I See Roses

I See Roses – Chapter 42

What did he say?

Jealous?

When Liang Xian unexpectedly appeared earlier, Ming Si felt like it was a dream.

But the scene in front of her felt more real than the dream. He asked a question earlier and she answered in response.

But at this moment, that surreal feeling came back.

Ming Si reached out and slowly approached the side of his face.

Liang Xian glanced at her from the corner of his eye but didn’t move.

The next moment, there was a slap.

She felt the tangible touch of his, her fingertips could even vaguely trace the contours of his bones.

If this were a dream, it was too realistic.

Ming Si finally came back to reality. Her hand remained on his face as she blinked, “Why did you come?”

The usually bright and flamboyant peacock showed a rare confused look, appearing somewhat innocent.

Liang Xian smiled playfully and said, “You’re asking now? Isn’t it a bit late?”

His gaze fell on her hand, hesitated for a moment, and then returned to look at her. There was a hint of teasing in his eyes, “I came all the way to pick you up, and this is how you respond to my confession with a slap?”

He glanced at her hand, hesitated for a moment, and then looked back at her with a slightly teasing expression, “I traveled a long way to pick you up, yet you slapped me as your response to my confession?”

What… does that mean?

Confession?

The information in his words was too much for Ming Si to process. She was still trying to digest it when Liang Xian lightly laughed and lightly removed her hand down from his face.

He stood up, looked at the dark sky outside, then lowered his head, “Do you feel uncomfortable? Should I take you back to rest first?”

Following his gaze, Ming Si first shook her head and then nodded.

She didn’t know how to react at this moment, “I’m not uncomfortable. Please take me back.”

Leaving the lobby, the sound of the rain was unobstructed and roared like someone venting their emotions.

Raindrops struck the glass of nearby buildings with a crisp sound, almost piercing people’s eardrums.

The cold wind wrapped in icy rain blew against them, and before Ming Si could step back, Liang Xian had already taken a step and effortlessly stood in front of her.

The tall figure of the man was outlined against the leaden sky and the edge of his black windbreaker seemed to reflect a faint light.

Ming Si tilted her head slightly to look for a moment, then she saw him turn around and say, “I have a place not far from here. Shall we go there?”

She nodded, following him outside.

Whether it was due to being in a foreign country or seeing him unexpectedly in the heavy rain, Ming Si suddenly felt that Liang Xian was a bit unfamiliar.

She had never felt this way before, even during the five years of studying abroad. They only met briefly during their vacations in China, only spending a few dozen hours together.

But her impression of him remained the same as always——careless, always against her, and infuriating.

Just like in high school, Ming Si found it hard to understand the girls who fought over Liang Xian, feeling jealous and competing with each other——what was so good about this carefree and mischievous young master from head to toe?

Lin Xijia, analyzing from a neutral standpoint, had replied, “He’s handsome.”

Ming Si was speechless and choked on her words.

Indeed, Liang Xian was handsome, no doubt about it.

But she had grown up with him, familiar with his personality, and his appearance alone wasn’t enough to compensate for his difficult temperament.

At that time, Ming Si even snorted, “I won’t even want him if he were given to me.”

But…

If she were to encounter Liang Xian on the street now, although Ming Si might not say it was love at first sight, but at the very least, she would appreciate him for a little while.

As for him being given to her.

She would just pretend to reluctantly accept him, then she would have countless small fireworks exploding in her heart.

Venice’s main island was not accessible by cars, especially since the ground was already filled with deep standing water, making it difficult for vehicles to pass through.

The local residents, however, look calm and composed.

Through the heavy rain, warm lights could be seen through the windows opposite, and someone even brought out a long chair, leisurely enjoying the heavy rain.

Liang Xian handed her a pitch-black umbrella. Ming Si accepted it; the umbrella ribs were made of oak, giving it a bit of weight. However, there was only one umbrella, so she asked, “What about you?”

