The moment of silence seemed to stretch on to infinity before I heard his soft chuckled. Ever so gently, he braced his knuckle under my chin and lifted my face up. "I'm not scared of you because you're fragile, or you are the Devil," he said, slowly as if he wanted to make sure I understood what he was saying. "But because I know myself well enough. I don't know how to be gentle with someone I want this much, and the idea of hurting you? I would rather reach into my chest, pull out my heart and put it on your shelf, than leave a single bruise on your flesh."
The rollercoaster ride I was on brought me back to another peak, another chance to have everything I wanted and needed.
"I've never needed you to be gentle," I whispered, begging him to see the truth in my words. "I just need you."
"You don't understand," Chang Xuefeng sighed, his finger moving from my chin to stroke my face. "You're the only one I have been gentle with."
