The flabbergasted expression on Zhao Ling's face made her stifle a bout of laughter that wanted to escape from her mouth. His face went paler than usual and the way his upper lip curled slightly to form a little grimace made her chuckle.
"What do you mean?" He asked, sounding unsure.
Li Yuxi laced her fingers and blinked up at him suggestively.
"Is it safe to swim?" She asked and he looked past her head for a second before meeting her eyes.
"I'm sure… but why did you ask me to swim?"
Li Yuxi took a step back and faced the direction of the pond. She eyed the surface of the moving water, loving how there were petals of flowers and a few green leaves floating on top. She dropped her purse and touched the buttons of her shorts.
"What are you doing?!" Zhao Ling asked, appearing before her, almost making her trip.
"Calm down, stupid ghost," she said, frowning. "I want us to swim in the water."
Zhao Ling blinked. "You do realize that I am not in any way human, right? Even if I can feel the texture of things like water, I won't get wet."
Li Yuxi was amazed at the discovery for a few seconds before shrugging nonchalantly.
"So?" She waited for a response. "I want you to swim with me. Look, I know you are strict with yourself but this is your home, just as you said and if I was in your place, I would do the things I used to do when I was alive. Being broody and full of malice every day must be hard but at least set yourself free."
Li Yuxi reluctantly took hold of his right hand and squeezed them a bit. She eyed their hands, noticing the contrast between them before meeting his eyes.
"Zhao Ling, you once told me that you will end up becoming human again if you find your body or you'll end up in your paradise, depending on how your mission ends. Why don't you make memories with these moments you have?"
She waited to hear what he had to say when he looked to the side in thought. In her head, she prayed that he agreed as she needed to distract herself and also to make the ghost tolerable when he was around her. There was no use for them being unfriendly with one another when they were bound together until she grew old.
"You are such a stubborn mortal," Zhao Ling said, making her grin. "There is no way I can win against your petty attempts or arguing with me. You are even more stubborn than my royal subjects who used to fight with me before my death."
The sound of his tone made her believe he was accepting what she offered.
"So… are you going to swim with me?" She asked, bringing their hands close to her chin. "Please, Zhao Ling. Just say yes… I promise it'll be fun."
"Pfft." He rolled his eyes. "What fun will I gain from this when I cannot even feel wet from the water? But because you will not let me hear the end of this, I accept."
Li Yuxi let go of his hand to clap and wrap her arms around him in a brief hug before walking past him to stand close to the pond.
"I will turn around for you to change," he said.
Li Yuxi hummed in the affirmative and quickly took off her clothes, leaving her lace bra and thong on. She nibbled on her lip when she realized the depth of what they were about to do. Even though she was self-conscious of her body, she did not know how she would act with a naked ghost in an ancient pond with her.
"Are you finished?" He asked.
"Let me go into the water then you can join me."
Li Yuxi took a deep breath and dipped the tip of her foot into the water. She shuddered a bit from how cold it was before stepping into the water. The water stopped above her knee and the feel of slippery pebbles tickled her feet before she sat in the water.
A sigh escaped her mouth when the cool water caressed her skin, making her feel a sense of relaxation. She splashed the water against her cleavage which was slightly visible in the water and then on her face, cooling her head.
"You can take off your clothes now, Prince Zhao Ling," she said, teasing him.
Zhao Ling made a noise in his throat in response before he turned. A blush tainted her cheeks when his gaze went to her face first before she saw his eyes shift to her chest and when he looked away, she bit her lip, feeling shy.
"Um. Close your eyes."
Li Yuxi eyed him incredulously, scanning his body from head to toe.
"What are you even hiding?"
"I am still a prince and I deserve privacy… unless you are curious to see my—"
"Bla, bla, bla! I don't want to hear it. Just take off your stupid clothes!" She waved her hands before using them to cover her eyes.
Li Yuxi heard him chuckle, followed by the ruffling of clothes. She heard him grunt softly and heard the sound of clothes dropping. After two minutes, she heard his legs brushing through the water. A few seconds after, she jumped slightly when she felt his feet touch hers.
"You can open your eyes now."
Li Yuxi sighed and dropped her hands. Her breath caught in her lungs when she saw his naked chest first. It was broad with muscular planes, pecs, and defined abs. She swallowed as her eyes traveled from his chest to his broad shoulders and his slightly thick and muscular biceps. His long hair was out of its tied knot and rested on some parts of his chest and his back. Her eyes went to his face and found his eyes on hers.
"Do you like what you see, my little mortal?"
Li Yuxi felt a dull throb between her legs from his words and wiggled a little on the spot. She fluttered her gaze away for a second before meeting his eyes, prepared to give him a taste of his medicine.
"What if I do?" She asked, her voice low and soft.
Li Yuxi smirked when she saw his expression become flustered for a few seconds before they turned coy.
"Did you set a trap for me? Just so you could ogle me?"
Li Yuxi chuckled. "I don't think there's anything on you that I want to ogle. You are just an ordinary ghost. What's there to look at or even make me feel some type of way?"
Zhao Ling smirked. "Is that so?"
Nothing was said for three seconds as Li Yuxi waited to hear what he had to say next. When she opened her mouth to speak again, he appeared in front of her, pinning her body against the stone wall of the pond. His buff arms were caging her between the wall and his body. She could feel his hips resting slightly on her right side.
When she looked into his eyes with lowered lids, she found herself leaning a bit closer to his face. His open-mouthed smirk added to his physical appeal and it made her more flustered.
"Does this ghost make you feel anything now? Do I have to make you feel my body completely? I may not care about anything except for the anger burning in me but that will not stop me from proving a point," Zhao Ling whispered against her face.
Li Yuxi wiggled a little under him and pressed her palm against his chest. His skin was dry as if he was not in the water, fascinating her. Slowly, she moved her hand to the left side of his chest.
"What point can you prove when your heart doesn't even beat?" She whispered back and leaned a little forward, almost touching his parted lips.
Zhao Ling hummed. "I do not know what is going on in that little head of yours but… do not make me do something dangerous."
Li Yuxi bit her lip when the spot between her legs ached from the sensuality of their position and his words. He was right, in her head, she wanted him. Even though the idea seemed unethical, she wanted him because she craved to be touched, and loved and to be made to feel good. Lee Qiang couldn't and she was pulled to a ghost who felt nothing but anger and hate— She simply was craving him.
"What if I want something dangerous," Li Yuxi whispered and cupped his neck. "If you want to prove something, why don't you prove it right here and now, stupid ghost."
The darkness in Zhao Ling's eyes mirrored hers and she could feel her skin getting warm against his cold ones, heightening the sensual feeling flowing through her body.
"You are such a—"
Li Yuxi shut him up by pressing her lips on his, embracing her desires once and for all.