His hoarse, deep voice penetrated her eardrums, "It's not the cigarettes, it's not the alcohol, it's you I can't quit! Le Tong!"
Le Tong trembled slightly. If, last time, she didn't believe a word of his confession, this time, damn it, she believed him just a little!
Ji Rui clearly felt the woman beneath him shake slightly. He tried to gently ease her hand, and then, to his surprise, he found that even with her hands free, she didn't urgently push him away as she had before.
Ji Rui tried to extend his hand to her back, gently embracing her.
Her body stiffened noticeably in his arms, but Ji Rui didn't retreat; he buried his face directly in the crook of her neck, gently rubbing it a few times, then whispered in her ear.
"Le Tong, let me hold you... just once... is that okay?"
Le Tong froze, her newly freed hand hovering in the air, hesitated for a moment, then silently fell onto the sofa, letting the man gently hug her.
