"Afraid I'll be recognized?" he chuckled softly...
At that moment, Aisha was sobbing quietly in the next room. As a girl herself, Yu Tang could feel her grievance and helplessness. Although she didn't know how to comfort her with words, she silently went in, handed her a tissue, and gently comforted her.
Aisha looked up through her tear-filled eyes and noticed Yu Tang's distinctly different Eastern features and refined attire, guessing that she was a guest at her home.
Grandpa always had many guests.
Girls' friendships sometimes develop without warning: a girl won't abandon a girl who's crying beside her.
"What I want is love, not a transaction of interests," Aisha cried to Yu Tang. "My family doesn't understand me at all... I can't be with someone I don't like. I feel uncomfortable even if he touches me!"
Aside from that first sentence in English, Aisha spoke her native language later on as she cried, which Yu Tang couldn't understand. But a hug should be universal, so she gently patted Aisha's back and comforted her in English: "I understand you. I would feel disgusted if someone I didn't like touched me. So don't put too much pressure on yourself, love will definitely find you someday."
"Really?" Aisha looked at Yu Tang with teary eyes.
Love. Yu Tang used to deeply yearn for it when she watched idol dramas. Seeing the female and male leads kissing passionately in movies would excite her, and she believed that only people who truly love each other could kiss so tenderly. She also eagerly hoped that that sacred and beautiful first love would come to her.
But Yu Chaoxian kissed her too. Even more intensely and excessively than depicted in the TV drama. But between her and Yu Chaoxian… it was definitely not love.
To comfort the broken girl before her, she suppressed her own chaotic thoughts and said in a firm yet gentle tone, "Really, you will find love, it's just not the right time yet."
Aisha nodded vigorously, then grabbed Yu Tang's hand and said sincerely, her voice trembling with tears, "You'll encounter it too!"
A sound came from outside. Yu Tang turned her head and looked through the people coming and going, her gaze suddenly freezing on the figure at the door.
Yu Chaoxian stood leisurely between the doorways, his posture upright and handsome. He didn't even need to make any movement; simply standing there, the powerful aura emanating from him seemed to suddenly sink and stagnate the noisy air around him. He was talking quietly with the minister, while Mingming respectfully handed the valuable gift she had brought to the minister's wife.
Yu Tang noticed that he didn't seem to be looking in her direction. However, as if he had eyes in the side, he raised his hand with extreme naturalness and precision, pointing precisely in her direction.
Then, he hooked his long finger inward.
The moment Yu Tang saw him, her body seemed to react before her brain did.
Walking towards him, returning to his side, seemed to be the only and absolute safe zone in her subconscious.
She stood up and said goodbye to Aisha: "Goodbye, Aisha, I have to go."
Aisha followed her gaze and looked at the man with a strong presence. A knowing glint flashed in her eyes, and she lowered her voice to ask curiously, "Is he your love?"
Yu Tang's eyes widened suddenly. She glanced at Yu Chaoxian in alarm, then quickly shook her head at Aisha, "Of course not."
Perhaps it was the few seconds she lingered that caused her displeasure, for Yu Chaoxian's gaze swept over her again from afar. Yu Tang dared not linger any longer. She said goodbye to Aisha, walked quickly toward Yu Chaoxian, and quietly stood in the shadows beside him.
Yu Tang's height was just below Yu Chaoxian's shoulder. Yu Chaoxian raised his hand and ruffled her hair, then pulled her to his side.
Yu Chaoxian shook hands with the minister familiarly to say goodbye. During their conversation, the minister remained very polite, even with a hint of barely perceptible caution. Yu Tang silently wondered just how wide Yu Chaoxian's social circle was; it seemed that his "old friends" were everywhere.
They had been speaking in the local language, which Yu Tang couldn't understand at all. She only noticed that the minister's smiling gaze seemed to linger on her for a moment, and Yu Chaoxian also lowered his eyes, looked at her intently, said something to the minister, and had an elusive smile on his lips.
After Yu Chaoxian and his entourage drove away, the minister's son approached his father with a smile, his tone smug: "How about it, Dad? I told you long ago that girl was his woman, wasn't I right? He just admitted it himself, no wonder he didn't want the woman I offered him before."
The minister merely raised an eyebrow knowingly upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Yu Chaoxian to prefer this type of seemingly naive young girl, but in this circle, it wasn't unusual. There were plenty of people who went even further and more perversely than Yu Chaoxian; he'd seen many tycoons with mistresses all over the world. This kind of young girl was probably just something Yu Chaoxian was having on a whim, trying something new. After all, Yu Chaoxian wasn't exactly a saint.
