Without waiting for her answer, Mu Ling pulled her toward his car. "How about I drop you off at your place?" he suggested, though the way he dragged her toward his car made it clear he wasn't asking.
"Fifth Master!" Fu Rong protested, struggling to free herself. "I can handle it by myself. Let go of my hand."
Mu Ling, unaffected by her protest, opened the passenger door and gently pushed her inside. "You've already used me once today. You might as well ask me to take you back home," he said with a smile on his face. He then walked around to the driver's seat and got in.
Fu Rong was about to snap back, but before she could, Mu Ling leaned toward her, reaching for the seatbelt. Instinctively, she leaned back, her entire body tensing at his closeness.
He chuckled softly as he buckled her in. "Miss Fu, why are you so afraid of me? You're fearless in front of ghosts, yet you act like I'm the one who's going to haunt you."
Fu Rong clenched her jaw, her heart pounding. She didn't dare meet his gaze, choosing instead to look out the window. "You're... different," she muttered under her breath, though she wasn't sure if he heard.
Mu Ling leaned back into his seat, watching her for a moment longer before starting the car. The engine purred to life, and they drove in silence. The exhaustion from the day's events began to weigh heavily on Fu Rong, and despite herself, her eyelids drooped. The steady hum of the car, combined with the warmth of the seat, lulled her into a deep sleep.
Mu Ling cast a glance at her figure sleeping and a smile appeared on his lips. Her cheeks, which had been warm in color not long ago, were now calm. He took of his coat and put it on her carefully, making sure that she was warm.
"Foolish girl," he murmured to himself, his eyes softening as he watched her.
The streets outside grew darker as they approached Fu Rong's address. Mu Ling slowed the car as they reached her apartment complex. He glanced at the building, then back at Fu Rong. She was still sound asleep, her head resting against the window. For a moment, he didn't want to wake her.
Instead, he simply sat there, watching her. In the dim light of the car, her features seemed even more delicate. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly as she dreamed, and her lips parted softly as she breathed.
Mu Ling's thoughts wandered. He was drawn to her, not just because of her beauty or strength, but something else he couldn't quite place. Something about Fu Rong stirred emotions in him he hadn't felt in a long time.
Slowly, as if he were afraid of waking her, he leaned in closer. The temptation to brush a stray strand of hair from her face was overwhelming. His hand hovered near her cheek, his heart pounding in his chest.
But before he could make a move, Fu Rong moved and opened her eyes. She turned away from him after blinking a few times in a daze as if she was still asleep. Their faces were mere inches apart now.
"What do you think you are doing?" she demanded sleepily, her voice low and her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
Mu Ling almost instantly straightened his back and tried to play it cool. "Just making sure you are comfortable"
Fu Rong kept her gaze on him for a second before rolling her eyes and getting up. "We have reached?"
Mu Ling nodded. "Yes. We've arrived."
Without another word, Fu Rong removed the coat he had draped over her and handed it back to him. "Thank you for the ride, Fifth Master," she said formally, her tone cool.
Mu Ling accepted the coat, though his gaze remained fixed on her. "Anytime, Miss Fu," he replied smoothly. As she opened the car door, his eyes followed her every move.
Fu Rong stepped out, her back straight and her expression unreadable. She gave him a quick nod before turning and walking toward her building.
Mu Ling sat in his car, staring at the entrance of Fu Rong's apartment long after she had disappeared inside. His hands rested on the steering wheel, though he made no move to start the engine. He tapped his fingers against the steering wheel, looking back towards the building Fu Rong left.
Fu Rong's flushed face, the way her body had leaned into his earlier—whether intentionally or not—played on repeat in his mind. Her soft moan, the way she had clung to him, her soft touches, lingered, igniting something primal inside him.
He had been curious about her before, yes. But tonight, when he had held her, when she had leaned into him—he had felt something stir. Something more than curiosity. And that unsettled him.
"Was it just her skills that drew me in? Or.. is it ... more?" he muttered in a voice which was barely audible to himself , almost as if he were hoping the night itself might answer him.
Fu Rong was undeniably talented, a force to be reckoned with in her exorcism abilities. That alone would make her interesting. But this… this was something else.
"She's different," he muttered to himself, shaking his head. He had seen women before, beautiful women, powerful women. But none had ever made him feel this conflicted. His emotions—if they could be so called – were hard to comprehend. He wasn't a man with sentiments. He preferred more control and clarity in his life.
But with Fu Rong, things weren't clear. And this lack of clarity frustrated him.
"Am I really... interested in her?" His voice was barely above a whisper, the weight of the realization settling over him like a storm cloud.
Was it temporary? Was it just because of the odd circumstances, or did he truly feel something for her, something a man felt for a woman? He clenched his jaw, frustrated at the uncertainty.
He sighed, leaning forward and resting his forehead against the steering wheel. "Damn it," he muttered.
"I need to figure this out," he said finally, his voice firm.