Chapter 12: The Secret Glance

Lu Zhixi’s thick, soft hair was dampened by water, his long eyelashes also wet, fluttering slightly like feathers kissed by dew. Jiang Ying slipped her hand into his hair. Lu Zhixi lifted his eyes to meet hers. The darkness deepened the color of his irises, partially hidden beneath the shadow of his brow. A surging undercurrent of desire stirred within them.

“Do you like it?” he asked.

“Mm...” Her voice trembled softly, then she felt a sharp smack on her bottom.

“Get down,” he murmured, his moist lips moving gently.

Lu Zhixi gathered her hair into a bundle, pressing the back of her head firmly. His voice was captivating, carrying the clear, fresh tone unique to youth. He spoke her name low and tenderly into her ear, turning it into a brief, whispered promise.

The passion between them overflowed with a subversive joy—invincible at this moment, capable of destroying all melancholy, confusion, and caution, granting fearless courage.

Jiang Ying lifted her head to look at Lu Zhixi, who was leaning against the headboard, and suddenly asked, “Zhixi, do you love me?”

He paused briefly, his gaze dark and heavy as it settled on her face, making her heart flutter wildly. The air fell silent for a few seconds before Lu Zhixi suddenly leaned forward, his tall figure casting a shadow over her like a dim silhouette.

“Zhixi... Zhixi...” she called his name with attachment.

His body was backlit, his expression swallowed by darkness, then he suddenly covered her mouth with his hand, sealing away all questions, breaths, and cries. He pressed her into the roaring waves of passion.

*

By the time they finished, it was already four in the morning. Jiang Ying was utterly exhausted. Her legs trembled; her hands, waist, and mouth ached. Her skin was nearly broken, and her throat felt as if it were on fire. While Lu Zhixi was showering, she mustered the strength to go downstairs for some water.

The villa was vast. On the first floor, aside from the living room and open kitchen, there was a study, a banquet hall with a long table, and scattered reception rooms and guest bedrooms. Only the staircase was lit; the rest of the first floor was shrouded in darkness, giving off an eerie vibe. She fumbled to turn on the lights in the living room and kitchen, brightening this quiet corner of the villa.

The villa’s decor blended French elegance with classical Eastern charm. The tables, chairs, and cabinets were clearly chosen with care, exuding a discreet luxury and distinctive artistic taste.

Jiang Ying found the kitchen and opened the fridge, which neatly held bottled water. A cabinet nearby contained an assortment of cups, seemingly collected from travels around the world, still bearing subtle traces of the owner’s thoughtful presence here.

Thinking about the stories behind this villa, she sighed quietly.

She picked an ordinary glass from the bottom shelf, opened a bottle, and poured water into the cup.

At that moment, faint footsteps seemed to echo nearby. Her heart jumped, and she paused mid-pour.

Just as Jiang Ying thought it might be her imagination, a dark shadow appeared in the corner. She screamed in fright, dropping the glass bottle onto the table with a dull thud.

A boy, about sixteen or seventeen, with natural dark brown curls, emerged into view. He spoke fluent American English: “Don’t be afraid, stay calm.”

Jiang Ying took in his appearance. The boy was studying her too. After a moment, he said, “Hi, what’s your name?”

Seeing no response, he switched to broken Chinese: “Don’t understand English?”

“Who are you?” Jiang Ying asked.

*

“I’m Danny, but I’m not a Williams,” the boy replied, teasing.

Danny’s features were sharp and defined. Though young, he possessed a sharp, wild handsomeness, resembling Lu Zhixi’s father—even more so than Lu Zhixi himself, Jiang Ying realized his identity immediately.

Clearly, Danny’s mother was not Asian. His face bore the features of a Western teenager, unlike Lu Zhixi, whose light eyes, hair, and pale skin still carried the soft contours characteristic of Asians.

Jiang Ying gripped her water glass, speechless, unsure why this boy was here or whether she should greet him or leave immediately.

She suddenly recalled that Lu Zhixi’s shoulder was injured because of a child born out of wedlock, and her gaze shifted warily toward Danny.

A bright smile spread across Danny’s face as he spread his hands: “Why are you looking at me like that? I don’t eat people, and I wouldn’t dare touch my brother’s woman.”

He said this in English, emphasizing “dare” heavily.

Jiang Ying remained silent for a moment before asking, “Why are you here?”

“This house is registered under my dad’s name, not Mrs. Lu’s. So as long as we have permission, we can stay here,” Danny replied with interest, then asked back, “You’ve asked me so many questions, but haven’t told me your name—that’s not fair.”

At that moment, Lu Zhixi’s voice came from the staircase: “Yingying, come here.”

Jiang Ying abandoned her glass and ran to his side.

