Translated by newbienoona

Edited by anks

Xiang Mankuai is interrupted and looks at the red door with dissatisfaction.

They see a teenage boy holding two plates. He blinks and says, “I came to bring the sauces.”

The boy's hair is blond. It is wispy, that anyone would like to touch it.

Mankuai, despite being angry, stands up from between his legs.

“You're too slow. I'll take my leave.” Although the child tried to be polite, he is still naughty. He put down the sauces, still staring at them. He stares at them with big eyes before running away.

As soon as the child disappears, Mankuai wants Qilu to smile.

This time, Han Qilu gets up and blankly states, “Go ahead and eat. I'm not hungry. I'm going upstairs to rest.”

Is there something wrong with her? Xiang Mankuai asks herself. If he's not upset with her, what happened to him?

Could it be that the kidnapper knocked him out too?

Han Qilu is still cranky when he reaches the steps. The stairs are wooden, and you can see its grooves. The retro vibe the villa exudes is something he would have enjoyed, but right now, he isn't in the mood to appreciate it.

“Oh, Qilu, let me take you upstairs.” Xiang Mankuai catches up with Qilu, and clings to his arm.

He doesn't reject or push her away.

Despite wanting to put distance between them, he knew she'd think something's wrong if he forced her away. He needs to be patient!

“How often do you come here?" he asks in his gentlest voice.

She smiles quickly and replies, “Not often, maybe three or four times. But I stay for about three to four days. [Relaxing] It's good for the skin.”

Han Qilu's warm tone calms her. Maybe he feels bad because he's tired, right?

“This is the master bedroom. There are bedrooms right next to it, but they're not as big,” she says as she opens the door. The interior is decorated in medieval style, but it has air conditioners that are made to look like wood.

The lamps and chandeliers are made to look like they're from the Middle Ages, but instead of candles, they're candle-shaped light bulbs.

Once the curtains are adjusted, and the lights are turned on, the room warms up immediately.

“Go down and have lunch.” He sits down and takes off his jacket.

Han Qilu is her biggest backer right now, and she won't miss an opportunity to be with him. She takes a step toward him and wraps her arms around his waist. She leans her cheek against his back and says, “Suddenly, I don't feel like eating anymore. I don't want to eat alone. Why don't we take a break together?"

She is afraid he'd refuse her so she adds,”I'm really tired from driving.”

He tenses, but doesn't say a word. He suppresses the urge to push her away.

He agrees! Xiang Mankuai can't help but smile again.

“Qilu, I love you.” What she says is true. It's only three words, but she says it with all her sincerity.

She really wants to grow old with this young man!

But in reality, this destiny is a wish doped with impurity.

“Well.” He says with a deep voice, a note lower in his throat, as he responds to her.

After getting a response, Mankuai releases his hand, and thoughtfully hangs his jacket on a hanger by the bed.

He wears a fitted white T-s.h.i.+rt. They both lie in bed, several centimeters apart. With the room being warm, they sleep without a quilt.

“Qilu… .” Mankuai turns over and puts a hand over his chest. “I like seeing you when I wake up.”

He is silent for a moment before he responds. “I can send you a picture.”

Mankuai smiles and giggles before she pats him on the chest. “I hate you. I'm being serious!”

She thinks he's joking, but in truth, he's being serious. Xiang Mankuai can't see him when she wakes up because that position is reserved for a certain girl.

“Sleep. We'll wake up in an hour.” He closes his eyes and stops conversing.

“Okay… .” Mankuai nods before shutting her eyes.

Despite responding obediently, her flexible and well-manicured hand slowly moves away from his chest.

Her middle finger glides as she flicks her wrist down his invisible central axis, leaving a touch of discomfort. Only a few people can resist this feeling.

Han Qilu opens his eyes slightly and suggests uncomfortably into her ear. “Don't cause trouble.”

But he doesn't immediately stop her. Can she interpret it as desire? This is what she thinks. Instead of stopping, she continues to move her hand down to his lower body.

Hiss! Han Qilu takes a breath and almost immediately removes her hand from his groin.

“Mankuai!” He glares at her angrily, with disdain radiating from his eyes. It scares her to a point that she immediately froze.

“I know. You said to rest… I'll let you rest.” She takes her hand back and only dares to breathe once the room has calmed down. A sigh of relief escapes once she hears his steady breathing.

As long as he is willing, he'll be hers… but why has he refused her twice? This is something a man wouldn't do.

Could it be that she doesn't have enough charm? If this spreads, she'd be a laughing stock!

She unwillingly bites her lower lip and leaves the room. He may not be hungry, but she is!

When Han Qilu finally gets up, Mankuai has had lunch and is now playing with a kitten in front of the villa.

Meow! The cat mewls as she sees the chicken leg Mankuai is teasing her with. When she isn't prepared, the cat jumps and takes the piece of meat away and disappears.

“What… .” She purses her lips in dissatisfaction as she sees him.

Her thoughts were that of inquiry than that of love. Mankuai is fl.u.s.tered. She can see through Han Qilu's expression.

“Qilu.” She takes small steps toward him, smiling. “Why did you get up? Are you hungry? We can get someone to make you food.”

“If there are leftovers, just heat some up. I don't want to waste food.” He seems to be more approachable.

After watching, Mankuai wants to take him for a walk around the villa, but Han Qilu refuses.

“No need. If we leave now, we can reach Xiangjia before dark. We don't want the elders to wait for us,” he says as he signals that he's getting his coat.

Xiang Mankuai can't help but stomp her foot when he retreats into the villa. She wanted to take another opportunity with him, but it seems like she won't be able to progress. She feels the distance getting wider between them, and she hates it.

They bid farewell to the middle-aged foreigner before boarding the car. Mankuai decides to drive since the road conditions may not have uploaded on to the GPS.

He fell into a nap, but once he woke up, he stayed awake. Vivid images disconcerted him. Memories he had forgotten started popping out, and the more he remembers, the more he feels about An Chuxia, to the point of being unable to breathe.

“We're here,” Xiang Mankuai says as she parks the car across from the Xiangjia mansion.

As soon as they exit the car, no one greets them. Han Qilu cannot grasp the mood.

“We could still make it to dinner at this time. Let's go.” Mankuai tries to hold on to his hand, but he pulls away, leaving her embarra.s.sed.

“There are pedestrians nearby. We can't make a bigger scandal anymore. We should keep our distance,” he explains.

“Okay.” She is unhappy, but she can't refute his argument.

They both walk to the house side by side.