Back Then, I Adored You

“The man who hurt you won’t be using his hands for a very long time.”

After a pause, Gu Yusheng added, “If you don’t think that’s enough, I’ll go meet him when he’s released from jail.”

If he hadn’t rescued me, I would have been raped!

Qin Zhi’ai couldn’t tell whether she still felt afraid or was just moved by him. Crying even harder now, her shoulders began to shake.

Gu Yusheng looked at her with sorrow as his heart beat faster. “I’ll do whatever you want to retaliate against them, so don’t cry.”

As he finished talking, she wept more softly.

He had never comforted a girl before, but he could only imagine how frightened she must have been. He had said everything he could think of to make her feel better, but she was still crying.

Still at a loss for words, he sighed lightly and then reached out his hands, softly lifted her head up from her knees, and gently wiped her tears.

They continued to flow down her face, and he soon became so helpless that all he could do was hold her.

Her body trembled a bit when he embraced her, and then she buried her face in his chest and sobbed more.

As she cried, she put her arms around his waist. She accidentally touched the injuries on his back, making him frown and purse his lips to avoiding reacting to the pain.

Crying herself to exhaustion, she finally leaned on his shoulder and fell asleep.

When he eventually moved his arms, she frowned, as if she felt unsafe again. Gu Yusheng needed to adjust himself, as half of his body was on the small bed holding her and the other half was hanging off the bed.

……

Qin Zhi’ai slept soundly this time, as his embrace was so safe and warm.

By the time she woke up, it was already evening.

Adequate sleep had greatly relaxed Qin Zhi’ai. Before opening her eyes, she stretched in the warm bedding and then suddenly felt her cheek resting on someone’s firm chest.

Frightened, Qin Zhi’ai woke up immediately. Her eyes opened abruptly and, when she looked up, she was relieved to see Gu Yusheng, not the nightmare she thought she might have been in.

I cried in front of him, and I even hugged him.

Has it been 10 years since I fell in love with him?

But this morning, it seemed like it was the first time I’ve ever cried in front of him.

Yes, it was the first time.

She loved this man, but she had always known he didn’t belong to her.

The entire time she had known him, she had never shared her grievances or hardships with him. She had always behaved as if she didn’t have a care in the world.

Having been kidnapped, though, had really frightened her, and her nightmares had been excruciating, leaving her vulnerable and helpless. She had loved him for so long that it was only rational that he was the one who could comfort her.