Xia Liuyue didn't even have time to speak before he pushed her into the fitting room, picking up the white mermaid wedding dress on the far left as he did.
With the heavy thud of the fitting room door closing.
The atmosphere in the confined space instantly grew much more intimate.
Xia Liuyue wasn't flustered at all, instead feeling somewhat annoyed. "Little brother, you're too rough."
"Then, does big sister like it?"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Zhao Yunzhou lifted her by the waist and placed her on the storage counter. The floor-length mirror reflected their overlapping figures.
Xia Liuyue narrowed her eyes slightly and said slowly, "My wedding ceremony with Yan Hechuan is next week."
Zhao Yunzhou leaned closer, his head resting against her pale neck, taking a gentle sniff.
"I know I'm not the groom, but I can be big sister's lover, right?"
His peach-blossom eyes sparkled with a mischievous glint.
Xia Liuyue opened her mouth, about to say something, when he leaned down and pressed against her, hands braced on either side, his warm, moist kiss descending.
"Mmm... Are you a robber?"
"Someone else already gets to act spoiled with big sister, so I'll be a little bad to you instead, okay?"
His kisses trailed from the corner of her lips down along her neck. His other hand snaked up her spine and downwards, finding the zipper.
"Riiip—"
The sound of teeth against fabric echoed as Xia Liuyue's short skirt was pulled down.
"It's cold," she frowned.
"Don't worry, you'll warm up once you put on the wedding dress after feeling cold for a bit."
Zhao Yunzhou spoke as if coaxing a child, then removed her jacket, revealing the white camisole with thin straps underneath.
His fingertips landed on her collarbone, tracing back and forth.
The corner of his mouth lifted as he said,
"Big sister, be good."
"Let me help you put on the wedding dress, okay?"
"Come on, turn around, raise your arms."
Just as Xia Liuyue began to turn slightly, Zhao Yunzhou embraced her from behind, his arms tightly encircling her, his head resting on her shoulder.
The warm breath escaping his lips brushed against the tip of her ear.
"Weren't we putting on the wedding dress?" Xia Liuyue asked.
"I was afraid big sister was cold, so I'm warming you up first." Zhao Yunzhou's narrow eyes lifted slightly, a pleased smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Alright now?" she urged.
"Wait a little longer, big sister's hands are still icy."
Zhao Yunzhou held her close, his broad hands enveloping Xia Liuyue's palms, their fingers intertwining. He nibbled her earlobe and whispered,
"Does Yan Hechuan hold big sister's hand like this too?"
"Does it feel better when I hold it, hmm?"
"Big sister, I'm better than him."
That damn male competitiveness.
A slight smile finally curved Xia Liuyue's lips; she was playing with fire too.
"Haven't tried, so I wouldn't know if you're better or not."
A triumphant smile spread across Zhao Yunzhou's lips. He lowered his voice, his exhaled breath hot against her earlobe, trailing down to her collarbone.
A dense, lingering sensation.
"Then, big sister, why don't you give it a try, okay?"
"We still have to try on the wedding dress," Xia Liuyue said, pointing at the pitiful mermaid dress discarded on the floor.
The darkness in Zhao Yunzhou's eyes deepened. "We can try both."
"..."
This 'trying' lasted two or three hours.
When they left the bridal shop, Xia Liuyue's legs were so weak that Zhao Yunzhou carried her out in his arms.
The shop owner looked somewhat startled and asked, "Did you see any wedding dress you liked?"
A sweet smile blossomed on Zhao Yunzhou's lips.
"My big sister looks beautiful in all of those wedding dresses. We'll take them all."
"Ah, okay, sure..." The shop owner's eyes lit up; this was a huge order.
Of course, when they returned to the Golden Junwan hillside villa, Yan Hechuan saw through the situation at a glance.
Xia Liuyue had originally thought the two men were going to come to blows. Who would have thought Yan Hechuan would stride forward and gently take her from Zhao Yunzhou's arms?
He said to Zhao Yunzhou, displeased, "Your actions were too rough. Yueyue's skin bruises easily."
Zhao Yunzhou rubbed his nose and muttered,
"I'm just young and full of vigor, hard to control. Not like you, an old man, probably limited on time."
Yan Hechuan listened calmly, his emotions steady. "Do I need to put you on the banned guest list for the wedding day?"
Only then did Zhao Yunzhou back down.
Putting on an act, he said, "Brother Yan, I was wrong."
Yan Hechuan gave a light hum. "Go on back. I need to apply medicine for Yueyue."
Looking thoroughly satisfied, Zhao Yunzhou waved his hand and left with light steps.
Nestled in Yan Hechuan's arms, Xia Liuyue reached out a finger and poked his cheek, whispering, "Why aren't you angry?"
A flicker of jealousy passed through Yan Hechuan's narrow phoenix eyes.
But he restrained it, lowering his stance, his eyes fixed on her seriously as he said,
"I know Yueyue likes me best, and that's enough."
"Zhao Yunzhou is just a diversion, to keep Yueyue from getting bored, right?"
What else could Xia Liuyue say? She pinched his cheek again, smiled faintly, and nodded.
"Of course, I love Hechuan the most."
"As for that bratty little brother Zhao Yunzhou, I'm just playing around with him."
"I'll definitely come home when I'm done playing."
A pleased smile lifted the corner of Yan Hechuan's mouth. 'Home'—this meant Yueyue already recognized this villa as their home.
Wonderful.
In the future, he, Yueyue, and their children would live here together.
As for that bratty kid Zhao Yunzhou, he could live in building three.
Gently placed on the large bed in the bedroom, Yan Hechuan bent down to fetch the first aid kit, taking out bruise ointment and cotton swabs.
His gaze fell on the blue and purple marks covering Xia Liuyue's body.
His tone was calm as he said,
"Yueyue, let me apply the ointment for you."
"There are some places you can't reach yourself, so... let me help you change into a bathrobe first."
Xia Liuyue nodded. "Okay."
Yan Hechuan walked to the bedside, gently gathered her jet-black hair to one side, then removed her jacket, skirt, and camisole.
His gaze was tender as he draped the white bathrobe over her and tied the sash.
"All done."
Xia Liuyue felt she had truly judged a gentleman by her own petty standards.
She had actually thought Yan Hechuan might try something while undressing her on purpose.
She never expected him to simply put the bathrobe on her properly.
"Yueyue, lie down. I'll apply the medicine."
Yan Hechuan carefully arranged the pillow and patted it.
"Okay." Xia Liuyue lay down, her long, ink-black hair spilling across the white sheets like spilled ink.
Yan Hechuan squeezed some of the bruise ointment onto a cotton swab and began applying it carefully and slowly. Then he paused and said,
"This cotton swab doesn't seem to spread it well."
"I'll use my hand. Yueyue, you don't mind, do you?"
Xia Liuyue was feeling rather tired. Once she lay down, a light, floating sensation came over her, and she instinctively hummed in agreement.
With Yan Hechuan, she felt completely at ease.
Warm fingertips, coated with milky-white ointment, spread it over her bruised skin, bringing wave after wave of cool sensation.
Xia Liuyue closed her eyes comfortably.
First her arms.
Then her legs.
But gradually, as the application continued, Xia Liuyue sensed something was off.
Where was that hand going?!
Xia Liuyue suddenly opened her eyes and let out a soft hum. "Hechuan, what are you doing?"
One of Yan Hechuan's hands had suddenly slid to her waist, deftly undoing the bathrobe's sash.
The tightly wrapped bathrobe fell open.
He leaned down over her, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
His low voice resonated.
"My answer is."
"Yueyue."
