He rearranged his expression, mocking her.
"Look at you, so scared. Do you think I'd eat you?"
"Wouldn't you?" Tang Xiaomin shot back.
Her gaze towards him became wary.
Her meager skills were enough to bully the weak, but under his gaze, she had no room to resist.
Just then, the waiter returned with the shopping bags.
"Sir, here are your clothes. Please take care."
Yan Jue took the bag from the waiter. After a moment, he turned back to coax Tang Xiaomin.
He put an arm around her shoulder and led her out.
"I was just teasing you. Why take it so seriously?"
If it weren't for his girlfriend, he would be no different from a monk. It would be a disgrace to admit it.
"You're mine sooner or later anyway. I don't mind waiting two years for you."
Tang Xiaomin's face remained dark the entire way until they reached their reserved room, a wooden cabin complete with all necessary facilities.
Connected to the cabin was a steaming hot spring, separated only by a glass door. The spring was further protected by a wall for privacy.
Tang Xiaomin remained sulking, sitting defiantly on the sofa.
He had tried to coax her all the way, but to no avail.
Yan Jue changed his clothes first. When he came out, he was only wearing a white towel around his waist.
His toned upper body was exposed, his eight-pack abs clearly defined, exuding a sense of strength and security.
Scars of varying sizes dotted his skin, adding an intangible air of danger and authority that commanded respect without a word.
He spoke gently to Tang Xiaomin, "I'm going to soak in the hot spring. If you don't trust me, you don't have to come."
He added finally, "Chicken."
"You..."
As Tang Xiaomin bristled with anger, the man opened the door, yanked off the towel, and jumped into the hot spring with a splash.
Angrily, Tang Xiaomin stepped forward to confront him.
"Who are you calling a chicken?"
The man surfaced from the water and reached out mischievously towards Tang Xiaomin, who stood on the bank, attempting to grab her leg.
The moment he touched her, Tang Xiaomin jumped back, evading his grasp.
Seeing this, Yan Jue let out another helpless laugh.
"See? You're still calling yourself not a chicken. You're terrified of me."
"It seems I'll have to enjoy this comfortable hot spring all by myself."
Ignoring Tang Xiaomin's darkening expression, Yan Jue picked up the prepared wine by the side, poured himself a glass, and began to enjoy the hot spring.
Even though she knew it was Yan Jue's usual ploy, Tang Xiaomin couldn't resist the urge to prove she wasn't a coward.
It was rather foolish.
Still nursing her anger, she went to change into the swimsuit Yan Jue had picked out for her.
She then donned a bathrobe, wrapped herself tightly, and slowly walked towards the hot spring.
Yan Jue merely glanced at her before turning back to pour more wine.
He acted as if he were completely uninterested in Tang Xiaomin.
His indifference struck a blow to Tang Xiaomin's female pride.
He was a master of pretense; one could easily be fooled by him.
Tang Xiaomin cursed him silently, "You rotten man!"
She yanked off her bathrobe and, with a splash, jumped straight into the water.
The sensation of being enveloped by warm water made Tang Xiaomin let out a comfortable sigh.
"Ah... this feels so good."
Their eyes met. Yan Jue smiled knowingly and moved towards Tang Xiaomin.
Tang Xiaomin said warily, "What are you doing? Keep your distance."
Yan Jue replied, "The water's a bit cold over here. I'm moving to a warmer spot."
"Nonsense! How can one part of the same pool be cold?"
Tang Xiaomin shouted furiously. She was truly furious today.
Yan Jue handed Tang Xiaomin a cup of warmed wine and came to her side. He shared words he had held back for a long time.
"They said the Supreme Commander must attend the meeting to preside over the situation."
Tang Xiaomin, who had been feeling annoyed, became serious upon hearing this.
"In that case, do I still need to act?"
"This meeting is close-up. If we slip up, what if we're exposed? What if we mess it up?"
Tang Xiaomin's concerns were precisely Yan Jue's.
The Ten Yama Kings were familiar with the Commander. The last time he fought them, he had weakened them.
Therefore, they had no time to scrutinize the details.
This time, it was different. It was a close-up meeting, and interaction would be unavoidable.
One lie often requires more lies to support it.
"Minmin, are you afraid?" Yan Jue asked.
Afraid, not entirely. At worst, they would fight, and everyone would rely on their own abilities to decide the victor.
However, this would only make things worse.
"The risk of being discovered is very high, but if we don't go, it's as good as admitting guilt."
This put them in a position where they had no choice but to act.
As Tang Xiaomin was contemplating, Yan Jue's hand subtly wrapped around her arm.
Indeed, when she was lost in thought, she would overlook him.
With soft warmth in his embrace, these few days were unlike any other.
It was simply because they were both wearing so little, their clothes almost negligible.
"Minmin, I will never let you be in danger. Do you trust me?"
She knew he would stand in front of her, protecting her at all costs, just as he always had.
"But the Ten Yama Kings are not easy to deal with, especially Yan Jun. He's the most troublesome."
Tang Xiaomin's worries were evident on her face.
Yan Jue held her tighter and comforted her.
"Don't worry. Just attend the meeting with me. Leave the rest to me."
As he spoke, he winked confidently.
The man was already handsome, his alluring appearance made Tang Xiaomin's heart flutter.
Especially when he shamelessly leaned closer. In the warm water, all her senses seemed to amplify.
"You... why are you squeezing me? There's plenty of space. Move away."
Having finally coaxed her here, how could he give up so easily?
"Minmin, do you hear that?"
"Hear what?"
"The sound of my heartbeat. It makes me truly feel what it's like to love you."
"Minmin..."
He tossed aside his wine glass, freeing his hands to pull her into his embrace.
Their eyes met, and under an irresistible impulse, he lowered his head and kissed her slightly parted lips.
This was not a fleeting kiss like usual. It was intensely aggressive and possessive, a desperate attempt to claim her as his own.
Tang Xiaomin sensed Yan Jue's unusual behavior and frantically pushed against his chest with her hands, trying to shove him away.
But he lost his usual restraint and did not let her succeed.
He deepened the kiss dominantly, tightening his hold on her, leaving her no possibility of escape.