Liang Xian gestured toward the rain outside, “How do you plan to go back?”

The ground here is relatively low, so even a slightly larger wave during normal times would bring seawater onto the shore. Not to mention now, with the heavy rain causing the seawater to surge even more.

As one wave receded, another rose high.

Ming Si looked down at her delicate and shiny high heels. Before she could say anything, she saw Liang Xian squatting in front of her.

“I’ll carry you, one umbrella is enough.”

In the past, Ming Si’s attitude would probably be that she shouldn’t miss her chance to boss him around. But things were different now, and the moment he said he would carry her, she couldn’t help but feel complicated emotions intertwining within her; she was a little distressed for him, at the same time, a small wave of joy rose within her.

Of course, the outcome would be the same.

Liang Xian lifted her up on his back, and the umbrella canopy stretched, making a brief creaking sound.

He stepped into the accumulated water.

From this angle, Ming Si couldn’t see what was happening to his several-thousand-pound Italian handmade leather boots, but she could probably imagine it.

When those shoes appeared in her field of vision, just a while ago, in the lobby, she was a little stunned. Now, recalling that moment, she couldn’t help but smile.

He said he came to pick her up.

He also said…

“Liang Xian,” Ming Si rested her head on his back, her gaze wandered out from under the umbrella, seeing the twinkling lights in the shops through the rain. After a long time, she said, “What you just said… why didn’t I hear it?”

Her words were a bit unclear, but Liang Xian understood instantly.

He raised his foot to step on the bridge across the waterway and asked playfully, “En, what did I say?”

This person, he wasn’t sincere. He was probably just teasing her casually.

Bad guy.

Ming Si was angry and used her hand to hit his shoulder, saying, “Never mind!”

Liang Xian laughed softly, even his throat trembled slightly.

At this moment, Ming Si was holding the umbrella, so she had her other hand wrapped around him tightly, causing her wrist to accidentally touch his Adam’s apple.

She seemed to be scalded and subconsciously wanted to retract her hand.

Liang Xian spoke softly, his voice a bit hoarse, “Don’t let go.”

Probably because she was really afraid of letting go, Ming Si stopped moving.

Her fingers felt their way back to their original position. Then, she tightly grabbed his collar as if she wanted to strangle him to vent her anger.

However, after less than half a second, she loosened her grip.

Liang Xian’s steps slightly paused, and his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Both of them fell silent. Looking ahead, the world seemed dark and heavy. Raindrops hit the umbrella canopy, making a tense, crackling sound.

Being carried like this, her body felt like it didn’t belong to her anymore, and her vision was a bit dizzy and ethereal.

Ming Si had been angry for a little while when she suddenly smelled the faint woody fragrance mixed with the cold and damp air from him. It penetrated into her lungs.

She suddenly hoped selfishly that this road in front of her would be a little longer.

Although she felt reluctant, Ming Si did want to stay on Liang Xian’s back for a few more hours. But when they finally reached their destination, she was also very happy for the sake of Liang Xian.

Realizing this thought, Ming Si couldn’t help but secretly despise herself. Liang Xian, this cunning guy, didn’t admit to anything on the way, yet she was already so concerned about his physical condition.

Not at all like herself.

No, no! She couldn’t think about it anymore.

She forcefully ordered herself to stop.

It was an old-style villa with a loft, located deep in the streets and alleys, exceptionally quiet. The yard was filled with blue, purple, and orange-red flowers mixed with lush green leaves, all messed up by the raindrops. Liang Xian pushed open the iron gate of the garden, and the cold water droplets flashed, landing right on the back of her foot.

Ming Si shrank involuntarily.

They walked to the porch and, as the man put her down, she jumped in place a few times.

“Too cold?” Liang Xian glanced at her exposed calves and ankles.

Ming Si tightened her coat and didn’t forget to maintain her hostile position towards him, “Don’t look at me.”

Liang Xian chuckled lightly and opened the door.