Inside the car on the way to the hotel, Yu Chaoxian ran his fingertips across Yu Tang's delicate cheek, giving it a gentle pinch, and casually asked, "What were you talking about in the room just now?"
Yu Tang recalled Aisha's tearful lament about "love," subconsciously looked up, quickly glanced at Yu Chaoxian's cold profile, and asked hesitantly, "...Can girls here never get married?"
“It’s difficult. Their religion considers marriage as ‘half of their faith,’ and being single is questioned as ‘not in accordance with doctrine’ and a violation of religious rules.” Yu Chaoxian said calmly, showing no concern for other people’s affairs.
"How can you get married if you don't like it?" As a girl herself, Yu Tang understood Agatha's resistance.
"Why are you worrying so much? Arranged marriages are just a way for their families to maintain power and wealth." Yu Chaoxian thought her worrying was just asking for trouble. He gently squeezed her palm to bring her back to reality. "Are you hungry?"
Yu Tang was still thinking about Aisha's predicament and had no appetite. She shook her head, holding the camel milk chocolate that the minister had given her.
Yu Chaoxian glanced at the time and didn't insist: "Then we'll eat later."
He first took her to a hotel to change her clothes; her dress was torn.
The hotel is surrounded by the sea on three sides, with an endless expanse of turquoise water outside the windows. The sunlight shimmers on the surface, creating a mesmerizing scene. To the west lies a public beach, where tourists take photos on the soft white sand, pausing at several popular Instagram-worthy spots. Especially at sunset, the setting sun paints the sky, clouds, and sea in a warm golden hue, creating a very romantic atmosphere. There's also a light show at night.
Yu Tang, covered in dirt, was in a hurry to take a shower and change, without even properly appreciating the scenery. Yu Chaoxian scooped her up and carried her to the bathroom, throwing all her clothes on the floor. Her long hair became the only thing that could cover Yu Tang's body.
Yu Chaoxian looked Yu Tang around and examined her. His furrowed brows relaxed a little. She wasn't injured, but this little aunt was still shyly keeping her head down.
Yu Tang's skin was fair, and his face was flushed, whether from shyness or from the steam of the hot water, he looked shy and charming even before he did anything.
What's there to be ashamed of? It's not like he hasn't seen it before.
Yu Chaoxian couldn't take his eyes off it for a moment, and a certain part of him was itching to do something.
He deliberately pinched her wrist, and sure enough, a red mark was left. It was lucky that there wasn't a mark left from the fall.
Yu Tang was sensitive, while Yu Chaoxian's rough thumb lingered slowly on her skin, causing Yu Tang to tremble involuntarily.
Seeing his change, Yu Tang's eyes widened. How could he suddenly... get up? She nervously stepped back, afraid that he was going to do something, but fortunately, Yu Chaoxian seemed to only look at her and did not make any excessive movements.
Yu Chaoxian looked at her with amusement: "What's with that expression? It's not like it's the first time I've seen it."
"I, I..." Yu Tang had seen it before, and although they had been honest with each other many times, she still felt at a loss when she was in the same room with him in bright light. She turned her back in panic.
Yu Chaoxian laughed at her for making a fuss over nothing.
Knowing she was just dawdling again, Yu Chaoxian ignored her, quickly took a shower, wrapped himself in a towel, and went out.
The oppressive feeling that made her heart race finally disappeared, and Yu Tang breathed a long sigh of relief before she could apply the shower gel with peace of mind.
When she came out after getting dressed, Yu Chaoxian was sitting on the sofa smoking.
His profile was partially illuminated in the shadows, the shadow cast by his brow bone making his eyes appear even deeper. The curtains billowed behind him like waves crashing on the shore.
He stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray with his long fingers, his eyes in the shadows meeting Yu Tang's. "Pour me a cup of coffee."
"Oh, okay."
Yu Tang walked to the coffee machine and made a cup of coffee. Behind her, the man gave her another inexplicable instruction: "Add sugar."
Yu Tang glanced back at him, puzzled. When did Yu Chaoxian start adding sugar to his coffee? Didn't he dislike sweet drinks?
Luckily, there was honey nearby.
When the coffee was served, Yu Tang wondered if Yu Chaoxian was too thirsty, as he had drunk all the sweet coffee. After finishing the coffee, he seemed to have finally completed a certain step, and picked up a dark blue velvet box from the table.
He opened it, and inside lay an exquisitely designed bracelet, which he picked up and put on her wrist.
Yu Chaoxian pulled her closer, inhaling her fresh, sweet scent from her recent bath, and placed a light kiss on her smooth forehead: "Do you like it?"
