The path of flowers was never swept for any guest, now the humble door opens for you alone.
After a night where dragons and phoenixes danced upside-down, we ventured into love’s storm together.
Li Xiaoman got her wish, becoming Bai Yan’s woman.
The next morning, a warm and gentle sunlight spilled into Li Xiaoman’s boudoir, Bai Yan woke up with a headache, only to find Li Xiaoman lying on his chest, grinning at him.
Bai Yan glanced at Li Xiaoman and let out a somewhat helpless sigh.
After all, he fell into this silly woman’s scheme.
"Ah, why does Master sigh? Last night we already... Don’t tell me you plan to deny it!"
Li Xiaoman pouted, her face full of innocent expression, her big eyes brimming with tears, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.
"Don’t cry, I didn’t say I would deny it."
Bai Yan, unable to do anything but laugh and cry looking at Li Xiaoman, reached out tenderly and wiped away the tears on her pretty face.
"Hee hee~ Master is so nice!"
Li Xiaoman generously shared her sweet smile, adoringly gazing at Bai Yan, her jade hands clutching tightly onto the large hand on her face.
The phone rang, Bai Yan quickly rummaged through the chaotic pile of clothes under the bed to find his phone, it’s a call from An Xiaowan.
Crap, I didn’t go home last night!
Bai Yan suddenly remembered this, feeling somewhat embarrassed—he had not returned all night, and the An family sisters must have been extremely worried.
"Um... Master, you were sleeping so soundly yesterday that I turned off your phone."
Li Xiaoman suddenly hung her head low, admitting somewhat sheepishly.
Oh my, this is trouble!
Bai Yan covered his forehead, suddenly at a loss for how to explain.
Bai Yan didn’t see, but Li Xiaoman was secretly giggling with her lips pursed, she had deliberately switched off Bai Yan’s phone last night, all so she could have him to herself for a whole night. Even if it was just for this one night, Li Xiaoman felt very contented.
Bai Yan gritted his teeth and answered the phone.
"Wuu, Brother Yan, where are you?! You didn’t come home all night, sister was so worried she almost got grandfather to send people to look for you!"
An Xiaowan’s soft and sobby voice came through the phone, the little girl’s voice filled with worry and fear. They had been anxious for Bai Yan the whole night yesterday.
"It’s okay, it’s okay, I was drinking with a friend last night and accidentally had a bit too much."
Bai Yan hurriedly comforted her softly.
"Why did you turn off your phone? Why didn’t you tell us, we were nearly worried to death."
Bai Yan seemed to see An Xiaowan over the phone pouting, her pretty face wet with tear streaks, looking pitiful.
"This... It seems like the phone ran out of power."
Bai Yan explained softly.
Men are always insincere, to speak a true word, who hasn’t lied to the woman they love?
Li Xiaoman curled her lips, it seemed that in Master’s heart, the An family sisters mattered more.
Bai Yan comforted An Xiaowan a few more words, repeatedly assuring he would return home soon, then hung up.
Bai Yan hurriedly got out of bed and dressed; Li Xiaoman propped up her delicate body, her beautiful face showing a touch of melancholy: "Master, why don’t you leave after lunch?"
Bai Yan paused, looked at the time on his phone, apart from the dozens of missed calls from the An family sisters, the time displayed was 11:30 AM.
Shoot, I partied too hard last night and slept till noon.
Bai Yan said with a wry smile and a shake of his head: "Nevermind, I should go back first."
Li Xiaoman said a bit disappointedly. She tried to get up to help Bai Yan dress, but the pain in a certain area made her frown repeatedly and unable to rise.
Bai Yan dressed quickly, his white shirt still unbuttoned properly. He turned and said tenderly, "Alright, rest at home today, no rush for the company’s matters."
Li Xiaoman responded softly, just like a docile and obedient little wife.
"I’ll come find you later; I’m heading back first."
Bai Yan stood up, grabbed his cell phone and watch, then put on his coat and left the bedroom.
"Please, Master... be careful on your way!"
"Don’t drive too fast, this is the key to my house, Master..."
The bedroom door closed, Bai Yan had left.
White bed sheets and pink quilt were stained with plum blossom-like blood, as if mocking Li Xiaoman’s infatuation and her attachment to Bai Yan.
Li Xiaoman let out an imperceptible sigh, the spare key she had prepared earlier now also lay on the bedsheet.
With her fair and delicate arms wrapped around herself, Li Xiaoman blankly stared at the photograph on the coffee table. In the photo was Bai Yan’s radiant smile, a gift she received from him after imploring for a long time—the only photo of Bai Yan in her album.
To say she wasn’t feeling down would be a lie.
But Li Xiaoman knew deep down that ever since she signed the contract with Bai Yan, her body and soul completely belonged to this man, with no other options left.
Last night, it was Li Xiaoman who took the initiative; all night long, she kept seeking, even if it was their first time embracing passion, she clung to Bai Yan desperately.
She didn’t regret it, she loved this man deeply, even more so than the sisters of the An Family; she was willing to give up everything for Bai Yan.
The boudoir fragrant with a woman’s scent suddenly felt empty and vast without Bai Yan, leaving her alone in its confines.
The beloved man had gone, without any semblance of reluctance, taking her soul with him, leaving behind an empty husk.
Li Xiaoman buried her face into her fair arms; teardrops slid down from the crook of her arm, shattering as they hit her firm collarbone.
She didn’t know why she was crying; she berated herself for being greedy in her heart, as they had only agreed on having one night. Yet, when Bai Yan truly left, she found it unbearably hard to let go.
Her seemingly strong heart was completely shattered.
But he had left, without a single glance back.
This bitter love would eventually have to be borne alone by Li Xiaoman; the foolish woman’s smiles and seductive acts in front of her Master were the result of countless nights of longing and bitterness.
She smiled because of him; she cried because of him.
Perhaps, but she had no regrets.
Li Xiaoman never dared to ask Bai Yan for promises; she only hoped this man would spend more time with her, even just a second more.
"Whimper... Bai Yan, I love you, I really do love you so much."
Li Xiaoman sobbed, the room resonating only with her crying, echoing hollowly in the empty space, making one’s heart sour.
"I seem to have forgotten something; I didn’t take the keys."
Warm hands suddenly caressed her hair, the warm touch making Li Xiaoman’s heart quiver uncontrollably, that familiar gentle voice making her cry even louder.
"Bad Master! Whimper, I thought you had left!"
Li Xiaoman turned around and threw herself into Bai Yan’s arms without hiding her emotions, her tender body trembling, her voice filled with excitement and surprise.
Bai Yan touched his nose with a wry smile, "Also, I think I can actually stay for dinner. Leaving a bit later doesn’t matter."
"Okay, I’ll cook for you."
Li Xiaoman smiled happily, sweetness shining on her pretty face—she didn’t ask for much, just the occasional pause Bai Yan took to offer her his gentle care.
Bai Yan’s voice was very gentle.
Li Xiaoman nestled into the warmth of Bai Yan’s chest, not wanting to leave for even a moment.
"In this life, you are mine, and I love you too."
Bai Yan’s tender voice left trails of tears on Li Xiaoman’s pretty face.
He heard my tearful confession of love!
For the words "I love you too," Li Xiaoman had given so much, but it was all worth it.
"Yes! Master, Xiao Man loves you too. I will only love you in this life, and the next, and the next after that!"
Li Xiaoman’s voice, amidst sobs and filled with a love that made Bai Yan’s heart race, revealed her foolish but passionate love for him, no less intense than that of An Xiaowan.
In Bai Yan’s arms, she cried and laughed.