Chapter 9: The One You Kissed, I Don't Mind

Some questions women ask men are traps.

For instance, at this very moment, Liang Youjia was asking Xianyu about the shade of her lipstick. To say he hadn't noticed was to blame him for being inattentive.

Indulging her was a habit for Liang Youjia. He narrowed his dark, heavy-lidded eyes and gave her earlobe a gentle pinch. "This is my fault, darling. It absolutely won't happen again. What would you like? The latest Hermes?"

Liang Youjia’s deep eyes were filled to the brim with indulgence and doting affection.

When they were in bed, what Xianyu loved most were these phoenix eyes of his, which were more dazzling than a sea of stars. As their gazes met, it felt as though there was a whirlpool inside them, ready to pull her in at any moment.

Yet, when had she begun to lose her ability to read him?

She crinkled her eyes into a smile, feigning surprise. "Can I have all the styles?"

Liang Youjia raised an eyebrow. "When have you ever seen me get you just one style? Would that be worthy of my status?"

Xianyu giggled and took the opportunity to wrap her arms around his waist. "Thank you, A-You."

"Hmm?" The man lifted her chin, his brows arched high, a hint of dissatisfaction flickering across his face.

"Thank you, darling!" Xianyu hurriedly corrected herself.

Liang Youjia tapped his right cheek, and Xianyu dutifully leaned in, leaving a soft kiss behind.

"This lipstick is smudge-proof."

"Otherwise, I wouldn't dare kiss A-You's face," Xianyu said sweetly.

Liang Youjia pinched her cheek. "It’s fine. If it’s from you, I don’t mind."

Xianyu smiled shyly, but the corners of her lips grew increasingly stiff as she held the expression.

*Liang Youjia, what I want has never been the entire collection of luxury goods, but the future you promised me.*

*Perhaps because the future is so short, you have the patience to accompany me through every act of this play, don't you?*

The outing today was on a cruise ship. Liang Youjia was with friends—two men, one accompanied by a female companion, the other alone.

The single man was named Ji Lingfeng.

The one with the girlfriend had blue hair and a gold stud in one ear; his name was Qi Changyi. His girlfriend was a delicate, unassuming beauty, fawning over Young Master Qi—likely another kept mistress.

Liang Youjia only spent a short while with Xianyu before his business partners arrived, and he left her side. Qi Changyi was busy flirting with his girlfriend, leaving only Ji Lingfeng unoccupied.

He wasn't one to stand on ceremony and struck up a conversation with her. "I've heard of you often, but this is my first time meeting you in the flesh. A pleasure to meet you today."

Xianyu smiled faintly, revealing the small dimple on her right cheek. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ji."

"A-You is truly lucky to have found such a beautiful little lover."

Xianyu’s grip on her wine glass tightened, and her mind buzzed. Had it been too long since she’d been out? She felt somewhat ill-equipped to handle the offense taken by Liang Youjia’s friend.

*Liang Youjia must have tacitly allowed them to discuss her status, right?* Otherwise, any such label for a woman in her position would be an act of disrespect.

Xianyu’s smile grew rigid; she found it hard to accept.

Yet, Ji Lingfeng continued, oblivious. "It actually surprises me that A-You would bring you out here."

An instinctive, ominous premonition washed over Xianyu.

"A-You’s fiancée comes from a very prominent family, and she happens to be on this ship as well."

Even though she had steeled herself for this, Xianyu still felt a pain like a thousand arrows piercing her heart. Seeing the smile vanish from her face, Ji Lingfeng assumed she was afraid of being caught red-handed by the "real" woman, so he kindly offered a way out.

"Don't worry, even if you do run into her, I’ll help you out."

After a long pause, Xianyu finally composed herself. "Thank you, Mr. Ji."

Ji Lingfeng, whose hair was swept back in a dashing, Hong Kong-style fashion, replied, "Don't mention it. A-You’s woman is truly adorable."

She couldn't tell if she was being overly sensitive, but these words made her feel deeply uncomfortable.

Soon, however, Liang Youjia returned and took her along for sea fishing.

"Since we’ve gone to the trouble of coming out, we really must make the most of it."

Seeing the vibrant, earnest, youthful energy on Liang Youjia’s face, Xianyu couldn't help but be infected by it.

"How good is your technique?" she asked, leaning into his ear.

"It’s excellent. Trust me, we’re going to have a bountiful catch."

Xianyu smiled softly, whispering into his ear, "If you don't catch anything, I’ll eat you."

Liang Youjia’s lips curled up. "So fierce? Then I’d better roll up my sleeves and get to work."

Xianyu stayed by his side for half an hour, cheering him on. She fed him fruit and snacks and wiped the sweat from his brow, tending to him with the utmost care.

Liang Youjia’s efforts were paying off; he had already caught several sea fish weighing over ten pounds.

Ji Lingfeng was also in the crowd, but compared to Liang Youjia, his solitary figure appeared somewhat lonely. His haul was even better, yet it was a pity he had no one to share that joy with. He watched the direction of Liang Youjia and Xianyu for quite some time.

Neither Liang Youjia nor Xianyu noticed the arrival of Du Ruanruan, but Ji Lingfeng did. He was at a distance from them, and before Du Ruanruan could spot her, he pulled her away.

"Hey—"

Ji Lingfeng raised a finger to his lips, shushing her, then tucked her under his arm. Xianyu didn't look back; she knew Liang Youjia hadn't followed. She had heard Du Ruanruan calling his name.

She smiled at Ji Lingfeng. "Thank you."

This Mr. Ji was surprisingly true to his word.

"If you don't feel like smiling, don't. You look worse than if you were crying." Ji Lingfeng flicked her forehead, looking at her with a teasing expression.

Xianyu had no heart to dwell on his antics; she only knew that she had been abandoned by Liang Youjia once again.

"Why are you so dazed? Come on, I’ll take you to grill some fish."

Ji Lingfeng released her shoulder and took her hand instead. The girl’s hand was as soft as a marshmallow, pleasant to hold. Xianyu, however, felt as if she had lost all sensation; to her, the hand holding hers was no different from a sheepskin glove.

As they drew closer, Xianyu noticed that Ji Lingfeng’s bucket was already half-full.

"Well? Impressed, aren't I?" He was a talkative show-off. That was the conclusion Xianyu reached.

Seeing that he hadn't received a response from the beauty, Ji Lingfeng brought out his tools: a small table with a storage compartment underneath containing an induction stove, pots, knives, and a grill pan.

After watching Du Ruanruan nestle into Liang Youjia’s arms, Xianyu forced herself to focus on Ji Lingfeng preparing the fish. He was skilled, his knife work precise. The fishy smell was quickly swept away by the sea breeze.

Pan-seared, grilled, and boiled. Ji Lingfeng prepared the fish in three ways.

When it was ready, the aroma was teased out by the hot oil. Liang Youjia walked over with Du Ruanruan.

"It smells wonderful, Lingfeng. You’re quite talented."

Ji Lingfeng smiled triumphantly. He pulled Xianyu toward him and placed a piece of fresh, tender fish onto her porcelain-white plate.

"Made this for you. Go on, try it and see how it tastes."

Xianyu knew Liang Youjia was watching her from across the way. She didn't look up, focusing instead on the tender piece of fish, which had been meticulously deboned.