This bracelet isn't as extravagant as the ruby one; its subtle shimmer resembles the twinkling stars in the night sky.
Yu Tang nodded and answered honestly, "Very beautiful."
Yu Chaoxian seemed satisfied and lightly pinched her side: "Go change your clothes, I'll take you out to eat."
Following Yu Chaoxian's instructions, Mickey made a reservation in advance for the underwater restaurant here.
Yu Chaoxian led Yu Tang in a sightseeing elevator that resembled a submarine, which slowly descended. Yu Tang looked up and saw sharks and rays swimming calmly over the arched glass dome above their heads.
She was involuntarily drawn in, leaning forward slightly, close to the cool glass, her eyes fixed on the mysterious deep blue and the marine life on the other side of the wall.
Yu Chaoxian lowered her eyes, her gaze as clear and pure as ever, intently watching the fish separated by a pane of glass, as if she had completely forgotten that he was beside her.
He gripped her hand tighter, his strength inexplicably increasing, causing Yu Tang to immediately look up at him, thinking he was about to say something. But Yu Chaoxian simply held her hand without saying a word.
After finishing his meal, Yu Chaoxian glanced at the time and casually asked, "Are you sleepy?"
Yu Tang felt as if she had truly become Yu Chaoxian's pet, only needing to answer whether she was hungry or sleepy each day.
She shook her head: "Not sleepy."
Then, noticing that the vehicle seemed to be heading towards the airport, she asked, "Are we going back now?"
The partition in front rose silently. Yu Chaoxian didn't answer, but instead picked her up, placed her on his lap, and rubbed his chin against the top of her head: "Is there anything else you want to buy?"
"No, not at all." However, the purpose of the trip still puzzled her. Was Yu Chaoxian really just bringing her shopping? Or had he already finished his business? And who were those two people who shot at Yu Chaoxian? Or was it another business feud?
But Yu Tang never asked too many questions about business matters; Yu Yanting hadn't let her know about these things before.
She secretly observed him, and he seemed to be in a good mood again, showing no signs of being troubled. Instead, he seemed to be in a hurry.
"Are you alright now?" she asked, trying a different approach.
Yu Chaoxian gave a lazy "hmm" and comfortably hugged the soft, fragrant person in his arms. Yu Tang knew immediately that Yu Chaoxian was just being perfunctory.
Seeing her standing there dumbfounded, he nudged her with his knee and said, "Come here and kiss me."
Yu Tang didn't know why Yu Chaoxian suddenly made such a request, and the heat that had just subsided on her face started to rise again. Her eyes darted around for a moment, and she quickly stuffed the remaining half of the camel milk chocolate from her pocket into his mouth.
Yu Chaoxian frowned as expected, and Yu Tang quickly added, "Camel milk chocolate has a very unique flavor, why don't you try it?"
As she spoke, she quickly broke off a small piece and put it in her mouth, trying to prove how delicious it was, while struggling to slide off his lap.
Yu Chaoxian laughed at her for daring to provoke him but not daring to accept it. He grabbed the back of her neck with his large hand, using an irresistible force to force her to tilt her head back and kiss her on the back of her head.
The girl's lips were incredibly soft. The moment the man kissed her, he aggressively entwined his tongue with hers, stealing her breath. Yu Tang felt her tongue go numb from the kiss, and the thin air made her let out a soft moan uncontrollably.
Yu Tang's voice was like adding fuel to the fire, sending a tingling, electric-like sensation rushing down to a certain spot beneath her.
Startled, Yu Tang straightened up and moved away. She clearly felt his large hand gripping her waist, its temperature alarmingly high. Her kneeling position on his lap had become incredibly dangerous. Yu Tang hurriedly squeezed her legs together, terrified that he would roughly lift up her thin skirt at any moment.
"Don't move, let me hold you for a while." Yu Chaoxian knew she was still on her period, so he simply buried his burning face deep in her fragrant neck, his breathing hot and heavy.
Yu Tang dared not move, her heart pounding as she felt the veins bulging on Yu Chaoxian's neck and arms from extreme restraint, throbbing under her hand.
The vehicle traveled smoothly along the wide E11 highway, and the Burj Khalifa in the rearview mirror grew smaller and smaller; soon we would be leaving the country.
They returned on Yu Chaoxian's private plane, where Yu Tang noticed a "Safe Travel" talisman hanging on the plane.
Meanwhile, the CIA Americas.
The office was shrouded in darkness, with a few sharp beams of light filtering through the gaps in the blinds. Carson's figure was sunken in his chair, the red glow of his cigar casting smoke that rose into the shadows.
