Chapter 17: Dancing at the Yacht Club
The almost humble begging and reconciliation on the rainy night was like a strong catalyst, completely changing the tone of the relationship between Su Lingwan and Huo Linshen.
After that night, Huo Linshen fell ill. Two days of high fever left this usually invincible man bedridden. When Su Lingwan learned of this, she almost immediately dropped all her work and rushed to the Repulse Bay Villa.
She didn't stay by his bedside, undressed, like in TV dramas. The Huo family had a top-notch medical team and professional servants. But when his fever blurred his consciousness and furrowed his brow, she would gently soothe his brow with her cool fingers; when he briefly woke up and felt thirsty, she would carefully feed warm water to his lips through a straw; when he slept soundly, she would quietly sit on the sofa not far away, revising her design drafts under the soft light, the air of companionship silently filling the room.
When Huo Linshen woke up, he could always see her focused silhouette, with a warm halo outlining her soft features. An unprecedented sense of peace called "home" would quietly fill his empty and cold heart.
He said nothing more, but the look he gave her was noticeably different. Less scrutiny and distance, more dependence and a near-greedy focus. When she approached, he'd subconsciously grasp her hand, not with much force, but with an unquestionable sense of possession. Su Lingwan didn't struggle, letting him hold her. The soft spot in her heart, softened by him, grew even softer.
After recovering from his illness, Huo Linshen seemed to truly put his words, "I can learn," into action. He remained busy, but he tried to turn down unnecessary social engagements and return home on time—to Repulse Bay Villa, a "home" that had begun to feel like home thanks to her frequent presence. While she curled up on the sofa drawing, he would silently sit by her side, working on documents, occasionally glancing up at her. At the dinner table, he would remember which dish she had picked up an extra chopstick, and next time, that dish would appear more often.
His change was clumsy and silent, but it moved Su Lingwan's heart more than any sweet words. She could see his efforts to break through his own barriers, and could see that his hard heart was gradually softening for her.
That weekend, Huo Linshen took her to a private yacht club. It wasn't a large-scale business event like before, but a small gathering of a few familiar friends, and the atmosphere was much more relaxed.
A huge white yacht sailed across the azure South China Sea, the sun shining brightly, the sea breeze caressing his face. Huo Linshen had shed his usual meticulous suit, wearing a simple white linen shirt and khaki trousers, less business-like and more relaxed. He even rarely took time off from work, spending time with Su Lingwan, occasionally chatting with friends, his eyes fixed on her most of the time.
Su Lingwan wore a flowing, goose-yellow floral-print dress and a wide-brimmed straw hat, her mood as bright as the sunny weather. She leaned over the railing, watching the dolphins play. When she turned and smiled at him, her eyes shone like sun-drenched diamonds. Huo Linshen looked at her, his eyes soft, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously in a faint smile.
In the evening, the setting sun dyed the sea into a magnificent golden orange. A soft carpet was spread on the deck of the yacht, and lazy and sexy jazz music flowed from the speakers.
Someone started a commotion and asked Huo Linshen and Su Lingwan to dance.
Huo Linshen frowned slightly. He never liked such overly sentimental activities. However, before he could say no, Su Lingwan smiled and extended her hand in front of him, a hint of cunning and expectation in her eyes: "Mr. Huo, would you do me the honor?"
Everyone was looking at them. Huo Linshen looked at her slender, white hands in the sunlight, then met her smiling eyes, which reflected his figure clearly, with complete trust and a little bit of subtle encouragement.
The words of rejection rolled around on the tip of his tongue before he swallowed them back.
He reached out and took her hand. His palm was large and warm, completely enveloping hers.
He led her by the hand and walked to the center of the deck. The setting sun melted into gold, casting a warm halo around them.
Huo Linshen's dance moves, like him, were a rigorous, slightly stiff elegance. He clearly didn't often dance this kind of casual dance; his steps were a little stiff, and his hand around her waist was initially a little uncertain and stiff.
