AERHABDAW 37

Chapter 37: Hidden Corners

Fu Xingchen impatiently pushed Fu Xingyan’s shoulder and, taking advantage of him turning to the side, stepped past him.

As they brushed past each other, Fu Xingchen’s wrist was suddenly grabbed.

Fu Xingyan didn’t even realize why he had done it; he just instinctively reached out when Fu Xingchen was about to leave.

Finally, here was a perfect opportunity to speak openly—he couldn’t leave empty-handed. At the very least, he wanted Shao Leyan to understand that Fu Xingchen wasn’t the only option for her.

“Brother, I know you care about my relationship with Leyan and don’t want me to go, and I understand that. But can you handle Mu Sheng and his precious son all by yourself?”

Fu Xingchen waved Fu Xingyan’s hand aside, lifting his chin and impatiently straightening the creased cuff that had been tugged.

“Are you looking down on me?”

“Of course not. But you still have to watch Leyan. Even if you pay attention to everything, you can’t follow her every step. With me there, I can help distract them. If Mu Jiao Jiao still has lingering feelings for you, I can even help block her.”

Fu Xingchen pursed his lips, frowned in thought for a moment, and finally grunted in acknowledgment.

Yet his expression and tone made his impatience obvious.

Still, he knew Fu Xingyan wasn’t entirely wrong. At worst, he could let Fu Xingyan return to the city early after the meeting, so it wouldn’t disturb the newlyweds’ private time.

Once Fu Xingchen’s footsteps faded into the distance, Fu Xingyan turned slowly, watching his older brother’s silhouette disappear around the corner. A smile gradually spread across his face.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the rooftop…

Shao Leyan’s legs were trembling so badly she could barely move.

As soon as she heard Fu Xingchen’s footsteps, she inched toward the exit like a snail, afraid of being caught by him.

But now she had no way to explain why she had come to deliver a message and, having failed, returned so late.

Her heart pounded like a drum. Planning to return before Fu Xingyan noticed, she froze when she suddenly saw a pair of polished black shoes in her line of sight.

For a moment, her breath stopped. Her whole body felt frozen, unable to move, the dizziness from the suffocating panic causing her legs to weaken, and she collapsed straight to the ground.

Suddenly, Shao Leyan felt a firm grip around her waist. The expected fall onto the hard floor, with her head hitting the ground, never happened.

She was held securely in a warm, strong embrace. The faint scent of disinfectant mixed with a subtle, non-sweet floral fragrance wafted to her nose—familiar and comforting.

Shao Leyan froze, her arms resting on Fu Xingyan’s shoulders as she instinctively clutched his clothes.

Loose strands of hair framed her face, partially obscuring her vision, thankfully hiding her slightly flushed cheeks.

Fu Xingyan said nothing. His eyes, bright like stars, fixed on her naturally messy yet innocent and cute face. Without realizing it, his hold on her tightened slightly.

“You…” Shao Leyan bit her lip shyly, taking a deep breath before continuing, “how long are you going to keep holding me like this?”

Fu Xingyan’s gaze remained unwavering, a teasing smirk tugging at one corner of his lips.

“We’ve done more intimate things already. Why resist a simple hug so much?”

“I…”

Shao Leyan tried to push him away but couldn’t, and she no longer dared meet his burning gaze. She lowered her head to avoid his eyes.

“This is different. In the lab, we were experimenter and subject. But outside, we’re family. I’m your brother’s… uh!”

Before she could finish, Fu Xingyan tilted her chin up, and her lips were crushed against his, silencing her words.

Shao Leyan had kissed Fu Xingyan before, but just moments ago, Fu Xingchen had left. Now she was here, kissing his younger brother in the same place.

Even if forced and unable to resist, the sudden shame and sense of betrayal instantly replaced any coerced excitement.

If Fu Xingchen returned, she dared not imagine the consequences.

Yet Shao Leyan couldn’t understand how Fu Xingyan seemed to know everything. She had been careful enough to hide from even Fu Xingchen. How could Fu Xingyan not notice?

It could only be because of his special ability.

Her eyes widened, meeting the chaotic depth of Fu Xingyan’s gaze—like a black hole with irresistible pull, desperate to engulf her and merge into one.

Breath mingled, lips and tongues entwined. If not for the overwhelming familiarity of the sensation, Shao Leyan could have treated him as a stand-in for Fu Xingchen, intimate and untroubled.

Time passed—or maybe it didn’t matter—her lips numb, body powerless, Shao Leyan could only cling to Fu Xingyan’s shoulders, gasping for air.

The warm, heated breath brushing against his ear teased Fu Xingyan unbearably, yet without any seductive intention. It made his blood surge, craving to lift Shao Leyan in his arms and hide her away, never letting her meet Fu Xingchen again.

He gently stroked the top of her head, his large hand gliding through her smooth hair, filled with restrained yet indulgent affection.

“You’re such a naughty child,” Fu Xingyan chuckled softly, “what did you hear?”

Shao Leyan suddenly recalled the conversation between the brothers. The flustered, ambiguous atmosphere broke instantly. She felt as sober as if waking from a dream, her mind clearer than ever.

Her goal had always been Fu Xingchen. If this abnormal relationship with Fu Xingyan caused all her hard-earned favor to vanish, the life she’d clawed back would be wasted.

“Don’t even dream about it!”

With unexpected strength, Shao Leyan straightened and firmly pushed Fu Xingyan away.

“There’s no future between us. I will only be with Xingchen.”

Fu Xingyan wasn’t angered by the push. Calmly smoothing the creases in his clothes, he asked, “Why? Do you love him?”

Shao Leyan was dumbfounded. Love? Life mattered far more than feelings.

But she couldn’t explain this to Fu Xingyan. Even if she did, he might not believe her.

A few seconds of silence were enough for Fu Xingyan to interpret as denial.

Delighted, he held Shao Leyan’s shoulders, his eyes shining brighter and softer than the moon overhead.

“How long have you known him? How could you possibly be in love? Maybe you didn’t notice, but when you kissed me, your expression was far more focused and enjoying it than when you kissed him.”

The sudden revelation hit Shao Leyan like a bomb.

How did Fu Xingyan know what expression she had when intimate with Fu Xingchen? Had he seen it?

But they had never been outside…

The thought terrified her. Her cheeks flushed crimson, like the sunset blazing across the sky.