She recalled clearly how they had boarded a plane together, and flown business class. And tonight, they would be flying economy class. She has downgraded her flight to economy class for him.
There had been no privacy curtain, the seats were cramped together and there almost no leg space for the tall man. He didn't seem to mind, as it appeared it wasn't his first time flying economy class. He held her hand as the flight took off. In a few hours, they would be back in N City, where Tian Yu would continue to manage what was left of his parents' companies remotely.
"Have you found a place?" she asked. She would miss Bangkok, and the convenient Tuk-Tuk rides, but her actual life was in N City. Tian Yu nodded.
"Did you strike an agreement with your landlord about allowing you to have visitors over occasionally?" she asked further. His eyes twinkled at her question.
"Are you going to come over sometimes?"
She pondered for a few seconds. "I don't know... Maybe you would need to bring your future girlfriend over."
He looked at her in the eye. "Won't you be upset if I have a girlfriend in the future?"
She shrugged. Indeed she felt uncomfortable about it, but she didn't find herself in the position to complain. "I can't pull you down forever just because of our relationship. You know what were are."
He tightened his hold on her hand. "I just hope we can be more than that, someday." He turned sideways, and kissed her on the cheek.
"Not in public," she said, looking annoyed as some curious bystanders turned their attention to watching them. Without releasing her hand, he went back to reading his folded book with his other hand. Until the plane reached its destination, the only time he had released her hand was when it was time for them to have their inflight meal.
He called the landlord the moment they disembarked, only to find that the apartment wasn't ready. Zhi Xun said, "Perhaps we could head to my place first."
"Alright then." He pulled their luggage off the conveyor belt, and loaded it onto the trolley. "Do you need to call for a ride?"
"That's okay, I have my ride here in the airport." She produced a smart-looking car key from her tote bag and beckoned for Tian Yu to follow her to the parking lot.
"Beautiful car," he said, upon seeing her Mazda 3 sports car. "Must have cost you a lot."
"I'm paying for it with monthly instalments," she explained. "I'm not that much of a spendthrift." She felt bad for him, thinking of how he had lost his beloved sports car to his family's financial issues. That car had been with him for five years.
"I see. Are you really okay to let me ride with you?" he watched the expression on her face. "After all, I'm not who I used to be anymore."
"Are you scared you will dirty my car?" she asked him.
"No, what I mean is are you afraid someone might see us together? After all, you're like a celebrity."
She contemplated the issue that he had brought up, and had to agree that he was right. She produced two surgical masks from her bag, and handed one to Tian Yu. "Now we can ride in peace," she said with a smile, before putting on the mask. "Nobody will probably recognise us in these."
It didn't take her long to reach her place. Tian Yu seemed hooked by the decorations of the interior of the apartment.
"Do you normally have anyone over?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Even my boss hasn't had a chance to step into my place. I'm a very private person, I just don't share any of my things."
"What about your girlfriends?"
"Ah, you mean Runyu and Qiyun. They don't live in N City anymore."
"Who do you hang out with, then?"
She paused for a long time before answering, "Ayin." Tian Yu looked a little surprised by her answer. "...How..is she?"
"I presume you haven't been in contact with her for a long time."
"She left home before I sold the condo," Tian Yu explained. "Somehow, she wasn't very happy with me. It's all in the past now."
"She's fine," Zhi Xun said. "Would you like to come into my room?"
The walls of the bedroom had been painted with bright, vivid colours, and sparkling lights adorned the top of her bed in an apparent canopy. Tian Yu's attention was momentarily diverted to a few framed photographs of Zhi Xun on the side table. Before she could stop him, he had picked up a framed photograph that was lying head down. He knew what was in the photograph. It had been a photograph of them at the Museum in the past. It was one of her favourite photographs. She quickly snatched it from him in embarrassment.
"I saw nothing," he lied. She looked indifferent.
"It's already ten p.m.," she said. "I doubt your landlord will have your room ready in such short notice."
"That's fine, I could go to a motel-" he had managed to say, before she stopped him with her mouth. In most of the times they kissed, it had been Tian Yu who initiated the kisses, but this time, it had been her to initiate a kiss with him. As she was much shorter than him, she had to stand on tiptoe, before pushing him down on her bed, where they lay among her cushions, embracing each other.
"You will stay with me tonight," she commanded him. He smiled at how dominant she had become.
"Yes, Madame," he said playfully, "Your wish is my command."
She put on a solemn look. "I'm not joking! Everything in my room here is MY property. And you-you will be my property for tonight." He almost broke out in laughter at how she was trying to act all high and mighty. "My queen, what is your bidding tonight?"
She scowled. "This isn't funny!" She put on a mature look, and crossed her arms across her chest. "You will do as I say."
