Chapter Seventeen
"Shall I take you home?"
As the elevator descended from the 28th floor, Su Xian gazed at the two blurry figures reflected in the silver elevator doors.
Go home? Go back to that dark, empty home? The cold elevator wall pressed against Su Xuan's arm, but she was completely unaware.
With a "ding," the elevator doors opened, but the two people inside didn't move. A few seconds later, the elevator doors slowly closed, and when they were halfway closed, they suddenly opened again.
Su Xian turned her head and saw Lin Zhiyuan pressing the door open button. "Do you trust me?" Su Xian looked at him blankly.
"I'll take you somewhere."
Su Xian sat in the black Phantom, the only sound the faint hum of the air conditioner. She didn't want to talk, and thankfully, Lin Zhiyuan didn't try to start a conversation either. The street scene outside the car window rushed past, turning into a mountain road after a bend.
"Do you trust me?" Lin Zhiyuan asked the same question.
Su Xian gave a soft "hmm".
"Then close your eyes later, and I'll tell you when to open them, okay?"
"good."
The phantom stopped somewhere, and Su Xian could only see the white walls outside. She closed her eyes as promised.
Su Xian heard the car door open, followed by a rustling sound. Then she heard Lin Zhiyuan standing outside the car door saying to her, "Raise your hand and hold onto my arm. I'll take you there."
Su Xian did as she was told, placing her right hand on his sleeve and feeling the crisp fabric of his cuff. She guessed that he might have taken off his suit jacket earlier.
"It's all flat here, don't worry."
"Slow down here, turn right."
The warm night breeze carried the scent of grass and seemed to contain moisture, but there was no sound of flowing water. Su Xian felt a vague curiosity, wondering where Lin Zhiyuan had led her.
He stopped, and Su Xuan stopped as well. "Can you open your eyes now?"
"etc."
A large hand encircled her arm, warmer than her exposed skin. With a slight pull, it guided her body to turn to the left before releasing her.
"That's fine."
Su Xian opened her eyes and was greeted by the colorful neon lights of the skyscrapers at the foot of Leeds Hill. The iconic Twin Towers of the port city and the towering office buildings in the Upper East Side, which together formed the most beautiful night view of Waver Bay, all seemed small at this moment.
"The night view here is almost identical to that of the observation deck at the top of the mountain," Su Xian said.
"Hmm, do you like it?"
Su Xian leaned against the white wall, looking down at the mountain and muttering to herself, "Even the most beautiful scenery is man-made and still inferior to natural landscapes."
"Sorry, I originally just wanted to take you out to relax."
It was Lin Zhiyuan who apologized, but Su Xian felt a pang of guilt herself, a melancholy born of loneliness. She hadn't understood his good intentions, and perhaps she had been a little willful.
"Thank you." Su Xian smiled. "But the moonlight is lovely tonight."
Lin Zhiyuan followed her gaze to the sky. "Yes, the moon is full tonight."
Su Xian leaned against the wall and pointed to the lower right, "Is that Bay Avenue over there?"
"right."
"Where do we go, to the outlying islands?"
"Um."
Su Xuan suddenly remembered the photo she had seen in Zhi Ran's room, a photo of her and her parents taken in front of the Disney castle when she was a child.
"Disney's over there, right?"
"right."
"Is it fun?"
"It should be fun."
Su Xian looked at Lin Zhiyuan in surprise, "You haven't been there either?"
“I haven’t been in the port city for very long, but I went to France when I was a child, though I don’t remember it clearly.”
That's true, how could he not have been to Disneyland? He just hasn't been to the Hong Kong Disneyland.
Su Xian wanted to go when she was little, but her mother thought the ticket price was too expensive. Later, when she grew up, she didn't have time to go anymore, but Zhi Ran was different.
What is Zhiran doing now? Maybe she's chatting with her mother in her room, and perhaps Aunt Zhang is tidying up for her while complaining about how messy her room is.
The streetlights on the bridge in the distance, spaced out at regular intervals, look like spheres of light suspended on the sea.
