Chapter 51 “Afraid You Couldn’t Handle It”

As the car started up again, the seatback released a powerful thrust, and they sped away from the resort, heading towards the highway out of the city.

Duan Zhuxian, usually a steady driver who never chased speed, had often been teased by Jiang Yao for driving a sports car like an old man’s vehicle.

But tonight, Duan Zhuxian abandoned his usual cautious style, pushing the car’s performance to its limits.

On the straight, empty highway, Jiang Yao’s heart raced with the car’s speed, unable to calm down.

But to be precise, his heart hadn’t settled since the moment he saw Duan Zhuxian step out of the car.

This wasn’t normal.

His mental fortitude wasn’t that weak.

His physical fitness was also quite good, barring a sudden heart attack…

Jiang Yao stared at the bobbing red fox figurine on the dashboard, deep in thought. Suddenly, a realization struck him—

Could it be that he’s falling for Duan Zhuxian?

He vaguely remembered that there was a psychological theory suggesting that when a person’s heart rate increases due to danger, they might attribute that accelerated heartbeat to someone who happens to be present at the time.

While they were waiting in line for the ETC (Electronic Toll Collection), Duan Zhuxian wanted to ask Jiang Yao if he was thirsty, since there were hot drinks in the thermos. But when he turned his head, he saw Jiang Yao huddled over, looking like he was up to something. The phone screen, not fully hidden, clearly displayed the words “suspension bridge effect.”

The words on the tip of his tongue were swallowed back, and Duan Zhuxian quietly shifted his gaze, a faint smile appearing on his face.

The slow-witted guy had finally managed to cross the barrier of “arranged marriage,” break through the wall of “buddyhood,” and was now gingerly testing the waters of love. At this moment, he was like a cautious little fox, who shouldn’t be startled in the slightest.

Halfway through the journey, they reached a highway service area, and Jiang Yao said, “Pull over.”

As soon as Duan Zhuxian parked the car, Jiang Yao unbuckled his seatbelt, got out, and walked over to the driver’s side, knocking on the window. “Let me drive.”

Duan Zhuxian rolled down the window. “What’s wrong?”

Jiang Yao frowned. “Don’t waste time, get out.”

From his angle, the faint bluish tint under Duan Zhuxian’s eyes was more noticeable.

Even though Duan Zhuxian’s overall demeanor seemed fine, and he was capable of kissing someone forcibly—three times, in fact—due to his still-recovering illness, there was an almost imperceptible sense of frailty around him, making his originally strong and imposing figure appear somewhat fragile.

Jiang Yao had been watching him all the way, inevitably feeling a bit…

Heartache.

But even thinking about these words made him feel embarrassed, and he would never say them out loud!

Seeing Jiang Yao’s impatient expression hiding a bit of evasion, Duan Zhuxian assumed that the racing enthusiast was just itching to drive, or perhaps he didn’t want to show any weakness in front of his former “sworn enemy.” Reluctantly, Duan Zhuxian switched seats with him.

As they left the service area, Duan Zhuxian still felt a bit uneasy. “I’ll take over after we get off the highway.”

“I’m not as fragile as you think,” Jiang Yao replied nonchalantly. “In a well-lit environment, night blindness symptoms disappear within a minute. It’s been over an hour.”

Duan Zhuxian paused slightly, surprised that Jiang Yao would openly talk about his night blindness. In the past, Jiang Yao would go to great lengths to hide any signs of it, acting as if nothing was wrong, afraid that Duan Zhuxian would find out.

He understood, though. Someone as proud as Jiang Yao would never want to show weakness in front of someone he disliked.

“I was kidnapped when I was a kid,” Jiang Yao suddenly added. “I tried to escape from the factory once. I was almost successful, but I got caught because I ran out of strength. They threw me into a shipping container. Maybe it was because I didn’t see light for two days and nights. After that, I developed a dependence on light.”

Duan Zhuxian had heard about this from Jiang Chen, but hearing it from Jiang Yao himself made his heart clench.

When Jiang Chen mentioned it, he was calm on the surface, but his tone was full of lingering fear. However, when Jiang Yao talked about it, he was completely composed.

“Later, the police surrounded the factory and sent in a negotiator. I pretended to have stomach pain and fainted. The negotiator asked to check on me up close and then took the opportunity to tell me about the situation outside and asked me to cooperate.” Jiang Yao paused, then laughed. “I was only six years old. Most kids wouldn’t have the courage to outsmart kidnappers and work with the police after two days without food, water, or sleep. I think I was pretty impressive, don’t you?”