"What do you say?" he teased.
She felt that his attitude had been so infuriating, and fell on him and kissed him furiously.
"Fine, fine, you win," he said nonchalantly. "I'll do whatever you want tonight."
"That sounds better," she said. "You were dominating me back at your place in Bangkok, and now I want my sweet revenge. This is my room, my rules."
.......................................................................
Tian Yu held her as she slept. To think that she had asked for some fun that night, and she had just fallen asleep after a round of pleasure. He circled her lips with his fingers, indulging in the softness of her skin. How had she got so seductive in just three and a half years away from him? He was jealous and concerned that someone else would have her attention. Her figure had been so perfect, apparently due to her hard efforts in working out at the gym.
He traced the outline of her buns, noticing their fullness under the dim lighting of the room. Somehow, she had seemed to grow in that department. He laughed at his finding. He explored every single curve of her body with his fingers, and his blood boiled at the thought of anyone possibly claiming her as their own.
She woke in the morning to his gorgeous eyes staring into her own.
"Good morning," he said.
"Um, good morning," she looked at him shyly. Was he going to surprise her with some morning sex?
"You fell asleep last night," he teased. "I thought you were going to demand more from your humble servant."
"I was tired from the flight," she defended herself. "Why don't you stay here while I go to work? I have an important meeting in the afternoon."
"Have breakfast before you go." He had prepared poached eggs on toast for her.
"Thank you," she said. "I'll see you tonight."
........................................................................................
He had prepared a candle-lit dinner for the two of them. A rose was waiting on the table, along with the spread that he had wanted to surprise him with.
She finished work at five. But at six thirty she was not back yet, and Tian Yu was concerned. He descended from the lift to see her smiling amiably at Su Mo, giving him her thanks and bidding him a good bye. Jealousy was overwhelming him. The minute Su Mo had left, he whisked her into the empty elevator. It was a rather slow-moving elevator, and her apartment was on the thirtieth floor.
"What's wrong?" she asked, surprised by his change in attitude.
"Why were you with him?"
She looked puzzled. "He's my boss after all, and we had some work to do. That's why I came back a bit later than usual."
He frowned. "Why did he drop you off?"
"I don't normally drive to work," she said. "I took the subway, and he said it was a convenient route for him, so he sent me home."
"Don't you think he has ulterior motives on you?" Tian Yu asked suspiciously.
"That doesn't make a difference," Zhi Xun replied. "I've already rejected him. I'm not going to change my mind about that."
"What about others?" he asked in a jealous tone. She decided to act on his jealousy and see how he would react.
"Well, there's an eligible bachelor joining us next month. I don't know how he looks like, but I'll be sure to have a bite of him if he is to my liking."
He looked a bit furious. She continued, "The dude on the floor below our department has invited me on a date again. I've always been rejecting him, but maybe now it's time for me to try fresh-"
He had her pinned to the elevator in a flash, and his body was pressed hard against hers. He closed his lips on hers, invading her mouth with his tongue. She could feel his jealous air, and she was enjoying every bit of it. She returned his kisses with passion, until they reached the thirtieth floor, and then he took her hand and led her into the apartment.
The candle-lit dinner had been awaiting her. Had he been waiting for her because of this? She felt touched that the dishes on the table had been all her favourite dishes.
"Why the dinner?" she asked.
"You must be tired after work," he explained, looking a little weary.
"Is that why you were mad about my boss sending me home?" she asked.
"Eat first, talk later," he said, taking a cold drink to calm himself.
"I just said all those things in the elevator to make you jealous," she said. "Maybe we can talk later about our relationship, then."
They sipped the wine that he had readied and finished the meal. "That was a hearty meal," she said. "Thank you for the meal."
He had placed the dishes in the dishwasher. "Probably I should get going. The landlord says the apartment is ready to move in."
She didn't want him to go. Perhaps there was a way for her to retain him, just for tonight?
"Can..you stay?" she asked.
"Do you want me to stay another night?" he asked her back. She nodded.
"I promise I'll make it worthwhile," he said. "I can't stay in your place all the time, but I will do what I can to make you love me again, Xiao Xun. If you want me to be in a no strings attached relationship, I can, if you want me to do anything for you, let alone be your cleaner or your servant, I will. I love you, Xiao Xun. I'm willing to do anything for you."
His words had felt so touching, and she felt her heart was warming up to him again. She knew that despite all this, it would take some time before she would be ready to restart their relationship. Maybe it would be possible to accept him again since she still loved him, but she didn't know how to respond to him now. For now, she just wanted him to embrace her silently. The night was quiet, and they said no more words as they retired for the night.269Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nBKdmuPYs
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