Earlston, Scotland, 18:00;

Unknown to Luo Youyou and Xi Chonglin's pernicious intents, Xi Yuan and Rong Xinghe were in a world of their own. Kissing, and teasing, and exploring one another. Loving every moment of the silence they shared, and of the intimate touches too.

Xi Yuan had long known of Rong Xinghe's obsession with books. She loved to read. To imagine a life other than the one she had. To travel without actually moving. To feel the things that couldn't be explained to realists: magic, vampires, werewolves, and ghosts. She was, truly, and from her very core, one crazy bookaholic, with certain side-effects to distractions and disturbances, one could say. Therefore, he gave her the space and liberty of quietness through the day. Not talking too much to her; enquiring about nothing but food, and medications, that was.

It was not until the evening that the girl finally stepped out of the library, searching for her dearest darling throughout the huge house. She found him, eventually, in the kitchen. He was brewing two cups of Indian tea in there, a piece of Bluetooth ear-piece attached to his left ear.

He had put on a slim-fit White shirt over Black jeans along with his funky dark Gray sneakers. And damn it, he looked stunning! It was unusual for Rong Xinghe to see him wearing anything other than his regular three-piece suits. Either those or his basic T-shirts and joggers at home. He rarely donned himself with such casuals. It was for the better, but. No other woman deserved to ogle at this sexy side of his, her being the exception, of course.

"Buy her some Jewelry or something, Yuan.", Li Jungah advised her son excitedly, "Make her feel special."

"I don't think that would be necessary.", Xi Yuan said as he waited for the tea to boil in the milk pan, "Just keep an eye on Uncle and Aunty for a while, alright?"

"Don't worry about that.", Li Jungah answered, her tone firm, "I will not let anyone ruin my son's life, okay? Not after everything you and Xiao Xinghe have been through. I promise."

"I trust you, Mom.", Xi Yuan said as a short laugh escaped his mouth. Li Jungah, on the other hand, was taken aback. Xi Yuan had never spoken so sweetly to her before. Love did change people, didn't it? Suddenly, she remembered Ningtao's words from the night before. 'He is empty without her, just the way she is without him', the woman had said then. She was right. Rong Xinghe did inspire Xi Yuan to be a better man. And for that, Li Jungah couldn't be more thankful.

But before the woman could say anything, she heard a Camera shutter sound through the other end. Xi Yuan noticed it too. Stunned, he turned to search for the perp. It was not until his eyes traveled down to behind the kitchen entrance did he notice the she-devil lying on the floor.

"Psst!", the girl waved her hands off, "Turn a little to left. Let me capture the bulging arm abs, Mr. Hotness!"

Xi Yuan: "…"

Li Jungah: "…"

But as she realized his stern reaction, she quickly stood back up, smiling at him awkwardly, "I couldn't resist. Sorry."

"Oh. Incapability to combat temptations? That's okay, then.", the man raised his brows, his tone filled with sarcasm, "You could've caught a cold, Xinghe. You do realize that, right?"

Li Jungah, instantly, reprimanded her son as she listened to his tone, "How dare you scold my daughter? Pass her the phone. Right now."

Hence, obeying the old lady's orders, the man turned off his phone's Bluetooth, tossing it to the girl beside him.

Rong Xinghe had no idea that her to-be Mother-in-law had been talking to Xi Yuan all this while, and that she'd heard everything the girl had just said. But as the word 'Mom' popped upon the man's phone screen, she broke out in a cold sweat. What?! Nervously, she brought the device to her right ear, "M- Mother?", she managed to utter.

"Don't be scared, Honey.", Li Jungah smiled softly. Such a modest child, she giggled to herself then. "Yuan is your fiancé now. You have every right to trouble him, whichever way you like, okay?

"And the next time he scolds you like that phone me immediately. No one lectures my daughter, alright? I'll teach him a lesson worth remembering for years."

Rong Xinghe spoke to the woman for a few more minutes before the call got disconnected and she passed the phone back to Xi Yuan.

"What did she say?", the man asked, giving the girl her cup of tea.

Rong Xinghe inhaled a long deep breath and sipped the lightly sugared tea. About half a minute later, she finally found herself able to answer him, "She… just put forward some ideas, by which, I could 'entice' you with my beauty."

Xi Yuan stared at the girl for a while before he leaned in onto her, capturing her lips into his, taking the cup away from her hands. Only when she was out of breath did he let go of her. Then, he pulled her in a hug, lightly biting her left earlobe, sending a shiver down her spine.

"You, my Love, have had me enticed since the first time I laid my eyes on you.", he whispered to her, his voice deep, and irresistibly magnetic.

And there it went again. Her innocent little heart, beating rapidly, with excitation, and fear, at the same time. His touch did that to her. His lips against her neck, his hands upon her bare waist underneath the fabric of her tank top. It had been about a year since their relationship, and he still had the same effect on her. Then, who was the one really 'enticed'? Him, or her?

"Yuan…", the girl moaned, shutting her eyes close.

"Hmm?", the man smiled against the skin of her delicately voluptuous collarbone, "Periods, right?"

Rong Xinghe didn't reply but placed both her hands against his chest, in admittance. The man groaned, painfully this time.

"I love you.", the girl tried to cheer up her agitated admirer, "So, so much."

"I know. But destiny doesn't, clearly.", Xi Yuan mumbled under his breath, "I am telling you, Ms. Beauty, Brains, and Bravery; once they are over, I won't even try to be a gentleman. Okay? I hate this!"

Letting out a peal of laughter, the girl planted a soft kiss on his cheek, "You will always be a gentleman, Lover. That's just who you are.", she stated with a shrug.