Trip (4)

The next day, Shi Yen slept in late because of her tired body and went to catch up with the others for lunch.

Yuan Shun, too, had just stirred from the bed, but he appeared to be still restless. Shi Yen frowned. She was wondering what was wrong with him. But was she even allowed to care for him? Would he let her if she tried?

Fang Qi had taken them on a hike, admiring the waterfalls and large hillside views.

Shi Yen noticed that Yuan Shun had avoided walking next to her or speaking with her whenever the opportunity arose. But it worked both ways, and Shi Yen didn't understand what held her back. What was she afraid of?

Afterward, they went fishing, and Yuan Shun watched as Shi Yen struggled to catch any, but he didn't bother to help her.

He went to one of the cars to get more tools when Fang Qi cornered him.

"Why are you ignoring Shi Yen?" he questioned, leaning against the car.

Yuan Shun opened the trunk. "What do you mean?" he asked him indifferently.

"I mean you've spent most of yesterday with her, and today you're treating her like a stranger. What's up with that?"

"Stay out of it, Fang Qi," Yuan Shun replied.

"I see the way you look at her. Why can't you just admit that you love her?"

Yuan Shun was frustrated. "Because I can't!"

"Why not?"

Yuan Shun gritted his teeth. "Because she won't ever love me back!" he admitted, surprising himself. He never admitted to how much he felt for Shi Yen. It was both painful and riveting. He still didn't understand the depths of it, but he knew that Shi Yen was everything to him. And he meant nothing to her but a simple vengeance.

Yuan Shun allowed himself to be just that, at first—a vengeance—allowing her to take her anger and frustrations out on him. And yet, he felt tortured just by how deep he was falling.

Fang Qi's eyes widened.

Yuan Shun continued. "I can't tell her how much I adore how competitive she is, and how much I enjoy our banters even if she's mad at me. I can't tell her how beautiful she is and how I admire how she passionately cares for everyone else. I only wish to make her happy, but I'm not that guy." He raised his hands to emphasize defeat. "She hates me."

"She doesn't hate you," Fang Qi replied.

Yuan Shun released a deep breath. "She won. I lost. That was the game we played, and She still hates me." He couldn't risk her breaking his heart.

Fang Qi shook his head. "She might already be in love with you. If not, then it's manifesting. Don't forget. She's also fighting against you because she's afraid. She lost so much."

Yuan Shun fumbled with his tools.

"Don't push her away. Otherwise, you'll never get a chance again," Fang Qi advised.

Yuan Shun sighed. He looked at his best friend—a man so wise and dumb—and he nodded. "You're right."

Fang Qi patted his back, rejoining the others.

They spent the rest of the day exploring the town until they returned at night.

Inside the house, they indulged in drinking, gathering around in the living room, sharing secrets and playing games until most of them were drunk.

Outside, the wind howled, and the night deepened.

"Is it going to rain?" asked Shi Ailin.

Fang Qi furrowed his brows. "The weather was fine all day. It's nothing."

The power then went out.

"Never mind," he corrected himself.

Yuan Shun stood up with his phone flashlight. "I will go look at the generator," he said.

"It's at the far end of the house," Fang Qi told him.

Yuan Shun left, heading over to the north wing of the house. Shi Yen then trailed after him. "I want to help, too."

Yuan Shun gave her a brief glance before they continued to walk.

They found the generator and a panel in an unoccupied and empty room.

"Flash the light so I can look at it," Yuan Shun instructed her.

Shi Yen listened, flashing the light at the panel.

"Everything seems fine," he said. "Maybe it's the electricity from outside. I'm going to check it out."

Shi Yen grasped his wrist. "It's raining hard, and it's dangerous to go out right now."

"I'll be fine," he said, passing her.

Shi Yen curled one of her hands into a fist. "What's up with you?" she questioned.

He paused. "What?"

Shi Yen couldn't see his expression much, but she continued, "You aren't listening to me even after I expressed that I'm worried, and you've done nothing but give me the cold shoulder today."

Yuan Shun gnashed his teeth. "You act like you haven't been doing that to me since we first met."

Shi Yen's eyes widened. "Are we doing this now?" she countered. "Fine. I need you to admit that you're afraid of me. You don't trust me, which is why you don't want to be my friend!"

"Is that what you think?" Yuan Shun replied. "Yen, I do trust you, but sometimes you make it clear that you only see me as a rival!"

Shi Yen sucked in a sharp breath. "That's because you are!"

Yuan Shun widened his arms. "You see? Look, I'm sorry if I've been acting cold towards you! To be honest, I don't even know how to act around you! It's driving me insane!" he emphasized.

"You don't think I feel that way too?" she replied harshly, crossing her arms under the dim lighting. "I'm supposed to hate you, but I don't!"

Yuan Shun stilled, and the lights then turned back on. "What?"

"I don't hate you," she admitted.

Yuan Shun was facing Shi Yen. Her brows knitted in tight lines. She was still angry and flushed, and yet the words she had said registered in his mind.

Yuan Shun gazed at her with low-lidded eyes. He stepped forward, looking at this incredible woman. He then lowered his head and plunged her lips with his.

Shi Yen stiffened, but it took her a moment to meet his kiss with equal passion. She opened her mouth, quickly coiling her arms around his shoulders. He cupped her head, angling her chin so he could devour her mouth.

Shi Yen moaned, and it was his undoing.

Yuan Shun hastily pulled her against him, and Shi Yen responded by tugging at the collar of his shirt, undoing the first few buttons.

Yuan Shun pulled away to see her expression, dazed and opened, full of want. He picked her up, kissing her fast and frantic. She wrapped her legs around him, and he carried her towards the hall. In the hallway, Yuan Shun pinned her against the wall, running his fingers over her smooth legs.

Shi Yen whimpered, opening her mouth wide, exploring tongue with his. He broke the kiss. "Is it okay if I come to your room later?" he asked her. Shi Yen flushed, slowly nodding.

Yuan Shun then kissed her once more, smiling against her mouth. He then trailed kisses down the column of her neck, and another sound escaped her.

He then let her go. Otherwise, he'd do her in the middle of the hall. "We'll wait for everyone to sleep, and then I'll see you," he told her.

Shi Yen's breath hitched, and she nodded.