chapter18 Suddenly hug her from behind

Scarlett was taken aback, a faint blush creeping onto her cheeks as she struggled to find the right words to retort. Lowering her gaze, she watched the endless expanse of white sand beneath her feet, uncertain of Asher's intentions. She couldn't quite say he liked her; perhaps he just found her intriguing. While she was, in a sense, his, she still longed for her independence.

The sea breeze was gentle, accompanied by the soothing melody of the waves. Walking hand in hand on the beach should have been a picture-perfect moment, but Scarlett couldn't shake the odd feeling. Asher was too peculiar, and their relationship far from ordinary, not even resembling friendship.

Lost in her thoughts, she observed Asher's feet gracefully navigating the sand, his long toes blending with the texture around them. The warmth of his hand sent a comforting sensation to her heart, and she hesitated to pull away, feeling rigid with his grip.

Asher, on the other hand, didn't overanalyze the situation. He simply enjoyed the connection, the smoothness of Scarlett's skin against his, soft and elastic. Her hand in his was warm and comforting, a delightful sensation he saw no reason to let go of.

Observing Scarlett's constant downward gaze and silence, he teasingly remarked, "Spot another seashell worth admiring?"

Scarlett, sensing his dissatisfaction, glanced at him and replied softly, "No, just thinking how soft the sand feels."

With a faint smile, Asher reached out and pinched her lightly.

Unable to dodge, Scarlett felt even more embarrassed. It seemed Asher simply found her amusing, viewing holding her hand as simple and enjoyable as playing a game, devoid of deeper meaning.

They continued their stroll along the shore, hand in hand.

As the tide grew louder, crashing against the rocks with a thunderous roar, Scarlett inquired, "Why isn't the villa built where we can see the sea?"

Facing the ever-changing beauty of the sea throughout the seasons.

"That house wasn't built for sightseeing. Besides, I didn't build it."

"Oh." Perhaps it was constructed for someone like her.

"Don't be fooled by how calm the sea looks now. During storms, the water can rise really high. If the villa were built too low, it might get flooded," Asher explained. "Do you want to see the sea under the moonlight?"

"Aren't we heading back?"

"We can go back later."

"Okay!"

As the sun set, casting a soft orange hue across the sky, Scarlett and Asher found a spot on a large flat rock by the sea. Asher released her hand but casually rested his hand on her forearm. Scarlett's heart raced, feeling warmth where his hand touched, yet she didn't dare to move away.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sea crimson, Scarlett momentarily forgot about Asher's misplaced hand. She turned to him and asked, "What should we have for dinner?"

The waves crashed against the rocks rhythmically. Asher continued holding her hand and said, "Let's decide when we get back to where we parked, or I could go catch some fish."

When they returned to the car, Asher lit a bonfire with the car headlights, illuminating the surroundings. However, he never went to catch fish. They simply had some snacks, lounging on the chairs, listening to the sound of the sea. Asher seemed to dislike the hustle and bustle outside. He said, "Those people wear fake smiles, always chasing after money, busy all the time. They seem foolish and laughable."

"But how would they survive without money?"

"But they don't have to worry about food and drink, do they? Take Zephyr, for example, he always feels like what he has is never enough, always busy traveling and dealing with jet lag. I think it's best as it is now, leisurely and undisturbed."

Scarlett didn't know who these people were, probably some elite. Asher's world was different from hers. Her life was no longer in her control; the noise outside was like distant fireworks, untouchable. She just smiled calmly, occasionally adding a word or two.

The moon hung high in the sky, bringing tranquility to the land and sea. The wind was calm, the waves gentle. Scarlett and Asher lowered their chairs further back, initially whispering to each other, but gradually their voices faded. Perhaps they were too tired from the day's adventures. When Asher looked back again, Scarlett was already asleep.

The soft moonlight bathed her face, her skin radiant like pearls. He thought about waking her up to get into the car, but seeing her peaceful sleeping form, he couldn't bear to disturb her dreams.