Su Xian gazed at the sea in a daze and said softly, "Sometimes I envy Zhi Ran. She lives a simple and happy life. She can be spoiled, willful and noisy, and vulnerable."
You can too.
"I'm different from her. I have nothing but work. I have no family, not many friends..."
"And me too."
Su Xian looked up at Lin Zhiyuan.
"You have me." These three gentle words struck Su Xian's heart with the force of a thousand pounds.
"You still don't believe I'm serious about you?" Lin Zhiyuan smiled helplessly. "I thought that sending you messages for almost a month would lessen your misunderstanding."
“I know that our unexpected encounter at the art exhibition made you have some prejudice against me, but we are both adults and can’t be as simple as blank slates. Don’t look back. Without past emotional experiences, we wouldn’t be who we are now. And no one can predict the future. Only the present is the most important.”
"The connection between people is very mysterious. Some people can know each other for many years but are just casual acquaintances, while others will form a bond the first time they meet, like you and me."
His fingers brushed past her ear, smoothing her wind-blown black hair, but the turmoil in her heart could not be calmed.
“I often think of that night on the yacht, and of you under the moonlight, and that’s how this set of star and moon jewelry came about.”
"And this dress, only five were made back then, and I've already bought this one for you." Su Xian's eyes widened; she hadn't expected him to do so much.
You look beautiful tonight, absolutely beautiful.
Su Xuan's face grew hotter and hotter. Lin Zhiyuan reached out his hand to her, "Can I borrow your ring for a while?"
Su Xian didn't know what he was going to do. She lowered her head, took off the crescent ring on her index finger and the sapphire ring on her ring finger, and placed them in his hands. Lin Zhiyuan held the rings in both hands, put them together, and turned them slightly. The two rings, which were not originally closed, actually merged into one, becoming a complete ring.
The blue star finally found its own dazzling moon, and they nestled together.
Lin Zhiyuan held up the rings. "Both of these rings have inscriptions. The one with the moon is simply 'Autre ne vueil,' which is an Old French phrase meaning 'I have no other desires.'"
She had only ever heard him speak English before, and the French phrase uttered in that beautiful voice was a spell that made her heart race.
"The sapphire one is engraved with 'SX,' which is your name."
Lin Zhiyuan raised her right hand, put the star and moon ring on her index finger, and looked up at her intently.
"Xiao Xian, I ask for nothing more than you."
Su Xian had heard countless voices call her "Xiao Xian"—some commanding, some pleading, some angry, some caring... But no one had ever called her name as gently and beautifully as Lin Zhiyuan.
His soft, affectionate gaze captivated Su Xian, and she fell irrevocably in love. She had known all along that, as he said, she had fallen for him long ago, perhaps on the yacht, or perhaps even earlier.
Su Xian recalled what Qingqing had said that day: love requires courage. Her feelings for him could not be resolved rationally. She wanted to give up but couldn't let go.
As he said, the future is unpredictable, so why not be willful and brave for once, without thinking about the future, and love wholeheartedly while you're in love, even if it's just for a moment of pleasure?
Su Xian took a small step forward, smiled, and gently hugged him. "Lin Zhiyuan, let's give it a try."
Her response was a tight hug.
The kiss that landed on her lips was not the restrained, unsatisfying kiss from before, but a passionate, fiery one. Su Xian responded to him, repaying his request with the same fervor.
The night air grew increasingly hot and dry, and her breathing became more and more rapid. She wanted to stop, yet she couldn't bear to.
Lin Zhiyuan bent down and picked Su Xian up in his arms. Su Xian wrapped her arms around him, buried her head in his neck, and smelled his reassuring scent.
The blast of cold air made her shiver. Su Xian raised her head slightly and saw only the dim, yellowish light of the wall lamp.
Where is this?
Lin Zhiyuan made her sit on his lap, saying, "This is my home."
A deep, husky voice whispered in Su Xian's ear, making her weak. She turned to the side, using the dim light to search for his lips. With her eyes closed, she felt for his Adam's apple, unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time, pulling open his black tuxedo and piling it around his waist.
