seen again.

Her eyes were moist, Zhu Yunque’s breath was misty, and she softly murmured Lu Rangchen’s name, her gentle murmur like melting spring water.

She was passive, yet deeply moved.

Lu Rangchen kissed her passionately, as if at this moment, the world only contained the two of them, and she always possessed that magic that made him infatuated and fall deeper.

He just wanted to confirm something more.

He turned her chin, making her eyes, brimming with spring-like passion, look at him, only at him.

His strength didn’t stop; still resisting, his voice unsteady, he said, “So why, hmm? You can ask him, but not me, right?”

Even knowing that she and Xie Han had deceived him.

But the resentment in his heart still erupted during their unbearable embrace.

Zhu Yunque rolled over, sweat beading on her forehead, unable to speak.

Lu Rangchen bit her earlobe. “You like to act so tough, don’t you? You suffered so much back then, and you still wouldn’t make up with me, would you?”

As if venting pent-up hatred, each word he spoke carried increasing force.

Zhu Yunque clenched her teeth, each word escaping her lips. She said, “Lu Rangchen, I don’t want to ruin you, and I don’t want to ruin your life.”

As she spoke, tears suddenly streamed down her face.

A bitter taste, resentment, helplessness, sadness, and heartbreak.

All the emotions, all the longing, swirled together like a flood, along with Lu Rangchen’s fiercely intertwined love.

Lu Rangchen turned her over, kissing away her tears, his magnetic voice choked with hot, choked sobs. He said, “But have you ever thought about it, Queque?”

“Your leaving is what ruined my life.”