Chapter Six: The Ruse of Beauty

Early the next morning, Liu Jingye rose from bed, and out of habit, performed a set of military exercises in the courtyard, feeling invigorated and refreshed throughout his body.

Just as he turned around, he noticed the door opening and saw a woman as beautiful as a painting step out, bathed in the golden glow of the dawn. The rosy sunrise illuminated her delicate face, her jet-black hair neatly coiled behind her head, her brows elegant as if drawn with a brush, her nose graceful, her smile gentle and radiant—a vision so lovely, she seemed like an angel descended to earth.

Liu Jingye was instantly spellbound, and at the same time, Yuan Xiaoying was sizing him up as well. Though Liu Jingye could not be called handsome, his features were regular, his thick eyebrows and large eyes gave him a spirited look, his short hair was neat, and his tall, athletic frame—standing at nearly six feet—was robust, his skin a healthy bronze, exuding masculine energy.

The two gazed at each other for a long moment, and an ambiguous atmosphere suddenly grew between them. Liu Jingye awkwardly scratched his head, feeling unsure what to do.

Just then, Yuan Xiaoying stepped forward, her eyes fixed intensely on him, and softly asked, "In two days, we'll be celebrating our happiest day. Are you excited?"

He hurriedly waved his hand. "Big sister, could we not joke about this? I know your life may have changed drastically recently, but every problem needs to be dealt with calmly, you—"

"Don't say any more," Yuan Xiaoying suddenly interrupted, and seized his hand. Her warm, delicate fingers instantly drained all his strength, and he could only stare at her in a daze.

Her eyes, bright as the stars, held a captivating allure. She spoke gently, "The past is gone. Now, I just want to marry you."

"This..." Liu Jingye stammered, unable to find his words.

Yuan Xiaoying asked, "Do you believe in love at first sight?"

Liu Jingye swallowed hard, and replied woodenly, "You really fancy me? I'm just a penniless, late-blooming youth."

As he spoke, his lips were pressed shut by a slender, fair finger—cool to the touch. Her gaze was tender and somewhat reproachful as she said, "Don't mention money to me, please. True love and sincere feeling can't be bought at any price."

Liu Jingye tried to protest, but she interrupted again: "Of course, I admit material things are one basis of love, but they're not the most important. If you have a million, you could buy a grand villa to hold our love. If you have a hundred thousand, you could buy a car to carry our love; ten thousand could buy a diamond ring to witness our love; a thousand could pay for an outing to let our love soar; a hundred, a candlelit dinner to romance our love. And if you only have one yuan, then buy a bottle of mineral water to nourish our love."

Her eyes were filled with tenderness, her voice soft and melodious, and Liu Jingye felt his heart melting. Could there be words in the world warmer than these, capable of comforting a soul so deeply?

Even if you have only a single yuan, you can buy water to nurture our love...

Such beautiful words! Liu Jingye touched his pocket and continued, "Right now, I have a hundred and fifty. Enough for a romantic candlelit dinner, and with the remaining money, I can buy a bottle of water to irrigate our love—and even a bag of fertilizer to help it grow faster. I also bought two packs of tissues to wipe away the dust from our love..."

Yuan Xiaoying laughed at his words, her smile dazzling and sincere in Liu Jingye's eyes.

Seeing him dumbstruck, she suddenly said, "Silly, what are you waiting for? Why not embrace me?"

Her words seemed enchanted, and Liu Jingye couldn't help but reach out, gently drawing her into his arms. Even his iron will melted in the warmth of her embrace.

Yuan Xiaoying tilted her head slightly, and in the morning sun, her lovely face shone with a holy radiance. She slowly closed her eyes, moved her lips softly, clearly inviting a kiss.

Liu Jingye's mind buzzed, his body trembling—he was completely bewildered. Such a scene had only ever appeared in his dreams, and now, so suddenly, his dream was coming true.

Unconsciously, he leaned forward, his lips reaching for hers, truly longing for a taste of her sweetness...

But just as their lips touched, barely for a second, Yuan Xiaoying abruptly pushed him away with surprising force. The tenderness and sweetness vanished from her face, replaced by a devilish grin.

"Haha! The evidence is ironclad—now what do you have to say?" Yuan Xiaoying laughed as she strode to the door, took a phone from the window frame, and waved it at Liu Jingye. "I filmed everything just now. Tsk tsk, the picture quality is so clear!"

"You..." Liu Jingye was utterly stunned, unable to keep up with Yuan Xiaoying's unpredictable pace.

...

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