Fatal Desire

Chapter 126 I Will Not Marry Anyone Else
After saying goodbye, Song Xi was about to leave. She and Zhao Yansen were only nodding acquaintances; they weren't close.

But Zhao Yansen gripped her wrist, somewhat helplessly: "Why are you still angry?"

Song Xi struggled for a moment, but her strength was negligible to him and could not cause the slightest ripple.

She looked up at him; Zhao Yansen's arrogant eyes held a hint of gloom.

Song Xi sensed a hint of danger and frowned, saying, "If you let me go, someone will see us."

"So what if I saw it?" Zhao Yansen said casually.

“Gossip is a fearsome thing,” Song Xi said. “Many people know that you are my brother. If people see us here arguing, they will gossip.”

"What gossip?" Zhao Yansen seemed determined to have her say it herself.

Song Xi pursed her lips and remained silent.

Zhao Yansen's dark pupils reflected her lowered head as he slowly spoke, "Now do you know why I sent you abroad?"

Zhao Yansen considers himself neither a gentleman nor deigns to be a hypocrite.

His high moral character in this life was entirely embodied in the younger sister he raised.

He wasn't worried about societal opinions; he was only worried that she would get hurt.

He is her brother; he has the right to decide everything for her and is responsible for her life.

In other words, she grew up under his care, and no matter how many mistakes she made, he should not blame her.

He raised her to be like this; he can only blame himself.

But when has the Crown Prince ever blamed himself?

When the topic of going abroad came up, Song Xi's inner drive resurfaced.

She looked up at him and said, "I know, how could I not know? My brother clearly told me that he sent me abroad so I wouldn't regret it. Now I'm telling my brother that I regret it, are you satisfied?"

No wonder he always treated her like a child. She used to do whatever she wanted without considering his reputation, let alone how the Zhao and Xiao families would view their affair, or how they would criticize her and her aunt.

Although they are not related by blood, the bond they established over a decade ago is indelible, and because they lacked parental companionship during their childhood, their relationship is exceptionally deep.

"I've already gone abroad as you wished, and you still won't let me go. I don't want you to be my brother anymore!" Song Xi shook off Zhao Yansen's restraints and tried to escape.

Unexpectedly, before she had taken more than a few steps, Zhao Yansen strode up and hoisted her onto his shoulder.

Suddenly, the world spun around her, and Song Xi cried out in alarm, pounding on his back: "Let me go! Let me go! Let me go..."

"Snapped."

A slap landed on her buttocks, neither too hard nor too soft.

Zhao Yansen remained calm and composed: "If you want to call everyone over, I don't mind."

Song Xi's cheeks immediately burned, and she instantly quieted down.

Zhao Yansen kicked open the door to the lounge, hooked his toe back, and then kicked the door shut.

He placed Song Xi on the dressing table, bracing his hands on the edge of the table to form an unbreakable wall, completely encircling her in his arms.

Song Xi stared at him in disbelief, never expecting her brother to be so violent towards her. She backed away in fear until her back was pressed against the mirror, with nowhere to escape.

Zhao Yansen hooked his arm around her waist, pulling her away from the cold mirror surface:
"What are you afraid of? I'm your brother, how could I hurt you?"

He was strong, and Song Xi's resistance was futile, so she could only let him close the distance between them.

Zhao Yansen studied his younger sister's face. She was as stubborn as a cactus in the desert. Sadness, isolation.

He gazed at her intently, guiding her with great patience: "We're not related by blood, so don't worry about others seeing us. Even if we're discovered, it's okay; I can handle any problem." Song Xi's disordered breathing calmed down slightly. She looked at him, her eyes sparkling, clearly aware that her brother's sense of responsibility was overflowing again, as if he were pitying her.

"As long as I don't get involved with you, there won't be any problems. I'm not a child anymore; I can take responsibility for myself and don't need you to keep interfering."

Recalling what he had just witnessed, Zhao Yansen's eyes darkened: "You mean you're in charge of dating that actor who hasn't even grown his hair yet?"

It took Song Xi a few seconds to realize he was referring to Zuo Ci. She raised her hand and slapped his shoulder hard.
"What do you mean 'actors'? They're called actors and stars! It's a legitimate profession!"

She was really driven crazy by her brother.

His sister actually hit him for another man. Zhao Yansen suppressed his anger and asked slowly, "Am I saying that actors are not professional?"

Song Xi was speechless for a moment: "...No."

"So you beat up your brother for an outsider?" Zhao Yansen asked.

Song Xi didn't understand why he was suddenly so concerned.

She thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll call it back for you."

Zhao Yansen scrutinized her expression, his sharp and shrewd gaze softening slightly: "Are you calm now?"

Song Xi didn't know why she was always like this.

No matter how many conflicts they have, no matter how much they argue and get angry, things always calm down easily. Is it because they've lived together for many years?

Even if they don't want to see each other, they have to meet because of that relationship and get along well.

Zhao Yansen said, "If you're still angry, hit me again. I'll kiss you after I've hit you enough."

“No kissing.” Song Xi turned her head away from him. “My brother will marry someone else, and I will date someone else too.”

Zhao Yansen's mood, which had just begun to brighten, plummeted to an icy abyss, instantly turning cold. He grabbed her chin and forcefully turned her face back: "Who are you dating?"

"It's none of your business who you are with."

“How can it be unrelated? No one else is qualified to serve you,” Zhao Yansen said. “I’ve raised you with all my heart and soul; do you think anyone else can take care of you?”

He meant 'no one else is qualified to serve you,' not 'who else can serve you besides me.'

The two are completely different. The former elevates her to an unprecedentedly high position, where no one is worthy to touch her; the latter degrades her to a low position, where everyone despises her.

Girls often suffer from oppressive education, but Song Xi never believed in oppressive education because she had an older brother.

"That's none of your business," Song Xi said firmly. "You're getting married..."

"I will not marry anyone else." Zhao Yansen interrupted her, looking directly into her bright, watery eyes, and said seriously, "I didn't before, and I won't in the future."

Song Xi's heart skipped a beat, and her fingers, which were pressed against his hard chest, unconsciously tightened around his shirt fabric.

She spoke clearly, as if a hole had been temporarily emptied in her chest: "Whether or not I get married is my brother's business, you don't need to tell me."

Zhao Yansen stared at her, his voice deep and cold: "Are you determined to be with that dirty man outside?"

He always took care of her like this, attending to her in every little detail and fulfilling her every request.

He took care of everything, from the novel ideas he had as a child to his physical needs as an adult.

"Men outside are dirty, they're no good."

Song Xi couldn't hold back any longer. Her obedient demeanor vanished, and she retorted like a little hedgehog, "Brother doesn't like me, but he can still sleep with me. What kind of good person is he?"

(End of this chapter)