The silk sheets beneath her were as warm as her body. She was like a boat, floating on gentle waves, but the waves grew faster and bigger. She was just a small boat, and gradually she couldn't withstand it. She was overturned by the surging waves, and the seawater that filled the boat poured out.
When Su Xian woke up the next day, it was already bright. She stretched and turned around, but there was no one beside her.
Last night, after showering and leaving the bathroom, Su Xian didn't see Lin Zhiyuan in the bedroom. She had planned to lie in bed and wait for him, but unexpectedly, she fell asleep. In her hazy state, she felt Lin Zhiyuan hug her, and her bathrobe was untied. However, she was too sleepy to keep her eyes open, so she mumbled something, turned over, and continued to sleep.
With her bathrobe nowhere to be found, Su Xian could only sit up, clutching the blanket. The neatly trimmed lawn was a dark green, and near the French windows was a long, narrow swimming pool, where sunlight cast dappled golden rays on the water.
On the bench at the foot of the bed, a black dress and a white shirt lay scattered in disarray; yesterday's clothes were no longer wearable. She stretched her foot out from under the covers, hooked the shirt around her waist, pulled it on, and haphazardly buttoned up a few buttons.
The clothes were infused with the crisp scent of cedar and his own aroma, and Su Xian couldn't help but pull up his collar and take a deep breath.
She walked barefoot into the bathroom, picked up a toothbrush and put it in her mouth. She looked no different from usual in the mirror, but the smile in her eyes was undeniable.
After washing her face, Su Xian opened the bathroom door and saw Lin Zhiyuan pushing open the French windows. Without turning his head, he said, "Little lazy cat, you've finally decided to get up?"
The air was filled with the warm scent of grass and the aroma of food. On the round table by the window sat a large tray.
"It smells so good." Su Xian walked to the table, where there were two plates on the tray. The bread was toasted until it was slightly browned, and next to it were scrambled eggs and bacon, as well as two glasses of milk.
"I only know how to make Western food, you can try it..."
"You did this?" Su Xuan turned her head in surprise.
Lin Zhiyuan put his arm around her waist. "What, did you think your boyfriend would just wait to be served?"
"Thank you, boyfriend." Su Xuan kissed his chin. "Here's a reward for you."
"The reward is too small."
Lin Zhiyuan was clearly not very satisfied. Su Xian thought for a moment, then wrapped her arms around his neck and stood on tiptoe to reach his lips.
Is this enough?
The moment Su Xian's heels touched the ground, Lin Zhiyuan's hands tightened around her waist as he leaned down. His kiss was urgent, possessively claiming her lips and tongue. The morning kiss was filled with the cool scent of mint; it was hard to tell whose it was.
"I like seeing you dressed like this." Lin Zhiyuan captured her lips and licked them tenderly.
Su Xian gently pushed him, "No, I'm so hungry..."
He stopped what he was doing, and pressed his lips to Su Xian's ear, "Did you sleep well last night?"
"Huh?" Su Xian didn't understand why he asked that.
"I didn't sleep much," Lin Zhiyuan said in a low voice. "I was holding you, but I couldn't bear to see you sleeping so soundly."
Su Xuan felt guilty after hearing his words, "Then I'll make it up to you next time."
"No need for next time, it can be done now."
"No, I'm hungry."
"But I'm so hungry too."
Lin Zhiyuan's husky voice reached Su Xian's ears. He took her hand and put it inside his dark blue bathrobe, guiding her hand downwards. Su Xian suddenly realized his intention and tried to pull her hand away but couldn't move. Her palm was infected by the burning heat, and her face turned as red as blood.
"I was hungry all night."
Lin Zhiyuan lifted Su Xian up and placed her on the bed. He took a small cube from the bedside table and said, "Help me."
Su Xuan was very unhappy. "Just how many women have you brought here?"
Lin Zhiyuan lifted her chin. "Do you want to check if you've only used the one from last night?" He looked intently into her eyes and said solemnly, "You're the first one. I won't lie to you."
Su Xuan couldn't help but smile, but she looked down at what was in her palm and awkwardly said, "I don't know how."
