Chapter 114 — Chuan, You Have Changed

"...I guess that's why she felt confident enough to waylay me in the restroom." Xu Kexin then reacted, "Oh, I've been talking for quite a while, sorry for dumping all this on you when we've only spoken for the first time."

She wasn't planning to tell her everything at first—they had just met after all. But Pei Yueran gave off the vibe that she was really listening and was genuinely interested in her as a person.

Pei Yueran did not mind, "It's okay. I'm sorry you had to go through that. People are getting more and more outrageous by the day. Still, things might not be as they seem. I can only say you should investigate thoroughly and get all facts before you make a decision."

Xu Kexin nodded thoughtfully. But she felt her mind was already made up. She was really tired of all the drama.

Her heart sank when she again recalled his statement of not allowing him touch her. He would never understand, and she wasn't ready to explain. It was better they parted ways sooner.

"You're here."

She came out of her reverie when she heard this calm statement. Looking up, she saw the chairman of the Li Conglomerate standing in front of them, or more specifically, in front of Pei Yueran.

"Yes, Ms Xu here and I met not long ago and particularly hit it off." Pei Yueran said with a smile, while Xu Kexin stood up as well, saying "Special Assistant Pei is being too polite. You can just call me Kexin."

"Then forgo the formality and just call me Yueran." She replied.

Xu Kexin smiled and nodded, before greeting Li Chuanmo politely, "Chairman Li."

Li Chuanmo acknowledged her with a curt nod, "Head Designer Xu."

He then took Pei Yueran's hand, murmuring, "I was looking for you all night."

Pei Yueran was at a loss. Was she really gone that long? But it had just been less than thirty minutes?

Still, she apologized softly, "Sorry."

"Didn't you miss me?" he whispered into her ears, making her shiver at the unexpected sensation. It was a good thing that the room was mostly empty, else Pei Yueran didn't think she would have been able to stand the sudden ambiguity.

She didn't want to imagine how they looked like to the other guests.

Conscious of Xu Kexin's presence, she shifted a bit, but then tried not to lose her calm. She wanted them to leave quickly, so she turned first to Xu Kexin. "Kexin, it was nice meeting you. Do keep in touch."

Xu Kexin replied with a smile, "Same here Yueran. Alright. Enjoy the rest of your night." She also greeted Li Chuanmo goodbye.

Turning to Li Chuanmo, Pei Yueran said, "I missed you too. Are we leaving now?"

"Yes, let's go." Li Chuanmo's eyes had taken on a teasing glint that she didn't notice.

So when he suddenly held her waist, she froze. The scorching heat was transmitted clearly to her nerves, and she instinctively felt like she had to bolt.

She began to walk away as fast as she could, but of course Li Chuanmo matched her stride for stride.

Xu Kexin watched them walk away, her signature carefree smile blooming on her face.

They were a special couple indeed.

After greeting the hosts goodbye, they left. During the drive to her home, Pei Yueran was unusually quiet. She just spent most of the ride staring at Li Chuanmo curiously, as if she wanted to find something out through his facial expression.

She made as if to speak several times, but ended up not saying anything. He noticed her from his peripheral vision but he pretended not to know.

Eventually, it was still Pei Yueran that broke the silence.

"Chuan?"

"Yeah?"

"Did something happen to you lately?"

"Like what?"

"I'm not sure, but you have changed somehow."

Li Chuanmo raised the corner of his lips at an angle she could not see. "How do you mean?"

"I don't know, it's like you've become more, more--" Pei Yueran struggled with the right words. How should she describe it?

By now, Li Chuanmo was smiling openly. "You mean I'm more polite?"

Pei Yueran shook her head, "Not exactly."

"More kind?"

"That's not it." Pei Yueran said, helpless.

"Hmm, maybe more handsome?" The laughter in Li Chuanmo's tone was so clear that Pei Yueran caught it. She glared at him, and the words rushed out.

"No. you're suddenly more clingy, more tactile."

Li Chuanmo laughed outrightly. It was a rich, crisp kind of laugh that made her think of pearls dropping into a lake.

By now they had arrived at her home, but because they were still talking, he only parked the car at the parking lot before turning to face her.

"Clingy? tactile? How?"

Once again, Pei Yueran struggled to reply. "Like you sort of stick to me more often, and you, you touch me a lot more."

"My dear Ran, do you hate it?"

"No, I don't. It's just- different and sometimes unexpected." She analysed.

"I see." After a short pause, he continued, "We promised to be honest with each other right?"

"Yes." She replied, her face showing how much attention she was paying to him at that moment.

"Then here's my piece of honest feelings for tonight: Ran, I want to do much more than just touch you."

It took a second, but then Pei Yueran's eyes went wide. She felt so flustered that she opened her mouth and closed it repeatedly, no words managing to form.

Looking at her almost hyperventilate, Li Chuanmo decided to rescue her. She really couldn't bear a bit of teasing at all.

Though Li Chuanmo wasn't entirely teasing her this time.

"I mean, I want to cook for you, rub your feet and spend a lot more time with you. I want to be the first person you see in the morning and the last before you go to bed. In a nutshell, I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Pei Yueran exhaled deeply. She blamed herself for thinking about something else, but she felt anyone would misunderstand his words.

He continued, "So I changed because I love you. Everyday, I feel excited just at the thought of seeing you. It brightens my day and improves my mood. Naturally I want to be closer to you, and I can't help touching you. It's a subconscious thing."

Pei Yueran nodded thoughtfully. "I understand." She really did, because loving him had changed her too. She loved being with him.

"And you?"

"Me what?" She asked, puzzled.

"Don't you feel like doing something to me? Or with me?"

"Like what?"

"For example, you're allowed to touch me too if you want, or even do more."

Pei Yueran worried her lower lip with her teeth, looking for words to explain herself when she heard him chuckle.

"Chuan, you're such a tease!"

Li Chuanmo laughed, "I can't deny that. Teasing you is so much fun." He laughed again when she glared at him.

He got down and opened the door for her. When she got out, he escorted her to her apartment.

In the elevator, both of them stood facing the door, still holding hands. Just as the door closed, she spoke in a quiet voice.

"Chuan, how would you feel if I said I'm not ready for more yet?"