To Love You Again

"Hahaha."

A low laugh sounded beside her.

Xiong Zhi looked up at Linfeng confusedly. His hand covered his mouth, but sounds of low laughter could still be heard from him.

'Why was he laughing?'

Ah, maybe he was infected by the cheerful atmosphere.

And then like a fool, she found herself staring at his handsome face that was vibrantly lit up with laughter. His eyes looked especially amused.

Linfeng stopped soon after noticing his Young Miss's stare.

"Sorry, I couldn't help it. You look so cute," Linfeng said with a lingering smile in his voice. 

Ah, the Young Miss's shocked -blank eyes- and her vacant -doubting life expression-... was so adorable- funny.

Such an expression on the Young Miss was a rare sight, and the contrast with the jovial people around them could just bring one to laughter.

He chuckled mirthfully again at the memory. 

Xiong Zhi smiled as well, seeing him so happy. She did not really understood why he was laughing, but it was fine, as long as he felt happy.

The couple finally warmed up to the lively environment.

"Do you want to try fishing, Young Miss?" Linfeng offered. 

"But I don't know how to," Xiong Zhi said and looked at the front. She had never experienced fishing before. She was actually envy of Tang Xinyang's awesomeness and confidence to feed her dear husband. She wanted to be a reliable wife too.

"Aren't I here?" Linfeng's enticing voice made Xiong Zhi looked at him.

"You know how to fish?" She looked at him with shining eyes. 

"Of course, I do. I might not be the best at fishing, but I can teach you how." Linfeng said.

Xiong Zhi changed her mind.

Ah, it's okay if she can't catch fishes with her bare hands. Her dear Linfeng was here. He would be a reliable husband and she would just stand there acting cute while being fed.

"Alright, I'll gladly accept the offer," she nodded. She wanted to try it, too. "But I warn you, I really don't have any idea how to fish. Don't be disappointed if I can't pick it up fast."

Linfeng chuckled. "I don't dare, I don't dare."

They went to the tool area and took two fishing rods, a case with different kinds of bait, a basket of blanket and refreshments, and a bucket where they could put their harvested fish in. 

In this activity, everyone was encouraged to fish. The school had generously prepared more than enough materials for everyone. However, for the small fishing competition, one team had to have four members in order to join. 

Of course, Xiong Zhi and Linfeng did not have the mind to join the competition. 

They wanted to have their own sweet time with just the two of them during this trip.

There were some people like them who simply wanted to spend time in relaxation. Some of them chose to fish with their girlfriends or boyfriends. Some were enjoying fishing alone. Some went fishing together with their friends. 

There were a few who found it boring and just watched others while enjoying and taking pictures of the scenery.

The verdant valley they were at was surrounded by lakes, ponds, and creeks. For the prepared activity which was fishing competition, the school chose the biggest lake in the valley.

Since the pair wanted to be alone, they walked further a bit and found a pond devoid of people. It was not very far from the lakeside, but was hidden well by lush trees and greenery. They could have their own world for two people in here.

Linfeng checked the area. The place, although hidden from view, seemed to be well maintained and cleaned regularly as the grassy field was freshly mowed and there were no dead tree leaves lying around. The grass was not sharp but lushly soft.

Still, his Young Miss had a very delicate skin, so he took out the blanket from the basket and spread it out on the ground before allowing his Young Miss to sit on top of it. 

Next, he checked the pond. It was also clean and well maintained. He found small fishes, with a few decently sized ones, swimming through the lush aquatic plants in the pond. 

This was a good place to fish. He prepared the bait and put it on the hook. He did everything fluidly. 

Xiong Zhi watched him quietly. When Linfeng took the fishing rods, she finally spoke. 

The surroundings was filled with tranquility and she did not want to break this peaceful mood, so she spoke in a soft voice.

"So you have fished before? I haven't noticed." In the past, she realized too late her love for Linfeng. She did not had the chance to ask him about his personal life, his experiences, his preferences, and hobbies.

And then in this life, there were so many things she had to deal with. Not to mention, she was not always able to spend her time with Linfeng. Finally, she got her long awaited leisure time together. She wanted to grab this chance to know more about him, the things she did not know.

Linfeng finished preparing the rods. He skillfully threw the bait into the pond.

"Yes, a long time ago." He sat beside Xiong Zhi.

"When I was ten, my instructors started teaching me how to fish, how to hike, how to dive underwater," then he remembered something and chuckled. "—And even how to sky dive. They taught me many activities that our masters might do in the future. They even taught me a lot of survival skills," Linfeng answered as he passed the other rod to Xiong Zhi.

Xiong Zhi looked at the fishing rod that Linfeng assembled with awe.

"Why do you look so amazed?" Linfeng laughed again. His Young Miss's reaction was somewhat innocent and guileless, contrary to her usual mature look. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she studied the fishing rod with the bait.

