CHAPTER 154: CHAPTER 154 I CAN’T CONTROL MY HEART

Wu Shi smiled leisurely and unrestrainedly. "Only you don’t care."

When he smiled, Fu Bing felt as if a charming nobleman was smiling before her.

"Are you willing to tell me about your past?"

Wu Shi raised an eyebrow. "You’re in a bad mood yourself and want me to join you in your misery."

Fu Bing hadn’t actually thought that way; she was simply trying to show concern for him.

Reminded by his words, she smiled and said, "If we’re both unhappy, I can feel a bit more balanced. Are you willing to talk?"

"I’m not."

Fu Bing wasn’t annoyed; instead, she changed the subject. "Have you sobered up?"

"Almost."

Fu Bing turned on the hotel’s casting feature and chose a variety show to watch.

Wu Shi took some snacks from the fridge and laid them out on the table in front of her.

"How do you know I like these?"

"Xiaomei told me."

"That was in the past." Fu Bing chuckled and picked up the snack closest to her, nibbling away at it.

Wu Shi didn’t reply and sat beside her to watch the variety show together. "You could participate in variety shows with Lai Shenyan."

Fu Bing shook her head. "Actually, I don’t like cameras, nor do I like being the center of attention. It’s hard to keep a straight face in front of fans; you always have to be ’on’."

"Why did you enter the industry?" Wu Shi actually knew her reason for becoming a star but purposely tried to get her to talk more.

"Youthful vanity," Fu Bing replied casually. "At the time, I just wanted a job that would allow me to be seen by others. I never expected to become so popular."

"It’s not surprising that anyone would like you, including the man tonight."

Fu Bing’s heart skipped a beat. "Are you deliberately waiting here to tease me?"

"I don’t want you to miss an opportunity. Some people belong in the past; you can’t always be dwelling on them."

They both knew very well whom he was referring to.

Fu Bing watched the lively variety show without speaking.

Wu Shi paused the show, forcing her to face him.

"You’ve seen darkness and don’t wish for others to stay in it. So why are you clinging to this darkness? Who are you waiting for?"

Fu Bing met his gaze and saw the anger in his eyes. She was momentarily taken aback, aware that if Wu Shi didn’t get an answer, he would persistently keep asking.

"The questions you ask are ones I also ask myself. Normally, I’m quite affable and talkative; I can even chat with dogs that pass by. Choosing a new boyfriend shouldn’t be difficult for me." Fu Bing chose her words carefully. "Many people like me, but that’s not a reason for me to casually accept others and squander their sincerity."

"I’ve been hurt before; I know how unpleasant it is to be hurt by someone. I don’t want others to get hurt because of my carelessness."

Fu Bing’s eyes carried a rare sense of bewilderment. "A part of ’me’ is still locked in a prison to this day, unable to extricate myself. Qin Jinhai used to bear the burden of these darker parts, allowing me to give my love and hatred to him as a matter of course. Now that he’s gone, these intense emotions shouldn’t be imposed on innocent people."

Wu Shi was silent for a moment. "Others can hurt you with impunity," he said. "You can too."

"Of course I can, but I don’t want to."

"So you’re going to reject Feng Yu?" Wu Shi cut straight to the heart of the matter.

"Do you think I should accept?" Fu Bing tossed the question back at him.

Wu Shi’s expression blanked for a few seconds. "Marry him, and your reputation will immediately change. You’ll also have strong backing. Moreover, he’s excellent in all aspects and has taken a liking to you."

"Are you sober now?" Fu Bing asked suddenly.

Wu Shi stood up to get her a drink.

Their fingertips touched, causing both their hearts to flutter.

Fu Bing pretended as if nothing had happened and tilted her head back to drink.

The spicy liquid slid down her throat, making her tear up.

Taking advantage of the courage the alcohol gave her, she said, "From a rational perspective, I should pursue the man I met tonight; Uncle Ren has paved a good path for me. With my IQ and EQ, my life wouldn’t be too bad if I married him. At worst, I’d be constrained by some rules. No matter how you calculate it, the gains would outweigh the losses."

Wu Shi quietly watched her, silently pouring her another drink.

Fu Bing silently drank her liquor.

She couldn’t hold her liquor well.

After two strong drinks, her mind was already muddled.

"It’s just..." Fu Bing whispered, "I can’t control my own heart..."

The glass slipped from her fingers and rolled silently onto the soft carpet.

The remaining liquid splashed from the rim of the glass onto the light-colored carpet, leaving a small dark stain.

Wu Shi’s heart was nailed to the spot by her barely audible murmur, tortured as if by a branding iron.

"I can’t control my own heart..."

His death couldn’t pull her out of the darkness; his name was still imprinted on her heart.

Happy now?

Happy!

The person he loved with his life also had his name inscribed in her heart.

She had encountered danger over and over because of him, and he was afraid as well.

Afraid that one day, her luck would run out, and she would disappear forever.

"Xiaobing..."

Qin Jinhai softly called her name.

He bent over and gently kissed her lips.

When he looked up again, he met Fu Bing’s eyes.

A chill ran through Qin Jinhai’s heart.

Fu Bing’s eyes closed again.

Qin Jinhai was amused by her state. "If you can’t drink, then don’t."

After speaking, he bent down to carry her back to the room, placing her on the bed with incredible gentleness, and covered her with the blanket.

He then sat in the darkness, gazing at her innocent little face.

He had silently watched her on many nights as she slept soundly.

The more he watched, the clearer it became that they had a long road ahead, and he still had many problems to resolve.

At that moment, Qin Jinhai’s phone received a message.

"Boss Han, Qin Sheng went to see the Madam."

"In the middle of the night?"

"Yes, it seems like a sudden decision."

「Anfu Orphanage.」

Li Yuan looked at Qin Jinhai’s car parked in the yard.

She knew it couldn’t be Jinhai coming back.

Qin Sheng slammed the car door and glared coldly at Li Yuan. "Have you made enough trouble? Isn’t it enough that outsiders have been mocking the Qin Family for days?"

"There’s no need to discuss the same thing again; it’s a waste of our precious time." Li Yuan, draped in a shawl, walked over. "I wanted to build a house on this land a long time ago. Back then, I didn’t because I was afraid you’d be criticized. Now, Jinhai is gone, and Jinmo is also being roasted over the fire by you. You’ve never considered my thoughts, so why should I care about your feelings?"

Qin Sheng retorted, "I told you Qin Jinhai isn’t dead! He’s just lurking in some dark corner, watching Fu Bing! For a woman who is neither kin nor kith, he’s even abandoned his parents! Why are you still so concerned about such a brute?"

"The word ’brute’ suits you better!" Li Yuan pointed into the distance. "If there’s nothing else, get lost! I don’t want to see you!"

Qin Sheng knew he had crossed Li Yuan’s bottom line and softened his voice.

"I know what you want to do; you want to keep a path open for him to return. But have you ever thought that your actions are meaningless? He faked his death; he won’t show up again until he achieves his goal."

"Goal? His goal is to avenge Fu Bing; his goal concerns your and Fu Bing’s backgrounds!" Li Yuan suddenly laughed. "Are you planning on committing suicide, or will you unlock all the passwords in the study and let him investigate directly?"