Chapter 145: What Is Missing from the Photograph

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Luo Hongtao took her silence for shyness. “Now you know how to be embarrassed? Weren’t you the one who told me before that you were in charge of everything in your family, and that even Chengyi’s bank cards were under your control?”

It had been said so casually, yet Luo Yixia felt the room fall silent for several seconds. Then came awkwardness, regret, shame, and finally the urge to die.

The expression on Luo Yixia’s face shifted unpredictably. This was a disaster. She had taken the joke far too far.

Dad, you’ve completely ruined your daughter. Do you know that?

How am I supposed to face anyone now? How am I supposed to show my face in front of Song Chengyi?

“Dad, Dad, Dad, what are you saying?” Luo Yixia could clearly feel her legs trembling. She wished she could rush over and cover her father’s mouth. Why had he brought this up in front of everyone?

Couldn’t you have just said it to me privately?

“What’s wrong? What’s the big deal? My salary card is with your mother too.” Old Luo still had not realized his mistake.

Like a rabbit, Luo Yixia dashed to her father’s side and lowered her voice. “Dad, please, I’m begging you—”

Completely ignored, Song Chengyi wore an expression that shifted several times. Once he had fully processed what was happening, he found it inexplicably adorable. His heart began to itch, as though it were being scratched by tiny rabbit claws.

“Mm. The apartment under my name is hers too.”

His sudden remark made the mother and daughter, who had still been arguing, both raise their heads and look at him.

“See? You’re the only one worrying for nothing. Chengyi doesn’t care. What’s wrong with saying it? It just means Chengyi dotes on you, you silly girl.” Luo Hongtao wore an expression that said he understood everything.

Luo Yixia stared at Song Chengyi in confusion. But when she saw the teasing smile on his face, her heart gave a sudden jolt.

Whatever Luo Hongtao and Song Chengyi said after that, Luo Yixia could no longer hear.

Her mind was in a complete mess. In truth, it was not merely confused; it was racing at full speed. Luo Yixia thought she had never used so many brain cells during an exam.

She was trying to come up with some excuse that would get her out of this.

In a daze, she was pulled out of the house by Song Chengyi. She had not wanted to come, but she was afraid he would accuse her of feeling guilty, so she had followed him with her chin stubbornly raised.

She stood timidly beside him, not daring to look at him.

“Let’s take a walk in the yard.” Song Chengyi looked toward the backyard.

It was already late autumn, and the temperature had continued to fall. Luo Yixia was dressed warmly. Perhaps because she was afraid of the cold, she had already put on a padded sweatshirt with a skirt, along with thick, dark leggings underneath.

Even so, her legs were still slender and straight. The sight made Song Chengyi’s throat turn dry, and his heart began to itch again.

Song Chengyi knew that the urge inside him was growing stronger and stronger. He wanted her. He knew it with absolute clarity.

Behind the Song family villa stood a huge maple tree. In Song Chengyi’s memory, it had already been this large when he was old enough to remember things. Gusts of autumn wind swept through the branches, making the leaves rustle loudly. A layer of golden leaves covered the ground, while maple leaves drifted down from time to time.

Luo Yixia reached out and caught one.

It was only a maple leaf, yet she seemed to smile simply because of it, her eyes curving into two bright crescents.

A swing still hung from the tree. Although Luo Yixia often came here and often sat on it, she never seemed to grow tired of it.

Like a child, she ran over, sat down, swung her little legs, and began to rock herself back and forth.

When Song Chengyi had been young, he had wondered why a household with two boys needed something so girlish.

Of course, his mother had teased him at the time, saying that she had prepared it for his future wife.

Song Chengyi had found that unbearably embarrassing then. But now, watching Luo Yixia play so happily, he felt that his mother had never been more right.

“Don’t just stand there. Come and push me. I want to feel what it’s like to fly.” Seeing that he had not moved, Luo Yixia waved him over, having completely forgotten her earlier embarrassment.

“All right.” With a smile at the corners of his lips, Song Chengyi walked behind her, gently steadied her back, and then reached out.

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“Whee!” As the swing rose and fell in wide arcs, Luo Yixia cried out again and again.

After playing for a while, she felt she was having all the fun herself and called for the swing to stop. Then she pulled Song Chengyi onto it.

“I don’t like this.” Song Chengyi’s refusal was obvious.

“It’s fun.” Luo Yixia completely took his words at face value.

And so Song Chengyi half-resisted, half-yielded, and sat down on the swing.

“I’m starting now. Sit properly.” After warning him, Luo Yixia pushed hard. The swing traced a beautiful arc before returning to her side.

After several repetitions, Luo Yixia seemed even happier than Song Chengyi.

Song Chengyi planted both feet on the ground and brought the swing to a stop.

“Hm? You don’t want to play anymore?” Luo Yixia poked her head out from behind him and tilted it to one side. Her shoulder-length hair brushed against his ear.

Song Chengyi lifted his head slightly. The two of them were very close, close enough for each other’s breath to brush across their faces.

A faint blush spread across Luo Yixia’s face. Perhaps sensing that something was improper, she tried to step back, but before she could, Song Chengyi pulled her into his arms.