The first floor of the villa was about 200 square meters and was in a typical Italian style. Passing by the columns, one could see soft sofas adorned with colorful cushions and blankets, with green plants stretching out their branches and even crossing over the backrests.

The walls were adorned with lion-patterned reliefs, and the faint light poured in from the windows, shining on various porcelains and bronze statues displayed on the sideboard.

Liang Xian took off his coat and casually draped it over the sofa backrest, “Rest first.”

He turned and went into the kitchen to boil water.

This villa had been uninhabited for a long time, with only regular maintenance visits once a week. As a result, it was only kept at a basic level of cleanliness but lacked a bit of liveliness.

Ming Si sat down on the sofa.

There was a floor-to-ceiling French window in the living room, and rainwater left streaks on it, making everything appear blurry.

Looking through the glass, she could vaguely see the dim sky in the distance, with countless lights illuminating the outside like flowers in bloom, while numerous bright petals were falling and sticking to the ground in the rain.

Through the sparse branches of the garden, she could still see the small boats swaying in the rain.

“What are you thinking about?” Suddenly, a large towel fell on her head. Ming Si reached out to catch the edge and took it off.

She sat in the corner of the sofa near the window and Liang Xian directly sat on the nearby armchair. His long legs stretched out casually as he slightly leaned forward, “The heating will be on a little later. Wait until it’s warm before taking a bath. First, dry your hair.”

It was him who was more drenched in the rain than her. He took off his black windbreaker; the white shirt inside was almost soaked, with water stains spreading on his shoulders, faintly outlining his figure.

Water was also dripping from his hair.

After considering it for a while, she felt that, while maintaining a hostile attitude, she should also him to be careful not to catch a cold. So she controlled her tone and said, “You should dry yourself off quickly too.”

Liang Xian responded with an En and there was a hint of a smile in his eyes, but he didn’t move.

Ming Si lifted the bath towel and absentmindedly dried her hair.

She was sheltered under the umbrella and didn’t get much rain on her, but the fierce wind wrapped in raindrops had soaked her cashmere coat. It now looked dotted with small raindrops.

After drying her hair, she put the bath towel aside, her eyes showing displeasure, “Aren’t you going to dry yourself? Do you plan to get yourself sick?”

Liang Xian chuckled lightly, extending his arm.

Ming Si subconsciously moved back. “What are you doing?”

He glanced at her and picked up the bath towel from the sofa, naturally drying his hair, “Just this one.”

Ming Si: “……”

She felt a bit embarrassed. Her subconscious reaction just now was as if she was expecting him to do something.

She looked away for a while but couldn’t help but sneak a glance at him again.

Liang Xian tilted his head slightly, casually wiped his hair, then wiped his arm, and finally placed the towel on the coffee table. His gaze met hers in the air.

He raised his eyebrows slightly, and before he could say anything, Ming Si turned her head away.

She seemed angry, appearing cold and elegant, as if she didn’t want to be bothered, but deep down, a little voice was roaring angrily: So infuriating! Why is he so composed?! That damn guy just said he was jealous a moment ago, and now he acts like nothing happened. Has he eaten enough to come and tease her?

A scum man who messes around!

I’ll give you two seconds to speak!!

Two seconds passed.

The little flame of anger in Ming Si’s heart soared higher.

She took a deep breath, ready to ask him what he meant just now, and even prepared herself to slap him.

Unexpectedly, before she could speak, Liang Xian had already stood up and walked over. He casually leaned against the back of the sofa beside her and leaned slightly forward, “Ming Si.”

“It’s very quiet now.”

This sentence was seemingly random, but it was quite bewildering. However, the way he approached her created a strong sense of oppression.

It was the first time Ming Si realized that even a light woody fragrance could give a strong sense of aggression depending on a person’s temperament.

She subconsciously moved back, looking at him cautiously, “What do you mean?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t hear it?” Liang Xian looked down at her, his eyes slightly deepening, and his voice a bit hoarse, “I like you.”