Li Yaru’s face was still made up, but after Zhuang Qiting had kissed her all over so messily, the sticky feeling was almost unbearable.
She murmured softly, “Not afraid of poison, huh,” and pushed against the man’s muscular chest with her palm.
“Had enough of messing around? I know you’re just pretending.” Li Yaru was half annoyed as she pinched a firm muscle on his chest. “You should just change your surname to ‘Zhuang’ for real.”
Zhuang Qiting was reluctant to get up but didn’t want to make her uncomfortable either.
So he flipped her over, holding her in his arms, and together they twisted the neatly made bedsheets into a mess of wrinkles.
“It’s not all pretending. I didn’t eat dinner last night and waited for you. My stomach really hurts from being empty.” Zhuang Qiting tightened his embrace around Li Yaru, resting his chin in the hollow of her neck, nuzzling affectionately.
His lips occasionally brushed over sensitive spots, and his thick, coarse hair tangled with hers, making her feel ticklish and shivery.
Li Yaru dodged a couple of times but didn’t push him away. He rubbed and clung to her like a big wolf dog purring for attention.
The usually fierce and dominant man was, for the first time ever, imitating the petty, unmanly behavior he always despised. Li Yaru found herself enjoying it immensely.
She stroked Zhuang Qiting’s head. “Then I won’t go back tonight. Are you not going to eat?”
“You’re not going back.” Zhuang Qiting frowned as he spoke, feeling like the way Li Yaru looked at him was like looking at a dog. “You—”
“Hmm? What’s up, Tingzai?” Li Yaru narrowed her eyes mischievously and stroked his hair again.
Tingzai…
Zhuang Qiting’s expression darkened. He grabbed the hand that was ruffling his whiskers and stared at the uninhibited woman in front of him with deep, emotional eyes. “Miss Li, you’re treating me like Ming.”
“No.” Li Yaru was in a good mood. With one hand caught by him, she playfully tugged the other out and gently tapped the bone above his eyebrows with her delicate fingertips. “Ming is my son. Tingzai is my pet.”
Zhuang Qiting’s breathing deepened. Years of habit almost made his palm want to spank her, but just as his hand hovered in midair, he felt an invisible leash tugging at his neck.
He really felt like her pet, toyed with at her whim.
He forcibly stopped himself and instead cupped her chin, pressing a fierce kiss on her.
Before Li Yaru could push him away, Zhuang Qiting had already cleaned his mouth.
His scorching breath carried a refreshing scent of mint, icy and cool, invading her senses before igniting a fiery passion.
Li Yaru was left dizzy and breathless, only hearing the man’s heavy breathing and the sounds of their wet kisses.
His large hand slid down her waistline, finally settling on her rounded hips, gently kneading.
He hadn’t actually planned to kiss her. But once he touched her, he simply couldn’t stop.
The dark bedroom churned with restless undercurrents, the bedsheets stretched taut and ruined, and the blanket kicked to the floor by their fervent movements.
Li Yaru straddled Zhuang Qiting’s abs, drenched in sweat, gripping his collar tightly.
Her once-neatly curled black hair was now a mess, and her eyes were unfocused. “Zhuang Qiting…”
“Don’t like me like this?” He was sweating too, his Adam’s apple bobbing restlessly.
Li Yaru was tired but spirited. She narrowed her eyes, watching him with interest.
The next second, her slender but strong fingers clutched his neck, feeling his Adam’s apple slide beneath her palm.
She gasped softly, her flushed, beautiful face radiating a nearly seductive charm.
Zhuang Qiting was dazed under her spell. Being ridden and held at the same time, as well as having his throat squeezed—it was like she held his fate in her hands, completely controlling him.
This sensation was new. Not only did he lose control and initiative, but even his willpower seemed to be manipulated.
“Li Yaru…”
She gasped out like a siren, her fingers pressing hard, mercilessly cutting off his air, feeling him suffocate.
Then she leaned down and kissed his lips.
Lingering on his lips for a few moments.
When her fingers released, Zhuang Qiting gasped for air, feeling like he was eighteen again, exhaling deeply.
“What’s wrong?” Li Yaru scolded him.
“Why… have I been so easily defeated by you all these years?”
