Chapter 105 The Dawn, Like Golden Sands, Silently Appears…
As dawn broke, like golden sand gently filtering through the heavy curtains of the Bellagio Hotel suite, Ren Xiyao slowly awoke in a hazy warmth. Her body felt as if it had been disassembled and reassembled, every muscle retaining the languid soreness of indulgence. She stirred, the mattress beside her sinking deeper. Quan Zhilong, who had been awake for some time, leaned against the soft pillow, a slim laptop on his lap, the screen's dim light outlining his focused profile. He seemed to be processing emails, his fingers dancing silently on the keyboard, but his left hand was never idle, his long fingers almost unconsciously entwining and combing her hair scattered on the pillow. Noticing her movement, he stopped working, closed the laptop, and turned to look at her. The morning light blurred the weariness in his eyes, leaving only a gentle, clear light after a moment of satisfaction. He leaned down, his warm, dry lips gently pressing against her slightly flushed cheek, marked by the pillow: "Good morning."
"What time is it?" Her voice was hoarse from just waking up.
"It's still early." Kwon Ji-yong pulled the curtains open a little to let the sunlight in: "Are you hungry?"
Ren Xiyao shook her head, turned over, and buried her face in the crook of his neck. Quan Zhilong groaned, and the fingers that had been stroking her hair suddenly tightened, digging into her thick hair with slightly more force: "...Ren Xiyao."
"Um?"
"If you keep doing this, we won't be able to leave the hotel today."
She looked up at him, her eyes slightly squinting in the light: "Who said I was going out?"
Kwon Ji-yong's breath hitched. All the intimacy and closeness carried an undeniable force and a long-suppressed desire.
This time, there was no more rush and oppression in the security passage, no more worry and vigilance about prying eyes. In this absolutely private space, far from the spotlight and the competition field, belonging only to the two of them, the longing, suppressed passion, and unspeakable love and yearning accumulated over the past months or even years all found the most direct and unrestrained outlet, like a flood breaking through a dam.
The air was thick with desire, leaving only their breaths and the burning sensation of their touch. Sunlight was forgotten, time lost its meaning. They were each other's islands, clinging tightly to each other in a sea of desire, locked in a desperate embrace, as if trying to meld the other into their very bones, making them an inseparable part of each other forever.
In the afternoon, the scorching sun baked Las Vegas into a giant, shimmering glass greenhouse. The Bellagio's private pool area was meticulously crafted into a secluded tropical oasis. The azure water rippled invitingly, surrounded by tall palm trees and lush tropical vegetation, casting dappled and precious shadows.
"Does it still hurt?" he asked in a low voice.
"good."
Kwon Ji-yong leaned down, pressing his lips against the bruise instead of his fingers. Ren Xiyao flinched, nudging him with her elbow: "In public!"
"VIP area, no one here." He smiled and dodged aside, casually straightening her swimsuit strap: "Want to go to the casino or watch the show?"
Ren Xiyao buried her face in her arms: "Go to sleep."
"Was I too much last night?"
"It's good that you know."
Kwon Ji-yong chuckled and lay down on the chair next to her, his gaze, hidden behind his sunglasses, brazenly taking in her sunburnt shoulders and neck. The sunlight made the air between them scorching hot, and the ripples of the pool water reflected on the ceiling like a constantly changing kaleidoscope.
At this moment, he wasn't GD, and she wasn't a world champion; they were just two ordinary people who had managed to steal a moment of time.
As night falls, Las Vegas sheds the slightly rough heat of the day and dons a glamorous coat of neon lights and dazzling colors, like a glamorous woman who has just dressed up and is ready to welcome the revelry. Huge crystal chandeliers reflect dazzling light, and soothing jazz music flows in the air. The air is filled with the fragrance of clothes, the clinking of glasses, and every detail exudes understated luxury.
Ren Xiyao changed into a simple yet figure-hugging black silk halter dress, revealing her beautiful shoulders and neck, defined collarbones, and smooth, delicate lines. Her long, black hair was casually tied into a loose low bun, with a few strands falling beside her cheeks. With only a touch of makeup, she looked radiant and beautiful, losing some of the sharpness and aloofness she displayed on the ice rink, and gaining a gentleness and stunning beauty that belonged to her age.
