58 What do you want?

One Week Later:

Shi Ailin had been avoiding Luo Wanting since the morning Shi Yen visited her. She only saw him around the house when he required her assistance, and she wouldn't linger a moment longer than she needed to.

When Luo Wanting noticed what she was doing, he tortured her endlessly, making her run back and forth, asking her to do unnecessary tasks, for the sake of seeing her. She wanted to harm that arrogant bastard! But if she did, then he'd end up being her patient longer than she wanted him to.

Still, Luo Wanting had ended up gaining enough strength to move, eventually needing to see little of her, and she didn't know if she was supposed to feel relieved or worried.

After a long day of completing tasks for her new position, all Shi Ailin wanted to do was lie down.

When she arrived home, she chucked off her shoes, sauntering towards the living room couch.

She slumped against the armrest, raising an arm over her face, sighing. She closed her eyes and dozed off for twenty minutes when she was disturbed by the sound of clanging dishes. She ignored it until she heard something come from her side.

Shi Ailin opened her eyes, finding Luo Wanting place a meal on the coffee table. He then glanced at her, not realizing that she had woken until then.

She furrowed her brows. "Did you cook?"

"Yes…" he replied.

She sat up. "Why? Were you hungry? You could have waited for me to wake. I don't want you to strain your—"

"No," he interrupted. "I…wanted to do something for you."

Shi Ailin stared at him blankly. She blinked and blinked again, unbelievably.

"Is it hard to believe I'd do something nice for you?" he questioned.

Shi Ailin's lips parted to speak. "Um, yes, actually."

Luo Wanting crossed his arms. A helpless smile then curved his mouth. He slightly limped to take a seat on the couch, next to her, keeping a small distance. "I know I've been nothing but trouble this week."

'No kidding,' Shi Ailin thought.

"But I appreciate how you helped me even though you have no obligation to," he said. "If you need anything, Ailin, don't hesitate to ask me. I will do anything you want to repay what you've done for me."

Luo Wanting spoke as if he were declaring an oath. Shi Ailin couldn't help but smile. "Thank you," she replied. "I will definitely hold you to that one day."

He grinned at her.

Shi Ailin then picked up the plate from the coffee table filled with rice, garlic-buttered salmon, asparagus and kale. She was surprised that he made one of her favourite dishes.

"How did you know?" she asked him.

"I looked through your cookbooks and found it under highlighted favourites."

Shi Ailin grinned wide. "Thank you," she said. She then wolfed down her dish, delighted to be filling her empty stomach. After she finished, she sighed, lying down on the couch. Luo Wanting had brought the plate to the kitchen, putting effort into his walk since he was still recovering from his injury in the lower abdomen. His legs were also beaten.

Luo Wanting then returned with a drink, and Shi Ailin gulped it down.

When Luo Wanting wanted to put the cup back, Shi Ailin lowered his hand down. "Leave it. I'll put it away later. Just settle down."

He listened.

Luo Wanting sat down with her again, stretching his legs. He then gazed around the living room, finding her sheet-covered easels. "What have you been working on?"

Shi Ailin shrugged. "I have been painting beautiful things I see—nature, in particular."

"Like what?" he asked.

"Well, anytime I see something pretty, I want to capture it with paint. I like painting rivers surrounded by plains and valleys. I remembered seeing them from the airplane when we returned from our trip," she paused. "I also like painting trees, as boring as it sounds."

"It's not boring," he replied. "Can I see them?"

Shi Ailin chewed her lip. "Yes," she replied. She then stood to take one of the easels, pushing it closer towards the couch. She then unveiled the sheet, and Luo Wanting's eyes widened. He rose, stepping towards the easel carefully to get a better view of the canvas. It was a row of cherry trees with a starry night background. The trees were painted with pale pinks, fuchsia rose, and more colours he couldn't name. The strokes and stippling were done carefully and precisely.

"It's so lovely," he said astonished.

Shi Ailin flushed. "Really?" she questioned. "I know it's ordinary, but I...I first painted everything black, and then I wondered, what could I add on top of it? I know you can't really see cherry trees in the dark all that much, but—" she kept rambling on, causing Luo Wanting to grin.

He glanced down at her fidgeting hand that bunched up her skirt nervously as she spoke. He then dropped his hand, brushing his hand across hers in a fleeting swoop. Shi Ailin stilled.

"You're still wearing the bracelet my brother made you," he said.

Shi Ailin bit down her lower lip. "I'd wear anything someone gifts me."

He gazed at her intensely.

Shi Ailin's chest rose and fell slightly, and her face turned beet red. Luo Wanting entangled their fingers together, expecting her to push him away, but she didn't.