Li Yaru glanced at him. “Not allowed?”
“Sweet as honey.”
With that, Zhuang Qiting sat up straight using only his powerful waist muscles, no hands needed. Li Yaru was stunned by his youthful strength.
He lifted her off the bed. “Hungry? Come eat with me.”
Li Yaru blushed. That was quite the flexible waist…
After half an hour of kissing and touching, they tidied up their clothes. Night had deepened.
Li Yaru changed into a light-colored, loose knit dress and stepped out wearing kitten heels.
Zhuang Qiting pointed at her shoes. “Change into flats. They’re more comfortable.”
“We’re walking?”
“After eating, yes. Consider it for digestion.”
Li Yaru squinted at him playfully, seizing the chance to tease. “Boss Zhuang’s all about health now.”
The soft leather flats fit snugly but didn’t add height, which made Li Yaru feel she lacked presence walking beside Zhuang Qiting.
The man, nearly 1.9 meters tall, effortlessly overshadowed her.
Tingzai reached to hold her hand, but she refused and looked at him puzzled.
Li Yaru snorted. “Hold hands? No way.”
“You ever see exes holding hands? This isn’t some fetish.”
“……”
Zhuang Qiting was helpless but strode out of the hotel boldly, his delicate little frame exuding impressive charisma.
After getting tired of several Michelin-starred restaurants near the hotel, they wandered the streets and randomly entered a pizza place.
The decor was quite romantic, and it was rare for a place to be open at this hour.
Zhuang Qiting ordered the signature Margarita Pizza and a Mojito. Li Yaru found pizza too heavy for a late meal and, craving nothing but watching him eat, ordered a salad.
The pizza sizzled hot, the cheese and tomatoes shining oily and glossy. The crust was thin and soft, elegantly sliced into small pieces by Zhuang Qiting with a silver knife.
Li Yaru pursed her lips, eating her greens, but couldn’t help staring at the pizza.
Zhuang Qiting smiled and placed the first slice on her plate. “Try some.”
“Late-night eating will make me fat.” Li Yaru refused.
Zhuang Qiting looked at her narrow, pointed little face carefully. “You’re so tiny, ten pounds would suit you just fine.”
Li Yaru gave him a cold look. “I’m 107 pounds. If I gain ten pounds, I’d be a ball.”
“Ten pounds would make you look even better.”
“Get lost.”
Li Yaru was annoyed. Sometimes the man seemed to not understand human speech. Ten pounds, ten pounds, ten pounds.
He maintained his figure all year round with a weight fluctuation of only four to five pounds, but when it came to her, it was always ten pounds.
She glared at him, then picked up a slice and bit into the part with the most toppings. The sweet and sour tomato juice burst in her mouth with the crust’s fragrance.
The taste was simple but undeniably delicious. Italian pizza was always different from the versions introduced back home.
“Actually, I prefer pineapple pizza, haha—” Li Yaru said in Cantonese, but shyly covered her mouth as if she might get kicked out if the staff overheard.
A bit of cheese clung to the corner of her lips.
Zhuang Qiting smiled too and slowly pulled a clean handkerchief from his pocket. Stretching his arm, he wiped her mouth.
It had been a long time since they shared such a peaceful, gentle date.
On this Roman night, on the land of the Eternal City, everything was just right. The ancient buildings across the street were bathed in warm, sunset-like streetlamp glow.
A couple walked arm in arm past the pizza shop when suddenly a convertible roared by, carrying two young couples, their laughter echoing into the night.
Li Yaru tilted her head, watching the bright red Ferrari speed past. “You’ve taken my Ferrari. Damn you. I bought that myself.”
Zhuang Qiting was eating pizza when he heard her low grumble full of resentment. He was momentarily stunned.
Picking up the handkerchief he’d used to wipe her mouth earlier, he pressed it gently to his lips.
His tone was calm but resolute. “Sorry, Ah Rou. I used to be a bit of a dictator. I never meant any harm or to take away your likes. I was just afraid of you driving the sports car out. Every time you drive it, I worry, and you never reply to my messages.”
Li Yaru glanced at him coldly. “If you had talked reasonably back then, I wouldn’t have fought you every time.”
