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Without thinking, Ningshun slipped off his black leather jacket and shook it out. Before Meilin could register what was happening, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
Her breath hitched as he pulled her gently into his chest, his hand cradling the back of her head as he held her close, guiding her against his torso. His hold was firm yet gentle, as though he were protecting something fragile. She looked up at him, wide-eyed and trembling, but he did not meet her gaze just yet.
Instead, he lifted the jacket and draped it over both of them. His arm remained securely around her, while his hand held the jacket in place, shielding her from the shadows and horrifying surroundings.
Underneath its shelter, the world outside faded away, leaving only him. Her face, lit up by the faint glow of the ride's lights, tilted upward as she searched his eyes. He gazed down at her, his gaze soft yet burning with intensity, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something but could not find the words.
"Don't look at them," he murmured finally, voice low and soothing. "Just... look at me."
Her lashes fluttered, her fear easing as her focus shifted to him. The steady rise and fall of his chest under her hands, the warmth of his arm around her, and the security of his jacket over them—it all felt safe, intimate, and tender.
"You're okay," Ningshun whispered, his eyes never leaving hers, as if silently willing her to believe it. "I've got you, Meilin."
Her body trembled in his embrace, but she relaxed into his arms and the tension started to drain from her.
She stayed still, her trembling breaths evening out as her cheek pressed against his chest. Beneath her ear, his heartbeat pounded hard, a rhythmic lullaby that seemed to chase away the fear haunting her.
Her eyelids fluttered shut as the warmth of his embrace cocooned her. The chaos outside—phantoms and monsters—faded into the background. All she could focus on was that heartbeat, grounding her in the moment.
Ningshun, however, was far from calm. Feeling her against his chest sent his nerves into overdrive, every beat of his heart hammering louder in his ears, suspecting that she had already heard it as he fought the urge to pull away.
He shifted, his arm tightening around her, holding her steady. His gaze darted to the side, as if he could will away his flustered state. 'Focus, Ningshun. She's scared—you're just helping her. That's all.'
His heartbeat beneath her ear comforted her, melting away her fear with each thrum, a soothing melody that resonated deep within her. The haunting noises and flickering lights of the ride faded into nothingness, leaving only the gentle rise and fall of his chest beneath her cheek.
But then Meilin's hand moved. Slowly, tentatively, it slid upward from his waist, brushing against the fabric of his shirt, feeling every curve of his abs along the way. It stopped just below his chest, and he shuddered. But when her fingers resumed their ascent, trailing upward over his chest, he froze.
A jolt of heat rushed through him, his breath catching in his throat. His grip on the jacket faltered for a moment as his jaw tightened. Her eyes were wide and innocent, unaware of the hurricane she had unleashed in him. She was not doing it on purpose—he knew that. But it did not make it any easier.
Her palm settled over his chest, right next to her face, where his heart raced beneath her touch. He clenched his teeth, trying to ignore the fiery path her fingers had left behind. 'Calm down, calm down,' he chanted internally.
Ningshun's gaze dropped to her hand, delicate and resting on his chest, its warmth spreading and setting his nerves on fire. His instincts screamed at him to move it—to yank it away before he lost whatever composure he had left. His fingers twitched, hovering above hers for a moment. But he fought against the urge with everything he had.
Slowly, hesitantly, his hand descended, sliding against hers. He rested his palm over her fingers, his heartbeat hammering beneath their joined hands. His fingers curved, enclosing hers with tenderness.
Meilin felt his fingers shift, intertwining with hers, their warmth wrapping around her trembling hand like a shield. He took her breath away, and a soft blush spread across her cheeks. She tilted her head back, peeking up at him from beneath the jacket's edge, whispering, "Thank you, Ningshun... truly."
Her words, so full of heartfelt emotion, struck something deep within him. His chest tightened, and a warmth that had nothing to do with their closeness spread through him. Without realizing it, his thumb began to trace delicate circles over her hand, electrifying her nerves under his tender touch. She shivered as his finger stroked her hand—smooth and reassuring—as if she could drown in this feeling right then and there. And she wanted more. The rhythmic motion sent a flutter racing through her chest, her pulse quickening under his quiet, unspoken care, and for a moment, the haunted mansion faded away.
His voice, tight with restraint, barely came out. "No problem... Meilin." He said her name with such intimacy and compassion. He shifted his gaze downward, finding hers without meaning to. Her hand rested in his, so unassuming, yet it felt like it burned into his soul. His arm tightened around her, the jacket still cloaking them. "Just... stay here," he whispered hoarsely, unable to fully meet her gaze. "Until it ends."
"But... I don't want it to end."