The car’s clean light illuminated Jiang Yao’s face, his bright, determined gaze looking ahead, full of confidence and defiance, just as he had been at fifteen when Duan Zhuxian first met him.

Duan Zhuxian watched him for a long time and nodded. “Yes, you were very impressive.”

But he wished Jiang Yao wouldn’t always be so unwilling to show weakness.

It was only at this moment that he truly saw the transparent yet lonely soul hidden behind that bright, fiery exterior, someone who occasionally longed for someone to steadfastly come to him when needed.

Surprisingly, Jiang Yao had no psychological barrier sharing this with Duan Zhuxian.

After all, Duan Zhuxian had seen him at his most glorious and at his most disheveled. There was no one else who had seen both sides of him.

The journey home was smooth, and as they walked into the brightly lit, familiar courtyard, Jiang Yao felt an inexplicable sense of peace looking at Duan Zhuxian beside him.

But the peace was so perfect it felt almost unreal.

He couldn’t help but ruin the mood. “Duan Zhuxian, I’ve told you my biggest weakness. If you ever get tired of me and want to mess with me, just trick me into a place without light. I’ll be completely at your mercy, absolutely powerless to fight back.”

Duan Zhuxian replied, “Hmm, got it.”

?

Jiang Yao suddenly stopped in his tracks.

This bastard really planned to use his fear of the dark against him in the future?

Furious, Jiang Yao glared at the back of the person walking ahead, but when Duan Zhuxian turned around, he was met with a gentle gaze.

“I can’t guarantee that you’ll never find yourself in darkness like today again,” Duan Zhuxian said as he walked back to Jiang Yao.

“But no matter when, I’ll always find you and take you home.”

The surroundings were bright, yet Jiang Yao suddenly felt a bit dizzy, even experiencing the illusion that from now on, every inch of darkness had a backup, and he no longer had to endure it alone.

*

Once inside, Duan Zhuxian invited Jiang Yao to bathe next door and stay the night.

Jiang Yao considered for a moment before nonchalantly agreeing to his request.

Halfway through the bath, Duan Zhuxian entered.

They emerged from the bathroom kissing, their bodies covered in water droplets, each wrapped only in a towel. The room was kept at a constant 25 degrees, and with their skin flushed from the steam, they didn’t feel the cold at all.

This time, it was Jiang Yao who initiated the kiss. Unlike Duan Zhuxian’s gradual approach, his kisses were chaotic but fierce and unyielding.

Walking barefoot across the plush carpet, he pushed Duan Zhuxian onto the bed, not giving him a chance to get up before leaning in to continue the kiss, as if trying to reclaim all the debts from the three stolen kisses in the wilderness in one go.

Duan Zhuxian maintained a nonresistant and indulgent attitude throughout, only speaking when Jiang Yao, breathless, finally pulled away. “What now? You’ve started a fire.”

His voice was restrained and hoarse.

Jiang Yao paused, realizing they were about to cross a line.

Faster than his brain could react, Jiang Yao flipped off the bed, attempting to make a quick escape. But he was grabbed from behind, pulled into a tight embrace, his sweaty, hot back pressed against an equally heated chest.

In these situations, Jiang Yao was like a little fox-both pure and wild, always teasing but ready to flee at the first sign of trouble.

Duan Zhuxian never indulged his irresponsible behavior.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Yao snapped.

“Putting out the fire,” Duan Zhuxian replied.

Jiang Yao’s eyes widened. “Aren’t you still sick?”

“Sickness doesn’t affect this kind of function. Don’t believe me? Feel for yourself.”

Duan Zhuxian whispered in Jiang Yao’s ear, his arm around Jiang Yao’s waist tightening slightly, pressing him closer.

Forced to verify the situation, Jiang Yao’s heart raced wildly. He exclaimed, “Duan Zhuxian, you really are a beast reincarnated, aren’t you?”

*

With the continuous wedding preparations and the half-month cold war, it had been a long time since they had done this, making them a bit rusty in every aspect.

After a considerable amount of fumbling, they were still at the starting stage.

Jiang Yao blushed and asked, “Can you do it or not?”

Duan Zhuxian was also having a hard time holding back. Being questioned like this by Jiang Yao, he almost stopped the preparations and went straight to it.

But reason prevailed. He suppressed his voice and gently coaxed, “Yao Yao, you’re too tight. I’m afraid you won’t be able to handle it.”