“Sometimes I reasoned, and you still didn’t listen.”
“I listen if I want to, and if I don’t, I don’t. Mind your own business.”
Zhuang Qiting couldn’t argue with her. She was always the nineteen-year-old beauty, unchanged all these years.
Helpless, he took a sip of the cold Mojito—mint, lemon, and white rum mingling in his mouth, just like the fiery yet sweet kiss they’d just shared.
Zhuang Qiting was polite while eating, never wasting food, finishing the whole pizza cleanly. When it came time to pay, Li Yaru pulled out her card, quickly grabbing the POS machine.
Zhuang Qiting gentlemanly took back the card. “Thanks for the treat, wife. The pizza was delicious.”
Li Yaru frowned in disgust and muttered, “Who’s your wife?” as she turned and left the pizza shop.
Zhuang Qiting strode after her. Like the couple who had just passed the pizza place, he took Li Yaru’s hand. His strong arm brushed against hers.
Li Yaru tried to pull away, but his grip tightened, fingers even threading through hers, insisting on interlocking. So she stopped struggling, pursed her lips, and looked away.
Together, they strolled down the street bathed in night, ignoring anyone who might spoil the mood and tacitly accepting the romance of the moment.
Such a rare romance.
Li Yaru suddenly felt embarrassed. Holding hands and walking like this was like dating. Was she really dating Zhuang Qiting?
She shivered.
“Cold?” Zhuang Qiting felt her slight tremble. “Wear my coat.” Saying so, he began to take off his trench coat.
Li Yaru was about to say she wasn’t cold when the man decisively removed his coat. The warmth of his body heated the fabric, and when he draped it over her, the warmth seeped gently through.
But Zhuang Qiting didn’t just put it on her gently; he firmly helped her wear it and buttoned up the buttons and tied the belt, like swaddling a newborn.
Li Yaru quietly observed the man bending down to button her coat. For some reason, a subtle tenderness flowed in her heart.
“Not cold anymore?” Zhuang Qiting touched her face.
“…Not cold at all.” Li Yaru pressed her lips.
Zhuang Qiting squinted, his gaze sweeping over Li Yaru, fully armored with the windproof coat and comfortable flats. Suddenly his fiery hand grabbed hers, and before she could react, he was pulling her forward, running.
“Zhuang Qiting! What are you doing?” Li Yaru was bewildered, only aware that he held her tightly and her legs moved uncontrollably to keep up as they dashed through the streets.
The wind lifted her long hair, and the ancient scenery on both sides flowed past like a river. The yellow streetlamp shadows looked like clouds lit by the moon.
Li Yaru didn’t know where Zhuang Qiting was taking her. She only knew that she was being pulled, and in her sight was his tall, broad shoulder.
Suddenly, she stopped caring about anything. Running like this was crazy.
They stopped at the Yuyuan Chi fountain, both panting heavily. Li Yaru leaned on her knees, sweating profusely.
Thinking back to their wild run through the streets with Zhuang Qiting, she felt good.
“God… God… An old man acting like a youngster.” She scolded breathlessly, “If the three brats knew, they’d think we’re going through reverse aging.”
Zhuang Qiting, also gasping, looked at her with dark eyes. “Reach into your pocket.”
Li Yaru reached into the coat pocket and pulled out something hard.
Under the streetlamp and moonlight, the object glistened crystal clear, its fiery brilliance dazzling. It was an eternal rose that never withered, encrusted with diamonds.
Li Yaru couldn’t pretend any longer and stared dumbfounded at the flower.
“Zhuang Qiting… you…”
What exactly do you want?
Zhuang Qiting held her chin. His mature, handsome face bore faint traces of time but did not diminish his good looks.
He gazed deeply into her eyes and said seriously, “When you remember Rome in the future, remember the man who gave you flowers was me, the man who ran crazily with you through the streets was me. All those other messy memories and messy people are not worth remembering.”
Your romantic Roman Holiday can only have me as the lead.
He wanted to completely erase the traces of other men who might have stirred her heart.
Li Yaru held the rose tightly and suddenly laughed out loud. His possessive, domineering nature towards her was truly eternal and unchangeable.