Chapter 17: Let Me Take You There
After a long moment, Yun Xinyu grew breathless, and Luo Fan released her, his gaze lingering with a haze of allure.
Yun Xinyu's face flushed crimson. She lowered her head shyly and stumbled toward the door on unsteady legs, as if still dazed.
Luo Fan smirked and followed her out.
"Where are you going? I'll take you," he asked with feigned nonchalance.
"To...Haili Hospital."
"Wait here. I'll bring the car."
He strode away briskly.
Yun Xinyu remained in a trance, everything feeling fragile as a soap bubble. With her perpetual lack of security, it seemed this fleeting beauty might dissolve at any moment.
Soon Luo Fan pulled up in his car and gestured for her to enter. When she moved to open the back door, he frowned sharply. "Front seat."
His commanding tone left no room for argument. She reluctantly slid into the passenger seat.
Luo Fan studied her with amusement. "Your face is scarlet."
Only then did she realize, hurriedly covering her cheeks. "Just drive already!"
Chuckling, he accelerated onto the road.
Yun Xinyu slowly lowered her hands. Her gaze first lingered on his slender fingers gripping the steering wheel before boldly tracing his profile - that face mirroring her dreams, with its sharp jawline, rose-petal lips, aristocratic nose, and hypnotic amber eyes.
His slightly undone collar revealed tantalizing collarbones. Even in a formal suit, he exuded reckless elegance - untamed beauty incarnate.
Noticing her rapt attention, Luo Fan tugged at his collar and rested his right hand on the center console. With his left hand steering casually, he looked every bit the effortless aristocrat.
When she finally looked away, her hand brushed his where it lay unnoticed. A jolt like electricity shot through her. She jerked back, pulse racing.
Luo Fan's lips quirked as he captured her retreating hand in his.
Yun Xinyu's heart threatened to escape her throat, cheeks burning anew. She twisted toward the window, pretending fascination with passing scenery.
Though his expression remained composed, a faint blush betrayed Luo Fan's own quickened pulse. Only after prolonged silence did he release her hand to focus on driving.
They soon reached the hospital. Yun Xinyu scrambled out with a flustered wave, cheeks still pink as she hurried inside.
Luo Fan watched her retreat, bemused.
How ironic - he'd returned demanding retribution, yet found himself disarmed. Her mere presence dissolved decade-old bitterness, eclipsing past anguish with renewed obsession.
Memories surfaced of the girl who'd stormed his world ten years prior, upending his orderly existence. She'd awakened emotions foreign to his disciplined heart - emotions now rekindled against all reason.
This woman was clearly his kryptonite. However she wronged him, one smile could erase every grievance. These years apart hadn't dimmed her memory - he'd ached for her mischievous grins, her artful glances blending innocence and cunning...
(End of Chapter)
