Mute Beauty

Chapter 23: A Sneaky Kiss

Yu Ting was stunned.

Not sending her messages, not replying to her messages...

Has she grown tired of her?

Ran Ling looked at Yu Ting, her usually gentle eyes filled with unshed tears, revealing long-held grievances.

She always presented a composed and graceful self in front of others, only showing this vulnerable side to Yu Ting, and now she felt a bit out of control.

She cared deeply about Yu Ting; she waited every day, watched every day, and was plagued by self-doubt and sadness.

Her anger towards Yu Ting didn't stem from how long Yu Ting had been abroad, but from the fact that Yu Ting didn't reply to her messages and didn't reach out. She could indulge Yu Ting's whims, but she couldn't stand being ignored.

Yu Ting was surprised.

In the past month, Ran Ling had only sent her two messages—one on the day Yu Ting left the country. Yu Ting had seen it but deliberately didn't reply due to her own frustration and then forgot about it.

The second message asked when she would be back. Yu Ting saw it but was still not in the mood to reply.

But if Ran Ling cared so much, why didn't she send a few more messages? If she had, Yu Ting would have likely replied.

So, Ran Ling also had her pride; she could be quite stubborn, too.

"I'm sorry... I saw the messages you sent."

"I was busy at the time and forgot to reply," Yu Ting explained apologetically. "I get a lot of messages, and yours got pushed down, so I didn't notice. I didn't mean to ignore you."

Yu Ting comforted her, saying, "I'm not tired of you; how could I be?"

If Yu Ting had kept silent, Ran Ling might have managed to hold it together, but once she spoke, Ran Ling's grievances swelled, and tears overflowed her eyes. She raised her hand to cover her face and turned away to hide from Yu Ting.

Yu Ting stepped forward and hugged her from behind. Ran Ling instinctively resisted, probably out of embarrassment, shaking her hands in protest. But as Yu Ting held on, she found herself powerless to escape...

"Don't cry..."

Yu Ting whispered soothingly, holding her and gently turning her around to face her. Ashamed to let Yu Ting see her tear-streaked face, Ran Ling buried her head in Yu Ting's neck, quietly sobbing.

"I absolutely do not find you annoying, please stop crying, okay?"

Yu Ting ran her fingers through Ran Ling's long hair, grabbed some tissue, and leaned down to wipe her tears. After a while, Ran Ling managed to calm down, supporting herself on Yu Ting's shoulders.

As she bent down to help wipe away Ran Ling's tears, Yu Ting noticed a new scar just below Ran Ling's collarbone. The wound looked serious, and the scab had already formed, leaving a red mark.

Yu Ting frowned.

Ran Ling pursed her lips, raising her gaze. Her skin was so pale that her eye sockets, nose, and even her forehead were flushed from crying, looking utterly captivating.

Like a white jasmine blooming in the rain, delicate and precious.

She wasn't a strong person; when she was sad, she cried.

Yu Ting watched her intently, softly coaxing, "It's all my fault. Can you forgive me, Ling Jie?"

Ran Ling wiped her eyes again and typed a message. Yu Ting's phone vibrated, and Ran Ling sent her a message: [I'm not blaming you.]