Chapter 117: A Night Visit

Although she knew she might have misjudged Xiahou Yu, Yuwen Xi still had no intention of apologizing—at least, not for now.

Perhaps even if she had been present at the scene, she might not have made the right call.

People always tend to blame others for their faults while overlooking their own mistakes.

Night fell, cloaking the earth in a velvet black evening gown—mysterious and enchanting.

Eva lay in bed, slowly stirring awake. Her violet eyes flickered in the darkness, pale under the moonlight.

Who was that man from earlier today? Why did his gaze feel so familiar? It seemed as if they had known each other for years. And yet, the pain in his eyes made it impossible for her to meet his gaze directly, as if it could burn a hole through her chest—that was why she had insisted on looking into his eyes.

The creak of the door opening snapped Eva from her wandering thoughts, and instinctively, she closed her eyes and feigned sleep, not knowing who had entered.

A shadow silently approached Eva’s bedside and lingered by the window for what felt like an eternity—so long that she nearly lost patience and wanted to open her eyes.

Suddenly, the mattress sank beside her, and Eva felt warmth on her right side, as if shallow breaths were being drawn nearby.

Then, a captivating voice spoke, laced with endless longing.

“Lanlan, my Lanlan, are you punishing me? Punishing my cold heart, my cruelty, my foolishness, punishing me for hurting you again and again?” Just hearing the voice, she knew it belonged to a handsome man—perhaps more than handsome. His voice alone instantly captured her heart, ensnaring her beyond escape.

Eva thought, surely any woman who had ever seen him or heard his voice would fall hopelessly in love with him. Even if it meant shattering into pieces, she would rush to him like a moth to flame, unhesitatingly, even if consumed by fire.

At this moment, the man continued speaking.

“Lanlan, my Lanlan, I knew you’d be fine. You wouldn’t just leave me without reason. You wouldn’t bear to abandon me!”

His emotions seemed intense yet restrained, as if this were a fragile dream that could shatter with the slightest force.

“Do you know that these past days, I’ve lived like a walking corpse? The only thing sustaining me was the belief that you were still alive!”

He smiled faintly. “And heaven has not been unkind to me. Do you know how much I miss you? How unbearable the days without you have been? Perhaps fate is cruel, and the times we spend together are always so few. Or maybe it’s this push and pull, this distance, that makes us long for each other all the more.”

In the darkness, his smile curved gently, his expression tender.

“You may not realize it, but meeting you was the happiest moment of my life. You added the first color to my world and taught me how to love and feel loved,” he paused, a bitter smile touching his lips, “and you also made me understand hatred and the pain of being hated.”

His hand brushed Eva’s cheek, gently stroking the skin. The calluses on his palm sent a tingling, ticklish sensation that made her cheek itch—yet it was so pleasant. In the darkness, Eva quietly curved her lips in a small smile.

“Lanlan, I miss you so much. I want to take you away right now, but I can’t. I need more time. Please wait for me, okay?”

He bent down, and Eva felt a warm breath approaching, causing her cheeks to flush.

Then, a soft, warm touch grazed her forehead, making her heart skip a beat. Before she could react, her lips warmed as if suctioned by a gentle seal, and her heart began pounding wildly, like a drum.

A low chuckle followed, vibrating through his chest as he pressed against her. “You’re still so adorable.” Then, he planted a loud, lingering kiss on her lips before rising. Glancing toward the door, he said with reluctant affection, “Lanlan, I have to go now. Remember, I will always come for you. Please be patient. If anything interesting happens here, feel free to entertain yourself a bit.”

He leaned close to her ear and whispered seductively, “Just remember, you belong to me alone. You can play around with others, just don’t go too far.”

Then he stood and walked back to the window, speaking with some reluctance, “I think it’s time for me to leave. I’ll check up on you when I can.”

The night wind swept in, and a shadow flickered past the window. Then the room fell silent as if no one had ever been there, save for Eva’s pounding heart and her flushed, blood-like face.