Carson glanced at the time; it was already past midnight. Jonathan's failure to call meant the mission had failed.
The projector showed a blurry photo, revealing only a man's back and the outline of his profile. Carson couldn't be mistaken; his one eye narrowed. The recently risen arms dealer, Yu Chaoxian, was none other than Shark of the SAS task force!
This photo was taken by Michael, the mercenary who sacrificed his life. It was unexpected that the investigation into Li Xiang's business would lead to Yu Chaoxian.
It's been two years.
He's still in the shadows, while Yu Chaoxian is in the open; the advantage lies with him. As long as Yu Chaoxian lives, he won't have a moment's peace. Since mercenaries aren't working, and assassins aren't working, then…
Carson glanced at the girl beside Yu Chaoxian. The girl was even more blurry, her profile barely visible. Yu Chaoxian had never had a woman before; was this girl beside him a coincidence, or was she so precious that he had to keep her by his side at all times?
Yu Tang slept soundly until the afternoon of the next day. After lunch, Yu Chao first placed two tickets in front of her. Yu Tang's eyes widened suddenly—they were tickets to a superstar concert!
How did you know?
That day, she practically saw through the billboard; anyone who wasn't blind could tell she wanted to go.
Upon learning that Yu Chaoxian was going to take Yu Tang to such a huge concert, Mickey was a little worried. Although no one knew what the boss looked like, and even if they knew the name "Yu Chaoxian," they couldn't match it to the boss's face, the concert was still a place where there were many people and things could happen at any time.
Yu Chaoxian didn't take it to heart and waved his hand to stop Mickey from speaking. This little aunt has been listless for almost three days; she should be cheered up.
After getting out of the car, the man, wearing sunglasses, naturally took her hand. His clothes were from the same series as Yu Tang's, even the color was the same.
Yu Tang glanced at it secretly, her heart racing slightly, as if she were carrying a tacit secret between the two of them.
It's alright. No one will know what her relationship with Yu Chaoxian is. She and he are no different from the couples around them, and no one will see through her relationship with Yu Chaoxian as aunt and niece.
The sun was still strong at five in the afternoon. Yu Chaoxian put the baseball cap on her head and casually tucked her messy bangs behind her ears. She had been so afraid of the sun on the ship, but now she had forgotten to wear a hat.
As soon as it turned six o'clock, the sky quickly darkened. The concert lights suddenly came on, and amidst a deafening roar of cheers, Zhang Tianwang made a stunning entrance, and the opening song happened to be Yu Tang's favorite!
In an instant, all her worries vanished. Yu Tang's eyes sparkled with excitement, and she couldn't help but wave her glow stick along with the excited fans around her.
During the concert's intermission, as the large screen randomly swept across the audience, Yu Tang's heart skipped a beat. Almost instinctively, she yanked off her baseball cap and frantically slapped it over the head of the man next to her! The brim was deliberately pulled down very low, the shadow obscuring most of his face, leaving only a glimpse of his cold, hard jawline and those lips that looked particularly meaningful and enigmatic in the shadows.
Suddenly, a hat still carrying her body heat and faint fragrance was placed on his head. Yu Chaoxian was slightly taken aback at first, but his fingers slid down and accurately grasped her flustered hand.
"Afraid I'll be recognized?" He chuckled softly, his voice deep and magnetic, penetrating only her ears amidst the clamor of voices. "It's been days, give me a smile?"
Before he finished speaking, his hand covered the back of her hand, and he gently pulled her hand down the brim of his hat. In the gap between the darkness and the noise, he cupped her face and kissed her.
Thousands of eyes and flashing cameras may be focused on the stage, or may have unintentionally swept over this area, but no one knows that in this boiling sea of fluorescent light—his kiss, with undeniable force, yet strangely blended with a tenderness that was almost precious, devoured all of Yu Tang's bewilderment and subtle joy at this moment.
The waves of fluorescent sea surged around them, and Zhang Tianwang's appearance remained unchanged. Yu Tang came just to see him.
But her gaze was too far off-target, unable to leave the man's profile.
Zhang Tianwang's voice was also very mellow, but his heartbeat was too loud for her to hear.
It was already ten o'clock when the concert ended. Yu Tang and Yu Chaoxian walked hand in hand through the crowd, following the slowly moving flow of people out. That night, the noise gradually subsided, and the starlight was faint. They looked exactly like every other couple cuddling around them, ordinary yet intimate.
But nights eventually pass, and even the sweetest dreams must eventually end.
The next morning, Yu Chaoxian took Yu Tang away from Hong Kong.
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