Li Hua outstretched her arm, holding the bow, and looked towards the target, where she had to shoot the arrow. Earlier, the way she was forced to lie for Lóng Wei had angered her. The Queen had asked for the Sixth Prince's presence, and he asked her to lie.
Lóng Wei gripped Li Hua's fist, which was on the string. She tilted her head, and her brows furrowed. "Empty your mind. If you think about me, then how will you aim for your target?" She blinked her eyes and tried to pull away from his grip.
"Stay firm," Lóng Wei said and gave a pat on her shoulder. "You need to focus on your aim first, nowhere else. Close your one eye and fix your gaze at it," he instructed her.
Li Hua closed her right eye and looked at the aim where had to shoot the arrow. Gradually, Lóng Wei moved his hand back. "Release," he said. Li Hua acted on his command and the arrow hit the stem of the tree, but not where it should be.
Li Hua smiled as she was able to reach the stem of the tree. A day before, her arrows could not reach the vicinity of the tree. She picked another arrow and kept hitting. Her confidence had built after the first hit.
Lóng Wei went to the patio and picked the paper fan. He opened it and started to fan himself. "Li Hua, you need to learn to use a sword as well," Lóng Wei asserted.
Li Hua put her arm down with which she was holding the bow and turned to look at Lóng Wei. "Will His Highness teach me?" she asked curiously.
"Of course. Who will teach you except me?" Lóng Wei asked. "Keep practicing," he said with a stern tone while fanning.
Li Hua turned to him and pointed the arrow at him. Lóng Wei amusingly glanced at her and sat straight. "Shoot," he told her while smirking.
"His Highness will get hurt," Li Hua said with a playful smile.
"Then why did you point the arrow at me?" Lóng Wei questioned her.
"To scare His Highness," Li Hua answered and smiled. Lóng Wei saw her smiling for the first time. Her innocent, sweet smile fluttered his heart, and it gave him immense pleasure. Did anyone ever smile at him the way Li Hua did? No one except Yuze. Everyone made faces at him, cursed him, and looked at him with disgust.
Probably, that was the reason that he fell hard for Li Hua. She not only showed concern for him but also soothed him whenever he was angry. Only two days had passed and it made him turn crazy for her.
Lóng Wei walked to her and found her smile faded. She stepped back as the bow in her hand lowered.
She pursed her lips tightly and thought to turn away when Lóng Wei grasped her hand. He drew her closer and his other hand wrapped around her small waist.
"I have told my Royal Father that I want to marry you," Lóng Wei stated. Li Hua downcasted her eyes, wondering why the Sixth Prince brought up this topic.
"Look at me when I am talking to you," he urged her, who promptly lifted her eyelids.
"Why does His Highness want to marry me? He can get any woman he wants," Li Hua said, gathering her courage.
"I am not made for any woman. Only you can make me go crazy," Lóng Wei said. "Your one smile is enough to pound this heart." He let go of her wrist and pointed his finger at his chest.
"I have told His Highness that I love someone else," Li Hua said, keeping her tone firm.
"Alas! I am not ready to share you with anyone. I may kill the man, who tries to glance at you the other way. Forget him and remember me only," Lóng Wei authorized. His hot breath fanned against her lips, and again his eyes locked on her rosy, luscious lips.
Li Hua's eyelids flickered upon hearing his response. She wanted to say many things, but she could not.
"I need to practice, Your Highness," Li Hua tried to divert the topic and averted her gaze from him.
Lóng Wei, instead of letting her go, caught her wrist once again and brought it near his chest. "Feel my heartbeat, Li Hua. It is what I feel for you," he confessed. She found his gaze boring through her soul. She did not want to feel that heartbeat, but could not help. It was faster than usual.
Confused, she peered into his eyes once again. "Your Highness, how can I forget someone whom I love for a long time? It is not possible for me," Li Hua stated.
"I will make you forget him. Nothing is impossible for Lóng Wei. You have not seen what I can do for you. No force on this earth can stop me from making you fall in love with me," Lóng Wei affirmed, which baffled Li Hua.
His hand made its way to her neck, then cheek, and started to caress it. She studied his eyes which were as pure as the mountain lake. She could see the affection for her in his eyes. That was strange! She should not think this way, but could not refrain from it either.
"I want to kiss you, but I will wait," Lóng Wei said, fixing his gaze on her lips. Li Hua's breath hitched upon hearing his sudden confession.
A kiss?
"A woman fantasizes in many ways about her first kiss. Once the kiss will be sealed between us, then there's no way you will turn back." Lóng Wei moved his gaze away from her lips to her eyes.
"You can breathe."
Li Hua let out a deep breath and asked him to let her go.
"This is the last time, I am letting you go just because you are too terrified," affirmed Lóng Wei while slowly pulling away. Li Hua stepped away immediately and turned away.