He met her eyes. "I thought you hated this ride."
She snuggled closer to his chest, murmuring, "Not if you're here with me... like this."
Ningshun's breath caught at her words, her soft murmur sending a flood of warmth through him that left him defenseless. His heart raced, hammering in his chest like a wild drum, as if trying to break free. Her closeness—her trust, her vulnerability—was overwhelming, and he could not stop himself from glancing at her. The way she nestled into him, so at ease, so genuine, left him undone.
She had no idea what she was doing to him. Each word and gentle shift of her body against his, deepened the pull she had on his heart. His breathing grew uneven, his chest rising and falling faster. His lips parted, but no words came out. For the first time in a long time, Ningshun, who always had an answer, was speechless.
When the ride slowed to a stop, the guy stationed at the exit leaned toward them, a grin on his face as he gestured toward the exit. "Alright, lovebirds, time to get up."
Still cloaked under his jacket, she stirred but did not move right away. He stiffened, every nerve in his body on edge, the guy's words only amplifying the irregular pounding of his heart. His breathing was ragged now, and he barely managed to stammer, "Y-Yeah, right. We're... we're going."
As Meilin finally shifted and the jacket slipped, Ningshun let out a shaky breath, glad to be stepping off the ride—if only to calm the chaos she had unleashed within him.
He turned to avoid her gaze as he extended his hand and waited, only to feel no pressure against it. He cleared his throat, closed his eyes, and took a deep breath before turning fully toward her, taking in the flush on her cheek. "Hey... you coming?" He curved his fingers, palm up.
She gazed at him, wide-eyed, then gave a slight nod before her hand reached out. Her fingers caressed his, traveling down to his palm before grasping it, and he gently pulled her toward him.
Dusting herself off, she smiled at him and stammered, "I... I'll go take a look at the, uh... pictures! Catch you in a minute, alright?"
He stared at her, blinking as if shaken awake. "Yeah, you do that..."
"Uh, Ningshun?"
"What?"
"You'd have to let go of my hand first." She smiled, trying to free her hand from his grip.
He lowered his gaze to their joined hands, a rush of heat creeping up his neck and settling in his cheeks as he realized he had been holding her hand the whole time. Quickly, he released her. "I have a phone call to make. You go first."
Meilin nodded and hurried off, leaving him staring at her retreating figure. His eyes followed her, slowing as if trying to capture every detail. All of a sudden, his hand twitched on its own, curling his fingers in the same motion they had taken when her warmth had seeped into him, her hand fitting perfectly in his. The touch was still fresh in his mind—her hand so soft, so trusting in his.
He gave a shaky exhale as his heart tightened. It was as if her presence had never left, remaining in the empty space where her fingers had once rested. 'What... did I do?'
He could not help but lift his hand to his chest. His fingers flexed, half-expecting to feel her hand there again. He shifted his gaze back to her, unable to tear his eyes away as she stood there, absorbed in the pictures from the ride.
Meilin's breath caught in her throat as their photo loaded on the screen, as if the image had captured something more than she had imagined. In it, she had wrapped her arms around Ningshun's neck, holding him close while he gazed down at her with a soft, unreadable expression. Her heart fluttered as she studied the photo, the way they were positioned together—so close, so intimate—as if it spoke more than words ever could.
She bit her lip. The image felt too precious to leave behind.
Without a second thought, she asked the lady to print it out, but she did not want anyone else to see it—not yet. Not until she had time to understand the feelings beating in her chest.
Lowering her face, a tender smile crept onto her lips, allowing the warmth of the moment to settle in her heart. 'Ningshun... you're so sweet.'
Just as the print was finalized, the sound of footsteps made her heart skip. She quickly reset the screen and tried to compose herself. But the coziness of the image—the memory of his gaze and their breaths mingling—remained imprinted in her heart. She turned to face Ningshun, now standing beside her, frozen.
His eyes narrowed as he scanned Kaili and Yuming's photo on the screen. His frown deepened when he caught Kaili's hand resting too inappropriately on Yuming, whose uncomfortable reaction only made it worse. "Kaili," he muttered through gritted teeth, stepping forward to shield her from the disappointment in his eyes.
But then, he glimpsed the photo of him and Meilin, where she embraced him. The way he stared at her in that moment, the close proximity, the intensity—it struck something deep within him.
He turned to her, who gazed in another direction. 'Good. She didn't see this.' Clearing his throat, he called, "Hey, Meilin." As her attention shifted to him, he continued, "I'll catch up with you... Give me a minute."
She nodded and left before his phone rang, freezing him in place. Picking it up, his eyes widened, and his hand trembled.28Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwAsXM5Hpd
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