r18novel Chapter 190 Stealing the Moon
Chapter 190 Stealing the Moon
Chapter 190 Stealing the Moon
Zhang Lexuan turned around in surprise, meeting Kong Tianxu's calm yet meaningful gaze. He shook his head slightly, signaling her to hold back for now.
He then raised his voice slightly and said to the door, "It's late. If it's about Xu Sanshi, there's no need to bring it up now. I don't care. Please leave."
Beibei outside the door was silent for a moment, his breathing seemed to become heavier. Just when Zhang Lexuan thought he would leave, she turned to look helplessly at Kong Tianxu, whose voice rang out again, lower and more strained than before: "No, it's not entirely for Sanshi. Kong, I want to talk to you about Sister Lexuan."
He was not as magnanimous as he had imagined when it came to the fact that the care and affection he had taken for more than a decade might turn to someone else.
Tonight's visit is also driven by some indescribable emotion, a farewell ceremony to the past.
Zhang Lexuan shuddered, her fingertips digging sharply into her palms. She wanted to immediately open the door and rush out, or find a corner to hide herself in and escape this panic-inducing situation.
Kong Tianxu could feel her trembling. He leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against Zhang Lexuan's cool earlobe. Kong Tianxu's voice was low, yet every word seemed to drill into her heart: "Don't you want to hear—what exactly is he going to say?"
Zhang Lexuan was stunned. She looked up, met Kong Tianxu's eyes, and then glanced at the closed door.
Finally, under Kong Tianxu's calm gaze, she bit her lip, nodded very slightly, and subconsciously looked around.
"Where should I hide?"
Kong Tianxu's gaze swept across the room, landing on the large wardrobe. He gently pulled open the wardrobe door; the space inside was adequate.
Zhang Lexuan instantly understood his meaning, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment and awkwardness. But Beibei outside the door seemed to be getting impatient and gently knocked on the door again.
"Student Kong?"
Time did not allow her much hesitation. She glared at Kong Tianxu, her gaze less one of reproach and more one of resignation, mixed with a sense of novelty and secret excitement that she herself was unaware of.
Finally, she took a deep breath, bent down, and slipped into the wardrobe. Kong Tianxu considerately left the wardrobe door slightly ajar, allowing her to breathe.
After composing himself, Kong Tianxu stepped forward and opened the door.
Sure enough, Beibei was standing there outside the door. He had changed out of his previous outfit and was now wearing a slightly thin, dark-colored casual dress. The night breeze stirred his clothes, making him appear even more lonely.
His face appeared exceptionally pale under the light, but his eyes were unusually bright, even somewhat excited.
"Come in." Kong Tianxu stepped aside.
Beibei stepped into the room, his gaze quickly sweeping over the simple interior, but he didn't find anything unusual. He was about to sit down following Kong Tianxu's gesture when the other man quietly pulled out the chair and replaced it with another one.
Beibei scratched her head, somewhat confused. "I'm so sorry to bother you so late. Regarding Sanshi's offense today—"
"I said, there's no need to mention Xu Sanshi again." Kong Tianxu interrupted his prepared opening remarks, walked to the table, picked up his cup of tea, and looked directly at Bei Bei. "The successor of the Dragon God Douluo has come to visit so late at night; he must have something more important to say. Let's get straight to the point."
Beibei was taken aback by his directness, and the apology she had prepared about Xu Sanshi got stuck in her throat. The emotions she was building up were suddenly revealed.
Since that's the case, I'll just say everything I want to say. Anyway, I've already figured it out, and this is all for Le Xuan's happiness, isn't it?
With this thought in mind, Bei Bei felt much more at ease. Looking into Kong Tianxu's piercing purple eyes, he took a deep breath and said, "I saw that Sister Le Xuan went to Jubao Pavilion with you tonight. Her feelings for you are different."
He paused, trying to organize his chaotic thoughts into relatively coherent words: "You may not know, but I used to call her Sister Lexuan. Her relationship with my family and me is rather—complicated. Sister Lexuan has had a very difficult time these past years. She has many things hidden in her heart and carries a lot on her shoulders. You should be able to see that, including Senior Brother, countless outstanding senior students in the inner academy like her, but because of certain vows made in the past, she has never been willing to consider her own lifelong happiness and has kept a certain distance from everyone. I feel very sorry for her in this matter."
Inside the wardrobe, Zhang Lexuan's face was filled with complex emotions, her delicate body curled up slightly in the cramped space, trembling uncontrollably.
She adopted the same posture she had in the Star Dou Great Forest, tightly hugging her other arm with one hand, as if she could wrap herself up in it, or as if she was trying to give herself a weak hug.
Kong Tianxu glanced at the wardrobe and remained silent. Bei Bei noticed his subtle movement, but he was already immersed in his own emotions and didn't care. Instead, she continued, "But you're different. In all these years, I've never seen Sister Lexuan treat anyone else with such an attitude, such—kindness."
"So?" Kong Tianxu finally spoke after taking a sip of tea. He had already finished his own cup and was now drinking Zhang Lexuan's.
