Cheng Yuan thought he misheard. "What did you say?"
Jiang Xiao seemed to feel the window wasn't open wide enough, so she leaned out and opened it further, crossing her arms. "Weren't you going to jump? What are you standing there for? Jump."
"You... you really want me to jump?" Cheng Yuan asked again.
"Yes, I want you to jump." Jiang Xiao lifted her chin. "Do you dare?"
She didn't think Cheng Yuan would actually jump—after all, this was the twentieth floor, not the second. Jumping meant certain death, and Cheng Yuan was too selfish to let himself die.
"Are you jumping or not? If not, I'm leaving." Jiang Xiao was tired of his act and turned to go.
Cheng Yuan grabbed her wrist, his eyes burning. "Fine, I'll jump."
Jiang Xiao warned, "Don't overplay your hand. Friendly reminder, this is the twentieth floor."
"I know it's the twentieth floor."
"You'll die if you jump."
"Isn't that what you want to see?" Cheng Yuan said. "I'll give it to you."
Jiang Xiao shrugged. "Suit yourself."
She pulled her hand free, looking him over with a composed expression, not a trace of fear in her eyes. She still didn't believe he would jump.
If it were the old him, he definitely wouldn't jump—after all, he only loved himself. But now, he loved Jiang Xiao and was willing to do anything for her.
"Xiao Xiao, if I really jump, will you forgive me?"
Jiang Xiao snorted. "Jump first, then we'll talk."
"Alright." Cheng Yuan gazed at her, as if he couldn't get enough.
The next second, he did something shocking: he pulled her into his arms, pressed his right hand to the back of her neck, and kissed her deeply.
He kissed fiercely, with a sense of burning bridges, as if it were their last kiss.
It had been a long time since she'd been kissed so fiercely. Jiang Xiao could barely breathe, pounding his chest. "Let... let go."
But the man was strong; even with one hand, he held her tight. She didn't know how long she hit him; her hands went numb.
Cheng Yuan slowly pulled back, blood on his lips. He licked it lightly. "Xiao Xiao, will you miss me?"
"No," Jiang Xiao said.
"That's okay," Cheng Yuan chuckled. "I know you're lying. Once I jump, you'll never forget me." He tapped her chest. "I'll always have a place here."
"If you're going to jump, just jump. Stop blabbering," Jiang Xiao said. There was blood on her lips too—she didn't know if it was hers or his. She wiped it away and slapped him. "If you kiss me without my consent again, I'll call the police."
After hitting him, she couldn't be bothered to look at him anymore. She grabbed her bag and walked away.
Just as she reached the door, she heard a faint sound.
Then Jiang Yu's panicked voice: "President Cheng, what are you doing? You can't jump!"
Jiang Yu had just reached the door when he saw the heart-stopping scene and nearly lost his soul.
Jiang Xiao turned to look and saw Cheng Yuan half-lying on the windowsill, half his body hanging outside, the other half inside. If he swung his leg over, he would fall immediately.
Jiang Xiao: "..."
She thought his talk of jumping was just talk, but he was serious. Instinctively, she dropped her bag and ran back.
"Cheng Yuan, get down!"
He turned to look at her, his red-rimmed eyes misty. "Xiao Xiao, if I jump, will you stop being mad?"
Jiang Xiao pressed her forehead, then dropped her hand. "This is the twentieth floor. Get down now."
"I know it's the twentieth floor. I'm not afraid." Cheng Yuan slowly lifted his leg. "I just need you to remember what you promised me."
"You need to have limits with your drama," Jiang Xiao said patiently. "I'll count to three. You'd better get down."
"I won't." Cheng Yuan curled his lips. "Didn't you say you like butterflies? I'll become a butterfly for you, okay?"
"..." Jiang Xiao didn't remember ever saying she liked butterflies. "I don't."
"You said you did before."
"That was before. I don't like them now." Jiang Xiao said. "Get down."
Cheng Yuan looked at the night sky, his smile deepening. "Fine, no butterflies. We'll like something else. I'll become a star and play with you."
"Cheng Yuan, are you insane?" Jiang Xiao frowned. "I don't like butterflies, and I don't like stars. I'll say this one last time: get down!"
The commotion drew a crowd. Some were peeking through the door; others were looking up from the courtyard.
Shouts rose and fell.
"Don't jump! Don't jump!"
"Come down! Come down!"
"Why would you jump? There's hope only if you live!"
"..."
Cheng Yuan couldn't hear anyone except Jiang Xiao. He sat on the window frame, legs dangling, not holding onto anything, looking up at the night sky.