“Give me the answer I want first.” He smiled, his fingers gently caressing her swollen lips.
“Ah…” she tried to get closer again.
No matter how many times she tried, he would dodge, then use his hand to fend off her desire for a kiss.
“Say it quickly.” He demanded her confession with a domineering tone, his hands beginning to caress her neck and shoulders, creating a ticklish sensation.
“I… I…” she swallowed, “I like you…”
Before she could finish, he pulled her over, giving her the kiss she wanted, while she gave him the answer he desired.
“Say it again.” He breathed heavily, pressing against her lips.
“I like you…” The words flowed more smoothly now, having crossed that most difficult and highest hurdle, repeating them was no longer an issue. “Remember, always tell me ‘I love you,'” he said, kissing her again before reluctantly letting her go. “And next time, change it to ‘I love you,’ that’s the right way.”
Xu Xian’en leaned on his shoulder, catching her breath as her excitement gradually receded, and her rationality slowly returned.
“I love you?” she asked.
“Not a question, make it a statement, understand?” he continued to guide her patiently. “Expressing emotions bravely is the healthy way.”
“So, I should say ‘I love you’ directly all the time?” she nodded like a diligent student.
“Right, smart girl!” he laughed heartily, cupping her face for another kiss.
“Do I love you?” she smiled, simultaneously delivering a fierce punch to his abdomen. “Try using a kiss to lure me again next time!”
She stormed off, leaving him alone in the foliage, clutching his stomach in pain. At that moment, an autumn wind blew by, accentuating the desolation of the defeated side.
Chapter Nine
The scorching sun mercilessly baked the earth, leaving the grass and trees in the wilderness looking lifeless, standing in wait for the night to come.
Only they were moving; Shen Ben and Xu Xian’en slowly made their way north on an ox, due to Xu Xian’en’s sunburn a few days ago and the need to give the ox water. Shen Ben had only one bag of water left, and as they moved forward, they were mindful of finding a water source.
“Drink, Shen Ben…” she said, parched to the point of delirium.
“Drink what?”
