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Chapter 149: Chapter 145: Dog Bites Man
Chen Cheng returned to the Big Willow Tree first.
Before the car stopped, he saw Su Liya sitting outside Wanbao Hall, under the willow tree.
Her head was lowered, looking at her toes, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothing, as if pondering over something.
The gentle breeze lightly brushed her hair strands but did not disturb her thoughts.
Until Da Lao stopped in front of her, Su Liya had not noticed.
Chen Cheng’s hand was on the door handle, looking at her through the car window.
After a moment of hesitation, his thoughts made him open the car door, "Li Ya."
Su Liya suddenly looked up, eyes first flashing with astonishment, then filled with joy.
She stood up, her lips trembling slightly, but she didn’t know what to say for a moment.
"Uncle!"
"Get in the car," Chen Cheng shifted a bit to make room.
Su Liya nodded slightly, her movements slightly awkward as she got into the car.
"Back to Zhongchuan," Chen Cheng said.
After saying this, he stopped paying attention to the burning gaze beside him and looked down at his phone.
Su Liya pursed her lips, breaking the silence in the car first.
"Uncle, why did you block me?" Her voice carried a hint of grievance and confusion.
Chen Cheng’s fingers paused, still not looking up, just said indifferently, "Nothing, I just felt it was unnecessary to keep in contact."
Su Liya’s eyes instantly reddened, "How can it be unnecessary? Uncle, I don’t understand."
Chen Cheng took a deep breath, put down his phone, turned his head to look at her, his gaze filled with complex emotions, "Li Ya, you are still young, there are some things you don’t understand."
"I don’t understand?" Su Liya raised her voice, "Uncle, all I know is that I care about you, and it hurts me when you suddenly ignore me."
Chen Cheng frowned, "Li Ya, you and I are not from the same world, I don’t want to hold you back."
Su Liya stubbornly shook her head, "Uncle, that’s not a reason, is it because I did something wrong?"
Chen Cheng sighed helplessly, "It’s not your fault, it’s mine. I can’t give you what you want."
"You never asked what I want, how do you know you can’t give it?"
Su Liya became increasingly agitated, she said, "Is it because of Li Hao that you feel I’ve been with him, so you don’t accept me?"
Chen Cheng locked his phone screen, though not caring himself, he said,
"Yes, I can’t accept it."
Su Liya’s eyes widened, tears swirling, "Uncle, Li Hao and I were just boyfriend and girlfriend in name, nothing like what you’re thinking ever happened."
"I never liked him from the start, he blackmailed me," she continued.
Chen Cheng’s expression flashed with surprise upon hearing this but soon returned to calm, "So what? That changes nothing."
Su Liya’s tears finally broke free, "Uncle, why are you so heartless? Don’t you have any feelings for me at all?"
Chen Cheng turned away, not daring to look into her eyes, "Don’t be foolish, Li Ya, it’s just your misconception."
"Uncle, do you dare say you’ve never had feelings for me?"
Chen Cheng silently shook his head.
"Is it because of my mom? Did she pressure you?"
Su Liya tightly gripped the edge of the seat, voice choked with sobs, "Or is there another reason? I can change, I can do anything."
Chen Cheng took a deep breath, "Li Ya, I have someone I like."
Su Liya bit her lip, "Then why can you accept those other women you like, but not me?"
"What?"
"Mommy told me, you have other women." Su Liya candidly stated, "So, she disapproves of you and me together."
"This... this is none of your concern."
Su Liya’s gaze was filled with stubbornness and reluctance, "Uncle, why can’t I be concerned? I like you, I just want to know all the truth."
"Li Ya, stop lingering on these issues, okay? We two are impossible."
"No, not okay!" Su Liya coquettishly argued:
"Uncle, I don’t believe you have absolutely no feelings for me. If it’s because of Mommy, I will convince her; if it’s because of your complicated relationships, I’m willing to wait for you to sort them out."
Chen Cheng stated clearly, "I won’t sort my relations."
Staring blankly at Chen Cheng’s brow, Su Liya’s vision blurred once again, "Uncle, why must you be so ruthless? Is there really no possibility between us?"
"Li Ya, stop being persistent, it’s better for both of us."
Chen Cheng’s expression remained cold, "The reason I took out the video was to help your mother. You don’t need to take this to heart, nor should you mistake your gratitude for wrong emotions."
"It’s not wrong!"
Su Liya loudly countered, "Uncle, why do you always misinterpret my feelings? My feelings for you are genuine, not because of gratitude!"
"Li Ya, you’re too stubborn."
Su Liya sniffled, "So what if I’m stubborn? I like you, no matter what you say, I won’t change."
Chen Cheng shook his head helplessly, "Why bother with this?"
"Uncle, you’re afraid to face your own heart, you clearly have feelings for me, but keep evading!"
Su Liya’s eyes intently met Chen Cheng’s, seeking to see the deepest part of his heart, to find the place that belongs to her.
"Uncle, just tell me, you don’t like me, I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Chen Cheng cut her off: "I don’t like you, Li Ya."
"But I like you!"
Before she could finish speaking, Su Liya suddenly lunged towards Chen Cheng and kissed his lips recklessly.
Chen Cheng, startled by this sudden action, widened his eyes, his hands instinctively trying to push her away, but Su Liya held him tightly, as if using all her strength.