He gazed at Xiong Zhi for a moment. An imperceptible light flashed in his eyes. He put his fishing rod down on the prepared stand. He then stood up.

"Here, let me teach you." 

Linfeng helped her up. Then, he went behind her. He was so close to her back that Xiong Zhi could easily lean on his hard chest with a slight movement. 

"You have to hold the handle with both of your hands." Linfeng gently took her soft hands and placed it on the handle of the fishing rod properly. 

Xiong Zhi held her breath. His fragrance overwhelmed her nose. His position made him look like he was embracing her from behind.

"Once you are used to the angle and balance of the fishing rod, your dominant hand can hold the reel." 

Xiong Zhi was left-handed. He took her left hand and placed it on the reel. His big hand entirely covered her small hand. His warmth spread to hers.

"You should manually move your bait. After casting the lure, you need to move down your bait." Linfeng held her right hand to move the bait up and down. His warm breath tickled Xiong Zhi's neck, sending shivers down her spine.

In the small opening by the pond, only his soft whispers echoed with the wind.

"And then, you have to wait patiently."

"You can find a comfortable positon while you wait."

"Finally, the moment the fish bites on the bait, you have to drag the dial fast and reel in your fishing line." 

Linfeng guided Xiong Zhi's hand in reeling in the line. The fishing line was retrieved. 

However, what was hooked was her heart.

"And then we will have our fish." Linfeng lowered his head and smiled down at her. His eyes were curved with a gentle light.

Xiong Zhi, whose heart was just taken, stared back foolishly at him. His presence overwhelmed her that her mind turned blank. 

From the dazed look on her face, Linfeng realized that his Young Miss was not listening to him at all, but was only watching him. 

He found it mystifying how she always focused her stare at him with so much affection and adulation, as if he was her god and her whole world. But undeniably, he felt incredibly happy every time she did so, and his previous insecurities seemed to fade with the assurance of her love evident in her eyes.

Ever since he no longer denied his feelings for her, he did not want to hold himself back so much as before. He wanted to return all her affections in his own way.

With that thought, his gentle smile turned into a grin. He could not help but tease her.

"Am I more interesting than fishing?" 

The girl in his arms blushed. 

'Of course! You are more interesting and wonderful, infinite times better than fishing.'

Xiong Zhi honestly wanted to tell this to him but she could not find her voice, because his overwhelming presence was making her knees weak and her body soft. She wanted to lean back against him and bury her face into his chest.

She simply nodded with a sincere but somewhat shy expression.

Linfeng's eyes darkened seeing how she was so obedient and honest in answering his teasing. He took a deep breath. His adam apples bobbed up and down. This side of Xiong Zhi could really make his darker side awaken, his predatory instinct of pouncing onto the innocent lamb in front of him. 

The meek Young Miss that was only for him to see... Oh, how he loved to tease her and see more of her lovely expressions.

Since she was being so honest with her affections, he wanted to be more upfront with his feelings as well. He wanted to make an effort, too, to advance their relationship.

After all, a relationship would only work with two-way efforts from both parties.

His eyes glinted as a playful smile appeared on his lips.

"Then..."

He lowered his head until his lips was close to her ears. His arms that was holding Xiong Zhi drew closer. Just inch away and they would be actually embracing. His breath washed over her ears.

"Why don't you try fishing 'me' instead, my dearest Young Miss?" he said hoarsely, deepening his voice in purpose, making his voice sound s.e.xier.

Tempting her.

Numbness spread into her whole body. Xiong Zhi felt that her ears would get pregnant by his sensual voice.

Thump. Thump. Thump. 

Was that sound her heartbeat, or his? One thing for sure, her heart was also racing in response to his actions.

She blushingly stared at his naughty smile and playful eyes. 

'Is he... flirting with me?' 

Xiong Zhi was happy with this news. She could somehow understand now why Song Xuantin kept on shouting 'kya! kya!' or 'aaaahhh!' whenever she was excited with romantic stuff or when seeing handsome men. Right now, she was in the same predicament. In this moment, she wanted to raise her white flag and open her arms wide, ready to be imprisoned by this seductive lord.

With the knowledge imprinted on her by the hundred movies they watched, backed with the theoretical knowledge and examples from 'Seduce Your Man 101', Xiong Zhi knew what to answer.

Although she felt a bit bashful, but she was inherently a straightforward person who liked to take the initiative in expressing her feelings. This was a lesson she deeply embedded into her soul after her rebirth, so as to not leave regrets.

She turned her body within his arms slightly to face him and looked up at him directly. Their faces were too near to each other, only a few inches apart. 

"If that's the case, can I... be the bait?" 

The girl in front of him looked bashful with her red cheeks and watery eyes, yet her voice was serious. With such a face full of spring and her words, obviously offering herself up, Linfeng was thunderstruck.

He felt his blood rushing to his head.

His mind went blank for a moment and his heart pounded loudly in his chest.