The Devil's Sleeping Beauty

"Drop me by my studio..." Xia Meilin said in almost a whisper as she looked at Lu Yifeng.

Lu Yifeng glanced at her before he looked at Zi Lin, their driver, on the rear view mirror.

Zi Lin nodded before he started driving, heading to Xia Meilin's studio.

"Thank you..." She smiled at him before she turned to look at the view outside.

"Meilin." Lu Yifeng called after a short while.

Her eyes fluttered and she turned to him. "Yes?"

"Have you forgiven me?" He looked straight in her eyes. He wanted to know her answer since she never gave it to him even if they already talked about the past.

She was surprised by his question. She turned away and lowered her head, looking at her hands that were clasped together.

Did she forgive him? Well, she stopped looking for pieces of evidence against him. She actually... didn't hate him that much anymore. She believed his words since there was no reason for him to lie, he was not the kind of person to lie, right?

Knowing him after the weeks they've been together, she can really tell that he is a decent person. "Yeah... I guess I already did."

His eyes softened as he finally got his answer. He placed his hand on top of hers. "Then, will you give me the chance to be your husband?"

She raised her head and looked at him, the gentleness in his face made her heart skip a bit. "A-aren't we already married?"

"I don't want to be your husband by name."

She avoided his gaze since she felt like it was burning through her. She could not look straight at him since it made her feel restless.

"You already know that I love you." He said in a straightforward manner. He already confessed a few nights ago but she ended up running away from him.

Xia Meilin was not like this, it was only to him that she feels so edgy. She was a calm person but whenever it came to him, she ends up being nervous.

"C-Can we... take things slow?" She finally turned to him, her face was as red as a tomato, she was feeling embarrassed at that moment. "I can't... give you my answer yet. I've always, always hated you but now... I'm starting to forgive you. But jumping to another level in our relationship all at once... I can't take it. I'm still adjusting with the things between us."

He already expected this answer from her that's why he wasn't surprised. "Okay, if that's the case, I understand."

Xia Meilin was grateful that Lu Yifeng was an understanding person and that he was willing to listen to her. Her tensed shoulders finally relaxed. "Thank you, Yifeng..."

Hearing his name from her mouth made his heart warm. It was the way she said his name, smooth and perfect. He smiled lovingly at this and his smile surprised Xia Meilin.

She stared at his gentle face in admiration. Who could have thought that this expressionless man can give such a face? He was definitely a handsome man but there was something different in his eyes.

His usual cold and blank stare would always soften up whenever he looked at his family.

His eyes were literally like the night sky. Not the void that presents itself to civilization every night, but the wondrous expanse of the universe unpolluted by street lamps and city lights. Looking into them was as fascinating as staring into the universe. He has a mini galaxy in his black eyes.

"Let's make a new start for us, shall we?"

She was brought back from her thoughts when she heard his words. He was really a good man. She was glad that she was able to meet a kind man like him.

She returned his smile, "Yes. Let's start anew."

He has the urge to kiss her when he finally saw her smile towards him. This was the first time she smiled at him and it was making him crazy. But of course, he has to control his urge or else, she might try to run away again.

Instead of a kiss, he pulled her to him and hugged him in his arms. He was so happy that she was finally accepting him. All his hard work has already borne fruits.

Xia Meilin didn't push him away, this was the first time she was willing to accept his hug and to be honest, it didn't feel bad.

Despite her racing heart, she finally found his hug comfortable. She rested her chin on his shoulder as she hugged him back.

Who knows how long they were hugging each other like that but they were finally disturbed when Zi Lin said, "Master, madam, we've arrived."

Zi Lin didn't know how to read the atmosphere around him that's why he casually broke that sweet moment.

Lu Yifeng leaned away, he took a small box from his pocket. "Before I forget, I want to give you this."

He opened the small navy blue box, revealing custom-made rings from Tiffany. One for her and one for him.

She gasped in surprise upon seeing the rings. "T... This..."

"We weren't able to have rings when we got married so I bought one for us."

He took her hand and slipped the ring on her ring finger. Flawlessly engineered, the six-prong setting virtually disappeared and allowed the brilliant three diamonds to float above the radiant 18k rose gold band.

"We're still a married couple, we need this or else everyone will start doubting if we're really married."

He wore his ring that has three small diamond engraved on the 18k rose gold band on his ring finger as well before he kept the box.

Xia Meilin couldn't help but admire the ring, it was definitely expensive.

He held her hand and kissed the ring on her finger. "I will make you fall in love with me and after I do, I will marry you again."

Her cheeks were heating up as she looked at his determined eyes.

She shyly turned away from him. "B... before that, let's start as friends."

The smile on Lu Yifeng's face became stiff when he heard what she said.