Chapter 123 Chapter 123
By the time Lia left the winery, night had fallen. The car headed towards the other side of the island. Kwon Ji-yong had no intention of attending Jung Rae-chae's party, so he and his team had settled directly at a luxury resort. She was going to meet them there.
This resort is nestled into the hillside, with suites scattered throughout, separated by trees and volcanic rocks, offering exceptional privacy. Because it focuses on high-end leisure, the resort is sparsely populated, and walking along the mountain paths is almost unseen.
Each suite is a self-contained residence, complete with a private infinity pool and a terrace overlooking the view. The interiors are lined with wood and linen, offering a tranquil retreat where only the sound of wind and waves can be heard. Even the accompanying staff rarely relax.
They were scattered around the resort's beaches and leisure areas, surfing, fitness, hot spring pools, tennis courts...some even went cycling on the mountain trails together.When they first arrived at the resort, Quan Zhilong seemed a little nervous.
Lia initially thought he was still upset about the previous incident. But she soon discovered otherwise. In the limited time they spent together, he understood better than anyone how busy she was—just as he, too, was torn between work and schedules.
Lee Soo Hyuk quietly told her what happened on their way here. Even though the group didn't get on the plane, who could guarantee that? There's no privacy money can't buy. Lia thought about the warning letter she'd received, hesitated for a moment, and still didn't say anything.
A few years ago, they'd encountered a stalker on the street. Back then, he hadn't been as weary as he was now. No one could escape unscathed by the constant surveillance. This kind of harm was a clear violation of human rights, yet it went unpunished.
She felt powerless, not knowing how to comfort him. Neither of them mentioned this matter. It was like a tacit understanding. The faint shadow only lingered in the air for a moment, then was diluted by the sunshine and waves of Jeju Island. During the day,
They casually sat and chatted with everyone by the pool; as night fell, the two of them would drive north, along the coastline to Aewol. On the first day, it was just a casual stop, but later it became a must-go place every night.
The coast at night was much quieter than during the day. A few cafes dotted the road, spaced far apart, their lights like windblown fragments in the darkness. Occasionally, a couple passed by on the stone path, chatting and laughing quietly.
But it soon disappeared into the shadows of the distance. They parked the car on a platform overlooking the sea. The waves crashed against the black volcanic rocks, and the white foam they created shimmered in the moonlight.
Nights like this felt almost like a luxury—they could stand side by side, unburdened by caution and the constant need to watch out for cameras. Even in a public place, they had a rare moment of privacy, just the two of them. This was especially true in the latter part of the night.
The people had vanished, leaving only the sound of wind and waves. Occasionally, a startled seabird would fly across the night sky with a short cry, before silence returned. Lia leaned against the railing, her breath filled with salty, damp air. Nature is good medicine.
Her exhausted body and soul, her taut nerves, slowly relaxed in the vast darkness. Quan Zhilong suddenly reached out and took her hand. Just as she was about to look up, he leaned over and covered her in the blink of an eye. The brief kiss was completely swallowed up by the sound of the wind.
Lia stumbled slightly, forced closer to his embrace, her hands resting on his chest. Her palms unexpectedly touched the firm lines of his abdominal muscles, and even through the sweater, she could clearly feel the tense rise and fall. She froze for a moment, then subconsciously touched him again.
Noticing her movement, he stopped kissing her. Quan Zhilong narrowed his eyes and looked down at her with a half-smile. "...Nice figure." She swallowed. Quan Zhilong laughed angrily.
Nice figure? Was his good figure just a one- or two-day thing? The original charming atmosphere instantly dissipated. "I've been managing it since I returned," he reminded through gritted teeth.
"...I mean, it was just as good before." Lia realized she had said something wrong and tried to fool around. "Last time on the sofa, didn't you notice?" Her face flushed.
His memory was damn good, and some inappropriate scenes flashed through his mind at the speed of light. But he still held her waist, his eyes fixed on her. Lia played dead: "The wind is so strong." "......"
Quan Zhilong chuckled softly, finally deciding to let her go, and followed her words as he gazed into the distance. The glass-clear sea shone silver under the moonlight, and the waves crashed against the dark reefs, splashing clusters of white water. It was quiet and vast.
Time seemed to stretch infinitely, and she could clearly hear the sound of waves crashing against the rocks. Yet, the sound was so brief and fragile that it seemed as if it would be carried away by the wind in the next second.
A long and hurried moment washed over her simultaneously, drawing her into a paradoxical stillness. "Will we... do this again?" As if sensing something, Quan Zhilong tilted his head to look at her, the corners of his lips curling slightly.
"Well, if you want." * The few days on Jeju Island passed in a flash. The sea breeze, the night sky, the lights along the coast... My consciousness seemed to still linger on that island, but reality quickly pressed back in.
Back in Seoul, she'd soon fly to Los Angeles, while Kwon Ji-yong was immersing himself in a flurry of year-end activities. Like two rivers briefly converging somewhere, they quickly diverge in separate directions. The driver first took her home, then took him to his dorm.
Lia carried her luggage upstairs and let out a long sigh as she pushed the door open. The room was silent. After just a few days, she had gotten used to being with him all the time.
She draped her coat over the back of the chair. As if by telepathy, her phone screen lit up, and a text message came from Kwon Ji-yong. JiYo: I miss you. She couldn't help but smile, and simply dialed the number. The call connected quickly. "Oppa?"
"Hmm. Why are you calling?" "Didn't you say you missed me?" She held the phone, opened the refrigerator door, and took out a bottle of sparkling water. The cool touch brought a sense of relaxation after the tiredness.
"Really?" the person on the phone played dumb. "My phone bumped into something in my pocket." Lia laughed. As she unscrewed the bottle cap, she replied, "I see. I missed you, too." This elicited a chuckle from the person on the other end.
The bubbles burst in her throat, bringing a brief burst of freshness. She took a few more sips before placing the bottle on the table. They chatted for a while, and Quan Zhilong also arrived at the dormitory. "Get ready and get some rest," he said. "You have a long-distance flight in two days."
"It's okay." She smiled and was about to change her position and lean back in the chair, when suddenly - her stomach felt like it was being twisted by something sharp. "......!"
She gasped, her body almost instinctively leaning forward, her hands clutching her abdomen. Her brows knitted together, and cold sweat instantly broke out on her forehead. "What's wrong?" the voice on the other end of the line immediately became alert.
Lia opened her mouth, but her voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible: "It's okay... Maybe it's my stomach..."
Before she could finish her words, a wave of dizziness washed over her. Her breathing was rapid and shallow, and her fingertips trembled uncontrollably. "Lia?—" She couldn't even think of replying. She tried to stay seated, but her body refused to obey.
The next moment, a loud buzzing sound filled her ears, and the world suddenly tilted. Her body lost its support, and the ceiling and the ground in front of her eyes quickly shifted apart. Table corners, chair legs, and scattered light and shadows all passed through her vision.
The sound by his ear quickly faded, Quan Zhilong's anxious voice completely drowned in the darkness. With a muffled "pop," the phone slid to the ground, the call interface flickering dimly. He completely lost consciousness.
----------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com