Lin Zhiyuan continued to coax with a smile, "I've opened the packaging. You just need to take it out and put it on. It's only two steps."
Su Xian knelt on the bed, while Lin Zhiyuan, fully dressed, stood beside it. "It's clearly more than two steps," Su Xian thought to herself.
She reached out and loosened the belt of his robe, suddenly remembering the words she had overheard in the hallway when they first met: "I was wondering if I could tell you about the mole on your lower abdomen."
Su Xian's gaze fell down to his abdomen, only to see taut muscle lines. Should she look further down?
Su Xian placed her clean, slender fingers on his waist and pulled down his waistband. She was hesitating whether to get closer to take a look when she heard Lin Zhiyuan's soft laughter from above.
"So beautiful?"
Su Xuan blushed, but she still couldn't suppress her curiosity.
Lin Zhiyuan knew what she was looking for and laughed out loud, "That Ms. Winona only went to two events with me, and nothing else happened."
The smooth white silk sheets were patchy with varying shades of color. Lin Zhiyuan was covered in a thin layer of sweat, and Su Xian wasn't much better off. Yet, she was still willing to be held by him, letting him tidy her damp hair and gently kiss her cheek.
Su Xian nestled in his arms with her eyes closed, recalling Lin Zhiyuan's forceful question earlier: had he ever asked her if she had ever felt this deep before?
Su Xian was too embarrassed to speak, and when he persistently asked himself the second time, he vaguely hummed in agreement.
Neither he nor she were innocent young men, and the possessiveness they felt for each other that arose out of nowhere vanished with this exhilarating love affair.
The heartwarming moment was interrupted by Su Xian's uncooperative pregnancy, and Lin Zhiyuan let out a muffled laugh.
"Still laughing? It's all your fault." Su Xian pinched his arm.
Lin Zhiyuan released her, put on a bathrobe, and brought over the tray.
Su Xian leaned against the headboard, motionless, watching him place the milk on the bedside table, then sit beside her and put the tray on his lap. Lin Zhiyuan scooped up some scrambled eggs and brought them to her lips.
Su Xian opened her mouth and swallowed it in one gulp. Lin Zhiyuan was about to feed her a second spoonful. Su Xian already felt that she had been a bit childish just now. She raised her hand, took the spoon, and fed him a spoonful as well.
"Your cooking is pretty good." Su Xian lowered her head and spread butter on the bread. "But don't get cocky, keep it up next time."
"Are you referring to cooking skills or something else?" Lin Zhiyuan asked with a half-smile.
Su Xian pretended not to understand, "Of course it's cooking."
"Yes, sir," Lin Zhiyuan replied loudly, then leaned close to her ear and whispered, "I'll try my best with the rest as well."
Su Xuan glared at him, but her face was flushed, and her offensiveness was greatly reduced.
Fortunately, Lin Zhiyuan stopped teasing her. He picked up his phone and said, "I'll send you my assistant Allen's phone number. You can ask your assistant to find you some clothes and have Allen bring them over."
Su Xian's mouth was bulging as she mumbled an agreement, but then a question suddenly occurred to her. She took a sip of milk and swallowed her bread, "What if I hadn't seen you last night?"
Lin Zhiyuan put down his knife and fork. "My original plan was to have Allen lead you to the hotel's conference room. But you left early, and I originally wanted to resolve Zhiran's matter as soon as possible before going to your house. I didn't expect that the lobbyist Zhiran mentioned was you."
"That's fine, isn't it?" Lin Zhiyuan said gently.
After brunch, Su Xian didn't let Lin Zhiyuan take her directly to the airport, but instead took her home first. Seeing her reluctantly say goodbye to Lin Zhiyuan, Qingqing couldn't help but tease her for acting like a little woman, while Bai Lin hesitated to speak.
"Sister Lin, just say what you want to say."
Bai Lin sighed, "I just feel that although you are also very popular, he is just too high up."
Su Xian smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. "I know what I'm doing, Sister Lin."
How could she not know? He stood at the top of the pyramid, and even if he descended for her, it would only be a brief stop.
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