Yue Ling sat on her side of the bed with a blank expression written on her face. Her bluish-green eyes stare into Lu Tian's dark ones like she was trying to read his thoughts.
The more she stared at his straight expression, the space between her brows crease, and her lower lip trembles ever so light.
Whether she was trying to hold back on crying or laughing, no one could tell.
Lu Tian settled in his spot next to his wife. He stared at her with a straight and severe expression. He needed to let her know that he meant his words when he didn't want her to jump out the window.
However, when he saw her lower lip tremble ever so lightly, his eyes tremble, and his entire being froze.
He could feel sweat start to form on his forehead, and a wave of nervousness slowly crawled inside him like tiny ants.
His wife had been staring at him like he was a criminal being interrogated. How did it suddenly change to her on the verge of crying?
Afraid he might have hurt her feelings, he inhales a deep breath, and his posture slumps a little.
"Don't cry. I was being serious. I don't want you to ever jump out of a window again. It makes me s-scare for your safety."
His words fell worried and panic about his wife, but his eyes widen, and he quickly looks away from her gaze. He curses inside at his mistake, and his hands on the blueprint clench tighter without realizing he was crumpling the paper.
Yue Ling's blank expression turns into amus.e.m.e.nt, and both her eyebrows arched up. She scoots a little closer to Lu Tian and leans closer as if trying to get a better look at his expression.
"Did you just—mmf!"
Before she could say another word, Lu Tian quickly covers her mouth with one hand. The color on his face was the same as usual, but his ears were burning red in embarrassment.
"I didn't do what you think I did."
His face then slowly turned grim as he grew frustrated, like he was having trouble fighting with his inner demon.
Yue Ling didn't move his head away and burst into a burst of heartfelt laughter sounds from her. She had been trying not to laugh the entire time, but he mistook her expression for crying, and now this.
Her laughter soon ceases, but behind the hand that covered her mouth, she was grinning from ear to ear.
Lu Tian glance at her with a glare, and Yue Ling press her lips together. She didn't wait for him to say anything and nodded her head. She wanted him to know that she will not laugh or say a word about what happened, so he can move his hand.
Seeing her quick to cooperate without needing to say anything, Lu Tian lets out a small sigh. He moves his hand and lowers his head.
He had tried his best to stay composed and show her how worried he is about her safety. However, the outcome of his effort led him to stutter.
From the moment he could speak, he never once stuttered and was called a child prodigy. To think this is his first time stuttering in front of someone, and someone had to be his wife.
Yue Ling never looked away from the aloof man. She had planned to ignore the matter about him stuttering, but seeing how downhearted he had become, she was at a loss.
She couldn't understand why he was making a big deal out of it. It was natural for one to stutter in life.
Even she stutters every once and a while.
Her eyes subconsciously glance at his ear and notice how red they have become. She couldn't help but smile at how adorable Lu Tian looked.
She raises her right arm and places her palm on his shoulder. She did so in a gentle manner as if trying not to scare the man.
"It's okay. I'll take what you did to my grave."
Lu Tian turns his head to look at her. He was met with seriousness, and her left hand raised with three fingers pointing to the sky.
He gazes into her mesmerizing eyes that reminds one of the Mediterranean Sea, and he felt his shoulders relax. He swore he felt like everything in life had a meaning for him as long as she is here.
Just being with her at this moment made him feel less tense about stuttering.
Yue Ling wasn't able to maintain a straight face for too long and laughs. She lowers her hand and looks away from the man, but before she could, her eyes widen with a quiver.
The man, who was embarrassed seconds ago, suddenly leans towards her, and before she could sound another laugh, his lip pressed against her lip, sealing off any sound.
Like she was the one who saved him from drowning in embarrassment, Lu Tian groans a sigh. Never will he ever get tired of the touch of her lip and how he can smell her sweet fragrance.
And as much as he wanted to deepen the kiss at this moment, he reluctantly pulls away.
He doesn't move too far but taps his forehead against her and remains in place with eyes closed.
"Should we go somewhere for the night?"
Yue Ling was still stuck in a daze from the kiss that came unexpectedly. She didn't even have the chance to blink, let alone think about anything.
She stares at the man whose face is too close to her, and her heart began to race. It was only then that she returned to her senses and nodded her head.
Due to their foreheads touching, she could only nod her head lightly, but it was enough for Lu Tian to understand.
He plants another small kiss on her lip before entirely pulling away. He picks up the blueprint and rolls it up.
"Is there anywhere specific you want to go?"
Yue Ling would have preferred to stay home and relax, but knowing that their house is under construction, it was best to leave for the night. That way, their subordinates outside can work the next day without having to worry about bothering them.
She shook her head and gave an answer to his question.
"Anywhere you pick is fine with me."
Her words took Lu Tian by surprise. He looks back at her with a small look of questioning her answer.
Every time his father asked his mother where she wanted to go, she wouldn't hesitate to name a place from what he remembers growing up. With this as what he saw, he thought it was customary for women to be the same. Especially when allowed to go anywhere they want.
However, his wife was different.
He stood up from the bed and turned his body to face her, then stuck his left arm out to her with the palm open.
"We'll leave in thirty minutes."
Yue Ling didn't have to think twice and naturally place her right palm on top of his. She felt his fingers tighten around her hand and remembers something.
"What about the dinner I promised you?"
Lu Tian was just about to turn around after taking hold of his wife's small hand. He chuckles when she mentioned dinner and led her out of their bedroom.
"We can have dinner when we get to the place."
Hearing his response, Yue Ling couldn't help but narrow her eyes as she stares at the man walking in front of her. She couldn't help but feel that there was already a place he wanted to bring her.
She narrows her eyes a little more with suspicion. Was this why he asked her on the drive home if she wanted to go somewhere for the night?
This feeling she was having didn't linger for too long before she pushes everything to the back of her head. It was best to not ask too many questions and wait until they get to their destination.
Lu Tian was oblivious about what his wife was thinking and the look she had given him. He walks her to her closet room and stops at the door without entering. He adjusts his body to face her, and a small smile curl on his face.
"Pack anything you will need. I'll come and get you in thirty minutes."
He stood in place, and with a small tug of his arm, he guides his wife inside the room like a prince helping his princess into the carriage.
"Why, thank you, Mr. Gentleman."
Yue Ling chuckles at his gesture and steps inside her closet room. She lets go of his hand and proceeds to pack her things. She had only walked to the closet to take out a brown leather duffle bag when she remembers something.
Placing the bag on her vanity desk, she strides out of the room. She spots Lu Tian just about to go down the stairs, and she calls out.
"Tian, wait. I forgot to tell you something."
Hearing his wife's angelic voice, Lu Tian stops accordingly to her words and turns to look at her. He doesn't say anything but patiently waited until she stopped in front of him.
"What's the matter?"
Yue Ling smiles a chuckle at how he had returned to his usual indifference.
"Since we'll be gone for the night, I don't think it's a bad idea to ask if anyone outside wants to stay here."
She turns to face the stairs but doesn't go down, and her words continue.
"They're working on their day off. As compensation, we can lend our home for the night, and they can use any of the food we have for dinner."
Lu Tian wanted to refute her words thinking about a group of men spending the night in their home while he and his wife are away. It isn't that he doesn't trust them, but he was afraid they might end up actually destroying the house.
Not only that, but he also knows that without a doubt, a few of the men outside won't hesitate to agree and spend the night here—especially 'those' three men.
However, his wife made a point too.
With both of them away for the night, it was better to have someone stay here and keep watch.
He makes up his mind and leans in to kiss her on the temple before going down the stairs.
"I'll relay your message to them and see who wants to stay."
