[Free] The Years We Missed

Chapter 8

Seeing him like that only made Tian Xu Ning even angrier.

“What are you crying for, huh? When you’re in front of me, you’re all sharp-tongued, talking like you’ve left yourself no way out at all. Then the moment you turn around, you hide in some corner and cry in secret. Damn it, would it kill you to say sorry to me just once? Would it kill you to lower your voice and say, ‘I was wrong’? I’ve never seen anyone do so many pointless things as you!”

Those words shattered the last line of defense in Zi Yu’s heart.

There was no need to disguise himself anymore, no need to pretend to be strong. All the pent-up grievance and hurt finally broke free, streaming down his face in twin lines of tears, soaking his cheeks completely.

Seeing that Zi Yu was truly crying, Tian Xu Ning suddenly panicked, completely at a loss.

“Why are you crying? Did I scold you unfairly or something?”

The moment the words left his mouth, Zi Yu not only failed to stop, he broke down even harder, sobbing out loud. The sound was so raw it tore at the heart, wrenching the soul apart.

“Xu Ning… I missed you so much.”

Tian Xu Ning felt himself on the verge of collapsing, yet he still forced himself to snap back,

“Then why the hell did you wait until now to come back, if you missed me so much?”

Choking on his sobs, Zi Yu replied, voice trembling,

“I was wrong. I didn’t dare to face you.”

In the end, Tian Xu Ning still couldn’t remain hard-hearted in the face of Zi Yu’s tears.

He finally lowered his guard in surrender, pulled Zi Yu into his arms, and held him tightly.

Their breaths mingled together. No one spoke another word, only the frantic pounding of two hearts echoed through the quiet room, accompanied by Zi Yu’s muffled, broken sobs.

Tian Xu Ning tightened his hold, gripping Zi Yu with such force it was as if he wanted to fuse him into his very bones and blood, as though the slightest loosening would allow Zi Yu to disappear once again, leaving no trace behind.

Zi Yu buried his face in Tian Xu Ning’s chest, his shoulders trembling. His tears refused to stop, soaking through the front of Tian Xu Ning’s clothes.

“Xu Ning… I’m sorry.”

“Xu Ning… I missed you.”

He sobbed as he repeated those two sentences over and over, as if trying to pour out all the longing, guilt, and pain he had buried deep in his heart over the past four years.

Tian Xu Ning lifted his large hand and gently patted Zi Yu’s back. The coldness in his eyes was veiled by a thin sheen of moisture. In the end, he still couldn’t hold it back, a burning tear slipped free and fell into the damp hair of the person in his arms.

Zi Yu’s sobbing was like a sharp blade stabbing straight into his heart, tearing him apart from the inside.

He lowered his head and coaxed softly,

“Don’t cry anymore… be good. I’m here now.”

But the words did nothing to help. If anything, they were like fuel poured onto the fire. Having found something to cling to, Zi Yu only cried harder.

Tian Xu Ning was so heartbroken he could barely endure it. He gently tried to pull Zi Yu back, wanting to wipe away his tears.

Yet Zi Yu was like a frightened fawn, he not only refused to let go, but clutched him even tighter, his tear-soaked face buried deep against Tian Xu Ning’s chest, sobbing uncontrollably.

The damp, soft warmth against his chest, along with the trembling sobs so close to his ear, completely disarmed Xu Ning.

He could only stand there holding Zi Yu, gently patting his back, soothing and comforting him until the crying finally eased.

He didn’t know how much time passed before the sobs gradually faded away.

Zi Yu finally stopped crying and slowly pulled back from Xu Ning’s chest. When he looked down and saw that Xu Ning’s shirt was soaked with his tears, and even a bit of snot, embarrassment crept over his face.

“Finally cried it out?” Xu Ning’s voice sounded, carrying a trace of amusement.

Zi Yu lifted his head to look at him. His eyes were swollen and red, moisture still clinging to the corners, making him look both pitiful and irresistibly adorable.

He blinked lightly, then, using that very expression, said,

“Xu Ning, damn it… how dare you scold me?”

The gentle smile on Tian Xu Ning’s face vanished in an instant. His jaw tightened as he roared,

“Damn it! You’re really asking for it, what’s wrong with me scolding you a few times? I’m not just scolding you. I want to hit you too!”

With that, he sat down on the sofa and grabbed Zi Yu by the hand, yanking him hard so that Zi Yu tumbled straight into his arms.

He didn’t stop there. Xu Ning turned Zi Yu around and forced him face-down across his lap, leaving that round backside exposed right in front of him, as if inviting punishment.

Xu Ning didn’t hold back at all, he lifted his hand and brought it down hard.

Smack!

The sharp sound echoed, followed by Zi Yu’s miserable cry,

“Ah, Xu Ning… that hurts!”

Smack!

“Ah, damn you! You actually dare hit me?!”

Smack! Smack! Smack!

“Ah… ah… Xu Ning, I was wrong!”

Smack! Smack!

“Xu Ning… I was wrong, okay… ah, it hurts so bad! Ah…”

Tian Xu Ning really did strike hard, without the slightest bit of mercy. Zi Yu’s backside burned with pain, his cries growing more and more pitiful, yet he didn’t struggle or resist at all.

And then, without knowing when it began, the cries gradually changed in tone, turning into soft, drawn-out sounds that were difficult to put into words.

Zi Yu moaned miserably, moaned obscenely, moaned in a way that was intoxicating to the soul.

Tian Xu Ning truly couldn’t take it anymore, this little demon was driving him to the brink of madness.

His hand came down on Zi Yu’s backside one last time as he growled in a low voice, “f**k it, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you?”

Zi Yu turned his head to look at him, eyes brimming with tears, and said pitifully,

“It really hurts…”