After everyone chose their preferred rooms, the Hotel staff arranged for shuttle cars.
The suites were all individual Water Villas, built over the clear shallows and connected by wooden bridges; if you took a helicopter, you’d see the whole row of villas strung out like a jeweled necklace.
Li Yaru took several deep, satisfying breaths, stretching her left hand out of the car window, catching at the sea breeze like a child.
Lu Junqiu scooted over mysteriously. “Sis, did something happen between you and Brother-in-law lately?”
“What could possibly happen between us?” Li Yaru feigned ignorance, pretending not to understand.
“You might be able to fool others, but I’m your own family. You think you can fool me?” Lu Junqiu covered her mouth, laughing.
“I think something’s definitely going on between you two. Did you sleep together again recently?”
Li Yaru shot her cousin a speechless glare. “So improper.”
“Come on, it’s not like you’re some paragon of virtue yourself.”
“……………”
“Quit pretending. You two are obviously on fire behind everyone’s backs. Back in the lobby, that look you gave each other—sparks were flying.”
Li Yaru’s cheeks grew a little warm. She adjusted her posture in mock seriousness, elegantly crossing her long legs.
“What sparks? Don’t talk nonsense. Say it again and I’ll beat you up.”
Though her lips refuted easily, her heart was pounding. No way, right? She had been so careful to keep her distance just now, so how did she end up “sparking” with Zhuang Qiting?
Lu Junqiu shrugged and let out a dismissive “Tsk.” “There’s definitely something fishy with you two. Brother-in-law’s been chasing you for years with his deep, earth-shattering love. You shouldn’t hesitate anymore. Just say yes and remarry already.”
Li Yaru let out a light, mocking laugh, reaching up to pinch her cousin’s cheek despite knowing she’d just gotten a skincare treatment last week.
She squeezed until Junqiu begged for mercy.
“I was wrong—I was wrong! I just did a treatment, you can’t pinch me!”
“Junqiu, don’t think I don’t know you’re a double agent. But I don’t blame you. Pretty much everyone around me has been infiltrated by Zhuang Qiting’s evil influence. If you’re feeling brave, why don’t you go tell him not to play any tricks and that only if he listens to me will he get any sweets?”
Lu Junqiu’s face scrunched up. Could she dare say that in front of King Yama? She valued her life too much for that.
Arriving at her Water Villa, Li Yaru gracefully retracted her hand, raised an eyebrow, and got out.
The sea breeze swept her sleeves, leaving behind an airy, spirited silhouette.
Another car stopped not far away in front of a villa. A man with long, athletic legs stepped down, his vacation suit fluttering stylishly in the wind.
Sure enough, their villas were right next to each other, sharing the same beautiful view.
Li Yaru glimpsed Zhuang Qiting out of the corner of her eye.
Taking advantage of no one watching, she secretly flashed her pinky at him, her lips mouthing: “Old man.”
Zhuang Qiting chuckled quietly, pretending not to see her, striding briskly into his own room.
The actual Wedding Ceremony would be held in two days.
The guests who arrived early were all close family and friends—here for the Wedding Banquet and, conveniently, a free vacation.
Everything, from food and fun to transportation, was fully covered—could it get any better?
Although Zhuang Qiting wasn’t the most affectionate of fathers, he spared no expense for his son’s marriage.
Everything was the best of the best.
Even the fleet of Rolls-Royce cars for the bride’s arrival had been airlifted from a neighboring country, requiring complicated negotiations—not something that money alone could solve.
The younger crowd on the island was letting loose—parties and dances every night, throwing away their usual elite personas.
The Zhuang Family’s younger generation flitted about like a flock of Flower Butterflies.
The elders, of course, didn’t mix with the kids, but they had their own fun—sipping drinks on the beach, listening to the band play, enjoying the tipsy sea breeze, chatting about life, savoring a unique pleasure.
Li Yaru was the least elder-like of her generation, always laughing and playful, even getting physical when she was annoyed.
This time, a group of Flower Butterflies dragged her away from the elders’ table to dance at the party.
“Auntie, hurry up! We’ve all been waiting for you!”
“Come on, Auntie! Come dance! Those girls say the Zhuang Family is all men—it’s killing us! Who said we’re all men?”
“Mum, save us! We can’t take this insult anymore!”
Li Yaru tucked a fresh frangipani behind her ear, her lips curling up as the crowd cheered her on. “Don’t shout nonsense. Who are you calling Auntie?”
A bunch of handsome boys let out shrieks—
“No way, Uncle’s been chasing you for six years and still hasn’t caught you!”
“Then it must be Uncle’s problem!”
“Yeah, it’s Uncle’s fault!”
“It’s definitely Dad’s fault!”
