"Like what?" She rested her elbows on the table and placed her chin in her palms.

He continued to look at her pensively for a few more moments before blinking slowly. His face seemed to soften as it often did these days when he looked at her. She bit her lip as his eyes searched hers.

"Alright, here comes my moment of openness that we are working on."

Excitement bubbled in her.

"I'm listening," she encouraged.

"The honest answer is that I think about you… all the time. Every day, maybe even every moment at the back of my mind. I'm just always thinking about you. Maybe it's in the smallest of ways, but you are always there." He gulped. "I think about you in every decision I make. Or just now, when you laughed, I was thinking about how I could make you do that again."

'Oh my.'

"You have the brightest smile, did you know that? Your nose scrunches up and your eyes sparkle and it's the cutest fucking thing I have ever seen in my life."

Qian Meng had to admit that it was hard to breathe at that moment. But she inhaled sharply. That was not what she was expecting him to say. What was she supposed to respond to that?

"Oh…" He didn't seem to notice her response.

"I often wonder if I am keeping you back from living to the fullest. I want to see you dance. I know you love that," he confessed. "Sometimes, you'll shimmy around when you are in the bathroom or wandering around the room. You even do it during your skincare routine."

"You notice me a lot…" She couldn't believe it.

"Too open?" he asked. He was clearly wary.

She shook her head. "Of course, not. You could never be too open with me. It's just fascinating. Who would have thought you could be such a romantic?"

He raised a brow. "I am not. Well, I have never been romantic before," he admitted. "I'm just being honest. If what I am saying is romantic, I guess it is something you bring out in me."

Qian Meng thought about it for a moment. She seemed to remember something her grandmother used to say when she was really young. While her parents weren't the ideal couple, her maternal grandparents were a different thing. She would tell Qian Meng stories of her grandfather. And she always said that she didn't fall in love with him for who he was. She fell in love because of who she was when she was with him.

Mo Qingchen's words and feelings with her were new for him.

How could he randomly hit her with these honest moments that made her swoon? He was so different now and she couldn't help but wonder if it was happy the way he acted when he was with her than when he was without her beside him.

Another thing her grandmother said came to her. She hadn't understood it until she realized she was experiencing it with Mo Qingchen.

He had exhibited this behavior several times, in big and small ways. From making her drinks every morning to driving her around, making sure to destroy everyone who could harm her… Mo Qingchen had shown her that he thought of her before he thought of himself.

It was a big realization. She didn't have to wonder if Mo Qingchen was feeling what she was for him. She already knew.

"What I wouldn't give to read your mind right now," he muttered.

"What?" she asked, finally snapping out of her thoughts as she looked back over at him.

"You look like you are in deep thought. Care you share?"

She bit her lip. "You know how I always complain that you are hard to figure out? But I think I am starting to." Her eyes twinkled with delight.

"Starting to figure me out?"

"Yeah!"

"Oh?" He laughed. "Should I test you?"

"I only understood a little," she smiled. "But a little bit at a time is good. No tests."

Qian Meng finished off the rest of her drink and glanced at Mo Qingchen's to find it empty.

"Should we order more?" he asked.

"I'm okay for now. I actually want to take a walk to digest all this food," she answered, gesturing towards the street.

"Let's go, then," he urged. He looked over at the bodyguard. He looked like he was done.

Qian Meng followed his eyes and remembered. "It's my treat. I pulled you away from your leisure time, so." She gave him a blinding smile. It seemed to have no effect on the man.

"Don't smile at people like that," Qinchen advised.

"Why?"

"I don't want to fend off men with a stick. It was already hard to get married to you," he joked.

"His expression didn't even change. You don't need to worry. I think my charm only works on you," she whispered in a conspiratorial tone. He scoffed and shook his head.

"Let's go." He didn't want to tell her that most people hid their emotions really well and only she couldn't see how mean turned to look at her all the time.

- - - - -

They were in their room and Qian Meng looked out towards the pool longingly. "I want to check out the water in the pool. I didn't get to enjoy it when I jumped in after you," she said.

Mo Qingchen looked at his watch and nodded. "Go ahead. I'm sure the water will feel great. It's already been an hour since you ate, so you can take a swim."

Qian Meng snickered. "You're talking like a grandpa. Come with me, let's change."

Qian Meng went through her luggage and found the bikini she had brought for herself. She had thought she would be alone, so she picked out a bright orange bikini. She could imagine Mo Qingchen's horror at the color and had to smile as she put it on.

Just as she was about to tie the halter top around her neck, Mo Qingchen emerged from the bathroom in black swim shorts.