If I say no, it means no

Fei Huangjin removed the oven mitts he was wearing and gave Ying Yue an apologetic look. "Are you alright?"

She just nodded silently and pursed her lips as a faint patch of red bloomed on her cheeks.

"Dinner's almost ready. You can rest up in the living room. I'll call you in a bit." He turned back to the pork ribs and turned them over unnaturally. His mind was still reeling from what he had done earlier. She didn't hate him, did she?

After checking that Ying Yue was out of sight, he put down the tongs with a sigh and leaned on the counter with a frown. After this, what then?

He had half the mind to call up Zhang Zihan or Ziao Yifeng for advice. But Fei Huangjin had always been a proud man, and he couldn't take it if either of the two men laughed at him right now. Damn it. He could only figure this out himself.

It took the man a while to set the table because he honestly didn't know where the plates and utensils were placed. He seldom cooked for himself these days and usually had a housekeeper over.

When everything was done, he casually strode to the living room, where he found Ying Yue lounging on his couch like she belonged there, watching television with her knees drawn up. The sight of her warmed his chest and he couldn't help imagining what it would be like if she moved in with him.

He pursed his lips. If anyone had told him a year ago that he'd be this hooked to a woman, he would never have believed it.

"Dinner's ready."

Ying Yue looked up from the variety show on television with a blank look on her face. It didn't seem like she was watching that show, after all.

She was still a bit upset over what happened earlier, and she turned her body away as she stood up to head to the dining room.

Uneasy about how silent she was, Fei Huangjin stopped her with his arm. He had to apologize and make things right tonight.

"I'm sorry." The words came out low and hoarse. He was unused to apologizing to anyone and couldn't even remember the last time he'd uttered those two words and meant them.

Ying Yue halted and turned to him with an unreadable expression. "You're sorry for what?"

"For forcing that kiss on you. I didn't mean to take away your first kiss like that. I'm not going to promise I won't kiss you again, but I promise not to push you like that." He said the words without hesitation. The memory of seeing her eyes wet with tears made his chest tighten. He didn't want to see her that way again.

Both of them were silent for a while, and Ying Yue chewed on her lip, her cheeks reddening at the thought of kissing again.

She turned away. "If I say no, it means no."

"Yes. I mean no!" Fei Huangjin cringed at what he was saying. "I mean yes that you mean no." Fei Huangjin was already stammering in front of her, his words tripping over themselves. He wanted to punch himself in the face right now.

Ying Yue held back a smile and glared at him with as much fury as she could muster, raising her chin self-righteously. "I'm not into that whole sleeping around with every man I date kind of thing so don't expect me to jump in bed with you anytime soon."

"Of course. I don't expect you to." However, if she continued looking her very damn best on each day she was with him, tempting him with those amorous eyes, he couldn't promise he wouldn't get turned on though…

"You will cook me dinner at least twice a week."

"I can do it three times a week."

"With the food that I want." She pointed out. She knew that if Fei Huangjin had his way, he'd have steak every night of his life.

"Of course."

"You will get me food whenever I feel like eating."

He raised a brow in amusement. "Of course."

"And you will kiss me again right now."

"Sure-- wait, what?" Fei Huangjin's deep voice inched a notch higher as he stared incredulously at her. A moment ago, she was upset with him and now she was asking for a kiss? He began to wonder if all women changed their minds as fast as changing clothes.

"Kiss me. And do it nicely."