Grey clouds lingered over Imperial like a dense fog, leaving no room for the sun or moon to be seen anywhere. Rain trickles down from the sky in pursuit and splatters on the ground like a song to the ear.
Inside the beautiful home of Yue Ling and Lu Tian, all was quiet but the faint breathing from the couple.
Yue Ling gradually opened her eyes as she awoke from her sleep. Due to her sleeping on her side, the door to the room was the first thing she saw then she felt a slight heaviness on her waist.
She knew it was an arm and didn't need to turn around to know who it belonged to because it was the person who completed her world.
Her eyes calmly blinked, and the faint darkroom was now fully visible as the sound of rain taps against the windows. However, her body ached so much that she didn't want to get out of bed at all.
She forces herself to turn around to face Lu Tian, the reason behind her aching body. However, when she saw him, a smile curled on her lips.
His sleeping face was one that any woman would want to be able to stare at all day. The three lines between his eyebrows made him look all the more alluring.
She raises her hand to soothe out the lines but pauses midair. Images of what happened between them all night flowed inside her head, and her cheeks flushed a crimson shade.
"You can touch me if you want."
Lu Tian's deep voice mixed with roughness suddenly sounded, but his eyes remained closed. He waits a few seconds but not hearing a response from his wife, he opens his eyes.
A pair of bluish-green eyes greeted him, and he smiled. His arms tighten around her, and he pulls her a little closer to him.
"What is it? Why are you just looking at me?"
Yue Ling gazed at the man without uttering a word. She was embarrassed by his words but didn't know why she felt blessed to wake up and fall asleep with him.
Did she, by chance, save a country in her past life?
However, she quickly pushed the question aside when she felt her body pressed against his body.
She yelped in surprise and realized they weren't wearing any clothes. Her face turned as red as a tomato, and she put her palms on his chest to keep a distance between them.
She averts her eyes from his and tries to place her attention on something else.
"We have to get up for work."
She could feel his beast below rubbing against her thigh. If they continue to stay in bed any longer, who knows what will happen.
Lu Tian ignores her words and closes the distance between them. He embraced her like he hadn't seen her in years and pressed his forehead against her.
He closes his eyes and inhales a breath. Her sweet fragrance entered his nose, and he knew he was home. However, thinking about her words, he sighs inside again.
"I need to work harder."
Yue Ling couldn't help but chuckle at his words. She doesn't move away from him but looks at his up-close face.
"If you want to work harder, you should get out of bed."
She smiles at him, and this time, she moves away. Even without looking at a clock, she could tell from the lighting that it was time to get ready for work.
Just when she moved back an inch, Lu Tian opened his eyes. His dark eyes gaze at her with the love he has for her can see at a glance. His arms remained wrapped around her with no intentions of letting her go.
"I meant, I should work harder in making you stay in bed."
Yue Ling froze and was rendered speechless. She stares at him with a slightly agape mouth before sounding a chuckle.
She stammers with her words and continues laughing at how shameless he was behaving.
"I can barely move my body, and you're saying you want to work harder?"
Lu Tian felt guilty when he heard her words. He knew that he had overdone it in bed, but he couldn't help it. He missed her so much, and once she was in his arms, he couldn't stop himself from wanting her more.
He stares at her smiling face, and his entire being softens to the core. He leans forward and kisses her on the lips. His arms loosen around her before he gets up from the bed.
"Okay. I won't work so hard."
He walked around the bed with no clothes on, and Yue Ling's eyes widened. She inhales a mouthful of air and quickly covers her eyes with her hands. She didn't dare to look at his nakedness.
She could hear his footsteps, and thinking he had gone to the bathroom, she peaks from the gaps between her fingers to confirm.
However, she suddenly yelps when her body is lifted off the bed by Lu Tian.
She wraps her arms around his neck and looks at him. She wanted to say something, but her lips were sealed the moment she opened her mouth.
Lu Tian pulls away from the kiss and looks ahead. He smiles like a happy child and stops in front of the bathroom door.
He gently kicks the door open with his foot, then glances down at her, and the smile on his face widens until it reaches his eyes.
"I won't work so hard."
Yue Ling was at a loss by his smile. She didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but from the sound of his voice, she knew that he was going to work hard once she was in the bathroom.
Knowing she couldn't escape him, she curls in his arms like a baby trying to hide.
While the two bosses prepare for the start of their day, Liu Shan steps out from him his apartment in the far distance. He wore a brown coat over his white sweater and white trousers.
He locks the door and walks to the stairs leading to the parking lot but pause in his steps. Before turning away, he glances at the tightly shut door next to his place as the rain pours behind him.
It was Ling Ni's apartment.
The last time he saw her was on the night of the dispute in front of Uncle Nuo's food stall. Ever since then, he never saw her or saw her lights on.
His thoughts shifted to when he heard her name brought up during the conversation between Yue Ling and Lin Hui. When he stayed outside and chatted with Lin Hui, he wanted to ask about Ling Ni but held himself back.
If it hadn't been for the fact that his boss ordered Lin Hui not to tell him, he would have asked.
How is she doing? Is she eating healthy? Have things been too tough for her? Does she need help to get away from Tao Meng?
It's not that he is still in love with her. It's just difficult for him to forget about her.
His phone rang in the middle of his thoughts and brought him back to his senses.
He takes out his phone from his coat pocket and puts it next to his ear.
"Hello, Liu Shan speaking."
A faint voice sounds from the other line, and he listens to the person. He walks to the stairway, opens the umbrella, then heads down to his car.
"I got it. I'll meet you later for lunch."
He ended the call when he reached his car. While getting inside, he scrolls through his contact list and makes a phone call to another person.
The line rings in wait for connection, and he looks up at the apartment building. Before he could ponder further, the call connects.
He doesn't wait for the other person to answer and starts talking.
"Manager Luo, it's me, Liu Shan."
["Oh, Liu Shan. What can I help you with, boy?"]
Manager Luo's voice sounds from the other line, and Liu Shan closes the door to his car after he sits inside.
"Sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but I have a favor to ask you."
["I see. Go ahead and tell me. I'll see what I can do."]
Liu Shan was relieved by the elderly man's words, but he didn't answer right away. He glances at Ling Ni's apartment window for a long second and then parts his lips.
"I need help looking for a new apartment. Do you know if there's any available?"
If he wants to get over Ling Ni, he needs to move to another place. Staying here will only make his mind occupied with her even if he doesn't want to think about her.
["I do have a few vacant apartments. Come meet me after work today, and we can take a look."]
Uncle Luo's voice sounds again, and Liu Shan answers with an mm before ending the phone call.. He starts the car, and without looking at the apartment again, he drives out of the parking lot.