"I'm scared, okay? Can we not?" she implored, coquettishly wrapping her arms around his neck.
Jin Huan, noticing Ji Yan's increasingly troubled gaze, quickly realized that her actions might be adding fuel to the fire. She obediently closed her eyes and embraced him, feigning death once again.
What Ji Yan thought in his heart remained unknown, but ultimately, he respected her wishes and together, they fell into a peaceful sleep.
Only after his breathing steadied did her beautiful tea-brown eyes slowly open.
Jin Huan was not the least bit sleepy; her abilities had been unlocked but one.
The ability to halt time was too weak, like now, she wished to open the curtains just a bit, but couldn't—the remote was on his side.
Too lazy to get up and fearing she might wake him, she closed her eyes again only to open them moments later. Being human was too difficult—why the need for sleep...
Sighing, she thought once she had gathered more energy and completely deceived Ji Yan, then she could entertain herself, perhaps play Plants vs. Zombies all night, chuckling at the thought.
Actually, sleeping was the quickest way to spread patterns across the Shen Huan beads, but Jin Huan was having second thoughts; she was always too delicate to handle any discomfort.
Whoever made her uncomfortable, she made sure they suffered tenfold, a hundredfold more.
For now, she could only cling to Ji Yan and absorb energy, otherwise, this long night would be unbearable.
...
The sun rose.
"Morning," his voice still husky from sleep.
"Morning, Ji Yan."
He said nothing more, merely burrowing further under the covers.
Thirsty upon waking, he wanted a drink.
The orange energy intensified, doubling the sensation, making her call out Ji Yan's name with her toes curled in anticipation.
His Adam's apple bobbed as if he was swallowing something.
After a while, he emerged from the covers, his lips stained with milk.
Ji Yan, in her presence, licked it away.
Jin Huan knew exactly when to act shy and when to maintain her composure, naturally adept at siphoning energy from men.
Like now, her slight trembling, biting her lip, cheeks flushed with a rosy tint, how could Ji Yan not adore her? Every day he indulged deeper into the abyss.
"Huan'er, I love you," his words increasingly laden with possessive undertones.
Jin Huan lazily nestled in his embrace, soft and delicate, reproaching him: "Ji Yan, you're so naughty, it hurts every time."
"I'm sorry, I'll be gentler next time, okay?"
"Okay."
Ji Yan helped her dress, put on high heels, and carried her to wash up and brush her teeth.
He even applied her lipstick.
He loved Jin Huan too much, addicted to her, to the color on her lips, to the way the lipstick smeared when he kissed her, to her coquettish cries calling out to him, he was utterly bewitched.
Jin Huan, now with a phone, understood more about this era every day, at least so far, she could even use some of the internet's popular phrases.
And he was witnessing her growth.
Ji Yan's mother called, suggesting hiring a housekeeper, but Ji Yan disagreed, wanting only Jin Huan with him, no housekeeper, not even a female one.
He took the young girl out to eat.
This was a trendy restaurant, decorated in a Brazilian style.
In front there was a large screen that used to show sports events, but today, for some reason, it was displaying a finance talk show.
The host asked the expert about the death of Qiao Yuan, the country's wealthiest man.
The expert casually began, "As everyone knows, Mr. Qiao Yuan lived to the age of 129. It's said that when Mr. Qiao died, he was clutching a small wooden plaque..."
Ji Yan noticed Jin Huan wasn't focusing on her meal, instead staring intently at the screen: "Huan'er, eat your food before it gets cold."
"Okay."
Jin Huan picked at the more flavorful dishes a few times, then continued to watch the screen.
She was multitasking, glancing at Ji Yan's neck, realizing she hadn't made him a small wooden plaque yet.
Every Shen Huan bead, when it starts to form patterns, spawns a small wooden block, useful for warding off evil or so—it's quite effective, the higher the level, the more powerful. According to her past practice, she would carve various wooden items for the person associated with each Shen Huan bead.
Usually, she made small plaques because they were convenient.
Out of 100 men, about 95 would receive a small plaque—think about that for a moment.
"Huan'er, do you want to go to school?" Ji Yan had made her an ID card for an 18-year-old, with her birthday listed as June 10th, the day they met.
An 18-year-old girl should have just finished her exams and be preparing for university.
Jin Huan laughed, not mentioning her recent understanding of this era's systems; even in the past, girls' schools were hard to enter, but now it was likely even more stringent.
After all, the distinguished Miss Shen had always been top of her class in the best mission schools—who was it that got her in back then?
Hmm, she couldn't quite remember, only that the city's thugs were his to command, a mere word from him ensured no one dared deny her admission. With guns to back it up, everyone had to treat her like royalty once inside.
But that person was a powerhouse then, and Ji Yan probably couldn't manage that.
"Nowadays, you have to take exams to get into schools, and I hear even pulling strings won't get you in," her tone leisurely.
"The Ji family has ties with some schools, I can manage."
"I only want to attend the best school here." If Shen Jin Huan was going to enroll, it had to be the best, the finest things in the world should naturally come to her.
She wouldn't consider an average school!
Ji Yan was momentarily stunned but had to admit she made sense—yes, she deserved the best of everything, even schooling.
"So,"
"Do you want me to go to school?"
"Not really, I just, I'm afraid you might get bored later, I can't be with you every day because of work."
Jin Huan chuckled lightly, she wouldn't get bored, plenty were willing to keep her company.
But she wouldn't say that out loud.
"I can go out shopping and eat by myself." She felt that if she were left in a street food area, she could eat all day and wouldn't need a man at all.
Ji Yan pursed his lips; she was too beautiful.
He was so possessive that even the thought of hiring an extra housekeeper made him jealous; her going out alone, like yesterday at KFC, being asked out by strange men?
But schooling was different; he could arrange to pick her up, keeping her somewhat within his safe zone would calm his nerves a bit more.
"I—"
He was about to say something when a waiter suddenly brought over a beautifully crafted drink.
Both were startled; Ji Yan hadn't ordered this, but Jin Huan was captivated by the pretty colors. She wanted to taste it, regardless of how it might taste, it looked good!
"I don't think I ordered this?" Ji Yan spoke to the waiter.