Elena's body froze in place as she felt Yuchen's lips against her own, her eyes wide with shock. Memories of a harrowing incident from two years ago, when her kidnapper had forcibly and greedily kissed her lips, came rushing back, causing her body to involuntarily tremble and prompting her to step back.
Yuchen, realizing Elena's reaction, held her closer, his lips merely pressed against hers without any attempt to deepen the kiss. Yuchen didn't want people to know that Elena was trying to reject his kiss. Yet, this restraint was proving excruciating for him. He fought the urge to fully claim the soft lips that had been tantalizingly close.
Elena, still visibly shaken, managed to regain some composure, determined not to cast doubt on their marriage. She slowly raised her hand and gently squeezed Yuchen's shoulder, signaling him to release her.