Chapter Ninety-Five: The Five-Year Pact

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The Great Star Loves Without Limits

Xu Shu strode furiously up to her younger sister, seized her ear with a vicious jerk, and barked, "Get up!"

Under her force, the little demon princess bared her teeth in pain and climbed up from the floor, crying, "Sister, that hurts! Can you go easy on me?"

Xu Shu ignored her, dragged her over to me, and snapped, "Stand properly! You wretched girl, at first I was willing to turn a blind eye and let it pass, but since you have been acting so recklessly and refusing to explain yourself, don't blame me for digging into this and not letting you off. Now Tang Qian is here too, so both of you tell me: what disgraceful thing were you doing, sneaking around and locking the door in the lounge just now?"

The little demon princess cried out in alarm and hurriedly said, "What sneaking around? What disgraceful thing? Y-you're the one spreading slander!"

Xu Shu gave a cold smile. "Fine, I won't slander anyone. Then you tell me: after locking the door, what exactly were you doing?"

The little demon princess snorted. "Nothing at all! Brother Tang Qian and I were just chatting, perfectly properly. Unlike you, hiding here with her, crying and hugging and all that—that's what really makes a shameful scene!"

Xu Shu's vision went black, and she nearly toppled over in rage. Gathering herself, she laughed bitterly, then turned to me. "Tang Qian, I trust you. I know you wouldn't do anything improper. It must be her playing some trick, isn't it? I trust you would never lie to me, so please tell me the truth. What did my sister do to you in the lounge just now?"

I was in a difficult position. In the lounge, the little demon princess had thrown herself into my arms and spoken a string of mad, tender nonsense. It was the most private, most shameful thing for a girl. How could I tell anyone her secrets without her consent? Wouldn't that be like stripping Xu Xin naked and exposing her in broad daylight? I would never hurt her like that, not even if her own sister came asking. But Xu Shu's words were so skillful that they pinned me down completely, leaving me unable to utter a single lie. This truly left me between a rock and a hard place. What was I supposed to do?

Xu Shu stared straight into my eyes, waiting anxiously. On the other side, Xu Xin was frantic, making desperate signals at me and begging, warning me not to tell the truth.

My head... my head began to ache again...

After weighing it over and over, I let out a sigh and said to Xu Shu, "I'm sorry. Your sister said that even if I were beaten to death, I still couldn't tell anyone. I can't help you with this. You should ask her yourself!"

"Ah?" Xu Shu's eager look instantly turned to utter disappointment. Her lips parted slightly, disbelief written all over her face. The little demon princess, on the other hand, giggled with delight, and her gaze toward me immediately filled with happiness and joy. If her sister had not been there, I dare say she might have flung her arms around me at once and given my face a fierce kiss.

Xu Shu trembled with anger all over. In a shaking voice she said, "You... you two are both determined to make me mad to death, aren't you? Fine, Tang Qian, I... I think I know what you are now. You... weren't you saying you wanted to leave? Then go on, hurry up and leave! I won't see you out!"

Hearing Xu Shu coldly issue the order to leave, I could only give a wry smile, set the tray in my hands on the floor, and stand up. "Then... goodbye."

Just as I was about to step away, the little demon princess hurriedly blocked me and cried, "Brother Tang Qian, wait!" Then she turned to her sister and said, "Sis, didn't you say Brother Tang Qian would stay here tonight? How can you go back on your word?"

Xu Shu turned away, still not calming down. "This place doesn't welcome him. Let him go!"

Seeing how resolute Xu Shu was, I too felt deeply displeased. I said to Xu Xin, "I was leaving anyway. I hadn't planned to stay here overnight. Besides, I still have something to do later, so I can't stay. It's late now, so go to bed early. Goodbye."

I patted her head, smiled, and brushed past her to open the study door. Xu Xin turned back and anxiously called to Xu Shu, saying, "Sis, Brother Tang Qian is really leaving!"

Xu Shu did not even look once, merely emitting a heavy snort from her nose!

I strode down the stairs and entered the first-floor hall, already about to leave through the villa gate. From behind came hurried footsteps and the little demon princess's anxious calls: "Brother Tang Qian! Brother Tang Qian, don't go, wait for me!"

I turned around and saw Xu Xin rushing down the stairs in a few quick steps, coming to seize my hand tightly. I laughed and said, "Don't be silly. I'm not part of your family; how could I just keep staying here? Besides, I really do have something to do. I have to go. If you want to come find me and play someday, come to my place. It's not as if you don't know where I live, right?"