"Such a hassle," he murmured softly. He opened the car door, gently lifted her up, as if afraid of startling a butterfly resting on a flower. She nestled against his chest, adjusting slightly for a better sleeping position, with a hint of dependence and coquetry, unexpectedly softening his heart.

He placed her in the backseat, covered her with a dry towel, and closed the door softly. Starting the engine, he drove back home.

Scarlett remained asleep the entire journey until the car pulled into the yard and suddenly stopped. She groggily woke up, sitting up in a daze, just as Asher opened the rear door. With a pair of bewildered, half-asleep eyes, she mumbled, "How did we get here?"

"Sleeping like a log!" Asher mocked. "Didn't even realize you were sold!"

Scarlett furrowed her brows slightly, realizing indeed that she had been sold without knowing it.

"Get out quickly, wash up, and go back to sleep. You look tired today," Asher said gently.

"Mmm." She stumbled out of the car, accidentally hitting her head on the roof with a thud.

Asher frowned, taking her arm and helping her out of the car. "You're really clumsy."

Scarlett seemed not fully awake, not responding, and went straight to bed.

Though the plan was to catch some fish and shrimp by the seaside, they didn't catch any. Instead, something subtle changed.

Scarlett cooked in the kitchen while Asher watched TV in the living room. During a channel change, a beautiful woman appeared on the screen, busy in the kitchen, preparing delicious dishes. A man walked into the kitchen, embracing her from behind. "What's cooking?"

The woman playfully chided him, then offered him a cooked piece of food, smiling sweetly. The man, with a blissful expression, accepted the food from her hand. The scene was warm and natural.

Asher watched thoughtfully, recalling how soft Scarlett's waist felt in the water. He liked that feeling and also enjoyed Scarlett feeding him food. Actually, the kitchen was not a bad place at all.

He walked towards the kitchen. Xuetong was chopping vegetables, the cutting board making crisp sounds. Her hair was tied up, revealing a sexy neck.

Even when walking on two legs, his footsteps were light. He reached behind Scarlett, wrapping his arms around her waist, just like the man on TV.

"Ah!" Scarlett gasped lightly, startled by the sudden gesture, her hand trembling, causing the knife to veer off and cut her left finger, blood oozing out.

Seeing her injury, Asher's expression changed, quickly releasing her hand. "Why are you so careless?"

Scarlett pressed her finger, the pain making her bite her lip, her brows furrowed tightly.

Watching the blood trickle between her fingers, Asher felt a bit anxious. "I'll get you some medicine! Go to the living room first."

He fetched the first aid kit, taking alcohol swabs and bandages. As he dabbed the wound with alcohol, he heard her muffled whimper, feeling a slight pang of regret and annoyance. He only hugged her, did it scare her this much?

Fortunately, it was just a shallow cut. After bandaging it, the bleeding stopped.

With her finger wrapped thickly, Asher put the items away, sitting back on the couch, his face as calm as water. "What were you thinking? Do I look like I'm going to eat you?"

"I... I just didn't expect it," Scarlett's dark eyes misted over with tears. Who wouldn't be startled when someone suddenly hugged them without warning?

"Do you even know how to use a knife?" He sounded irritated.

"I'll be more careful in the future."

Asher turned his head away in frustration. TV dramas were really deceiving. The difference in reactions was too big. He never expected her to be so flustered.

Last time when she cut his hand, his expression wasn't this grim. His finger still hurt, Scarlett felt even more aggrieved, tears gathering in her eyes.

Seeing her teary-eyed, Asher felt uncomfortable, softening his tone. "Alright, pay more attention next time. Now you know it hurts, right?"

After a short break, Scarlett weakly glanced at him. "Um, the food isn't ready yet. Can we have something simple today?"

Looking at her hand, Asher thought for a moment. "Forget it, I'll cook. You can tell me how to do it."