“So your name is Yingying? How do you write it in Chinese? It sounds lovely,” Danny said, keeping his eyes on her.

Lu Zhixi frowned at Danny: “Weren’t you arriving tomorrow night?”

“My flight was rescheduled last minute. This place is close to the airport, and Dad agreed I could stay here. What’s the difference in arriving a day early? Didn’t expect to run into you here, Alex.”

Lu Zhixi showed no interest in chatting with Danny. “I’m staying here tonight. You should get a hotel.”

“It’s too late now. I’ve been on a long flight and I’m tired,” Danny said. “Don’t be stingy—I won’t bother you. But I have to say, your girlfriend has a really nice voice.”

Jiang Ying’s expression instantly changed.

Danny looked at her openly.

“You’re really beautiful. I promise, my dad, my brother, and the rest of us all like your type. My brother’s future wife will surely be jealous that he slept with you here, and we brothers will be jealous of him.”

Jiang Ying couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What do you mean?”

Lu Zhixi gently patted her back. “You go upstairs first.”

“Hasn’t he told you about this? I thought you Chinese people valued marriage a lot. If he liked you enough, maybe he’d let you be his mistress, like our dad. Right, Alex?” Danny taunted Lu Zhixi but spoke directly to Jiang Ying. “But I like you—why not consider me?”

Jiang Ying barely had time to respond before Lu Zhixi led her upstairs, telling her to wait in the room; he would return soon.

Standing in the hallway on the second floor, she noticed the lock on the master bedroom door at the far end.

Her body froze, her gaze seemingly caught by the lock.

She didn’t remember how she ended up sitting on the bed in the room.

Danny’s words had struck her like a sudden storm, sweeping away her reason and leaving her mind in chaos.

Nearly half an hour later, she heard footsteps ascending.

Lu Zhixi returned to the room, his expression calm, though his shirt and pants were slightly damp. Jiang Ying, full of questions, hurriedly asked, “Is everything alright? Did you resolve it?”

“Nothing,” he said. “Danny’s gone. Don’t take his words to heart. He just wanted to provoke me.”

Jiang Ying sensed a chill in his tone and hesitated before asking, “Was it him who injured your shoulder?”

“No, someone else,” Lu Zhixi replied.

Jiang Ying faltered, then asked worriedly, “...Are you okay?”

*

Lu Zhixi seemed reluctant to discuss the matter.

“Don’t ask more. My family is complicated. I didn’t tell you before because you don’t need to be burdened by it. Forget tonight—you won’t see him again.”

“I’m your girlfriend. You can tell me these things,” Jiang Ying said anxiously. “And I want to know why he said those things to me...”

She trailed off.

Lu Zhixi looked at her. “Yingying, what do you want to ask?”

Jiang Ying paused, took a deep breath, then asked, “Do you... have a fiancée or girlfriend abroad?”

“No. What are you thinking?” He chuckled.

“I’m not doubting you. I’m just a little confused right now.”

“I told you, don’t pay attention to what he said.”

“...Zhixi, don’t you have more to say?”

After a few seconds, Lu Zhixi spoke: “What do you want to hear? Yingying, do you want me to promise we’ll get married someday?”

She stood there stunned, unable to reply.

His voice remained gentle.

“I already said, what Danny said about my future wife or mistress was just to provoke me. Marriage is too soon for both of us, isn’t it? We’re not at that stage yet.”

Beneath the gentle tone was a faint coolness.

Jiang Ying stared at him blankly.

No, she wasn’t asking for a marriage promise because of Danny’s words. She knew well that it was too early for either of them.

She just hoped he might say a little more, explain a bit—perhaps tell her his attitude toward love was different from his father’s, or that he was willing to be with her long-term, hoping their relationship could grow toward marriage.

Most importantly, she believed that with Lu Zhixi’s intelligence and sensitivity, he should understand what she meant.

But he simply looked at her calmly, unwilling to explain further.

Was it her imagination? Was she being overly sensitive?

Jiang Ying’s face paled. “Zhixi...”

He interrupted her, as usual pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t overthink it. I’ll change clothes. You sleep first.”

With that, he went into the dressing room connected to the room and closed the door.

Jiang Ying felt the warmth ignited by their earlier intimacy suddenly vanish, as if she were sitting in an ice cellar.

Her throat felt parched as if scorched.

She remembered she had come downstairs for water, but the cup was still downstairs.

Supporting herself on the staircase, she descended step by step.

She flipped the switch at the stairwell; the lights came on again. As she prepared to head to the kitchen, she suddenly noticed a trail of scattered water droplets stretching down the hallway to the bathroom at the far end.

The light was on in there.

Guided by some inexplicable impulse, she walked toward it.