341 Everyone Will Know (1/2)

Yu Zhen stared down at her with a conflicted expression.

”How soon is soon?” he softly asked, his hand tightening over hers.

Her eyelids fluttered downwards, unable to admit the truth.

”I don't know…” she whispered.

He let out a small sigh and pulled her close, hugging her without qualms. When it came to her, Yu Zhen knew he would be treading in troubled waters. Yet, he still allowed himself to fall helplessly for her.

Yu Zhen could've left for Hanjian and never looked back. But he didn't. He wrote letters to her that demanded replies. He worked hard to ensure the political marriage would proceed. He finished documents weeks in advance, just to be able to spend time with her after the wedding.

”The things I do for you…” he murmured, shaking his head.

He felt her grip on his clothes tighten. To his pleasant surprise, she wrapped an arm around his waist and embraced him back. Her other hand rested upon his middle-back as she leaned against him.

”Will you pay me back for it?” he teased.

Yu Zhen said it as a joke, but she obviously didn't see it like that.

”What would you like in return?” she mumbled into his clothes, refusing to meet his intense gaze.

Yu Zhen raised a brow. He let out a hum and pretended to think about it.

”Allow me to have a harem of flowers to decorate my palace—”

Her head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Yu Zhen's lips curled into a satisfied smirk. He could see it, the shards of amber swirling in her eyes—Hesitance, anger, fear. They were truly the windows to her soul.

”I'll poison your flowers until they wilt and never regrow,” she retorted.

Yu Zhen wagged his fingers in front of her face, like a master disciplining a pet.

”Flowers are replaceable. One wilt, and two more grows in its place,” he said.

Yu Zhen peered in amusement as her nostrils flared with a temperament fierce enough to match his. He could picture the gears turning in her head. And without warning, she angrily stomped on his foot.

He let out a sharp hiss in pain, not expecting a sneak attack like that. She shoved him away and crossed her arms.

”If you're going to have a harem of women, I want my fair share of boy toys,” she stated.

Li Xueyue realized Yu Zhen was fickle as parchment against the wind. His easygoing smile morphed into a murderous glower. He revealed a wicked smirk, a crazed look in his obsidian eyes.

”Go ahead,” he whispered.

Li Xueyue certainly didn't expect such an answer. His smirk deepened until it was sinister and dangerous.

”Buy out an entire brothel of men if you wish.”

Li Xueyue's brows came together. She was puzzled by his acceptance of her proposal. She gulped when he took a slow step forward. She held her breath when he lifted strands of her long hair in between his calloused fingers.

Li Xueyue thought it was a joke, but the chilling calmness in his eyes said otherwise. She shivered. He laughed. He brought the strands of hair to his lips, pressing a kiss upon it.

”They'll be dead before you have your fun with them.”