Chapter 55: A Night of Dreams—Where Am I?
Liang Xiaoluo tightly shut her eyes, reluctantly allowing Ye Tianlin to help her dress. After a while, she timidly asked, "Is… is it done yet?"
A pause later, Ye Tianlin's voice broke the silence.
"All done. I'm heading out now," he teased, clearly amused by her embarrassment.
Annoyed yet flustered, Liang Xiaoluo shoved him away, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Liang Xiaoluo, we're not finished yet. Come, try this one next," Ye Tianlin said with a mischievous grin. Since leaving the Ye family home, his behavior had become increasingly unrestrained, as though he was deliberately flaunting his antics.
Dragged back into the dressing room, Liang Xiaoluo shrank into a corner, her face flushed.
"What are you cowering for? I won't bite," Ye Tianlin said, his smirk devilish.
"Get lost, you…" Liang Xiaoluo was at a loss for words, her face burning with anger and humiliation.
It was a full fifteen minutes before the dressing room door finally opened.
Liang Xiaoluo stormed out, her cheeks burning red as she hugged herself tightly. Behind her, Ye Tianlin followed with a satisfied expression, clearly pleased with the spectacle they had just created.
Ye Tianlin was delighted—this was exactly what he wanted. He intended for the world to see, including Hua Lin and Nan Shaojie.
Grinning smugly, he stepped forward and wrapped his arm around Liang Xiaoluo's waist, pulling her close.
"Where to next?" he asked.
"No more! I want to go home!" Liang Xiaoluo snapped, slapping his hand away.
If they continued shopping, who knew what other embarrassing stunts he would pull?
"I'm hungry. I didn't even get to eat back at the house. Come eat with me," Ye Tianlin said nonchalantly, reattaching himself to her side. His tone carried a subtle threat that made Liang Xiaoluo grit her teeth and reluctantly agree.
As they walked through the mall, Ye Tianlin's striking good looks turned heads wherever they went. Women ogled him openly, their gazes filled with admiration and envy. By contrast, they looked at Liang Xiaoluo with jealousy and disdain.
Unfazed by their stares, Liang Xiaoluo focused solely on finding a way to escape.
"What about heading back after we eat?" she asked, glancing up at Ye Tianlin cautiously.
"Already thinking of leaving?" he asked, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
Realizing that returning to his domain could be even worse, Liang Xiaoluo quickly backtracked. "No… I mean, I'd like to shop a little longer."
"Fine, but let's eat first," Ye Tianlin said decisively.
"Okay," Liang Xiaoluo murmured. In truth, she was hungry—she hadn't eaten much since last night.
"That's the spirit," Ye Tianlin said, leaning in to kiss her forehead before taking her hand and leading her toward a nearby food street.
The couple's public display of affection continued to attract attention, and Liang Xiaoluo felt increasingly uncomfortable. She tried subtly pulling away to create some distance, but Ye Tianlin wasn't having it.
"What are you doing? I'm your man," he said, tightening his grip on her hand. "Remember, from today onwards, I'm your one and only."
"Got it," Liang Xiaoluo replied weakly, feeling utterly defeated. A man like him was the last thing she wanted, even if he came gift-wrapped.
"What do you want to eat?" Ye Tianlin asked, his gaze scanning the various food stalls lining the street.
Lost in her own thoughts, Liang Xiaoluo failed to hear him. Her eyes lingered on a particular stall, memories of visiting the same place with Nan Shaojie flooding her mind.
"Liang Xiaoluo, did you hear me? What do you want to eat?" Ye Tianlin's voice sharpened with irritation.
"Huh?" Startled, Liang Xiaoluo snapped out of her daze and turned to find Ye Tianlin glaring at her, his dark eyes burning with impatience.
"What did you say?" she asked sheepishly.
"I asked what you want to eat," he repeated, visibly restraining his temper.
"I'm not hungry. You go ahead," she said dismissively, hoping to avoid further confrontation.
Veins bulged on Ye Tianlin's forehead as his frustration mounted. "I hate eating alone. It ruins my mood."
"Well… I could sit and watch you eat. Is that okay?" she suggested, steering him toward a nearby stall with two empty seats.
"Boss, we'd like to order," she called out flatly.
Ye Tianlin studied her silently, his gaze unreadable.
As their food arrived, he continued to stare at her intently, making her squirm in discomfort.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked, frowning.
"Are you thinking about someone else?" he asked, his tone low and dangerous.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she quickly denied it. "What are you talking about? Who would I be thinking about?"
"Better not be," he muttered, though suspicion lingered in his eyes.
"Just eat already," Liang Xiaoluo said, rolling her eyes. Spending so much time with Ye Tianlin had made her slightly less afraid of his temper, though his unpredictable nature still unnerved her.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, Ye Tianlin spoke again. "Aren't you going to feed me?"
"What?" Liang Xiaoluo glared at him. "Your hands aren't broken. Feed yourself!"
His demand brought back memories of the times she had shared meals with Nan Shaojie, and her mood soured further.
Ye Tianlin's jaw tightened, his dark eyes narrowing dangerously. "Liang Xiaoluo, you'll regret talking to me like that."
Sensing the storm brewing, Liang Xiaoluo sighed in defeat. "Fine. If I feed you, will you stop being so difficult?"
Smirking, Ye Tianlin didn't reply, but his expression made it clear that she had no other choice.
Grumbling under her breath, Liang Xiaoluo picked up a spoon, carefully scooped some food, and brought it to his lips.
Ye Tianlin ate with exaggerated satisfaction, then leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek.
"Stop that!" she hissed, pulling away.
"I like obedient women," he said with a smirk.
Liang Xiaoluo froze, her body tense with unease.
Satisfied, Ye Tianlin leaned in closer, taking every opportunity to steal kisses between bites.