Chapter 126: Promises and Betrayals

However, the energy within the Water-Avoiding Bead was not easily harnessed. To this day, Zhang Can had never managed to commune with the energy inside it again, nor had he obtained even the slightest wisp of its power.

He had probed it with his spiritual energy for a long time, yet he still could not detect any movement within the bead. The only way he could utilize its power was by holding it in his mouth while submerged; even then, it wasn't a matter of him absorbing and converting its energy, but rather the bead naturally exuding a force that subtly influenced him, granting him the ability to stay underwater.

Unable to fathom the nature of the bead's energy—not knowing its origin nor its composition—Zhang Can sighed and tucked it back into his inner garment pocket. He would take it with him on this trip; it might prove useful.

Zhang Can had already decided that no matter how difficult things became, he would never sell the bead. He found it too easy to acquire things that could be traded for money, and no matter how precious something was said to be, it was ultimately just an inanimate object. Only that which granted him abilities was a true treasure. Besides, he was not short on money, nor did he ever aspire to be some kind of mega-wealthy tycoon. He had always believed that having enough to get by was sufficient.

Of course, Zhang Can had no intention of living like an ascetic and making his life miserable. Money was meant to provide a happy life for himself and his family, and to be enjoyed. Making money was important, but spending it was equally so.

Lying in bed, Zhang Can found he could not sleep. He tossed and turned until, suddenly, there were two gentle knocks on his door. He looked up, his X-ray vision activating to peer through the door. There was indeed someone outside; while his vision could not reveal a clear face through the door, he could see the skeletal structure, and it was clearly a woman.

Since it was a woman, he ruled out Chen Huiyu; it could only be his younger sister Zhang Hua, Liu Xiaoqin, or Liu Xiaoli.

"Who is it?" Zhang Can asked softly as he put on his clothes and got up.

"It's me, Liu Xiaoqin." After his question, a soft, delicate voice replied from outside. It was indeed Liu Xiaoqin.

Zhang Can dressed and opened the door to find Liu Xiaoqin standing there in simple attire. Even without makeup, she looked beautiful, though her expression held a hint of shyness.

"Is... is something the matter?" Zhang Can hesitated, unsure of what to ask. He and Liu Xiaoqin were already betrothed. In this day and age, it was perfectly normal for an engaged couple to live together, and it would actually be stranger if they were to maintain such rigid decorum while living under the same roof. Seeing Liu Xiaoqin's fresh, post-bath appearance, Zhang Can felt a sudden stir of restlessness. What else could there be to a secret midnight meeting between the two of them besides "that"?

Zhang Can smiled, noticing her shyness. To avoid disturbing the others in the house, he lowered his voice. "Is something wrong?"

He followed this with a mischievous smile, which made Liu Xiaoqin blush even deeper. She lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes, and only after a long moment did she reply, "Nothing much. You're leaving tomorrow, and I... I just wanted to talk with you for a while."

"That's fine, haha, come in." Zhang Can stepped aside. Liu Xiaoqin was clearly very shy; she hesitated, standing still for a moment before saying, "Let's go up to the rooftop to talk!"

Zhang Can smiled and nodded. He reached out to take her small hand, and they crept upstairs together. Liu Xiaoqin’s hand was warm and soft. Fearing they might wake Zhang Hua or Liu Xiaoli, she kept her breathing shallow, but after a while, she grew slightly breathless. They finally managed to slip onto the rooftop.

A half-moon hung in the sky, and the silver moonlight draped over them like a light veil. Zhang Can cleared a spot on the rooftop that looked clean, though it was too dark to see if there was any dust or sand. He patted the spot and said, "Sit."

Liu Xiaoqin sat down obediently, leaning against Zhang Can, and cupped her face in her hands to gaze at the moon.

The moon was still more than half-full; it was only the eleventh, and the moon wouldn't be perfectly round until the sixteenth.

Zhang Can looked at Liu Xiaoqin. The silvery moonlight cast upon her made her look incredibly pure and holy. This girl was so innocent. He sighed, squeezed her hand tighter, and said, "Xiaoqin, we aren't children anymore. As long as you're willing, once I return from Xinjiang, we'll bring our parents and family over and hold the wedding, alright?"

Liu Xiaoqin was startled. She hadn't expected him to say that. She froze, then began to tremble all over. After a long while, she replied in a shaky voice, "I... I will listen to everything you say!"

Liu Xiaoqin was truly too gentle and obedient. However, Zhang Can could tell that she was different from when they had first met. Back then, she had been driven by the desperate need to pay for her father's medical treatment, even if it meant falling into a life of misery. But now, her feelings were entirely different; she loved Zhang Can with all her heart.

When a woman loves a man with her whole heart, she has no room for anything else. No matter if the man is good or bad, she would never find him unbearable.

They sat quietly on the rooftop for a long time. Liu Xiaoqin felt a sweet warmth in her heart. Though she didn't speak, she leaned closer and closer, eventually nestling her entire body into Zhang Can's embrace.