This kiss carried Su Liya’s obstinacy, grievances, and deep feelings, her tears sliding down their closely attached cheeks.
A second later, Chen Cheng finally pushed Su Liya away, "Are you crazy?"
Breathless, Su Liya insisted, "Uncle, I don’t care, I just want you to understand my feelings."
Chen Cheng turned his head away, no longer looking at her, "This is nonsense!"
Su Liya stubbornly wiped her tears, "Even if it’s nonsense, I don’t regret it!"
Just as she was about to get closer again, Chen Cheng extended his hand and pushed her away.
"Uncle!"
"Don’t call me that, call me Mr. Chen like you used to."
"No! I don’t want to!"
Su Liya’s eyes were filled with determination as she suddenly stood up and straddled Chen Cheng.
Her hands tightly grasped Chen Cheng’s shoulders, staring straight into his eyes, "Uncle, today I must make you face my feelings!"
"Get off."
However, Su Liya showed no signs of getting off, instead wrapping her arms around his neck, holding on tight.
"Get off."
Su Liya held on even tighter, with a reckless and stubborn insanity.
"Right now! Immediately! Hurry up!"
But Su Liya seemed not to hear, continuing to twist her body, muttering:
"Uncle, I won’t let go, never."
Chen Cheng’s hands were frozen in midair, neither touching nor avoiding contact was correct.
Just then, Su Liya let go, cupped Chen Cheng’s cheeks with her hands, and kissed him again.
This time, her kiss was more passionate and more urgent.
Chen Cheng was about to push her away, but his lower lip was bitten by Su Liya, causing a sharp pain.
Chen Cheng in pain, "Are you a puppy? Why bite?"
"Woof woof!"
Before the pain subsided, she fiercely kissed him again.
This time, there was no bite, but it was as smooth as ice.
Chen Cheng felt an unskilled yet emotion-filled stirring, and her soft body completely melted into his arms.
Da Lao was driving on the highway, with the scenery outside the window quickly receding.
The slight sound of the wheels rubbing against the ground, the whistling of the wind sweeping over the car, the sunlight intermittently shining on them through the window, and sometimes being blocked by roadside trees.
The occasional jerking of the brakes made Su Liya cling even closer, her breathing becoming more faltering.
After a long while, she finally let go of Chen Cheng.
Her eyes held a hint of hope and anxiety, "Uncle, can you still reject me now?"
"I can."
"Uncle, why do you have to be so cruel?"
Su Liya cradled Chen Cheng’s face, and Chen Cheng watched her tears slide down her cheeks, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
Chen Cheng brushed her hands away, "Li Ya, I can’t drag you into my life."
"I don’t care! I don’t care!"
Su Liya cooed in Chen Cheng’s arms, "I kissed you, so you are mine!"
Her slight dominance was just like Wen Shulin.
"Li Ya, stop being childish."
"I’m not being childish, I’m serious!"
Chen Cheng turned his head away, but Su Liya turned it back, "I’m not scared of anything, I just want to be with Uncle."
"Li Ya, you don’t understand me."
"Then give me a chance to understand!"
Chen Cheng: "I’m not a good man."
"No matter what kind of person you are, I like you!"
Chen Cheng pushed her away, "No."
Su Liya’s tears welled up again, "Uncle, why can’t you just trust me?"
The car gradually slowed down and finally stopped.
Chen Donghai: "Mr. Chen, we’ve arrived."
"Get off."
Su Liya shook her head vigorously and nuzzled into Chen Cheng’s chest, "I don’t want to! I don’t want to!"
"Li Ya, don’t be willful."
Su Liya tightly hugged Chen Cheng’s waist, "I’m not being willful, Uncle, please don’t push me away."
Chen Cheng cleared his throat, and then Chen Donghai glanced at the rearview mirror.
He immediately got the hint and said, "Mr. Chen, we got a message about illegal parking."
"Did you hear that?" Chen Cheng said to Su Liya.
"I have money! I’m willing to pay the fine!" she said, pulling out her phone.
Chen Cheng sighed, "Be obedient."
Upon hearing those words, Su Liya looked up, "Uncle, are you giving me a chance?"
"I didn’t mean that."
"I don’t care! I think you did!" She broke into a smile, wiped the tears from her face, and put her hand on the door handle, "Uncle, you’ll have to reconnect me!"
After saying that, she left Chen Cheng with one last kiss and joyfully got out of the car.
But Su Liya didn’t leave; she stood by the car door, watching Chen Cheng sitting inside,
"Uncle, look, I’m listening to you, I got off."
Chen Cheng: "I’ve said it before, don’t waste your time on me."
"Uncle, I won’t give up!"
Su Liya asked stubbornly yet hopefully, "Will we meet again?"
"No."
"It’s okay, I know where to find you!" A radiant smile appeared on Su Liya’s face.
Seeing this, Chen Cheng said, "Listen to me, step back two steps."
Su Liya nodded repeatedly and took small steps backward, "See, I’m being good!"
But what she didn’t expect was that Chen Cheng suddenly slammed the car door shut.
"Uncle!!" Su Liya stamped her foot in frustration.
She watched the direction the car was heading, stood there for a long while, and recalling Chen Cheng’s nonresponsive kiss in the car, made up her mind:
"Uncle, I will make you accept me!"
