Standing rooted in place, Mianmian's big glistening eyes were filled with wariness.
The man at the French windows finally extended a long leg in front of him and leisurely approached her direction…
With great efforts, she finally managed to button and zip up her clothes when her heart suddenly raced as she tried to make her escape—
She reckoned that she reacted speedily and quick-witted enough, but somehow, she still got caught in his big hand just two seconds later and was tugged firmly into his embrace—
The young girl's soft body was turned around as she fell wobbly into his arms. Her nose came crashing down on his firm chest muscles and it hurt her so much her eyes instantly rimmed red and her nose tingled.
Since she could neither escape from him nor beat him in a fight and would even risk offending the great general and his dignity, the wild lass, who was usually rude and unreasonable, mentally prepared herself to be punished by him.
She had neither the intention to escape nor any aggrieved feelings in her. All she was concerned about was how her nose was badly hurting from the bump.
Unexpectedly though, the general did not flare up. Instead, he silently reached for the girl's perky nose and gently massaged her nose bridge with his big hand.
"It hurts?"
She looked up at him in astonishment…
The dim yellowish wall light glowed gently in the night and surrounding the high-and-mighty man was an air of a kingly aura.
His eyes, however… were deep and gentle like the vast ocean.
Perhaps it was because she was used to getting her wayward ways, the number of fights she had gotten into was countless, much less the battle wounds she received.
So, with everyone treating her as a fierce and arrogant problematic lass… who would ever care if she got hurt?
Even Dad… Even Dad has not spoken to me in such a gentle and concerned tone for years.
Clearly, I should be feeling angry and resentful toward him for what happened last night… and earlier in the day. I even harbored thoughts of causing an acrimonious falling-out and actioning a divorce with him.
However, because of that one action from him, that lass' stubborn and rock-like heart softened into a puddle of water… as if it had been raining silently in her heart.
As she nibbled her lower lip, she shook her head to tell him that it was not painful.
Sizing her little face up under the light, Zhan Muqian let out a light laugh after a moment. "Well, it's not crooked at least. Go take a bath. You reek of the smell of a nightclub."
"…"
So, Jiang Mianmian hid and carefully locked herself in the bathroom.
After her bath, she put on a bathrobe and semi-dried her long hair with the hairdryer before carefully pushing the bathroom door open and stepping out barefooted…
The man was actually sitting on her bed as he elegantly leaned against the headboard while reading a book in his hand.
The lass did not know what she was feeling shy about either; was it the lack of a bra under her bathrobes… or… because he was on her bed?
The image of the unsmiling general… on the shell-shaped canopy bed, however, was a little stinging to the eyes.
The fresh and clean lass stood in front of the bed with her head drooping down slightly.
In his deep voice, the man on the bed asked, "Aren't you sleepy? Don't you want to sleep?"
She subconsciously bit down on her lower lip as she hesitantly wondered if she should climb into the bed…
With a tight grip on her wrist, he pulled her up the bed.
She practically rolled and crawled about the bed in order to stabilize herself. She met him in the eyes, feeling embarrassed and shy.
"A-Actually… I didn't drink any alcohol tonight."
The man chuckled. "Ok, then what?"
She bit her lower lip. "But… I smoked!"
His expression remained unchanged. "So what about it?"
"So… will you be punishing me, Uncle?"
He silently picked up a finger of her left hand and brought it up to his nose for a sniff. Indeed, there was a faint hint of cigarette smell.
After a moment, he replied with an air of nonchalance, "I'll save it and punish you all at the same time on another day."
"Ah?" She froze.
"I'll let you have a good night's rest tonight. I'll be bringing you back to my family home tomorrow."
"… Come again?"
The Zhans' residence?
Am I… about to meet my parents-in-law?!