Time For Bed

There was something wrong with the whole situation right now.

I was sure of it.

Presently, we were both chilling on the bed where I had been resting on since yesterday. Jin Longwen was humming to himself as he kneaded my legs, he seemed to enjoy it immensely. But, my forehead was etched into a frown.

It wasn't because of his massage, he was great with that. The soreness in my legs was gradually easing away. So, this concern wandering in my head had to be something else.

I leaned my back against the headboard, deep in thought.

'What is it?'

'What is it that's badgering me?'

Suddenly, the movements on my legs halted. Jin Longwen turned to me and tilted his head.

"What's wrong?" He asked. The worry on his face was apparent.

I stared at him wordlessly. Did he notice? Did he feel something was wrong as well?

"Am I too obvious?"

He chuckled. He inched closer and tried to soothe the crease on my forehead with his index finger.

"With your usual expressionless face, any changes would be too obvious."

For a second there, I thought he was quite perceptive. Although, it can be obvious, but people are just that dense or perhaps...

They just simply don't care.

When joy and fortune came along, they would swarm like bees to honey. Competing with one another for the sole purpose of basking in the same light.

However, when it came the time for fate to swallow everything up and tears fell like a stream of waterfall, they were nowhere to be found. It was as if they were never there in the first place.

It had always been that convenient, hadn't it?

So, when I was faced with his concern and his eyes that spoke of tenderness, it left me wordless, not knowing how to respond. I couldn't help but wanting to avoid his gaze instead.

I didn't understand. I might not say anything but I wasn't clueless either.

He treated me well. Too well, in fact, to the point that it left me suspicious.

We might have conversed and knew each other name, but it didn't take away the sole fact that we were stranger to each other. Even if there was something, it was no more than an acquaintance.

I played along just then, but I would be lying if I said that it wasn't just a courtesy. He was the host and I was the guest. Plus, we were stuck together for a whole night without anyone else in this villa. It would be foolish of me to not treat him politely.

As I stated before, I would choose anything that benefited me in my situation right now. Not just in this particular event, but for the whole second life thing that was happening to me.

I didn't know anyone and I didn't know who to trust. I was pretty sure no one would treat me kindly if they figured out who I was. The kindest thing they would ever done to me would be ignoring my existence.

So what was his purpose? Why did he care?

'No reason not to help?'

Could I really trust him? He told me not to think it negatively. But, what would anyone do if they were me?

I was all alone in this big city and my state wasn't exactly promising thanks to Li Fei's past deeds. But, if it wasn't for her memory, I would be the lost girl in the capital instead.

I raised my gaze and grabbed hold of his finger that was rubbing on my forehead. It was getting uncomfortable.

"So, care to tell me what's wrong with you?" His voice had strangely become softer since just now. I noticed it first when he approached me in the living room.

I stared at him intently. However, I didn't realize it at that time I had subconsciously squeezed his hand that was still held in my grip. I was too focus at observing him and the man himself didn't comment about it as well.

"What?" He asked once again, a gentle smile adorning his lips.

It was far too gentle that it instantly highlighted every line and crease on his charming face. And I had to admit, he was breathtakingly handsome.

This sight of him left me a bit dumbfounded and speechless. I blinked my eyes a couple of times trying to return my focus to the situation at hand. But, my mind remained empty. I didn't know what to say.

In the end, I lowered my gaze and shook my head weakly. "Nothing."

"Hmm?" He raised his other hand that was still free and tucked my hair which had fallen behind my ear.

I flinched instantly at his gesture. His hand froze as well. It seemed my little movement had surprised him. The next thing I knew, he had withdrawn his hand.

"Sorry," he said.

I was stunned when I noticed the gloominess that had suddenly settled in his eyes. It was faint but it was there regardless.

'Ugh...' I groaned inwardly. 'This is troublesome.'

Without delay, I reached for his hand that had touched my hair and put it atop my head. When I did that, I found him staring at me in confusion and I too blinked as puzzled as him.

"I thought you like touching my hair?" I asked carefully.

I didn't want him to be displeased again. We had to stay friends at least for tonight.

"Ah?" He tilted his head.

"You didn't?" I raised my eyebrows.

All of the sudden, he let out a cough. It didn't sound like he was sick. Then, I caught the redness that was slowly glowing on his ears. I tilted my head sideways and tapped my index finger on my chin in wonder.

"Are you feeling shy right now?"

"No! Why would I be shy?" He directly denied my statement. He then proceeded to caress my hair as if to show that he wasn't shy.

"Umm...okay."

Afterwards, he continued to play with my hair for a full hour that it had now amazingly turned into a loose side braid. I blinked in awe as I looked at it. Then, I turned to him and after that looked back at the braids again. This went on for three times until he grabbed my chin and turned my head towards him.

A dashing smile on his peerless face immediately graced my eyes. It wasn't the usual cheeky smirk but a real genuine smile - that much I knew.

It was because of his eyes. His gray eyes were watching me with such fondness that even I was left in disbelief. I thought I was imagining it.

But his deep clear voice like the sound of cello fleeted into my ear and made me realized, it was real and it was meant for me.

"Time for bed, Princess."