Xu Xin said anxiously, "That's not the same. You're being driven away by my sister now; you aren't leaving of your own accord! My sister has gone too far. Wait here, I'll go reason with her!"

As she spoke, she turned and ran back up the stairs. I had no choice but to pull her back and say, "Xu Xin, forget it. It's my fault. Who told us to team up and make your sister angry? It's only right that she be upset. Sisters should get along well; don't ruin your harmony over me. All right, I really have to go now. If you want to be good, just go back and sleep."

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"But... but my sister didn't even think to send a car for you, and I can't order those bodyguards and drivers around. Wait here, I'll go tell my sister to send a car for you."

"No, don't bother!" I said with a smile. "Your sister is angry right now. Even if you go, she won't agree. It's not as if I can't walk. It'll just take a little longer."

In truth, I was also somewhat annoyed with Xu Shu and did not want to ask her for anything anymore. Smiling, I gently patted Xu Xin's head again and said, "All right, stop worrying about me. Come on, let's say goodbye."

With that, I turned and left, taking a few steps to the gate. Behind me, Xu Xin called out, "But you'll be walking all night like that. It'll be exhausting!"

I did not answer again. I waved a hand behind me and plunged into the cold wind.

After only a few steps, I heard the little demon princess shout again, "Brother Tang Qian!"

There was something strange in her tone, so I stopped and turned back to look at her. The moment I turned, my vision flashed, and Xu Xin threw herself into my arms, both hands tightly around my neck. Her lovely face flushed red, her eyes misty, and she softly pressed her cheek against my chin. In a voice full of affection she said, "Brother Tang Qian! I... I love you! I..." The instant she uttered the word love, her face filled with boundless shyness, and she could not finish the rest.

My body stiffened, and I was so embarrassed I did not know what to do. In that instant, I understood how she must have felt just now when I had wanted to embrace Xu Shu.

Hearing Xu Xin's heartfelt confession, I was helpless and flustered, and could only bark at her, "Get down now. What is this supposed to look like?"

Seeing that I had no reaction, Xu Xin pouted her little mouth and said unhappily, "Brother Tang Qian, I'm serious. When I grow up, I will definitely marry you. You have to wait for me, all right?"

I did not know whether to laugh or cry. I could only pry her hands away first and said with a bitter smile, "You're still so young. What do you know about love? Don't be silly. I'm more than ten years older than you! By the time you grow up, won't I be an old man already?"

Xu Xin refused to accept that. "Love has nothing to do with age. Some people are more than twenty years apart and still love each other madly. As long as you can wait for me, I can marry you in five years. By then you'll only be in your early thirties, still very young!"

I could only sweat inwardly. Faced with such sincere affection from a little girl, I could neither bear nor find it in myself to hurt her right away, and could only say helplessly, "But you're still a child now! If I were to have anything to do with you, that would be immoral. It would be a crime. You wouldn't want me to be pointed at from all sides and cursed as some lecher preying on the country's precious young flower, would you?"

Xu Xin said indignantly, "What's lecherous about two people truly loving each other? What's there to be afraid of? I wouldn't care about that!"

I said, "You may not be afraid, but I am. You're still young and don't understand how vicious gossip can be in this world. It can drive a perfectly normal person mad. I still have to live in this world, and I can't stand being looked down upon. Do you understand?"

Xu Xin blinked, tilted her head, and thought for a moment. Then she said, "All right! I won't love you right now, then. But I will marry you someday. Promise me you'll wait five years for me. In these five years, you're not allowed to get involved with other women. And that girlfriend of yours, I want you to break up with her as soon as possible. I hate her the moment I see her!"

I... was sweating again. Before I could say anything, Xu Xin gave a soft laugh and said, "Is that too harsh? Not touching women for five years does sound difficult, doesn't it? If you get lonely, then... then it's okay to stray once in a while, but don't let me know, or I'll be very upset. Brother Tang Qian, look how good I am to you. I allow you to put on an act when necessary, but in your heart you can only allow me alone. Five years isn't that long; it'll pass in the blink of an eye. When that time comes, we'll be together again, loving each other, happy and joyful, and no one will gossip about us anymore. Brother Tang Qian, tell me, is that good?"

I... ah! This little girl really was adorably innocent. I felt ashamed, amused, and a little moved all at once. I had not expected that the little demon princess loved me so deeply she could actually say those words that most women would never be able to say.

I could not help reaching out to stroke her silky hair and sighed, "Oh, you silly child."

