Ning Xue’s eyes bore into his, searching for something. “Okay,” she whispered. She reached out her right hand, and her chin tilted up.
Like a big, happy golden retriever, he took her hand, interlacing his fingers with his, and took the lead forward. They walked in silence, but they had never been closer in connecting.
Food was prepared from the kitchen after Auntie Liu had received their call. She served the dishes as the couple sat at the table. Jiang Sheng helped Ning Xue with some vegetables before grabbing some for himself, shoving them into his mouth, and chewing. Right then, he was still immersed in her gentle behavior all day, and she, too, had her head lowered, digging in—they were obviously on the same page that day.
“Why aren’t you talking to me?” Ning Xue finally let the words out.
Jiang Sheng flinched. He swallowed a mouthful of rice before answering, “All of this. It’s too surreal. I don’t know what I should say.”
Just when he thought she would continue being mad at him, she replied, “There aren’t secrets between us, are there?”
“I…” he paused. “You’re so beautiful and charming, love. You are the luckiest thing that has ever happened to me. I-I love you.” He stared into her eyes nervously, waiting for her reaction.
His adorable context got her stunned. She stared at him in a daze, her mind blank, her heart beating like drums in her ears. Darn it—cuteness overload.
Jiang Sheng noticed her cheeks flushing red. “I didn’t mean to startle you. I just wanted to tell you that I love you.”
He paused again for her reaction, to which she returned with a fierce glare. “Eat your food!”
“Nooooooo—don’t get mad all over again, sweetie.”
His cheeks were pink, his eyes watery. Instinctively, Ning Xue held out her hand to pinch his face. He didn’t dodge.
After she finished, he reached to poke her face.
“You’re the cutest, and I can’t seem to get tired telling you how pretty you are. I feel like kissing you.”
She ignored him, eating her bowl of food.
He chuckled like a kid. “Don’t you know how adorable you look right now, sweetheart?”
His voice was husky when he spoke—and even a little sexy, like Adam with his tempting apple. Her heart raced quicker. “Just get on with it.” She already knew what was on his mind.
“Well, you know, those people on the set… You don’t have to take it to heart.”
“I’m not mad.”
“But I saw Lucy—”
“Yeah, yeah,” she cut him off. “I know. I know.” She picked up her chopsticks again. “Eat.”
“Honey…”
“What?”
“You’re so, so, so adorable that I don’t feel like doing my scene this afternoon anymore. Let’s stay home.”
“No. We leave after you’ve done eating.”
“All right, then.” He got up and bent down, leaning close to her face. “But please remember how much I love you, okay?”
And he pressed his lips onto hers. His tongue slipped into his mouth, teasing hers as they entangled and danced, twirling. They held each other close, body to body, sending an electric spark from their hearts to their limbs. It was numbing.
After what seemed like an eternity, she pushed him away. “I promise that I would never do anything to them unless they have a death wish.”
“Mhm.”
Ning Xue was in a cheerful mood since their exchange. Of course, she understood Jiang Sheng’s concern—while the world has its eyes all on her now, Lucy, too, was a well-known celebrity. All thanks to her nickname in connection with Anne Hathaway—how it would dirty her own hands to peel off her fake lashes.
Still, some things needed to be done—vengeance was still vengeance.
She pulled out her phone and dialed a number. Someone picked up, speaking politely..