Chapter 431: Chapter 429: She’s Acting Spoiled with Tang Si Again

This simple action made her freeze for a moment.

Seemingly aware that he was looking for cigarettes, Song Yi turned back, fetched that pack of cigarettes, and opened the box to pull one out.

She handed it in front of Tang Si for him to smoke.

With fox-like eyes observing his emotions, Tang Si looked at the cigarette offered by the woman in front of him, with a faint look in his eyes, lips pressed lightly, then suddenly smiled: "Can I smoke it?"

This time, without waiting for Song Yi to answer, he continued: "Better not, secondhand smoke is bad for your health."

Tang Si’s Adam’s apple bobbed: "Put the cigarette back."

She didn’t expect Tang Si to have such a reaction; he had always been calm and collected, yet he could express himself when agitated.

When Tang Si asked her to put the cigarette back, she was slightly stunned, the atmosphere inexplicably becoming somewhat eerie.

And this cigarette was, for his family, a way to relieve emotions.

Holding the cigarette, she suddenly didn’t dare to lift her eyes to meet Tang Si’s.

Some words she had planned out while taking a shower, fabricating in her mind, but now, when it came time to say them, she was completely at a loss.

Her mood tangled like a ball of twine.

Would Tang Si believe the truth, if she spoke it?

After much deliberation, Song Yi first placed the cigarette back where it belonged, fully understanding Tang Si’s current feelings.

If she were Tang Si, being kept in the dark and running into this place unexpectedly, while the other party never mentioned anything about it, the feelings would be quite difficult to endure, very unpleasant.

Thinking of this, she let out a small breath, raised her eyes, and faced Tang Si.

Meeting his gaze, his eyes were calm and lazy, with no ripples.

Obviously waiting for something.

Song Yi maintained a façade of calm on her face, but her fingertips unknowingly scratched at the back of her hand: "I don’t know either."

She licked her lips: "I honestly don’t know, that’s why I came here, to test my limits, to see what kind of person I can really defeat."

Saying this, Song Yi’s gaze at Tang Si became so tender that anyone who saw would soften.

Unconsciously, she pouted, hoping Tang Si would trust her.

After saying these words, she was also well aware of how empty and powerless her answer was.

It sounded almost devoid of persuasion, yet it was indeed the truth.

He said nothing.

Gradually, her heart grew anxious and uneasy, eyes dazed, lost.

It felt like teetering on the edge of a cliff, ready to fall into the abyss at any moment, in panic.

She wanted to say more to Tang Si, but had no idea where to start.

The more it happened, the more helpless her gaze seemed.

"When did you find out?" Tang Si’s voice was soft, finally breaking the silence.

"Was it when Gu Nanjiu kidnapped you?" His gaze showed little fluctuation, his tone surprisingly calm.

Song Yi was startled for a moment, then nodded.

The man sat there, his eyes deep, Song Yi kept watching him, unable to figure out what he was thinking, not knowing what to say, given how bizarre the situation was.

She hadn’t organized her thoughts on how to respond.

"Why didn’t you tell me?" he asked again.

His tone was gentle, not pressing, but leaving space.

This way of questioning added a layer of pressure on Song Yi.

Song Yi’s hands fidgeted, her gaze lowered, eyes fixed on her hands.

After all, being with Tang Si meant facing everything together, any problem should be worked through between them.

Finally making up her mind.

She took a deep breath, suppressing all insecurity and anxiety.

Lifted her head, and confessed candidly: "It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you, I thought if I told you, it would only increase your stress, and I didn’t want something unclear and uncertain to burden you."

"You’re already busy, under a lot of pressure, I thought I could handle it myself, so I didn’t tell you."

Saying this, Song Yi’s gaze never left him, as if summoning all the courage, forcing out the words stuck in her throat: "Just as you have depression, and you never told me either." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"You didn’t want me to worry, right? I trust you can understand my wanting to spare you the extra pressure."

As soon as she finished speaking, Song Yi could clearly feel Tang Si’s body stiffen slightly.

Even those dark eyes were tinged with a confused bewilderment.

He genuinely didn’t expect Song Yi to figure it out.

He thought he had hidden it quite well.

After saying all this, Song Yi felt a bit of regret.

In her attempt to make Tang Si believe her, directly revealing this, would probably make him feel somewhat embarrassed.

Tang Si remained silent for a long time.

After a while.

He just faintly smiled at the corners of his lips, as if relieved, gently touching her shoulder: "It’s better to know, I was thinking of finding a time to talk this through with you, now that you’ve brought it up, it’s saved me quite a bit of trouble."

Tang Si’s hand rested on his thigh, his fingertips unconsciously tapping lightly.

His pensive demeanor carried an innate sense of restraint.

Song Yi just watched him, hearing her own breath and heartbeat distinctly in her ears.

Every nerve in her body was tense and restless.

In the dim light, Tang Si slightly tilted his head, exhaled slowly, seemingly making a huge decision, then finally asked: "Would you still like me as I am now?"

"Imperfect, full of flaws, with a bad temperament, with insecurity, cowardice, and times when I can’t face things."

He was a man who barely counted as ordinary, struggling in the mire, unable to ask for help, unable to escape.

The dark and numbed nerves made Tang Si feel nothing at this moment, as if he was dragging himself from a damp, dark place into the sunlight, awaiting judgment.

From start to finish, Tang Si never looked at her.

He laid himself bare in front of her, she could reject, could despise, for that was her right.

Every second seemed extraordinarily long, as he sat there, awaiting execution and penalty.

Song Yi remained silent for quite a while.

Tang Si seemed prepared for this, the smile at the corners of his lips turning somewhat bitter, yet it seemed to be within his acceptable range.

"It’s okay." His voice was deep and magnetic: "If you truly dislike it, you’re welcome to despise."

After pausing, the man lifted his gaze, dark as night: "I’ll heal myself, and then pursue you again."

"Tang Si." Song Yi suddenly stood up, her brows tightly knit, lips taut and pale, she seemed somewhat angry.

The last thing she wanted to hear were those words.