Xu Xin was tender and clinging as she nestled again into my arms, speaking dreamily, "These five years, I'll think of you every day. If I can't see you, I'll go crazy. Isn't my brother your good brother? When you have nothing to do, I want you to find an excuse to meet him often, all right? Really, it's to see me. Hmph, if you don't come, I'll run away from home again and come looking for you. Let's see how you explain that to everyone!"

She was pleading one moment and threatening the next, but I could hear that she truly loved me to the utmost. I was genuinely puzzled. Xu Xin was still so young, and we had only known each other for a few days, most of which had been spent fighting and bickering. When had she fallen in love with me? Besides, I was neither handsome nor wicked, and my temper was lousy. What exactly did she love about me?

Still, I thought perhaps the little demon princess was experiencing her first stirrings of love, and these past two days I had merely been keeping her in line. The young girl may have thought I was being kind to her and so came to like me. Such feelings were simple and sincere, but also childish; when she grew up, she would naturally understand. It was much like how, in primary school, I once faintly and hazily liked a very beautiful substitute teacher who was very good to me. That liking had been pure and lovely, without the slightest hint of desire, a spotless emotion. I studied hard and listened attentively in class only so that the teacher would praise me once and say, "Tang Qian is a good boy!"

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Although that teacher only taught for one semester, and although by the time I reached middle school I was already laughing at my own feelings back then... it truly was something worth missing. The little demon princess was in exactly that kind of situation now. I really did not need to refuse her, nor did I need to hurt her. When she came of age and her thoughts matured, she would naturally forget me.

I wrapped an arm around the frail body in my arms and smiled. "I'll come see you. As for whether it's five years or not, we'll see. But if you don't want me to start disliking you, you'd better change that mischievous habit of yours. It's far too unlikeable. If you are still like this in five years, I won't want you."

"All right! As long as you like it, I can change everything for you! Starting today, I will never be naughty again. I want to become someone Brother Tang Qian likes!"

I laughed. "Now that's a good girl. All right, the wind is so strong out here, and look, your nose is already frozen red. Don't catch a cold. Hurry back inside."

Xu Xin stayed nestled in my arms and merely gave an "mm" without moving. I said, "If you keep this up, I won't like it anymore. You were just saying you'd behave, and now you're being naughty again?"

Xu Xin lifted her head and said shyly and coquettishly, "You jerk, I just want to hold you a little longer. Is that not allowed?"

I said firmly, "No, because you're still a child, and five years is still a long way off!"

Xu Xin pouted and muttered, "Stingy. Let me prepay a little."

I put on a mock stern face. "Are you going back or not? If you get sick, I won't be the one nursing you. I don't like disobedient children!"

Xu Xin had no choice. She gave a heavy snort, then suddenly rose onto her tiptoes, lifted her little face, and, before I could react, kissed me on the lips. Then she blushed scarlet, giggled, and ran off, vanishing into the villa in an instant.

I was startled, touched my lips, and said angrily, "Xu Xin, you..." But where could I still see her? I could only shake my head with a bitter smile, helpless.

Ah, what a headache. This cunning and capricious little demon princess!

In the bitter wind, I pulled up my collar and shivered my way toward the estate's exit. Too many things had happened tonight, too many surprises. My entanglement with the Xu sisters had become impossible to untangle.

I had fallen in love with the elder Xu sister, while the younger Xu sister had fallen in love with me. But what about the elder sister?

When I reached the iron gate, I was just wondering how to open it when it suddenly opened on its own with a clang. I instinctively looked left and right, but saw nothing.

Glancing back at the villa in the distance, I sighed and strode out.

The mountain wind at night was very cold. I shivered all the way, hunching my neck, and soon left the private driveway and reached the mountain road.

After walking for another ten or so minutes, I calculated that it would take at least five or six hours to reach Gu Ruoyan's house from here. By then dawn would already be breaking, so what was the point?

This mountain road in the dead of night was pitch black, with not a single human figure in sight, let alone any cars. Trying to hail a passing vehicle was out of the question. I took out my phone, preparing to call Gu Ruoyan and explain the situation, so she would not wait for me.

Just then, a beam of light shone from behind me, and from the sound of it a car was driving toward me. I was delighted and thought, That's wonderful. At this hour of the deep night, there is actually a car passing by. I wonder if they'll be willing to give me a ride?

I waved desperately into the light, hoping to stop the car, and sure enough it slowed and gradually pulled up beside me. I immediately realized the vehicle looked familiar. Wasn't this Xu Shu's Lamborghini?

The door opened from inside, and Xu Shu, wearing only an ordinary sweater and jeans, sat in the driver's seat. She looked at me with a half-smile and said, "Get in?"