He is Lovestruck in the Revenge

Chapter 98 - 98 096 Indulgence of the body Xie Shang breaks the

?Chapter 98: 096: Indulgence of the body, Xie Shang breaks the precepts (second update) Chapter 98: 096: Indulgence of the body, Xie Shang breaks the precepts (second update) Gu Yihuan felt his pupils were about to quake. Was this… a scene of being caught in the act of infidelity?

Out of politeness, Xie Shang spoke first, “Hello.”

In Gu Yihuan’s view, this was the majesty and grace of the legitimate wife.

Yan Cong stood there in a lazy manner, “Hello.”

In Gu Yihuan’s view, this was the arrogance of the mistress who relied on favoritism!

Wen Changling took the initiative to introduce Yan Cong to Xie Shang, “This is Yan Cong.” She added, “He’s my friend.”

Based on previous experiences of catching cheaters, Gu Yihuan firmly believed—there was no such thing as pure friendship between men and women. He looked at his fourth brother, ready to catch them in the act as soon as he gave the signal.

Xie Shang’s expression was normal, “I know, we’ve met before.”

Yan Cong didn’t respond, looking somewhat listless.

Wen Changling was worried about Yan Cong’s health and didn’t want to delay any longer outside, “Yan Cong, it’s inconvenient for me dressed like this, can you go in by yourself?”

“Mhm.”

Wen Changling said, “See you tomorrow.”

Yan Cong went in first.

Wen Changling, not entirely at ease, took out her phone to send a message to Jiahui, who was on duty, asking her to help check on the patient in the ward.

[See you tomorrow]
Miss Wen rarely said this to him.

Xie Shang looked at Gu Yihuan, “Aren’t you going to register?”

Just like that? No interrogation?

When they were young, his fourth brother’s guqin, his calligraphy brushes for small seal script, and his teacup incense tools were all off-limits, his fourth brother was a perfectionist and a fanatic, with an absolute requirement for exclusive enjoyment of his belongings.

A girlfriend going out with a male friend, at night, and dressed so beautifully, would unsettle anyone. Sometimes, Gu Yihuan felt that too stable emotions were not necessarily a good thing. It’s all about balance; if emotions are only ever bottled up, once they are full, they will explode.

Like thunderstorms.

Fourth brother never mentioned Xie Qingze normally, not because he forgot, but because his emotions were always being restrained and suppressed, waiting for a triggering moment, like a thunderstorm, at which point they would start to wreak havoc.

The matter of Miss Ling being Miss Wen, Gu Yihuan still needed to think it through.

“Fourth brother, I’ll call you back later.”

He went to register first, having injured his leg while catching the cheaters.

“Changling, let’s go back.”

“Oh.”

Wen Changling followed Xie Shang into the car.

Xie Shang turned on the car’s air conditioning; it was still very hot inside, so he opened the window to wait for the temperature to drop.

The split in her dress was too high, making it a bit uncomfortable to sit down, so Wen Changling tugged at the hem. Xie Shang handed her a blanket, which she placed over her legs.

The car was no longer hot.

Xie Shang closed the window and started the car. He wasn’t quite sure when he had developed the habit, but when driving Wen Changling, he always drove very slowly.

There wasn’t much traffic on the road. Xie Shang asked Wen Changling, “Where did you go for fun?”

“A nightclub.”

End of the Sea could also be considered a nightclub.

Xie Shang asked, “Was it fun?”

She closed her eyes, pretending to rest, like a languid animal. The heavy metal accessories on her dress made her look cold and flamboyant, full of mystery.

She said, “It was alright.”

The traffic light at the intersection turned red.

Xie Shang didn’t stop immediately, crossing the stop line. His fingers tightened around the steering wheel, “Next time, I’ll take you.”

“Okay.”

Xie Shang didn’t speak further after that.

The car maintained a steady speed, Wen Changling leaned against the headrest, feeling drowsy, but a thread of tension still tugged at her, preventing her from speaking several times.

When they arrived at Lotus Pond Street, Xie Shang dropped her off at the entrance.

There were a few people on the street, but not many; the vendors had not yet packed up, and occasional night owls came down to hunt for food. The nights of the scorching summer were sultry, and the stars would always come out.

“Get some sleep early.”

Xie Shang only said this one sentence.

Wen Changling reached the threshold, but then turned back, “Xie Shang, are you angry?”

Xie Shang’s tone was flat, “No.”

Don’t be angry, give Miss Wen lots and lots of love.

Wen Changling insisted, “You are angry.”

Xie Shang didn’t respond, neither admitting nor denying.

The two of them stood apart, Wen Changling waiting quietly and obediently, waiting for Xie Shang to cool off.

Xie Shang couldn’t resist someone, “Aren’t you going to coax me a bit?”

Ah, so she had to coax him.

Wen Changling took two steps forward, slowly lifting her hand to tug at Xie Shang’s clothes.

“Xingxing.”

Her voice was soft; her hairstyle today was beautiful, making her seem like the disobedient, slightly wicked black-hearted princess in a castle: “Don’t be angry anymore.”

Miss Wen was so clever.

Having only been called Xingxing a few times, she had pinpointed his weakness. He couldn’t be harsh to anyone who called him Xingxing, especially Wen Changling.

Xie Shang made a request, “At least give me a hug, Miss Wen.”

“Oh.”

Wen Changling took the initiative to embrace Xie Shang, her attitude amiable, “Do you not like me going to the nightclub to have fun?”