The swing was made for two. Luo Yixia ended up sitting in his lap, her legs suspended over the armrest.

For a moment, both of them froze. Song Chengyi himself seemed startled. He had not expected his impulse to have already turned into action, bringing her into his embrace.

Perhaps the position was uncomfortable. Perhaps it was because they were in the family yard, where someone might see them. Luo Yixia struggled faintly.

Her face flushed bright red. “What are you doing?”

One of Song Chengyi’s arms encircled her waist, while his other hand hooked beneath her chin and half-forcibly made her look at him.

“What arrogant things did you say to your father?” Song Chengyi’s voice was slightly hoarse, yet languid, and it tugged at Luo Yixia’s heart.

Luo Yixia cursed herself for being so useless. He was clearly questioning her, yet she was still being captivated by his voice.

She tried to struggle free, but the arm around her waist tightened. Her movement made the swing sway again, and instinctively, afraid of falling, Luo Yixia reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

Song Chengyi smiled like someone whose prank had succeeded.

“Hm? Why have you stopped talking?” Clearly, he had no intention of letting her off.

“Say... say what?” Luo Yixia stared at his sharply defined face so close to hers and swallowed.

With such a beautiful man right in front of her, she was afraid she might not be able to control herself.

“What do you think?” Song Chengyi narrowed his eyes, a dangerous aura surrounding him.

“I—I was joking. I was only joking. I just said it without thinking.” In the end, Luo Yixia abandoned all the more convincing excuses she could have given and blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

“Oh? Is that so?” His expression plainly said he did not believe her.

“Mhm, mhm.” She nodded repeatedly, like an obedient little rabbit.

“But I just helped you cover your lie. Don’t you think you should reward me?” Song Chengyi curved his lips into a faint smile.

“I should... What kind of reward do you want?” Luo Yixia was speechless.

Song Chengyi lowered his head and gave her no chance to speak. He used his actions to tell her exactly what kind of reward he wanted.

He pried open her lips and teeth, kissing her deeply and lingeringly, as though he wanted to consume her whole.

When the kiss ended, her eyes were only half closed, yet the misty moisture within them could not be hidden. Her lashes trembled faintly, like delicate rose petals so tender that they might fall apart at the slightest touch. His gaze grew brighter, and desire stirred deep within him.

Song Chengyi leaned close to her ear, kissed her earlobe, and whispered, “I want you to help me tonight...”

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Luo Yixia’s face grew redder and redder. She bit her lower lip tightly and shook her head instinctively.

“Hmm?” Song Chengyi prompted in a low, husky voice.

In the end, Luo Yixia nodded, then buried her face against his chest.

They remained wrapped up in each other for a while before Song Chengyi placed her back on the swing and stood up. He then helped straighten her slightly disheveled clothes.

Throughout it all, Luo Yixia did not dare look at him.

The more embarrassed she became and the more she avoided him, the more amused he seemed, and the stranger the feeling in his heart grew.

Luo Yixia did not know when Song Chengyi had become so... shameless. Had he secretly enrolled in some kind of advanced course in seduction without her knowing?

He had clearly been nothing more than a little wolf cub before. How had he suddenly become a cunning, black-hearted wolf?

Luo Yixia pursed her lips, stood up, and intended to return inside.

Song Chengyi reached out and took her hand. “Come out for a walk with me.”

The two of them wandered aimlessly through the neighborhood.

Along the straight avenue lined with parasol trees, sanitation workers were sweeping up the golden leaves scattered across the ground.

Luo Yixia stepped on them again and again, producing a soft, rustling sound.

She had walked this road countless times on her way to and from school. It was the only route home.

Yet this time was different from every other time. He was beside her now, and she felt completely content.

Luo Yixia tightened her hold on their joined hands. She wanted to hold him as tightly as she could. Even if she could not hold on to him for a lifetime, this single moment was enough to satisfy her.

There were rarely many cars in the neighborhood to begin with. The two of them walked leisurely for quite some time without encountering a single one.

Luo Yixia took out her phone and photographed the autumn scene ahead: the two rows of parasol trees and the leaves carpeting the road. The camera clicked, capturing it all in the frame.

She looked at the photograph on her phone, but she was not satisfied. Something seemed to be missing.

A spark suddenly lit up in Luo Yixia’s eyes. “Keep walking forward.”

Song Chengyi looked at her in confusion, so she repeated herself. “Just keep walking, like you normally do. Don’t look back.”

Song Chengyi nodded and continued on. Luo Yixia ran a few steps behind him.

When the distance was right, she raised her phone and took another picture.

His back was captured in the frame. That was what had been missing.

Once again, Song Chengyi had conquered her with nothing more than his silhouette.

When Song Chengyi turned around, he saw her grinning foolishly at her phone.

He walked closer and, before she noticed, glanced at the screen. He saw the picture of his back.

Luo Yixia quickly hid her phone.

Understanding, Song Chengyi calmly took out his own phone. He slipped an arm around her shoulders, raised the phone, and aimed it at the two of them.

Luo Yixia froze slightly. Song Chengyi looked at the little girl on the screen and smiled.

Time stood still in that instant.

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