Li Yaru breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhuang Qiting accompanied her through a few delicious late-night dishes. They changed into casual clothes and strolled in the garden of the villa.
The villa was located on Nanwan Road in Shallow Water Bay, with no neighbors, surrounded only by mountains and sea — Zhuang Qiting’s private domain, where outsiders rarely set foot.
Tonight, the sea breeze gently swayed, the stars clear and bright like a beautiful black silk sprinkled with gold.
Wrapped in a long Kensington-style coat, Li Yaru enjoyed the gentle sea breeze. Her long curls cascaded like a waterfall, a few strands brushing Zhuang Qiting’s side profile and nose.
“This place is amazing — it’s like facing the sea with spring blossoms. This house of yours isn’t cheap, right?”
“Not very expensive. Do you like it here?” Zhuang Qiting brushed away the tickle on his nose with his finger.
“Of course! Who wouldn’t like such a beautiful house?” Li Yaru stretched lazily, no longer sleepy after the class, now lively and spirited.
Zhuang Qiting looked at her warmly. “It’s yours.”
Li Yaru was taken aback, shaking her head repeatedly. “Mr. Zhuang, don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not asking for the house. Such a big place, if you gave it to me, it’d be a hot potato. If we broke up, what would I do with it? Scary just thinking about it. Better I extort some jewelry, dresses, or bags — can’t be too greedy in business.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled faintly, his gaze growing darker and more intense. “Isn’t that the Little Pixiu?”
Li Yaru dodged. “Even the Pixiu has its rules about how to take from others.”
“What are the Pixiu’s rules about taking?”
He was acting strangely tonight, pressing on these tiny details. Before, he never asked why, only demanded she obey.
If she disobeyed, he’d spank her. Li Yaru blinked, unable to read what his calm mood was hiding, but she sensed danger.
“It’s the way of taking — something to be understood, not explained. Mr. Zhuang, you’re so smart; you can figure it out yourself.” Li Yaru grinned slyly.
Zhuang Qiting stopped pressing and let her run happily like a joyful antelope in the garden on the cliffside. The tall pomegranate tree was heavy with solid red fruit.
She got a long pole from the servants, ready to knock down some pomegranates for fresh juice.
She was drooping in class but lively when playing. Zhuang Qiting chuckled to himself, sitting lazily on a bench, leaning against the armrest, lighting a cigarette as he quietly watched her fuss over the pomegranates.
The way of taking. Of course, he knew what it meant. She was afraid to ask for too much, getting stuck in the mire, making it hard to escape from him.
She didn’t take his arranged lessons seriously, always saying the rules were useless. He initially thought she was just a free spirit and patiently tried to guide her.
But after all this time, it turned out she hadn’t intended to stay by his side.
“Stop playing. You’re all dirty. Come here.” He beckoned.
Li Yaru picked up a pomegranate from the ground, wiped off the dust with her hand, and showed it to him. “I picked the biggest one. We’ll juice it later. It’ll be sweet.”
Zhuang Qiting smiled. “Done playing? If not, come back to rest. Have the kitchen prepare the juice. Drink it while you soak in the bath.”
At the mention of bathing, Li Yaru’s expression changed slightly — a teasing “I knew what you want” look, with a faint hint of embarrassment.
“I’ll bathe alone. You don’t come in.”
Her request was dismissed in an instant by Zhuang Qiting’s indifferent reply: “Together.”
When bathing, Li Yaru clearly sensed his abnormal mood tonight. Danger and fierceness were fully exposed as he shed his outer clothes.
As soon as he stepped into the water, he pressed her down and kissed her. His solid, strong muscles made her tremble; his breath was hotter than the bathwater.
Water splashed in the tub, waves rolling. The fresh pomegranate juice on the small tray was only a third drunk; the rest spilled over her body.
The bright red juice dripped and spread in the water like sunset dyeing the white horizon inch by inch.
Zhuang Qiting swooped like a fierce raptor, clutching her chin and locking eyes with her, his breath steady. “Do you like me?”
Li Yaru couldn’t tell if she was coaxing him or being coerced, but under these circumstances, how could she say she didn’t like him?
“Yes…”
Zhuang Qiting’s expression softened. “Good baby.”
“I like you too, Arou.”
He turned her so her head faced the other side of the tub, back to him, lying prone. His hands gently lifted her waist, drawing close to taste a single sip.
Just one sip was enough to make Li Yaru’s heart skip a beat, soaring with pleasure. What was he doing?
“Relax.” He frowned and gave her a slap.
“You, you’re so perverted…” Li Yaru clung awkwardly to his calf, almost drinking bathwater.
