6 – Chapter 6
“You want to keep me locked up?”
“Hahaha…” A Tao was genuinely ticklish. With one foot firmly held in someone’s grasp and unable to break free, she could only use her other foot to kick at the person while rolling around on the hospital bed. “Stop it! It feels like you’re tickling me!”
“My apologies.” Duan Yuan immediately released her hand and called out toward the door, “Go buy a pair of women’s shoes, size 36.”
Duan Zheng’s expression at that moment was as colorful as a rainbow, particularly vivid. He saw several gray smudges on his young master’s usually immaculate face—as if he’d been roughed up…
Meanwhile, the culprit lay lazily on the hospital bed, her bare feet having thoroughly dirtied the pristine white sheets…
“Young master, I’ll have someone come change the bedsheets.”
“Since when did I ask for your opinion?”
“Understood! I’ll arrange for someone to buy the shoes right away!”
With only the two of them left in the room, A Tao finally stopped laughing and began seriously studying this handsome man.
He looked completely different from his earlier aloof self—his pale face was slightly flushed, and the smudges made him look rather amusing. Beads of sweat dripped from his forehead as he breathed heavily.
Remembering how he’d coughed up blood earlier, A Tao felt an inexplicable pang in her heart: “Are you tired? Did I disturb you? I’ll leave now.”
Her foot was captured again, and A Tao found herself pushed back onto the bed. Just as she tried to sit up, the distinct masculine presence enveloped her.
“Trying to run away again? Didn’t you say you liked me?”
Duan Yuan seemed shrouded in dark energy, with a faint but terrifying scent of blood that would have made ordinary people flee in terror. Yet A Tao simply lay there lazily.
After a moment’s hesitation, A Tao suddenly realized this man probably shared her perspective on relationships—when you like someone, you take them captive. “Do you like me? Is that why you brought me here?”
Duan Yuan was taken aback. He hadn’t considered this question. Like her? Not exactly. He just found her fearlessness rather appealing. “No…”
“Oh…” A Tao felt hurt. So her little bean sprout self really was unlovable. “Actually, I quite like you.”
Hearing this confession-like statement for the second time from the girl, Duan Yuan’s lips curved upward: “Then it’s settled. Since you like me, stay. Don’t think about running away again.”
“You want to keep me locked up?” A Tao suddenly recalled something—in her clan, there were indeed examples of capturing someone you fancied, and if persuasion didn’t work, locking them in a cave until they came around.
“Yes.” Duan Yuan nodded.
…
When Duan Zheng returned with the shoes, he overheard the two deeply exploring the concept of “liking” someone. He felt somewhat helpless about his young master’s unhealthy approach, wanting to rush forward and shout that this wasn’t how you pursued a woman—she’d probably think you were crazy.
But the next moment, his jaw nearly dropped.
He saw Miss Lin the Second nod thoughtfully: “I think what you’re saying makes sense.”
Makes sense?
What exactly makes sense?
This Miss Lin was certainly… unique!
Duan Yuan laughed—not just a slight curl of the lips, but a full smile where A Tao could see his teeth.It must be said, when someone is good-looking, even their teeth can be this white.
“But… I still have matters to attend to at home, so I can’t accompany you right now. Let’s do it next time.” She’d wait until she regained her energy, nourished herself better, and grew more accustomed to life here before discussing it further.
Matters at home? Hearing this, Duan Yuan’s face fell. He suddenly recalled the rumors circulating outside—that this Second Miss Lin seemed to already be engaged, to the eldest son of the Ji family.
At this thought, the corners of his lips curled into a scornful smile, though it was unclear what exactly he found amusing.
“Shall I go then?” Seeing that the other party remained silent, A Tao awkwardly walked out wearing the size 36 women’s shoes the man had kindly given her.
Just as she reached the doorway, a cold male voice came from behind.
“If you leave, don’t come looking for me again.”
A Tao immediately turned back: “Why?”
“Aren’t you going back to marry that Ji family fellow? Do you think I’d want a married woman?”
“Ah, we’ve already called off the engagement, no need to worry. What I need to resolve isn’t that matter.” Perhaps knowing that beauties often have tempers and are harder to placate, A Tao was especially patient.
“Really?” Duan Yuan sounded somewhat doubtful.
“Of course it’s true…” A Tao nodded repeatedly, “By the way, I still don’t know your name.”
“Duan Yuan…”
“Duan Yuan?” A Tao laughed, genuinely pleased, “So you’re the one from the rumors, my… my lover?”
“Uh…”