Zhuang Qiting, holding a glass of icy Mojito, watched these little rascals shamelessly fawn over Li Yaru.
As if sucking up to her wasn’t enough, now they were mocking him too!
Such a noisy bunch—did they think this was Zhuang’s Group and they could be as unruly as they liked?
“What are you all yelling about? Don’t you have any shame? Matters of your elders are none of your business.” Zhuang Qiting scolded coldly, his face stern.
They looked at each other, then suppressed their laughter, no longer daring to act up.
Li Yaru couldn’t stand Zhuang Qiting’s domineering act—where did all this authority come from? She shot him a glare and stood up. “Come on, let’s dance. I’m not talking to boring old men.”
He sat there in silence, but his eyes never left Li Yaru.
Standing among the young men, Li Yaru was surrounded like the moon among stars, the frangipani behind her ear blooming in the dim night.
As the music switched to a gentle English love song, Li Yaru danced elegantly on the beach, the jeweled skirt at her hem glittering like moonlight, brushing past Zhuang Qiting’s eyes.
Her dancing had always been graceful—not for any particular technique, but for the supple way she moved, her waist bending low like a willow branch in the wind.
The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, all eyes on her.
Zhuang Qiting felt transported back to more than twenty years ago, the first time he saw Li Yaru.
She wore a red dress and danced alone on stage, while he hid in a shadowy corner, quietly watching her, scheming how to make her his own woman.
The next day was the Wedding Banquet. By nine, everyone called it a night.
Li Yaru, worried about puffy eyes, didn’t dare drink a drop. Back in her room, she quickly showered and did her skincare, lying obediently in bed before ten, planning to stretch and then sleep.
[What are you doing.]
After keeping up appearances all day, Zhuang Qiting finally couldn’t hold back. After washing up, he messaged Li Yaru.
Li Yaru, with a hydrating face mask and oil all over, didn’t bother typing—she sent a voice message instead: “Sleeping—hoo—” She mimicked a soft snore.
Zhuang Qiting let out a silent laugh: [I’m coming over. Open the door.]
Li Yaru replied, “Boss, how am I supposed to sleep if you come? Anyway, I’m not opening the door. You can enjoy the sea breeze outside.”
Zhuang Qiting narrowed his eyes, tossed his phone aside, peeled off his T-shirt, revealing toned bronze muscles, and barefoot, stepped onto his balcony.
Without hesitation, he dove into the inky sea, using the moonlight for guidance, easily swimming to Li Yaru’s villa.
Every Water Villa had a stairway from the deck leading straight into the sea, for guests to swim as they pleased—perfect for Zhuang Qiting.
He slipped quietly into Li Yaru’s territory.
Grabbing the ladder’s rail, Zhuang Qiting vaulted out of the water, drops running down his muscles.
He climbed onto the balcony, just a window away from the master bedroom.
The woman was bold—she hadn’t even closed the curtains and was lying sprawled in bed, her long white legs raised straight up, then dropping down again when tired, only to lift them up once more.
Zhuang Qiting wiped the seawater from his face, grinning, and knocked on the glass.
“Knock knock knock.”
“Knock knock knock.”
Li Yaru was in the middle of a leg-slimming exercise when she heard the tapping on the glass.
At first, she thought it was just a seabird and ignored it. But something felt off, so she turned her head.
A half-naked, dripping-wet, sexy man was standing right behind the floor-to-ceiling window, his figure cast long and strong by the night.
Arms crossed, he stared at her lazily.
“Mom—!”
Li Yaru almost jumped out of her skin, nearly fainted, then saw it was Zhuang Qiting.
She scrambled off the bed, rushed over, and flung open the door to the balcony.
“Zhuang Qiting! Are you trying to scare me to death? How did you even get here?”
“I swam. Two minutes.”
“You—” And he sounded so proud!
Li Yaru, bristling with anger, raised her hand to hit him.
The man strode up, bent down, and scooped her up into his arms.
His skin was wet but burning hot, soaking her light silk nightdress.
He carried her to the bedroom, set her on the sofa, and bent to kiss her ear.
Messy, scattered kisses landed all over her face and neck.
He used to kiss her just like this after she danced! And now, he finally got the chance again.
“No more dancing in front of those brats!” he demanded.
Li Yaru didn’t quite understand his sudden fierce desire, only narrowing her eyes and lying back on the sofa, letting him tease her with lips and tongue.
Now and then, when things got too heated and her heart raced, she’d push him away. “No—Not tonight—”
Tomorrow was her son’s wedding; she’d have to get up at five. No way was she letting things go too far tonight.
“I know, I know.” Zhuang Qiting held her hand, rubbing her palm, whispering softly, “Just kissing, nothing more.”
“…………”
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.