When the car drove out of the city, the beautiful evening glow gradually spread across the sky. The pine trees on both sides of the road stood tall and quiet, the wide avenue extending endlessly towards the horizon.
Inside the car, Shen Lingge looked at the already sleeping girl with a gentle expression.
At this moment, as if eternal.
—
Wen Xian woke up amidst a strange sound, she seemed to have heard the howling of a wild beast. After opening her eyes, she habitually went to look for the person beside her, turning her head she touched upon a patch of warmth.
Shen Lingge’s fingertips lightly tapped her sleep-reddened cheek, his voice low: “Xian Xian was woken up?”
Wen Xian’s eyelashes trembled slightly, she turned her head and glanced at the shadow-heavy road outside the window, pursed her lips and asked: “Shen Lingge, just now what was that sound? I seemed to hear wolves howling.”
Shen Lingge’s black eyes gradually deepened, he slowly leaned closer to her, his voice hoarse: “The Wolf King is going to carry his princess back to the castle, all the werewolves are cheering and celebrating for him.”
Wen Xian: “……”
Her boyfriend was a bit too childish.
Wen Xian expressionlessly met Shen Lingge’s gaze, after he saw Wen Xian’s expression remain unchanged, he lightly coughed once and explained: “Here it’s all ecological forest, ordinary people won’t enter the woods, those hunters also have guns.”
Wen Xian silently moved a little closer to Shen Lingge, then asked: “Shen Lingge, if I accidentally entered the woods and got lost, would you take a gun and come save me?”
Shen Lingge glanced at her: “You won’t go into the woods.”
Wen Xian dissatisfied: “How could I not go into the woods? My legs are on my own body, what if I just went in?”
Shen Lingge lazily answered: “Then before you go into the woods I’ll tie you to the bed, I’ll see if you can get off the bed.”
Wen Xian: “……?”
She suspiciously glanced at Shen Lingge, firmly said with certainty: “Shen Lingge, I suspect you’re being dirty.”
Shen Lingge lightly clicked his tongue, his tone lazy: “If you really want to be dirty, I also wouldn’t say no. I just fear that after seeing tomorrow’s sun, you’d immediately see tomorrow night’s moon.”
Wen Xian blanked out, she seemed to not understand what he was saying. Her little face carried a bit of confusion, her misty eyes stared at him, her clear pupils as clean and transparent as spring water.
Shen Lingge let out a low sigh, then reached out and covered her eyes.
He licked his back molars restlessly, voice hoarse: “Don’t look at me.”
Wen Xian blinked, her long eyelashes brushed across his palm. Yet she still clung to him asking: “Shen Lingge what are you saying, I don’t understand. Why can’t I look at you, I just want to look at you.”
Shen Lingge pressed her head against his own chest, frowned and said: “Not allowed to talk, sleep.”
Wen Xian: “……”
Seeing that Shen Lingge was ignoring her now, Wen Xian pulled out her phone from her bag, preparing to start surfing the internet. But after refreshing for quite a while, the system kept prompting her to check network settings. Just as she was about to ask Shen Lingge, she heard him calmly say: “There’s no signal here, the manor doesn’t have it either.”
Wen Xian was dumbfounded: “Isn’t it the 21st century right now?”
Shen Lingge stroked her hair, explained: “This manor is specifically used for vacations. My mom, in order to prevent me from handling work even while on vacation, especially bought me a manor here.”
Shen Lingge spoke in a low voice: “It just so happens these two days I have time to accompany you.”
Wen Xian softly said: “…But I want to play on my phone, watch TV, chase variety shows, and happily scroll Weibo at night.”
Shen Lingge: “……”
Wen Xian somewhat awkwardly looked at Shen Lingge face-to-face, the atmosphere inside the car suddenly quieted. Shen Lingge was silent for a moment, then suddenly said: “Don’t play with your phone, play with me instead.”
Wen Xian: “…….”
Wen Xian reacted immediately and patted his shoulder, her eyes glaring round as she fiercely said: “Did you peek at my Weibo?”
Shen Lingge furrowed his brows, his black eyes instantly turning dangerous: “What did you post on Weibo? Who did you talk to? Who do you want to play with you? Which company’s? Male or female?”
Wen Xian showed slight guilt: “… I didn’t, I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense.”
Shen Lingge saw her blinking in panic and knew right away she was lying again. He lightly swept her a glance: “Wen Xian. If me and the male celebrity you love both went into the woods, with a wild beast behind each of us, but there was only one bullet in your gun, who would you save?”
Wen Xian: “……?”
Wen Xian thought for a moment, then tentatively said: “Probably neither, aren’t I tied to the bed by you?”
Shen Lingge looked at her and lightly snorted: “I forgive you.”
Wen Xian: “… Thank you.”
The car passed through a deserted mountain road, under the night sky the car lights occasionally flashed through the layered woods. The night wind gently brushed past the treetops. In this silent mountain, only one manor’s lights were brightly lit, as if a palace.
Under the night, the light here shone brighter than moonlight.
Wen Xian saw at a glance the manor at the end of the road, in the very center stood an ancient and luxurious castle. Light poured out like water from every window. The pine trees and statues on both sides of the road stood solemn and dignified. The usually tightly closed iron gates were now wide open.
The guards wearing uniforms had soft blond hair and handsome features, the smile at their lips gentle.
Wen Xian leaned on the window to secretly look at the guards, but before she could look a second time she was pulled back by Shen Lingge. He lifted his eyelids to sweep a glance outside the window: “Like? Do you want to assign a team like that for Wen Shan’s villa too?”
Wen Xian’s eyes lit up, she looked at him eagerly: “Can I?”
Shen Lingge: “?”
