297 You're my Etoile
Tian Ruyi's heart was racing wildly the moment she heard his words and just like hers, she could clearly hear Si Hongqi's heart pounding like crazy against his chest. He was not lying at all.
"Now do you believe me?" He released her head.
Slowly, she leaned away from his chest. She could feel her cheeks burning and with each passing second, her heart was increasing its pace. This was really happening to her! She had a hard time believing since it felt too good to be true.
As she lifted her gaze to stare into his eyes, Si Hongqi's lack of expression was the opposite of what she heard. He was not even blushing! He was like a statue in front of her. He looked so calm despite how fast his heart pounded until she noticed how red his ears were.
Ah...
"S-So..." she paused. She gulped down her saliva as she tried to compose herself. "So you really like me..."
"That's what I'm saying." He lowered his head, the fringes of his bangs covered the look in them as he buttoned his shirt.
Tian Ruyi never thought that he would move on at once. She was expecting him to move on from his feelings for Lu Mengjie. She knew that she was his first love and moving from first love would definitely take time, right? Months, maybe even a year, that's why she found it hard to believe that he had already grown feelings for her.
After wearing his coat, Si Hongqi turned to the quiet woman beside him and as he stared, he could already tell that she was not believing him at all even after the proof he had shown her. "Is it that hard to believe?" Discover new chapters at novelhall.com
She nodded her head honestly as she averted her eyes from him. "You have loved Mengmeng for so many years, Si Hongqi. Also, you don't even know me that well."
Tears crept out of her eyes. She wanted to cover his mouth to stop him from saying words that only tore her heart to pieces.
"Even on days full of sorrow and grief, you've brought smiles and laughter to me. I can forget all the worries and anxieties because of you."
"I'm not going to be your rebound girl, Si Hongqi."
"And you never will." He stretched out his hand to gently cup her cheek. "Because you are more than that. That's why upon having a closure with my feelings for her, moving on is the only option. I want to focus on the person in front of me now."
Beads of tears dripped down from her eyes as she finally looked at him. Her eyes were filled with tears. "P-Please stop, Si Hongqi... I rather... I rather hear painful truths than sweet lies from you..."
"I'm not lying, Ruyi. All I need is for you to give me a chance to prove my feelings for you. I want to stop walking in the past and you were the one who helped me. You are the one who took my hand and helped me gaze forward so how can I not fall for you?" He said softly. "You may not like me right now but just give me the chance to—"
"I like you!" she cut off his sentence. She continued to burst out in tears. It was flowing endlessly from her eyes as she finally confessed to him. "I like you! Lots! I like you so much that it hurts!"
Si Hongqi's gaze softened as relief filled his chest. He thought that she was going to reject him. "I finally found my Etoile."
Etoile?
"You're my Etoile, Ruyi," he said gently as he leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.