Catch Fire

In the next second, Lin Hanxing's head drooped sideways to lean against the curve of his neck. Lei Xiao's heart leaped with joy. However, very quickly, he heard her overly even breathing. He looked down expressionlessly…

Lin Hanxing had actually fallen asleep leaning on him! 

"Lin Hanxing, do you trust me to that extent? Or do you not consider me to be a man at all?" His low voice sounded a little husky.

The warmth of her breath spread across his throbbing vein. Lei Xiao used one hand to cradle Lin Hanxing and the other rested on top of a stone that had been heated by the hot spring. His large palm then supported his forehead as he could not resist letting out a soft chuckle.

Had he ever been this embarrassed before?

"Sooner or later, I'm going to fiercely embarrass her!"

Even though his words were ruthless, when he lowered his head and saw Lin Hanxing's docile and gentle sleeping appearance, his dark gaze was replaced by one of warm affection. 

His long slender fingers slowly brushed across her collarbone and tucked away her hair that was wet from having been soaked in the hot spring. Lin Hanxing's long and softly curled hair floated back and forth within the hot spring, looking just like seaweed. 

Her eyes, her eyebrows, each and every one of her smiles…

His arm slowly drew tighter around Lin Hanxing, drawing her closer into his embrace. The curve of his thin lips transformed Lei Xiao's cold, hard face…

…

Lin Hanxing had a dream. It was one of those rare good dreams that she hardly got over the years. Her dream did not contain any conspiracies or calculative plans. There was not even anything related to the event that happened 18 years ago!

Her hands were spotless. She could cry and laugh freely, there was no need to hide her feelings. Slowly, she opened her eyes…

The first sight to reach her eyes was the elegant throat belonging to that man. Her line of sight continued to climb to a strong jawline and thin lips followed by an attractive nose. Finally, she arrived at Lei Xiao's eyes which were shut.

This man possessed an extremely handsome, good-looking face. His exquisitely carved features made him appear like an exceptional sculpture that was created and favored by God himself.

She believed that any woman who saw him would go crazy instantly. Even Mrs. Tan earlier that day whose gaze would land on his face subconsciously ever so often and linger for ages. All of this was noticed by Lin Hanxing.

She slowly lifted her hand and hesitated for a moment before reaching for his throat. She stroked it, full of curiosity. A second later, Lei Xiao's large hand shot like lightning to catch Lin Hanxing's wrist.

"Is it a good show?"

She had stared at him for such a long time. Did she really think that he would not notice that at all?

His deep-set eyes opened and his husky voice fell to a whisper. His low voice seemed to carry a heavy sense of danger. Lin Hanxing was just about to reply when the faint sound of someone on the phone rang out from the distance. 

She unknowingly moved her entire body closer to Lei Xiao and used her palm to cover his mouth. Even though the hot spring was an open-air spring, yet it was near impossible for ordinary people to find without someone showing the way. 

The person on the phone was Mrs. Tan! 

The two of them quietly listened to her sweet talk and guileful words as she chatted to the person on the other end of the phone. The more she heard, the deeper the flash of scorn appeared within Lin Hanxing's eyes. 

It must have been tough on her to sneak off to such a distance just to speak on the phone! 

However, she saw the deep solemn look within Lei Xiao's gaze as his tall figure slowly slid down. In a split second—leaving Lin Hanxing completely unable to defend herself in time—he opened his mouth and left a deep mark on her fingers. 

Just as Lin Hanxing was about to scream out loud, it was her turn to have her mouth sealed by Lei Xiao's hand. 

The sound of Mrs. Tan's voice started to fade as it moved further away. However, Lei Xiao's satisfied smile seemed to broaden. With one hand he pushed against the stones lining the hot spring and with a splash, he left the hot spring. 

The chiseled, athletic lines of his muscles were completely revealed before Lin Hanxing!

Their wet clothes had dried from the heat of the hot spring. He bent down to pick up both his and Lin Hanxing's clothes. Turning around, he looked at Lin Hanxing who was still in the water with a half-smile.

"Give me my clothes!" Lin Hanxing said as she stretched out her hand to him in barely suppressed rage.

"Then you'll have to promise me, tonight you're not allowed to joke about yourself."

All of a sudden, Lei Xiao's tone took a serious turn. Lin Hanxing froze. 

"Earlier today, what did your friend show you?"

Lin Hanxing leaned against the side of the hot spring and looked up at him with a calm expression. She had always been aware that there was someone by Lei Xiao's side. She had known this ever since the night when she noticed the strange marks on the guest room's windowsill.

'Tonight, they will act."

Lei Xiao did not directly tell Lin Hanxing the contents of the paper message. Lin Hanxing smiled coldly. Of course, she knew that they would act tonight. She even knew that what they wanted was her life!

"I have arrangements for tonight. You and your friend's people shouldn't act hastily." 

She would never let herself end up in a position where she would lose out! This was no exception!

"I know that you're smart. I also know that you already have a plan. However…"

Lei Xiao handed over the clothes into Lin Hanxing's hands. 

"Hanxing, love yourself a little more."

…

Tan Bide wore a depressed expression. Ever since the afternoon, his eyelid had been twitching non-stop. Out of all the times that he had dealt with issues, he had never felt anything that made him as uncomfortable as this did.

"Mr. Tan, everything is prepared. All that's left is for us to wait until nightfall!"

Tan Bide waved his hand at his subordinate. He was most aware of the boss's concerns compared to anyone else. Over the years, they had dealt with a couple of girls that looked similar, yet this time…

When he thought about that pair of cold eyes as frigid as an ice cellar and recalled the savageness of her actions… He worried that this time things might not be as easily completed as before!

…

Come nightfall, the teahouse was quiet as usual. The star-like glow of the fireflies was just as Lin Hanxing had promised—the view was unrivaled. Except…

Out of the blue, a huge fire raged uncontrollably in a corner of the living quarters of the teahouse. The blazing heat of the flames quickly grew to the height of several men. The heatwave rolling out from it was so intense it felt as though one would be baked to a crisp from it.

On a night like this, it appeared even more surprising and startling to the eye!

Han Bide stood at a high place overseeing everything that was happening. He wore a cold expression. No one could use such simple tricks like that to threaten the Lin family, to threaten the boss. 

'Wretched girl… Tonight will be the death of you!'

The flames grew wilder. Tan Bide observed it for a while and his lips curved into a cold smile. All his previous unease and worries were all burnt away and scattered into the clouds in this unruly fire that was growing bigger and bigger!

These few days in Mengsong, he had been so busy dealing with the business at the tea garden. Now that the issue was mostly settled, Tan Bide felt that he could finally spend time with his wife and child to enjoy the sights. 

After he married his young and beautiful wife several years ago, she had always been at his beck and call. Soon after she had also given birth to a son for him…

Now that he thought about it, she made quite a fuss about bringing their son to a nearby temple earlier that day. She had heard that the fortune-telling there was extremely accurate. Why was she not back yet?

As he pondered, Tan Bide's cell phone rang. He answered without thinking but as soon as he heard the voice coming through the phone, his complexion changed!