Chapter 488
Upon hearing the man’s words, Yu Xia’s heart finally settled, and she gave him an embarrassed smile. Then she picked up the handkerchief and covered her face with it, gently wiping. She wondered if it was because the handkerchief had been with the man for too long that it carried his scent, and as she wiped her face, it felt almost as if the man himself were gently wiping it for her, causing Yu Xia to feel a bit shy again.
Yu Xia could feel her cheeks growing warm, sure that they were turning red, but she was grateful her face was covered with the handkerchief, so no one could see her flushed appearance. She was unaware that the man was watching her intently, observing the exposed red tips of her ears and neck with interest.
The man’s gaze was discreet, so even when Yu Xia finished wiping her face and removed the handkerchief, she didn’t realize she had been scrutinized.
“Thank you for the handkerchief. I’ve dirtied it, but I’ll wash it clean and return it to you when I get back,” Yu Xia said, clutching the man’s handkerchief tightly.
“No problem, it doesn’t matter. By the way, why are you here alone crying? Did someone bully you or did you break up?” The man surreptitiously closed the distance between them.
Hearing the man’s question made Yu Xia’s mood drop again. She shook her head, her voice becoming somewhat somber, “No, I wasn’t bullied or broken up with.”
Yu Xia glanced up at the man, then quickly looked down again. She fiddled with the sand beside her, looking very conflicted.
The man watched Yu Xia’s fidgeting fingers without urging her, waiting patiently for Yu Xia to voluntarily open up to him. He was quite confident with girls like Yu Xia and was sure he could get her to follow his lead.
But Yu Xia was destined to be the first tough nut he cracked. Yu Xia’s experiences meant she couldn’t open her heart so quickly to others, so even though she appreciated his kindness and the handkerchief he offered her for wiping her tears, she didn’t intend to share her secrets with him.
So Yu Xia shook her head, wearing an apologetic expression as she said, “Sorry, I’m not planning on sharing my story with you, so I apologize for that.”
The man didn’t expect Yu Xia to respond that way. He was visibly stunned, but quickly regained his usual composure, though a deeper interest flickered in his eyes.
“It’s fine. Everyone has something they don’t want to share with others, I don’t mind. But if you’re really feeling down and have no place to vent, drinking is actually a good option. Alcohol can numb your nerves, help you relax, and let you temporarily forget your worries,” the man suggested.
“But I’ve never drunk before, what if I get drunk?” Yu Xia asked hesitantly.
“If that’s the case, you can try drinking some non-alcoholic fruit wine. It will make you a bit tipsy without losing your senses, and the taste is better; the alcohol flavor isn’t too strong, suitable for girls trying drinking for the first time,” the man said.
Yu Xia was indeed tempted at that moment. She had never drunk alcohol before because she had to keep her body healthy to dedicate herself to her brother, so things like cigarettes and alcohol weren’t allowed near her. After going with Xu Ke, she started to recuperate, so she couldn’t touch such things either.
Of course, she never craved such things before, but now was different. She did have many vexing and troublesome things in her heart, and though she couldn’t tell this stranger in front of her, maybe alcohol really was a good thing.
Noticing Yu Xia’s hesitation, the man decided to fan the flames, “It really won’t get you drunk.”
Yu Xia hesitated for a while, and finally decided to have a drink. She also wanted to know what alcohol tasted like.
The man’s lips curled up slightly on the side Yu Xia couldn’t see.
The facilities on the island were well-equipped, and the man led Yu Xia through a series of turns to a bar. The bar’s exterior was quite ordinary, the kind you would only recognize as a bar if you were familiar with it.
But once you entered, you’d discover what made the bar special. As soon as you pushed the door open, a long corridor stretched before you, with high-tech light and shadow effects giving you the illusion of strolling through the cosmic galaxy. Yu Xia was a bit entranced by the sight.
“It’s really beautiful here,” Yu Xia said dazedly.
“Isn’t it? I also love this corridor, it feels like I’m standing in the center of the universe, observing the changes within it. The first time I came here, I thought I was the ruler of the universe,” the man walked beside Yu Xia. Since the corridor was narrow, their shoulders brushed against each other. The man felt a hint of pride in his eyes, but Yu Xia didn’t think much of it. She just turned to the man with a slightly odd look due to his words.
The man also noticed Yu Xia’s odd look and laughed, saying, “Don’t misunderstand, I’m not mentally ill or anything. It’s just that I read a few comics in my youth, and had a bit of a middle-school-phase flare-up.”
The man’s humorous words made Yu Xia’s lips curve upwards slightly, and she looked at him much more amiably, “You really are interesting,” Yu Xia said softly.
“You have a beautiful smile. I think you should smile more often. Though you look pretty when you cry too, it’s better to smile more. Isn’t it said that girls who smile often have better luck?” the man remarked as he watched Yu Xia’s smiling lips.
The whole starry sky backdrop couldn’t compete with the deep affection in the man’s eyes, making Yu Xia’s face flush red.
“We shouldn’t linger here too long, we should hurry inside,” Yu Xia said nervously, averting her gaze. It was only then that she felt the distance between them was too close, and she needed to find a reason to escape the current situation.
The man, too, refrained from closing in on Yu Xia further. He feared being overly eager might scare her away; after all, she was the rare good catch he’d seen in years. If anything were to go wrong and let the prey escape, he would regret it deeply.
The man’s lips curled quickly as he nonchalantly said, “Just head straight down this corridor, another hundred meters or so.”
Hearing the man’s words, Yu Xia didn’t bother to admire the corridor’s scenery anymore. She hurriedly walked to the end to escape the area where the man could reach her.
Yu Xia was jolted as soon as she pushed open the door and was met with the deafening music inside, her unsteady steps withdrew half a step back.
At this moment, Yu Xia wanted to leave this place. It was far too loud for her liking, with the speakers seeming to shake the ground and her internal organs feeling jumbled.
“You’ve already reached the entrance, why not go in.” Yu Xia wanted to turn and leave, but found her path blocked by the man. His voice came from above her head.