"I can tell she has feelings for you too. Kong, no, Tianxu, you are exceptionally talented, incredibly capable, and must have a powerful background. If you, if you also have feelings for Sister Lexuan—"
At this point, Bei Bei's previously steady voice suddenly became somewhat hoarse, and his gaze seemed to become slightly unfocused. However, his eyes quickly hardened, and his speech quickened considerably: "I hope you two can be together. Sister Le Xuan is an excellent woman; she is kind and outstanding, and deserves to be cherished and protected. You two are a perfect match. If you have any concerns, you can tell me, and I will help you make arrangements."
After pouring out these words that had been swirling in her heart countless times, Beibei's face flushed unusually, but her eyes instantly went vacant, as if all her strength had been drained, and her shoulders slumped.
"Are you done talking?" Kong Tianxu put down his teacup.
"I'm done talking." Beibei nodded subconsciously.
He had thought about these words for a long time. This method might be the only way to free Zhang Lexuan from the burning emotions he could not reciprocate, and also to free himself from the guilt he had felt for so many years.
Since I already have Xiaoya, and since Sister Lexuan seems to have found a better match, why not give them a push and help them be together? That way, it's better for everyone.
As for the issue of their identities, Beibei had heard some of the academy's arrangements from Moon, and he believed that in the face of genuine feelings, everything else was perhaps not insurmountable.
"What I am like, what my relationship with Zhang Lexuan is, is my business, it's our business." Kong Tianxu stood up, his gaze piercing Bei Bei as if trying to see right through him.
"Zhang Lexuan is a person with her own wishes and choices. In what capacity are you hoping to make arrangements?"
"I just want her to be happier! I—"
Beibei's face turned completely pale. She opened her mouth, but faced with Kong Tianxu's sharp, knife-like gaze, she couldn't say anything more.
"It seems you truly don't understand." Kong Tianxu walked towards the door, gesturing to see him off: "Further discussion is pointless; please leave."
Beibei stood up listlessly and staggered out of the room. Just as she stepped out, Kong Tianxu was about to close the door when Beibei turned back to look at him, as if she had something else to say.
But at that very moment, a very low, suppressed, yet extremely familiar sob suddenly echoed in the room.
That voice! Is that Sister Lexuan?
Beibei's pupils widened suddenly.
Immediately afterwards, he felt a chill in his throat, his soul power instantly stopped circulating, and his body seemed to freeze, unable to move or even make a sound.
Even though his heart was in turmoil and his thoughts were in turmoil, all he could do was try his best to turn his eyes toward Kong Tianxu inside the door.
Kong Tianxu raised his index finger and gently pressed it against his lips.
Then, slowly, slowly, he revealed a smile that was calm to the point of being cold, yet seemed to carry a hint of satisfaction.
He tapped it almost imperceptibly with his fingertip.
Beibei felt his body being lifted by a gentle yet irresistible surge of soul power and energy, and he floated lightly into the deep grass not far away. In the last instant before his vision was obscured by the vegetation, the only thing imprinted in his mind was Kong Tianxu's clear lip movements—
You were the one who pushed her out.
No!
The door was gently closed, isolating the outside world.
Kong Tianxu did not act immediately, but stood quietly for a moment, as if confirming something. Then, he walked to the tightly closed cabinet, reached out, and opened the cabinet door.
The candlelight was bright red, illuminating the person inside the cabinet.
Zhang Lexuan was already in tears.
She huddled in the cramped space, her face flushed from crying, barely able to stand, yet stubbornly maintaining the posture of hugging herself, leaning against the cabinet wall.
Tears smudged her exquisite makeup and soaked the slightly disheveled hem of her dress. She made no sound, only wept silently. Her beautiful eyes, which always held both gentleness and resilience, were now filled with shattered pain, unbelievable disappointment, and a sorrow that penetrated to the bone.
She heard it, she heard every single word.
So, in his heart, she could be entrusted and given away like this. So, in his eyes, the feelings she had silently devoted for more than ten years could be arranged and fulfilled so easily.
What did he take her for? What did he take her feelings, which he cherished as his life, for?
An item that can be resold? A responsibility that urgently needs to be shed?
"Would you like to hear a story?" she asked softly.
Kong Tianxu did not respond, but simply walked closer, bent down, and waited quietly.
Zhang Lexuan seemed not to need his response and continued speaking on her own. Her voice was calm, but the emotions inside seemed to have completely disappeared, leaving only a pure emptiness, as if all the contents of her body had slowly flowed out due to some kind of excessive overflow.
She began to recount her story, albeit haltingly, from being rescued by Old Master Mu and the enticement to watching the little boy named Beibei grow up: from the initial sense of responsibility to unknowingly becoming deeply involved; from the fear and despair upon seeing Tang Ya, to Old Master Mu breaking off the engagement only to find herself unable to extricate herself, and the countless days and nights that followed, the struggle and longing she endured knowing it was hopeless yet still unable to let go—
She spoke incoherently, sometimes choking up, sometimes becoming agitated. The secrets and pains hidden deep in her heart, never spoken to anyone, poured out in front of this seemingly indifferent boy who gave her a strange sense of security.