She rarely dressed like this, or rather, Kwon Ji-yong had never seen her dressed like this before. So when he first saw her, he was so stunned that he couldn't take his eyes off her. He had remarked that Ren Xiyao's temperament had a contradictory quality, and from their first meeting, this contradiction became the one that completely attracted him. Her face was full of stories, her temperament was cold and sharp, but at certain moments, it would reveal a kind of raging heat. When she wore casual clothes, that icy aloofness completely enveloped her. But when she stood on the ice rink, that raging heat was a perfect release of her as an athlete. The clash of the frigid Siberian wind and the primitive wildness of the tropical rainforest collided, transforming perfectly yet blending cleverly. She was like a blooming datura, captivatingly alluring.
Kwon Ji-yong, on the other hand, wore a high-quality dark gray casual suit with a simple white T-shirt underneath. He also wore a low-key black baseball cap with the brim pulled down, covering most of his face except for his perfectly sculpted jawline.
They chose a relatively quiet corner by the window. As Ren Xiyao cut her steak, Quan Zhilong suddenly tapped her wine glass with his fork: "Look over there."
A man wearing a baseball cap sat in the corner of the restaurant, head down, signing autographs. Ren Xiyao narrowed her eyes: "That's...?"
"Brad Pitt," Kwon Ji-yong lowered his voice, "Want a photo?"
"don't want."
"sign?"
"Not interested."
Kwon Ji-yong raised an eyebrow: "So what are you interested in?"
Ren Xiyao forked the last piece of beef from his plate: "Eat."
Kwon Ji-yong looked at his empty plate, then at her nonchalant expression, and was at a loss for words: "..."
A sudden, quiet gasp came from the next table; several Asian girls were pointing and whispering at them. Kwon Ji-yong instinctively lowered his hat brim, but Ren Xiyao calmly wiped her mouth: "Should we run?"
"Why are you running?" He took her hand. "We are a legally married couple."
Sure enough, the girls hesitated for a moment and ultimately didn't go forward. They probably thought it was unlikely.
After dinner, T finally left the hotel and went for a stroll, immersing herself in the bustling, psychedelic, and extravagant nightlife of the Las Vegas Strip, just like any other first-time visitor to the city. Huge neon signs illuminated the entire strip as if it were daytime, flashing dazzling colors; meticulously designed fountains and light shows in front of the major hotels attracted throngs of tourists; street performers' various acts drew cheers and applause; the air was thick with the scents of alcohol, perfume, cigars, and an indescribable atmosphere of revelry and indulgence.
They casually hopped onto a brightly decorated streetcar slowly making its way along the Las Vegas Strip. The carriage was packed with tourists from all over the world, a cacophony of languages creating a lively and noisy atmosphere. A newlywed couple, dressed in wedding attire, was being ushered into the carriage by their family and friends. The bride's veil brushed against her cheek, carrying a sweet fragrance.
"Next stop! Wedding chapel!" the driver announced in an exaggerated tone. It was the kind of joyful and uplifting tone often heard in American TV shows when arriving at a happy moment.
Ren Xiyao caught it reflexively.
"Wooooooow!"
"Yeah! Congratulations!"
"She got it! She got it!"
The entire carriage erupted in whistles, screams, and applause several times louder than before. Almost everyone's eyes were instantly focused on the aloof and elegant Eastern girl who had unexpectedly caught the bouquet, and on the mysterious male companion beside her who kept his head down and whose face could not be seen.
The beautiful blonde bride turned around in surprise and delight, only to see Ren Xiyao, a lovely stranger, catch her bouquet. Her face immediately lit up with a big, unreserved, radiant smile. She winked playfully at Ren Xiyao and exclaimed loudly with sincere congratulations, "Hey! Congratulations! You guys are the next one!"
Amidst the noise, Kwon Ji-yong leaned close to her ear and said, "Miss Im, would you like to go to the church now?"
Ren Xiyao didn't answer, but gripped the bouquet tightly. She gave the bride, who still smiled and awaited a response, a gentle, polite smile: "Thank you." She accepted the blessing. Her devotion in the dark night was as serene as accepting a lama's hada (ceremonial scarf) in the twilight of Litang.
The bride seemed quite satisfied with the answer. She smiled and looked them up and down again, especially at Kwon Ji-yong, whose extraordinary charisma was still evident despite his attempts to conceal his identity. She sincerely exclaimed once more, "You two look great together."
Soon, the tram arrived at the station. Kwon Ji-yong almost immediately grabbed Ren Xiyao's hand and hurriedly squeezed off the tram amidst shouts of "Good luck!"
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Author's Note: I've really been struggling lately. This flu is quite severe; I've been in the hospital for several days, but I'm still managing to update daily. Don't worry too much these next few days; let's take a closer look at the off-season situation. They need time to prepare if they want to do something. The winter sports scene is still too quiet during the off-season.
Thank you everyone, enjoy reading! [heart emoji]
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