"The truth is, I like you."
Luo Jingyi was stumped for words. By the look in his eyes, he wasn't lying. Sincerity was in them. It was her first time that someone literally confessed their feelings to her. In her past life, she was the one who chased the 2nd Prince. She was very brazen to tell him she wanted to be his legal wife and despite her parents' refusal, she insisted. Before their marriage, he complimented her a lot which she'd mistaken as a sign of his devotion and love but he never directly told her that he loved her. Only a fool like her thought otherwise. So things like being confessed to, she had no idea how to process it.
Yun Jinghan jammed his hands in his pockets and looked away, focusing his attention on the endless water. He regretted saying those words because she was far from accepting him in her life. She wasn't open to any sort of relationship with the opposite sex. And he was well aware that she agreed because of pressure. Hence, confessing was very untimely. In his plan, he would tell her once she'd grown comfortable with him. When she had put down one of those barriers she surrounded herself with. He didn't know what got him that even his rationality was reduced. While he kept telling himself to wait, his heart was very anxious.
"What do you like about me?" Luo Jingyi looked away.
Yun Jinghan glanced at her side. "What's not there to like?"
'I like everything about you.'
"There's nothing remarkable about me. I don't like talking to people. I have a terrible temper..." Her voice tapered off because he pulled her hand to face him. The smile on his face was now gone.
"You don't have to say these things to discourage me. What I feel for you, I am responsible for it."
"I am stating a fact about myself." Luo Jingyi shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't shut me away sweetie." Putting each hand on each shoulder, he held her from moving. "I am different from the man who hurt you."
When she stayed silent, he said "I'll slowly show you how much I care. But in order to do so, you have to let me in your life."
He was begging her. And that sent ripples in her heart. But Luo Jingyi knew that hasty decisions could lead to serious repercussions. Hence she was restraining herself from making a big mistake. "Let me think about it."
When she thought Yun Jinghan was going to be disappointed, she was mistaken. Instead, he grinned.
"Okay." He accepted happily. For a woman like her, saying she would give it thought rather than directly refusing, meant she was willing to give it a chance. It might be nothing for most but for her, this was a big step.
…..
On the drive back to the hotel, soft music filled inside the car. Luo Jingyi was busy with her new phone, inputting her banking details on the app. After she was able to access her account, she turned to Yun Jinghan, "Tell me your account details."
Knowing why she wanted it, he ignored her and turned the volume of the music up.
"Yun Jinghan!" Luo Jingyi yelled. But it was swallowed by the music. Annoyed, she reached for the controls and turned it off.
"Stop pretending you didn't hear me."
"Do you really have to pay me for a gift I bought for you?" He pouted, touching his chest.
"It wasn't a gift. You paid for it because I forgot my purse." She corrected, eyeing the pocket of his trousers with a plan. She saw him put his wallet on his right side.
If she would just inch a little closer.
When Yun Jinghan caught where her eyes were directed to, he didn't let her go. He teased, "Sweetie, I can show it to you if you like. Let me pull over first."
"Who wants to look at it?!" She responded, touching her cheeks which she felt burning.
"Don't deny it." He went on, feeling satisfaction in distracting her.
Because of this, the issue of the phone was forgotten. When the elevator arrived on her floor, Yun Jinghan walked her to the door.
As she was running her keycard against the sensor, Luo Jingyi heard him call her out. Letting go of her grip at the door, she faced him.
"What?"
"I'll give you three days—no, two days to think about it. During these days, I won't appear in front of you."
She nodded in agreement. That was better.
"But K5 will be around to protect you."
"I am—" Her refusal was swallowed back when he raised his hand to stop her.
"I don't want anyone hurting you. You are the most important person in my life. Your safety comes first. I don't think I can be rational if anything happens to you." He stated in finality. Uncertain of Xu Wei's reasons, Yun Jinghan would be more at ease if someone was protecting her. Even if it meant going against her wishes.
Reluctant, Luo Jingyi found herself agreeing.
"Good night." He mumbled and walked away. Luo Jingyi watched his back disappear at the corner.
When she was inside her room, she leaned on the door and heaved a sigh for all the things that happened today.
"Grandma, what should I do?" She breathed softly.
After some time, Luo Jingyi removed her phone from her bag and sent him a message, thanking him for paying the phone.
Luo Jingyi nearly hit her head for forgetting her manners. She hated herself sometimes. Collecting her bag, she stood. At the same time, her dusky blue wallet fell on the floor. She stared at it for a long time wondering what happened.