Kong Tianxu listened quietly the whole time, without interrupting or commenting. He simply let her vent, his arms steadily supporting her limp body.
"—Ten years, a full ten years, my eyes and heart have only had him. I thought this was my destiny, my promise, and my own choice. I never thought of forcing him; I just wanted to keep that promise and hold onto this ridiculous thought of mine."
"But what did he mean by what he said today? What have he considered these past ten years of my life?"
"Just because he doesn't like me, does he want to push me to someone else like this?" Zhang Lexuan's voice choked again, broken and fragmented, as if she were asking Kong Tianxu, or perhaps asking about that cruel truth, "How could he, how could he—"
Kong Tianxu gently wiped away the tears on her face. His movements weren't particularly gentle, but they carried a strange kind of patience.
"Do you remember what I said?"
Zhang Lexuan's misty eyes brightened slightly at his words.
Kong Tianxu moved closer to her, and the deep purple light swallowed the wardrobe, completely destroying the sense of security that the small space provided. Zhang Lexuan's delicate body trembled slightly, and the two of them could only see each other.
"Besides, if it were me, I would never push you out."
He suddenly opened his arms and pulled her into his embrace.
Zhang Lexuan's heart skipped a beat.
She raised her tear-filled face and looked at Kong Tianxu's calm face so close to hers. The deep purple in his eyes seemed to possess a magical power.
Long-term repression, tonight's stimulation, and a sudden outburst —
A jumble of emotions overwhelmed her, making her reason falter. The handsome, fatally attractive face before her seemed to be the only clear light in her chaotic world.
The warmth flowed over her slender collarbone and smooth shoulders.
Zhang Lexuan tilted her head back, her fair neck outlining a beautiful curve in the dim light, and soft moans escaped her lips.
However, just as she was about to break through the final line of defense, Zhang Lexuan's body tensed up almost imperceptibly for a moment, and a sob, barely audible, escaped from her lips: "Wait—for Tianxu—I—".
She wasn't ready. Her body might be bobbing up and down in unfamiliar waves, but a deep-seated fear within her sounded the alarm at the last moment.
Just when she thought this weak resistance would melt away instantly like a snowflake thrown into a blazing fire, the scalding weight on her body and the forceful invasion suddenly stopped.
Kong Tianxu propped himself up, hovering above her, his chest rising and falling slightly, his purple eyes appearing exceptionally deep in the dim light, the churning desire within them clearly visible.
He stared at Zhang Lexuan for a few seconds, watching her close her eyes, her eyelashes trembling, her face showing a mixture of hesitation and panic.
Finally, Kong Tianxu took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, the lust in them had been largely suppressed by his strong self-control. He slowly stepped back.
"Go back and rest." Kong Tianxu's voice was a little hoarse, but unusually calm. "You're too tired tonight."
He knew the difference between being full at one meal and being full at every meal.
He actually stopped.
Just because of that subtle, perhaps even overlooked, resistance.
An indescribable warmth and shock instantly swept over Zhang Lexuan, breaking down her last defenses. Tears welled up again, but this time, they were scalding hot, carrying relief and emotion, as well as something deeper and softer.
It was more turbulent than ever before.
"I'm sorry—I—" Zhang Lexuan tried to explain, but her words were incoherent.
This respect and restraint, in her eyes at this moment, were far more precious than possession. She took the initiative to reach out and wrap her arms around Kong Tianxu's waist, burying her face in his still warm chest, listening to his steady and powerful heartbeat.
They embraced silently, neither speaking a word. The intense emotions gradually subsided, leaving only the warmth of their skin against each other and a silent, flowing tenderness. The gentle night soothed the turbulent emotions that had just erupted.
Zhang Lexuan's tense nerves gradually relaxed, as if a long-isolated island had finally received its first visitor.
She didn't say anything more, just nestled quietly against him, her tears gradually stopping.
However, this was tough on Kong Tianxu. He could suppress his desires, but who could suppress their temptations for so long?
After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Lexuan's emotions finally calmed down, and exhaustion washed over her. She whispered in Kong Tianxu's arms, "I—I should go back."
"Hmm." Kong Tianxu released his grip, his voice still a little hoarse.
Zhang Lexuan stood up, her back to him, and hurriedly straightened her slightly disheveled clothes. The tear tracks on her face had dried, leaving only a faint blush. She walked to the door, her fingers resting on the latch, paused for a moment, and turned around: "Tianxu."
"Um?"
"It's nothing," she smiled sweetly, "I just wanted to call out to you."
After saying that, she opened the door, her figure gracefully disappearing into the cool moonlight outside, and left with light steps.
This time, her steps were light and free, as if she had been reborn.
But Zhang Lexuan didn't notice that as she murmured Kong Tianxu's name with shyness and joy, a pair of bloodshot, empty, and unfocused eyes were fixed on her departing figure from the deep grass not far away.