Wild Crazy Male Lead's Forced Love, You Don't Want, I Want!

55: Notes from a Paranoid Educated Youth 24When the morning light, like a thin veil, seeped through the curtains, Wen Ci woke up to a tingling sensation.

Her slender eyelashes fluttered gently, and opening her eyes, she saw Zhou Linchuan softly caressing the ring on her ring finger with his lips.

His downcast brows and eyes were exceptionally tender in the morning light, yet they carried the devotion and possessiveness of a beast licking its precious prey.

”Morning.” Seeing her awake, the man immediately tightened his arm around her waist, his voice impossibly hoarse. Wen Ci then noticed the faint dark circles under his eyes, like traces of a sleepless night.

She raised her hand to caress his sharp brow bone, her fingertips tracing the shadows under his eyes. ”You didn’t sleep?”

”I did,” Zhou Linchuan caught her finger and brought it to his mouth, his canine teeth gently nibbling her knuckle, making her tremble slightly. ”Woke up three times though.” He paused, his Adam’s apple bobbing with a sexy curve. ”Each time I had to make sure you weren’t an illusion.”

These words were like a fine needle, gently pricking Wen Ci’s heart. She leaned in to kiss his trembling eyelashes, her nose brushing against his high-bridged nose. ”Are you sure now?”

”Not enough.” Zhou Linchuan suddenly flipped over, covering her with his body, but carefully propped himself up on his elbows, afraid of pressing her too hard. ”Never enough.”

The morning light cast a soft edge on his sharp features, and warmth bloomed in Wen Ci’s chest. The burning love in his eyes was like molten gold, immersing her completely. She tilted her head up and actively kissed his lips.

Zhou Linchuan was visibly stunned. This was the second time his Ci Ci had actively kissed him.

The last time was in that leaky cowshed, and it was from then on that he was certain his Ci Ci was no longer the spoiled capitalist young lady she once was.

”Ci Ci...” His voice was hoarse from waking, his thumb caressing her delicate cheek. ”Can I ask you a question?”

Wen Ci cupped his face, blinking her still sleepy eyes. ”What is it?”

”You...” Zhou Linchuan was uncharacteristically speechless, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. He had too many questions he wanted to ask, yet he was afraid of disturbing this beautiful dream.

Wen Ci, however, saw through his thoughts. She rubbed her nose against his, and their breaths intertwined as she whispered, ”Do you find me scary? I really am not the old Wen Ci.”

These words were like a key, instantly unlocking Zhou Linchuan’s tightly shut heart.

His heart pounded fiercely, not from fear, but from a near-euphoric excitement—his Ci Ci was willing to reveal the truth to him.

”You are the Ci Ci I like, the Ci Ci I love.” He pulled her tightly into his arms, with a force that almost seemed to meld her into his bones and blood. ”I’m so happy you’re willing to tell me.”

Wen Ci was startled by his sudden intensity, then her heart softened into a spring puddle. She gently stroked his coarse, short hair, whispering in his ear, ”Xiao Chuan, I like you so much.”

Zhou Linchuan cupped the back of her head and kissed her deeply. This morning kiss was more gentle and lingering than any from last night. He held her face as if she were a fragile item, his tongue delicately tracing the shape of her lips, until Wen Ci let out a kitten-like whimper, only then reluctantly pulling away.

”I like you so, so much too, Ci Ci.” He leaned his forehead against hers, breathing heavily, his voice full of restraint. ”I have a meeting at nine. I had the kitchen stew snow swallow for you, and I’ll be back to have lunch with you, okay?”

After their conversation, Zhou Linchuan seemed to have shed his last defenses, softening completely. Wen Ci smiled slyly, deliberately pouting her lips, which were swollen from kissing. ”Minister Zhou is so busy?”

No sooner had she spoken than she saw the man visibly panic, a flicker of unease in his usually sharp eyes. ”Ci Ci, I...”

”Oh, I’m just teasing you!” She laughed, pinching his earlobe. ”Go on, don’t be late. My Minister Zhou needs to work hard to give me a happy future!”

Zhou Linchuan held her hand and nodded solemnly, as if making a sacred vow. ”Ci Ci, I will definitely give you the best and happiest life. Wait for me.”

”Okay.” Wen Ci smiled gently, her fingertips tracing his taut jawline. ”No matter how long, I’ll wait for you.”

These words made Zhou Linchuan’s heart melt into a puddle. Since childhood, no one had ever smiled at him so gently, and no one could fill his empty, lonely heart as completely as Ci Ci.

”Ci Ci, you are always the most important person to me.” He suddenly tightened his arms, locking her firmly in his embrace, his voice so soft as if afraid to shatter this beautiful dream. ”Now my life is in your hands. Don’t leave me, or I really will die.”

Wen Ci froze. In the morning light, the man’s usually stern features were incredibly soft, his eyes reddened, and the turbulent undercurrents in their depths were alarming. It turned out that all that strong possessiveness was merely a protective shell for a fragile heart.

”I know, Xiao Chuan Chuan.” She deliberately used a sweet nickname to lighten the mood, playfully poking his firm chest. ”But your muscles seem even firmer than before, huh?”

Zhou Linchuan caught her mischievous hand and pressed it to his chest, where his heart was beating fast and heavy. He looked down at her, his voice so soft as if afraid to shatter the dream. ”Ci Ci, say you love me again.”

”I love you.” Wen Ci leaned close to his ear, her breath fanning his sensitive earlobe. ”Forever and ever.”

These words were like a fuse, instantly igniting Zhou Linchuan again. He sealed her lips, deepening the kiss to an almost suffocating degree. It wasn’t until the bedside alarm clock rang abruptly that he groaned, burying his face in her shoulder for a deep breath, finally just giving her collarbone a restrained kiss.

”Wait for me to come back.”

Wen Ci watched his taut jawline as he tied his tie, then suddenly jumped out of bed barefoot. ”I’ll help you with your tie.”

Zhou Linchuan instantly froze. This scene was too warm, so warm that it made him feel as if this truly was the daily life of a married couple.

He looked down at Wen Ci, who was earnestly tying his tie, his eyes overflowing with tenderness. All the warmth of a home he had never experienced was now completely filled by the woman before him.

When Wen Ci’s fingertips deliberately brushed his Adam’s apple, Zhou Linchuan’s ear tips instantly turned crimson. ”Ci Ci.” His voice was tight. ”Don’t tease me anymore, I can’t take it.”

Wen Ci looked up in surprise, not expecting the man who had so wantonly plundered her last night to show such a pure expression now. Her heart sweetened, and she stood on tiptoe to bite his ear. ”I just want to tease you. Is Minister Zhou going to arrest me?”

His tie was suddenly pulled tight, and Wen Ci was yanked into his embrace. Zhou Linchuan gripped her chin, biting her lips as he whispered, ”Ci Ci, wait for me to come back. I’ll deal with you tonight.” The dangerous implication in these words made Wen Ci’s legs weak.

It wasn’t until the door closed that Wen Ci belatedly looked at herself in the mirror. The red marks from her collarbone to her chest, and the ring on her ring finger sparkling in the morning light, all spoke of the previous night’s passion and this morning’s tenderness.

Her lips unconsciously curved upwards, but as she turned, she caught sight of a box in the corner.

Upon opening it, she found it neatly filled with her belongings—used hairpins, books she had read, and even the letter and money notes she had left behind. Although the papers were crumpled, as if repeatedly wadded up and smoothed out, each item had been carefully preserved.

”This dummy...” Wen Ci’s eyes welled up.