She wore very high heels today, and as Xie Shang looked down, he could just kiss her exposed right shoulder.

Her waist was slender, and he could control it entirely with just one hand, “It’s your freedom to go wherever you want to have fun, as long as it’s safe, I won’t restrict any form of entertainment. What bothers me is that when you look for a companion to play with, I’m not your first choice.”

The emotions in his eyes were restrained, as was his voice, deep and controlled, “Changling, for everything related to you, could you give me a little more right to participate?”

About Ah Na, about that case filled with doubts, about all her thoughts, he wanted to know from her. He had admitted defeat; he decided to love Miss Wen properly.

But Miss Wen still had a heart of stone, a hedgehog wrapped in a thick coat.

He felt this sense of frustration for the first time, feeling more powerless, and yearning even more. Only she could fulfill him, could find him balance amidst the strange feeling of losing control.

He held her very tight.

Wen Changling also obediently stayed still, “Going out with Yan Cong was a spur-of-the-moment decision.” She explained to him, “Yan Cong has been unwell, living in the hospital, and wanted to get some fresh air.”

“Are you close friends with Yan Cong?”

That time when she came back from Lileitu, so late at night, it had been Yan Cong who came to pick her up.

Wen Changling nodded against Xie Shang’s shoulder, “We’ve known each other for two years now, we’re very good friends.” After speaking, she thought of something and looked up at Xie Shang, “You shouldn’t be jealous of him.”

Xie Shang said indifferently, “Oh, I see Miss Wen has noticed.”

“…”

He’s been mollified, hasn’t he?

After embracing for a while longer, Wen Changling said, “I’m going back.”

Xie Shang hummed in acknowledgement but didn’t let go.

“Your dress is very pretty.”

In his eyes, besides the burning passion, there was undisguised admiration and approval, “Wen Changling is also very beautiful.”

He needed to praise Miss Wen more, lest she say she wasn’t pretty or that her personality was bad.

Wen Changling smiled shyly.

Xie Shang was really good at coaxing.

*****
After freshening up, it was nearing ten o’clock, and Xie Shang still wasn’t feeling sleepy.

He took out from the cupboard an inkstone and stick of ink that he hadn’t used in a long time, added a little water to the inkstone, and ground the ink carefully until it was well mixed.

He spread out a piece of Yuan paper, pressed it down with a paperweight, sat down, dipped his brush in the ink, and began to write the “Lotus Sutra”.

His calligraphy was learned from a master, he was the type to learn quickly and had made a bit of a name for himself, but his heart was not in it. Neither music, chess, calligraphy, nor painting was his passion.

“There are flowers before the Buddha, named superior night-blooming cereus; they sprout in a thousand years, form buds in a thousand years, bloom in a thousand years, and with a snap of the fingers, they wither—a fleeting splendor—”
The tip of the brush paused, Xie Shang’s mind was not at peace.

“He’s Yan Cong.”

“My friend.”

Xie Shang threw away the paper stained with ink droplets, spread a new sheet, and picked up the brush again.

“There are flowers before the Buddha, named superior night-blooming cereus; they sprout in a thousand years, form buds in a thousand years, bloom in a thousand years, and with a snap of the fingers, they wither—a moment of glory. Such is the cause, such is the condition, such is the result, such is the retribution…”
“Yan Cong, I’m not dressed conveniently, can you go in by yourself?”

“See you tomorrow.”

Wen Changling had just said goodbye to him without mentioning seeing him tomorrow.

Xie Shang tore the paper and restarted.

“Peaceful through the long night, greatly beneficial. Cultivate kindness in oneself, enter Buddha’s wisdom. Attain grand intelligence, and reach the other shore.”

Wen Changling said, “We’ve known each other for two years.”

Wen Changling said, “You shouldn’t be jealous of him.”

Xie Shang looked down at his brush and realized that he had written the character Wen.

He could only discard it again.

“Arrogant and self-conceited, with a deceitful heart, through countless billions of eons, not hearing the Buddha’s name nor the true Dharma, such persons are difficult to redeem.”

The ink spread on the paper, forming black spots, his calligraphy had gone to waste.

Xie Shang placed the brush on the rest and tore the paper up.

He didn’t like sutras, didn’t like Buddhism; these were all things his uncle liked. Buddha couldn’t save him; he wasn’t as magnanimous as he thought – he was nasty, acted crazily, not a good person.

Xie Shang laid out a piece of Shu Xuan paper, switched to another brush, and quickly sketched the outline on the paper. Wen Changling’s eyebrows, nose bridge, bone structure… he didn’t need to think.

“Xingxing.”

“Don’t be angry anymore.”

“Xingxing.”

“Xie Xingxing.”

“…”

The hand holding the brush stopped, and Xie Shang looked at the eyes in the drawing. The night, the lights, the faint smell of ink, and the restless chirping of insects outside the window all wove together, animating the person in the painting, carrying her gaze into his thoughts.

There are no demons in this world; demons are manifestations of human greed and desire.

Xie Shang put down the brush, tilted his head back, light spreading over the contours of his jaw.

The Gu was starting again.

He struggled and writhed, staring straight at the light with open eyes until the light seared his eyes. Then he compromised, resigned… His hand holding the brush could not be restrained before the scattered sutras, breaking the precept.

The movements of his hand were recklessly self-destructive.

“Wen Changling…”

Xie Shang closed his eyes, his brows lightly furrowed, layers of desire gathered at the corners of his eyes…
The painting, after all, was left unfinished.