Su Lingwan could feel the unusual warmth from his palm and the slightly accelerated beat of his heart. She relaxed her body, following his guidance, swaying gently to the music. Her skirt fluttered in the sea breeze like a blooming flower.
"Relax," she said softly, looking up at his slightly tense jawline. "Mr. Huo, dancing is not like discussing a merger and acquisition. There's no need to be so serious."
Huo Linshen lowered his head and met her smiling eyes. There was no trace of mockery in them, only gentle guidance and complete acceptance. His tense nerves strangely relaxed a little. The hand around her waist loosened its grip slightly, becoming more natural.
The music is soothing, the sea breeze is gentle, and the sunset is beautiful.
The distance between them was very close, so close that Su Lingwan could smell the refreshing scent of soapberry mixed with the faint scent of aftershave on his body, and so close that she could see clearly under his thick eyelashes, and in his deep eyes, only her figure was reflected.
A silent intimacy and tacit understanding quietly grows as the dance steps flow.
Huo Linshen's eyes never left her. He looked at her cheeks, which were slightly flushed in the sunset, at her curled eyelashes, and at the warm smile on the corner of her lips. A frozen corner of his heart seemed to be completely melted by the sunset and her smile.
He suddenly tightened his arms and held her closer in his arms, their bodies almost perfectly pressed together.
Su Lingwan was slightly startled and subconsciously looked up at him.
Huo Linshen lowered his head, resting his forehead lightly against hers, their breaths intertwined, hot and lingering. The music continued to flow, but they seemed to be in an independent world, with only each other.
He looked into her eyes, which were so close to him. His desire and... an emotion he had never experienced before, called "fear of gain and loss", were clearly reflected in her eyes.
He was silent for a moment, as if trying to organize his words. Finally, in a low, hoarse, almost whispering voice, he whispered in her ear:
"Ling Wan."
He called her name with a solemn and cautious tone.
Su Lingwan's heart trembled slightly, and she felt that he seemed to be about to say something important.
Huo Lin's deep eyes were fixed on her, with complex emotions surging in them, including clumsiness, frankness, and a desperate seriousness.
"Teach me."
He whispered, his voice blending into the lingering jazz and sea breeze, but it clearly struck her heart.
"Teach me how to love someone."
“…”
Su Lingwan's breathing suddenly stopped, and her heart felt like it was being tightly grasped by a gentle hand, sour and full.
The afterglow of the setting sun formed a dazzling circle of light behind him. He was facing the light, and the outline of his face was a little blurred, but his eyes were surprisingly bright, filled with pure, undisguised requests.
He was not commanding, not declaring.
He was asking her to lead him into the strange and complex world of emotions that was new to him.
These words shocked and moved Su Lingwan more than his humble begging on the rainy night.
She looked at him, at this cold and aloof man who was used to controlling everything, but now he was like an ignorant student, asking her the most difficult question in the world.
Her eyes felt slightly warm, and she raised her hand and gently stroked his angular cheek, feeling the warm touch of his skin with her fingertips.
She looked into his deep eyes, a gentle yet resolute smile spread across her lips, her voice soft but with a soothing power:
"good."
One word, a simple promise, seemed to have planted an oasis of hope in his barren heart.
Huo Linshen stared at her, and the last trace of uncertainty and hesitation in his eyes gradually dissipated in her smile and promise, turning into an emotion as deep as the sea called "certainty".
He lowered his head and stopped talking, just hugged her deeper into his arms, his chin gently resting on the top of her head.
The music continues, the sun sets, and the sea and sky become one color.
They hugged each other on the deck, swaying gently with the music, as if the whole world was left with only each other's heartbeat and breathing.
A dance, a song ends.
But certain things have taken deeper roots in each other's hearts.
Huo Linshen thought, perhaps learning how to love is not such a difficult thing.
As long as the object is her.
Su Lingwan leaned on his warm chest, listening to his steady and strong heartbeat, thinking, perhaps, waiting for a frozen heart to melt, waiting for a clumsy man to learn to express love, is itself an...incredibly romantic thing.
The yacht slowly sailed towards the harbor, carrying the twilight and two hearts that were growing closer.
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