Zhuang Qiting tasted the strange flavor in his mouth. It was his first time doing this, and he was a bit uncertain.
Seeing her reaction made him feel uneasy, but since he’d started, he wouldn’t stop awkwardly. Even if forced on her, she had to endure.
He growled, “Little one, if you dare call me perverted again, you won’t like the consequences. Loosen up. I’m not going to say it twice.”
Li Yaru held back tears and could only imagine herself as ice cream caught in a beast’s mouth.
Her soft skin was pricked by the man’s somewhat coarse hair. Luckily, his beard was clean-shaven, but his teeth weren’t gentle.
The sensation was strange, exotic, unique, and incredibly peculiar. She squinted and let out a low moan.
Unconsciously, the angle of her legs shifted from thirty degrees to sixty, then to ninety, petals opening wide.
A light laugh accompanied by the sound of water came from Zhuang Qiting. He gently patted her lower back. “Still a little liar.”
He liked it so much it was as if he was flying to heaven.
Li Yaru’s brain went dizzy and stopped functioning. It took a long time for her to recover, staring at him dazedly, her wet face flushed like two red evening clouds — clearly enjoying it.
Zhuang Qiting squinted and pinched her chin. “I’ll let you off tonight, baby. But what I just did, you have to learn to do for me tomorrow. Understand?”
Li Yaru shook her head frantically, like a frightened rabbit. “No, no, no…”
She didn’t dare look back into the water. The hideous thing was too ugly — a black-red python! She wanted to go home!
She was terrified of snakes and also the ring on his index finger. Zhuang Qiting had explained that the pattern on the ring was the Zhuang Family Crest.
But what kind of good family has a snake as their crest?
She just wanted to enjoy it and bear with him eating her.
“Think of it like eating a lollipop. I’ll wash it very clean and use your favorite shower gel, baby.” Zhuang Qiting coaxed.
Li Yaru hugged herself in a defensive posture. “Mr. Zhuang, no lollipop looks this ugly. Nobody would buy it! Be honest — would you want to eat this kind of lollipop?”
“……………”
Ugly.
This little one was just asking to be disciplined! Zhuang Qiting radiated a sinister aura, glancing down at himself.
“Ugly… really?” She despised it that much?
Zhuang Qiting nearly faltered, doubting himself. He darkened his face and scrubbed Li Yaru clean, lifted her up, wrapped her in a towel, and strode to the bed.
He held back his anger, but her stubbornness only fueled his desire to torment her, forcing her to look him in the eye.
“How ugly? Baby, tell me.” His voice was cold.
“…………”
“Say it sincerely.” He commanded softly.
The thick scent of hormones steamed their cheeks. Li Yaru closed her eyes, nearly losing herself in his overwhelming desire.
Before she could flash her pearly whites, Zhuang Qiting pinched her chin and warned, “Little one, if you dare bite me, I’ll lock you up.”
When the moon was blocked by the treetops, the night grew darker and quieter.
After the third time, Zhuang Qiting finally reached satisfaction, exhaling a long breath, holding his softened baby, and gently kissing her nose.
Li Yaru was sticky all over. She pushed his chest muscles, complaining softly, “Are you a perpetual motion machine…”
Zhuang Qiting laughed. How could she be so adorable? It made him not know whether to cherish her or hate her to the point of grinding his teeth — wanting to keep her close, swallow her whole.
He decided to change his approach. It was just a fleeting thought — to let her grow up more before acting. But in no time, they’d created a First Love.
Such a mistake couldn’t be repeated.
He needed to keep a tight grip on her, unwilling to let anything go wrong again. After all, they were going to get married and have children.
What difference did it make if it was sooner or later? Better to get the wedding done first, so this little one wouldn’t be restless and distract him from work.
“I heard Uncle’s surgery recovery is going well. Let’s find a time this week to visit him.”
Li Yaru hadn’t expected him to bring it up again, and her sleepiness instantly vanished. “No… You’re such an important figure; visiting my father would just scare him.”
Zhuang Qiting pondered a moment, reflecting, “Then that’s my fault.”
“Huh?”
“How can a son-in-law scare his father-in-law?”
Li Yaru was confused at first but broke out in cold sweat once she understood.
Son-in-law? Was Zhuang Qiting crazy? The stupid idea was obviously in his head! How could he be a son-in-law to her father?
“Mr. Zhuang… are you speaking nonsense?” she asked nervously.
Zhuang Qiting pulled her close and kissed her lips. “Not nonsense. Baby, let’s make a plan — get married.”
“……………”