"Look at me," he told her with a gentle voice.

Shi Ailin faced him. He smiled silvery, "Your face is almost the same colour as your painting," he teased.

Shi Ailin looked away.

A sudden knock then startled her, and she pulled away. "It must be Yen," she said. "Go hide!"

"Where?" he asked.

Shi Ailin glanced around the room. "Behind the curtains!"

Luo Wanting quickly then approached the thick velvet brown curtains and hid behind it.

Shi Ailin went to the front door, opening it wide. "Luo Tian?" she questioned. "What are you doing here?"

He let himself in, walking a short distance. "Why haven't you dropped by the airport? I haven't seen you in the last two weeks. Is everything all right?"

Shi Ailin sighed. "I'm fine, Luo Tian. I already mentioned to your brother that I wouldn't be spending much time there since I succeeded in my sister's position."

His eyes widened. "I didn't know that," he said. "My brother didn't tell me anything since he suddenly left to who knows where for some bullshit business trip that he refuses to tell me about. And he dumped all the work on me."

Shi Ailin crossed her arms. "Your brother works hard. I should have been the one to tell you, but I didn't think it was a big deal."

"Why are you defending him?" He took a step forward.

"What are you talking about?" she asked.

"Do you think I don't notice? What I mean is that I know how he visited you from time to time when you worked at the airport."

"Luo Wanting was my collaborator. Of course, he'd visit to see my progress."

"He doesn't even like to see his own executives, but he'd visit you any chance he had."

"I-I don't see how that's relevant," she snapped. "But even if it is, it's none of your business."

"He's not what you think, Ai. You should stay away from him. He's secretive and harmful. He's deceptive. There are things you don't understand about my older brother. He also takes things that belong to others, because he likes the game, the chase. He always wants what he can't have."

Shi Ailin crossed her arms, knitting her brows. "I don't care!" she said. "And I would like to make my own judgments of others. And I'd appreciate it if you don't act like I need to be protected or sheltered from making my own choices or mistakes."

Luo Tian threw his arms in the air exasperatedly. "Fine. Then make your own terrible mistakes," he said, storming out.

"I will!" she responded.

"Congratulations on your new job!" he said, voice clipped.

"Thank you!" she responded angrily.

Luo Tian shut the door behind him, and Shi Ailin locked it, releasing a breath. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead on the door. Her hands splayed on the wood.

Shi Ailin then felt a hand palm over hers, and Luo Wanting's entire form enveloped her back.

"Are we a mistake?" he whispered.

Her heart sped up, knowing that he overheard everything. "There is no we."

She turned around to face him, but he trapped her against the door. He brushed a finger over the cupid's bow of her lips. He gazed at her mouth with intensifying hardness. "You don't want me?" he asked her.

Shi Ailin's heart pounded. "You're everything I don't want," she replied. Luo Wanting was from the Underworld. He had done terrible things; he was secretive and dangerous, and most undoubtedly, he could be her undoing. And yet, those same reasons made her yearn for his touch. But she must resist.

As if he could read her thoughts, he smiled.

Luo Wanting placed a hand on her hip, pulling her against him. His expression was serious with want. "I think you want me," he told her.

She shuddered. "No," she responded. He kissed her cheek, a fleeting, short peck that made her shiver. She whimpered.

"What do you want?" he asked, a hand sliding up her leg.

"Nothing from you," she lied.

He paused, looking into her eyes. "Is that so? You want nothing?"

Shi Ailin faced him with deep-set eyes. "I…I"

He cupped his ear. "Say it, princess. Tell me what you want."

Shi Ailin was burning up. She must have gone insane because, within the next moment, she said, "I don't know what I want, but just kiss me already."

Luo Wanting grinned. He then cupped her face, crashing his lips onto hers. Shi Ailin tried to catch up with him, as they were both desperate to connect into the swoop of their passion. He invaded her mouth, peering his tongue as Shi Ailin sighed against his mouth. He dragged his tongue over hers, sloppily, as if their type of kissing was messy and frenzied.

He pushed her against the door gently, pinning her arms above her head. He lifted her chin, and she panted and moaned before he retook her lips, consuming her. It was hard and eager.

Shi Ailin felt like she was going to become a puddle as he skillfully took her breath away.

Luo Wanting kissed her frantic until he pulled away. He drunk in her expression: flushed cheeks, rising chest, and open-wide full mouth. It took every ounce of strength in him not to continue.

"Do you still not know what you want?" he asked her.

Shi Ailin shook her head.

"That's okay, princess," he said. "I will remind your body what you crave for."