*Gasp*
Du Ruoxin’s heart was struck again.
People are so wicked, my daughter!
Do you know how much effort your mother has to expend, how many layers of skin she has to shed, to convince Cristiano to abandon his improper thoughts with your innocent words?
Du Ruoxin’s features twitched, and she forced a stiff smile. "Be good, go find Auntie."
Rong Dou Dou knew Mommy was angry. Although she didn't understand why, she obediently walked towards Caroline.
"Dou Dou, do you want ice cream?"
"Yes."
"Auntie will take you to buy some, let's go."
Only when Caroline had taken her daughter away and sent everyone else off did Du Ruoxin turn to Cristiano.
"See, Dou Dou is willing to take pictures with me," he said first.
Du Ruoxin’s face was grim. "But I'm not!"
Cristiano raised an eyebrow. "Why?" He walked towards her step by step. "You'd rather take pictures with a stranger than with me?"
"Xin'er, I'll get jealous."
Rong Jingyang was one thing, but he couldn't even compete with a stranger?
Du Ruoxin could only retreat step by step, saying helplessly, "Brother, this isn't about whether he's a stranger or not."
"We are..."
"Siblings, not lovers, do you understand?"
Blood ties were an insurmountable chasm between her and him.
Like a hundred thousand mountains, they stretched and undulated, pressing down on Du Ruoxin’s entire world, permeating her every inch of skin.
They were the shackles she could never break free from in this life.
No, they couldn't be called shackles, but rather her faith as a Chinese person, as a mother's daughter, living uprightly in this world.
"I don't understand," Cristiano shook his head. He never wanted to understand. "Why are you so resistant to me?"
"Is it just because of blood ties?"
Du Ruoxin said ruthlessly, "Yes! Because we are biological siblings!"
Cristiano curled his lips bitterly. "Then I wish you hadn't told me the truth that night."
Du Ruoxin: "No..."
Cristiano raised his hand to stop her. "I don't want to argue with you."
"And don't force me to lose control."
"Xin'er..."
He suddenly put on a look of a heartbroken lover, abandoned and deeply wounded. "In reality, you can't love me. Can't you even spare me a dream?"
Huh?
What did he mean?
Du Ruoxin looked at her brother's heartbroken expression, and her heart trembled violently.
A dream...
Cristiano moved closer, pinning her against the wall. "I fell in love with you first, didn't I?"
"If we weren't related by blood, you would marry me, wouldn't you?"
Du Ruoxin instinctively wanted to nod, but wait, that wasn't right!
She was almost led astray by her brother.
"Brother..."
Cristiano raised his hand and gently pressed it against her lips, stopping her. "I don't want to gamble with you anymore."
"A year is too long, too long."
"Xin'er, I want to break the contract."
"I want to take you away, no matter the cost."
"Even if you hate me, despise me, I want to take you away."
"Hide you away, somewhere no one can find you."
————
Du Ruoxin's pores stood on end!
The man continued speaking, his words a seemingly affectionate confession, yet laced with a chilling coldness. "Especially when I see Rong Jingyang sacrificing for you, compromising for you."
"I'm afraid."
"In a year, I'll lose you with my own hands."
"Do you know why I made this bet with you? Because I never thought I would lose."
Big, big brother, calm down!
The man's breath grew closer. Du Ruoxin's eyelids twitched, fearing that he might get agitated and try to kiss her again.