Chapter 22 - Why Do You Care? What Role Are You Trying To Play?

It seemed Lu Beixiao was pretty smooth; he chose to answer her question with another question instead. That was a nice move.

"What about you? How many girls have you been with?" Ye Qiao took a step back just to keep a distance from him. Apparently, she was not going to let him go so easily.

"You're the very first." He finally gave in and felt slightly embarrassed. Nevertheless, he answered with firmness in his voice.

The light was turned on as soon as motion was detected, so she could finally see his face. He seemed at ease with his rugged good looks. Quickly, he reached into his right pocket for a box of cigarettes.

"Am I the first? Why do I find it hard to believe?" Ye Qiao tried to tease him but soon became timid when she saw how displeased he looked.

Lu Beixiao put a cigarette in his mouth, but he did not light it up right away. He looked rather annoyed that he failed to gain her trust.

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you." He was not proud of the fact that he had no experience with girls.

"I believe you; I really do," she said with a smile. A few words of comfort really helped to ease the tension. She had doubts because of what she had experienced in her past relationship, but her faith was soon restored, for she knew that the 21-year-old Lu Beixiao that she had just met would not lie to her.

He finally lit the cigarette and took a long drag before breathing out puffs of smoke that filled the air with whorls. "Be a good girl and stay away from all the boys who behave like spoiled brats. I'm the only one that you can be with."

Ye Qiao was amused by how bossy and meddling he sounded. "What makes you so special?" She bravely had a go.

The look in his eyes became increasingly fierce. "Because I deserve you."

He circled his arm around her waist to draw her closer. "Who else do you have in mind that you'd like to be with?"

He expressed his concern with a hint of warning, which was when she knew that she should not provoke him anymore.

"You're the only want that I want to be with," she answered truthfully, intending to please him. She began to fall for Lu Beixiao even more after seeing how adorable he was when dealing with jealousy, unlike the boring man that she used to be married to in the past.

She made his heart pound again, making it even more difficult for him to suppress his desires in the face of temptation.

"Such a sweet-talker." He needed to taste her lips again.

Right when he was about to kiss her, the patrol suddenly showed up. A stern voice could be heard coming from the stairs. "Who's there?"

Frightened, Ye Qiao immediately looked for a hiding spot, but her attempt was hindered. He grasped her by the wrist and pulled her back. "Why should you be afraid?" He calmly asked. Meanwhile, the sensor-based light came on again as soon as the footsteps drew closer.

The troop leader of the patrol wanted to turn away and leave as soon as he saw the great troublemaker. However, he had a troop to lead this time. Instead of running away, he bowed with great dignity.

"I didn't know it was you, Young Mister Xiao! Don't mind us. Keep going!" The troop leader finished off with an awkward smile before leaving them alone.

"What an unlucky encounter," the troop leader thought. Never had he thought that it was possible to witness the great troublemaker going on a date. Incidents like this had never happened before.

The troop leader shuddered a little at the uncomfortable encounter and went away with his troop in urgent haste, without even having a good look at the girl.

This was also Ye Qiao's first time witnessing Lu Beixiao's threatening manner that instilled fear in others.

"It's pretty late now. I have to go, or very soon, my grandpa will have my name broadcast in the missing person column," she hinted, while Lu Beixiao was still smoking. She then swatted a mosquito that had landed on her skin.

"By the way, can you cut down on smoking?"

Smoking was his only vice, and Ye Qiao was determined to help him get rid of it. His lungs had become greatly impaired as a result of his excessive smoking in his past life.

"Why do you care? What role are you trying to play?" Smoking was the only way for him to keep composed. He especially needed it at this point in time to help him fight off the urge to kiss her again.

Unfortunately, Ye Qiao did not give him another look before walking away to the stairs.

Hastily, he stepped on his cigarette before catching up with her. Together, they exited the building and started walking home.

"Where did you go this evening?" He noticed her attire that was obviously meant to parade off her elegance. He was at his grandparents' house for a drink, so he thought of dropping by her house as well, but to his dismay, she was out.

The man waited patiently but did not hear a response to he chimed in. "Did you go and see Shen Xichuan?" He asked with an obvious sign of disapproval.. The sudden thought of his love rival made his blood boil with jealousy.