To Love You Again

Xiong Zhi's heart sped up.

Linfeng's deep black eyes reflected her dazed figure. 

All the troubles and bitterness instantly vanished with that feathery kiss on her hair.

"T-then, you better make sure of that. In this lifetime, you're not allowed to leave me." Xiong Zhi whispered, stuttering a bit. Linfeng's charm was greatly affecting her senses.

The tall figure before her chuckled. "Of course." 

Just exchanging words with her was enough for him to forget the troubles he had earlier.

Xiong Zhi was captivated by Linfeng's smile. His eyes curved into small crescents, and his rarely seen dimples were showing. 

Oh, how she missed this smile, which he only ever showed to her, and never to any other women.

"..."

She suddenly remembered how this man whom she dearly loved was promised by her grandfather to another woman, although her beloved already refused. But the thought that he was, for the time being until the re-trial, promised to another... it was infuriating.

Linfeng was hers alone!

"Linfeng, can you tell me how I can help you?" Xiong Zhi somberly asked. Today's trial had given them more time to think of ways. But after more than a month from now, this matter would be brought up again. For sure, most people in the second branch would not side with Linfeng. She had to rack her brain on how to help him.

Watching the worried face of his girl, his heart felt itchy.

He raised his head, looked around their surroundings, and sneakily held her small, soft hand gently, like he was holding porcelain.

"Don't worry about it, Zhi'er. Actually, all of what happened so far did not fall too far from my expectations. I have made preparations already. I would be able to make the ends meet by the time of the re-trial. Just trust me," Linfeng said firmly, without uncertainty in his voice or in his eyes.

As long as his Zhi'er stood by his side!

Of course, Xiong Zhi was willing to give all her trust on Linfeng. "I naturally trust you. It's just... I can't just wait for the month to arrive, without doing anything. Count me in, too. You don't have to face it alone, Linfeng."

The girl's words brought such happiness in his heart. He held her hand tighter.

He thought that this matter could be a blessing in disguise. This incident allowed him to see most clearly just how much the Young Miss truly cared for him. This confirmation allowed him to erase the feeling of uncertainty in his heart.

"Hmm, I know, I won't. I have you. If I really need your help, I will not hesitate to tell you." His eyes sparkled as he said those words. How good it was to know there was someone fighting for you, taking care of you, and willing to go to such lengths just for you. 

Linfeng's eyes caught Xiong Zhi's necklace. He remembered their talk last time on the phone.

"Zhi'er, I promised you I will recharge your necklace for you last time, didn't I?" 

Xiong Zhi's eyes smiled at the memory.

"Yes. It's already emptied out because I always use it. Charge it for me now?" she asked with limpid eyes, acting spoiled.

Linfeng chuckled. His Zhi'er was asking to be spoiled, he would gladly oblige. 

"Alright, come here," he said in the spur of the moment, forgetting that they were already close enough. His deep voice was so enchanting. He was like a seductive siren inviting an innocent sailor to the unknown. 

They were already quite near to each other, only one step apart. Xiong Zhi closed that tiny space without hesitation, practically sticking close to him, her face tilted up at him, not breaking the eye contact.

Linfeng was stunned. In fact, he did not really mean for her to get this close to him. But who was he to complain? He did not dislike it even a tiniest bit.

The two gazed at each other's eyes.

Silence reigned over as they quietly listened to each other's breathing. They could hear their heartbeat pound loudly in their chests, too loud that they were unable to identify whose heartbeat belonged to whose. 

The danger of being found heightened their senses, making each other highly sensitive to each other's scent, breathing, and movements.

It was not a puppy love, unlike their elders thought. It was also not a passionate whirlwind romance that came fast and left just as fast. It was not a flashy fiery flame that would eventually die out.

It was a silent, comforting, yet burning love. It gave each other the warm utopia that each other needed, yet it also contained their intense affections for each other, silently burning, like red hot embers. 

It was a type of love that brings comfort to the soul, just by seeing and standing by each other.

The pair had already forgotten Old Xiong's words of not coming near each other. 

After a while, the tall, young man raised his hand once more. His warm fingertips caressed her slender neck. Xiong Zhi shivered, feeling the electric shock run through her body from the warm fingers caressing the bare skin on her nape.

His gaze traveled over her watery eyes, to her delicate nose, down to her rosy lips which looked like red jelly, exquisite and sweet. It stayed there for a long while.

Xiong Zhi swallowed. Those eyes of his felt so tangible that it felt like he was actually touching her eyes, nose, and... lips. Burning her. 

"L-Linfeng—" Her voice came out in a broken whisper. 

Song Xuantin's scenarios written in the book echoed in her mind. 

'Linfeng's eyes seem to say, he wants me to kiss him...'

Her eyes blurring, she silently inched her face closer. '...Can I? '

Linfeng's disordered breath was so near, so warm. It tickled her face and made her feel hot.

Ting.

A sudden faint sound of metal unclasping woke Xiong Zhi from her daze.

Linfeng unclasped Xiong Zhi's necklace. His darkened eyes were still looking at every inch of her face.

"...I will recharge it now," he said in a tight voice as took hold of the necklace. He obviously was trying to appear composed, but the attempt was not very successful.

His ears were totally red.

Seeing those red ears, Xiong Zhi felt her cheeks burn hotly. Her entire face turned as red as a tomato. 

What indecent thought was she thinking about?! 

Did he realize she was about to kiss him? Oh no! He clearly knew it! Look at those red ears!

Xiong Zhi was ashamed of herself. She almost took advantage of him. She wanted to hide right now, but she did not want to leave Linfeng just yet. Meeting him surely would be difficult from now on. She wanted to enjoy every second of their time together.

But she still took a step back and tried to make her face appear calm. She silently recited the national anthem in her mind, but as it was not working, she switched to Buddhist doctrines.

Amitabha, amitabha. Purity. Peace. Tranquility. 

Alas, her face was still red with that 'I'm-trying-hard-to-relax' face.

On the other hand, Linfeng coughed unnaturally to cover up his shame. His heart was still pounding loudly. 

The unique scent of the girl was still lingering in his nose.

He almost did the unspeakable!

They were so close that he only needed to move forward slightly, and he could kiss her. 

Blood rushed to his ears and neck as he thought of that. If he lost control now and kissed her, how would she react? 

Linfeng peeked at her face. Seeing her red and funny face, he could not help but laugh lightly. That face looked like that of a constipated person.

Xiong Zhi looked at him in confusion. 

Those slightly wide eyes with a questioning look made him want to laugh harder. 

He had to control himself to not laugh too loudly, or else people might just discover them.

Xiong Zhi finally realized that he was laughing at her.

'Was he laughing because I, the girl who should be modest on things like this, almost kissed him actively? It's Xuantin's fault, you know!'

Xiong Zhi's face got even redder. She was really ashamed! 

He would not think she was acting shameless, would he?

'Hmph, it doesn't matter. We would kiss sooner or later!' There was still the trip she was looking forward to.

That was part of Xiong Zhi's bucket list. If they did not kiss in this life, then her second chance at life was a total waste.