Who was this man? How had he entered the Wei Ting residence so effortlessly, coming and going like the wind, and—dared to be so bold and intimate with her?

Oh, he was so infuriating—so easily stirring waves across the calm lake of her heart.

She pressed her hands against her burning cheeks, feeling a flood of delicate emotions.

The door creaked open again, breaking Eva’s reverie.

She scowled, eyes narrowed toward the door.

This time, she vowed to kick out whoever dared intrude into her room—she swore it!

Soft footsteps approached again, but this time, the figure was unmistakably light-footed, graceful as a swallow.

A silhouette appeared by the bedside, and Eva could tell it was a woman, slender in figure.

Sure enough, as the bedside lamp flickered on, Eva recognized the visitor.

“Sis, why are you here?” Eva pouted, clearly annoyed, looking like a puffed-up frog.

Under the nightlight, Avril looked more ethereal, her usually sharp features softened and less aloof than usual.

“Not welcome, Sis?” Avril feigned anger, raising her eyebrows teasingly.

“Hehe, no, not at all.” Eva immediately coquetted, tugging Avril’s finger with curved brows and sparkling eyes, brightening the mood and washing away the day’s troubles.

“I heard you had a headache again today. How are you now?” Avril asked, concern written all over her face as she touched Eva’s forehead, then gasped, “What’s this? Eva, do you have a fever? Your head is so hot!” She felt her face, “Your cheeks are burning too! I’ll call Dr. Bentley right away.”

Eva’s face flushed even redder, heat rising, and she quickly grabbed Avril’s arm, embarrassed. “Sis, please don’t go. I…I’m fine, really.”

Avril stopped, turning to look at Eva’s rosy cheeks with suspicion. “Are you sure? Why is your head so hot? And your face is even redder now!” she said sternly.

Eva lowered her gaze awkwardly. “Maybe it’s because I was sleeping under the covers and felt a bit suffocated.” She twisted her fingers nervously, as if trying to break them.

“Under the covers? Why?” Avril’s doubt deepened, clearly unconvinced.

“Well… um… I was curious. I wanted to see if being under the covers felt like suffocation.”

Eva was deeply annoyed at herself for such a lame excuse, almost wishing she could bite off her own tongue.

“Suffocation?” Avril said through clenched teeth, her expression stiffening.

“Ah… hehe…” Seeing Avril’s disbelief, Eva hurried on, “Sis, I really don’t have a fever. If you don’t believe me, you can check my temperature with a thermometer. If it’s high, then you can call Dr. Bentley. Otherwise, it’s too late to bother him now.”

“But—” Avril still hesitated.

Without a word, Eva rummaged through the bedside drawer, pulled out a thermometer, and stuck it in her ear. After a beep, she glanced at the reading, then held it up triumphantly.

“Sis, see for yourself—my temperature is normal. I really don’t have a fever!”

Avril sighed in relief and pulled Eva back onto the bed. The thermometer clearly read 36.5°C.

Then she spoke seriously, “Eva, don’t do such dangerous things again. What if—”

“Oh, Sis, I know, I won’t do such stupid things anymore!” Eva obediently snuggled against Avril’s shoulder, trying to appease her.

“By the way, Sis, I didn’t see you all day. Where were you?” Eva quickly changed the subject, her curiosity piqued.

“Oh, nothing much. I just went boating with my fiancé by the Thames,” Avril said casually, shrugging.

“Ah? How boring and unimaginative!” Eva exclaimed in disbelief. “That man must be very serious and stern, very unsmiling!” Though phrased as a question, her tone was full of certainty.

Avril couldn’t help but smile, picturing him in her mind. If he were truly stern and unsmiling, then humor and wit would cease to exist in the world!

Besides, he was so devilishly charming, so beguiling.

Lost in thought, a dreamy expression crossed her face.

Eva noticed the rare look of longing and teased, “Sis, have you fallen in love with him already?”