It was late, and Zhang Can felt a chill in the air. He touched Liu Xiaoqin’s forehead and felt a light, cool dampness from the dew. He quickly helped her up and said, "Xiaoqin, let's go back to sleep. It's late and the dew is heavy—don't catch a cold!"

"Mm..." Liu Xiaoqin responded softly, then murmured, "I just wanted to stay with you a little longer!"

Zhang Can smiled and said, "Silly girl, once I’m back, we'll be together every day. You can stay as long as you like. I'll be with you every day!"

Liu Xiaoqin finally stood up, though her body felt limp with drowsiness; she didn't want to move at all.

He helped her into her room and tucked her into bed. With her eyes closed, she seemed to be murmuring in her sleep, curled up and reluctant to move. Zhang Can smiled, took off her shoes, pulled the quilt over her, and then tiptoed out of the room. He gently closed the door and returned to his own, where he sat on the edge of the bed in a daze.

Suddenly, he recalled Liu Xiaoqin’s languid posture, which seemed incredibly alluring in hindsight. If he had stayed behind to have his way with her, she likely wouldn't have resisted, would she?

Once the thought took root, Zhang Can’s face began to burn, and his whole body felt hot. A wicked fire rose within him, and he paced back and forth in his room, desperate to sneak back into Liu Xiaoqin’s room.

He tried hard to restrain himself, but the carnal impulses persisted. It was only natural for a healthy man to consider doing improper things when overcome by desire. He thought about it and realized he truly couldn't resist the temptation of Liu Xiaoqin’s beautiful body. He stood up abruptly and walked to the door, intending to go out. His mind was completely clouded by lust; he could think of nothing else.

But just before he pulled the door open, there were two more light knocks.

Zhang Can froze. He wondered if Liu Xiaoqin was thinking of him, too, and had been unable to resist coming to see him.

Tense and excited, he opened the door with trembling hands. Standing there was indeed Liu Xiaoqin, with her long, dark hair flowing freely. Zhang Can gasped, reached out to cup her face, brushed aside the hair covering her features, and leaned in to kiss her.

However, he suddenly felt something was wrong. Liu Xiaoqin—or who he thought was her—froze, but didn't pull away; instead, she closed her eyes and slightly tilted her lips toward him.

Zhang Can stopped abruptly. After pushing aside the hair, he recognized her. While this face looked very much like Liu Xiaoqin’s, it was actually Liu Xiaoli!

Zhang Can quickly pulled his hands back and retreated two steps, struggling to calm his racing heart. "You... why are you here? I thought you were... I thought you were Xiaoqin!"

Liu Xiaoli was clearly disappointed. She sighed and said wistfully, "Have you forgotten me completely? They say first love is the most unforgettable. Do I really leave no impression on you anymore?"

Zhang Can felt awkward. He took another step back and said in a low voice, "I'm sorry, I mistook you for someone else. We are all family now. Everything from the past... I have completely forgotten it. You... you should forget it, too."

He paused, then added, "Your sister is a very simple, innocent girl. I don't want to hurt her."

Liu Xiaoli nodded. "Mm, I know. Xiaoqin is innocent, and I am not innocent at all. You can't hurt her, but you can hurt me."

When she spoke so bluntly, Zhang Can regained his composure, and the fire in his mind gradually faded. He said coldly, "Xiaoli, we were all young back then, and our thoughts were completely different. We were naive and idealistic. Back then, I did love you, but you never loved me, did you? I am no longer that person. People change, and I..."

"You don't have to say it!"

Liu Xiaoli cut him off, grabbed his hand, and pressed it against her chest. "I know I broke your heart back then, but do you know that now, you are all I have in my heart? I am not lying. Just feel my heart, and you will understand..."

Zhang Can was already on the verge of losing control, and Liu Xiaoli’s actions ignited the fire within him once more. Although Liu Xiaoli and Liu Xiaoqin were sisters and looked quite similar, their temperaments were entirely different. Liu Xiaoli was much more mature; she knew how to handle a man and what weapons were most effective. Liu Xiaoqin would never use such tactics—nor could she.

Zhang Can breathed heavily, struggling to pull his hand away. The softness he felt beneath his touch nearly drove him mad. How could he not be stirred when the lover he had dreamed of for years was suddenly acting this way toward him?

Even though Zhang Can knew Liu Xiaoli’s intentions might not be pure and likely contained hidden motives, his body was now firmly in control of his mind.

Liu Xiaoli slipped into the room and gently closed the door, locking it without a sound. She then threw her arms around Zhang Can, and without hesitation, pressed her warm, moist tongue into his mouth.

Zhang Can was neither a saint nor a gentleman; he was just a man—a normal man. With Liu Xiaoli throwing herself at him, combined with having gone without a woman for so long, he could not withstand the stimulation. His mind went blank, his reason was incinerated, and he swept Liu Xiaoli up, threw her onto the bed, and pounced on her like a wild beast.