…
After stepping into the castle, Wen Xian threw the guards to the back of her mind. Her attention was completely captured by the dazzling crystal chandeliers and the gorgeous, elegant European-style decor. The upright servants were carrying silver trays, shuttling back and forth through the dining hall. Candlelight sparkled on the long table, and the dishes were exquisite and abundant.
The gentle and handsome butler held Wen Xian’s hand guiding her to sit down. Shen Lingge unhurriedly followed behind them, his leather shoes stepping on the expensive and soft carpet without making a sound.
After Wen Xian sat down, she couldn’t help but sigh: “Shen Lingge, I have the illusion that I’m a princess.”
Under the lights, Shen Lingge’s features did not appear gentle, on the contrary, he seemed even colder and sterner. His deep gaze stayed on her face for a moment, but the words from his lips were gentle and direct: “You are a princess, mine.”
Melodious music echoed at the ears, but his low voice was even more pleasing to the ear.
Wen Xian’s heart gave a slight tremble. She lowered her eyes, not daring to meet his gaze, only softly said: “While eating, don’t talk.”
Shen Lingge knew she was shy, so he didn’t speak again, only quietly watched Wen Xian eat. But at the corners of his eyes and brows there was an unconcealable sense of joy—he hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
After dinner, Shen Lingge held her hand to go outside and walk off the meal. At night, the temperature in the mountains dropped. As soon as Wen Xian stepped out the door, she felt cold, and instinctively shrank closer to Shen Lingge.
Shen Lingge took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders, then pulled her in tighter.
The two of them walked side by side along the garden path. In the middle of the garden, the glass greenhouse was glowing with gentle light. Wen Xian’s gaze fell on that semicircular greenhouse, and she actually saw a big bed inside.
Wen Xian glanced from afar and asked: “Shen Lingge, what is that bed for?”
Shen Lingge did not speak, only took her toward the glass greenhouse. Before even entering, Wen Xian already smelled the sweet fragrance. The passionate, brilliant flower buds were blooming freely, each and every one.
Wen Xian squatted down, leaning closer to a rose to lightly sniff it. On the pale tea-colored petals, a faint excessive golden-red could be seen. She was quiet and beautiful, like a skirt hem fluttering in the air.
The roses inside the glass house were rare varieties, difficult to cultivate, yet every single one here was in its most beautiful form.
The gardeners had spent a lot of effort, caring for these delicate flowers as if they were raising their own children.
Shen Lingge stood in place, looking down quietly at Wen Xian leaning toward those petals. She didn’t know, in his eyes, she was far more delicate and beautiful than these roses.
After Wen Xian looked around, she suddenly remembered her purpose for coming here. She sat beside the bed for quite a while, not knowing why there was a bed placed here, until Shen Lingge suddenly grabbed her wrist and pressed her onto the bed.
Wen Xian held her breath, looking at the person above her. The man’s lips were just a hair’s breadth away from her, he stared at her without blinking, black eyes gradually igniting with flames, his breath slightly hot.
She nervously closed her eyes.
Just as Wen Xian was counting her own heartbeat, Shen Lingge suddenly let out a low laugh. His voice was low as he said: “Xian Xian, open your eyes.”
Sensing the weight on her body disappear, Wen Xian’s eyelashes trembled slightly before slowly opening. The next second she froze, because above the glass house, there was no barrier of glass.
She saw a sky full of stars.
Above the night sky, the stars shone like diamonds poured onto lake water. The mist-like clouds were gradually blown away by the wind, and the moon’s radiance dyed the drifting clouds crystal clear.
At this moment, the sky did not look like its usual black. It seemed as if on a deep purple gauze skirt, countless bright and precious gemstones had been inlaid. And within this sky full of stars, Wen Xian seemed to see a swan spreading its wings, about to fly.
She murmured: “Gege, I see Cygnus.”
Shen Lingge turned his body slightly, gazing at the star river in her eyes, asking: “Xian Xian, were you happy today?”
Wen Xian slowly shifted her gaze to Shen Lingge’s face. He was looking at her, his brows and eyes refined and handsome, his jawline sharp. The top button of his white shirt had been undone by him, his slender collarbones gradually revealed.
The part of his throat that protruded slightly rolled faintly.
Wen Xian stared at him for a while, then suddenly leaned over and dropped a light kiss at the corner of his lips. She softly said: “I was very happy.”
After speaking, without caring about Shen Lingge, Wen Xian climbed off the bed and ran out. The night wind lifted her black hair, and Shen Lingge, still frozen on the bed, dazedly watched her distant back.
She was gentler than the starry sky.
Wen Xian thought this romantic night should have ended with her going to bed. But just as she finished bathing and was about to turn off the light to sleep, her door was knocked on.
The man’s voice outside was low: “Xian Xian.”
Wen Xian’s movements paused, she replied: “The door’s not locked.”
After a moment of silence, the heavy wooden door was pushed open. Shen Lingge, wearing pajamas, stood at the side of the door, his gaze dark as he looked at her. The light from the corridor cast his shadow onto the wall.
Right after, he reached back and closed the door, walking toward her. His steps were very slow, his gaze lingering at the side of her face.
When Shen Lingge sat down beside the bed, Wen Xian gripped the bedsheet a little uneasily and asked: “What is it?”
Shen Lingge stared at her for a while, then suddenly raised his hand and turned off the light. The bedroom instantly fell into darkness. At the same time, a hot breath invaded Wen Xian. She heard his hoarse voice at her ear: “I came to do the thing I didn’t get to do in the glass house.”
Wen Xian pursed her lips: “What thing didn’t you get to do?”
He laughed lightly: “Kiss my princess.”