Chapter 3: Teasing

In the end, they went to a the restaurant that Steven had chosen, and they booked a private room.

It was Monica's first time here. The exterior of the restaurant was unremarkable, but inside, it was like entering a hidden paradise.

The building was hidden in a Chinese-style landscape garden, quiet and peaceful. Stepping through the rain, it felt like visiting an otherworldly utopia.

The interior of the private room was elegantly decorated, with lush potted plants and a view of the garden outside. It was fresh and tranquil, calming one's mood.

The waiter, dressed in a traditional Chinese robe, quietly served their dishes.

Monica took a bite and found that the flavor suited her taste well. She couldn't help but ask, "Where did you find this place? I've never heard of such a delicious restaurant before."

"A friend of a friend owns it. It's a private restaurant. I've been here a couple of times," Steven replied.

Wearing a pair of gloves, Steven peeled the shrimp on the side and put them in Monica's bowl, startling her. She looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Are you okay?"

"Not eating?" He extended his hand. "Then give it back to me."

"Of course, I'm eating!" Monica didn't understand his inexplicable behavior, but as a young lady, it was always enjoyable to be served by others. So, she picked up the shrimp and took a bite.

As she looked up, she caught Steven's smile that seemed to hold many meanings.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He couldn't have possibly poisoned it, right?

"Nothing." He calmly took off his gloves. "I just suddenly remembered something someone said this afternoon, that they wouldn't die before even if... eating my food"

"Eat my meal."

Monica: ...

No wonder Stevenshe sounded so nice, good when heshe invited her to dinner. He She was waiting for her to get here.

She clenched her teeth: "You really are..."

"Petty, vindictive, and narrow-minded." Steven answered for her, words she had said countless times in the pastbefore, calmly looking at her. "Anything else?"

Monica's usual lines were all taken by him, and she glared at him. "You have enough self-awareness."

Since she had already been humiliated, she swallowed the shrimp and decided to take charge: "I still want to eat more shrimp, so you can continue peeling."

"Msrs. Perez, hired labor requires compensation."

Here it comes again. Monica thought.

Monica was genuinely curious: "When you have a girlfriend in the future, will you also be so clear with her?"

He remained calm: "When I have one, you can ask her."

Coincidentally, a waiter entered with a new dish, and Steven turned aside and put on a pair of new disposable gloves.

"Forget it." She hummed, "With someone like you, you won't find a girlfriend."

After finishing dinner, Steven drove Monica home.

The rain became heavier and heavier on the way, and the windshield wipers worked frantically but couldn't make the view clear.

There was severe flooding on some parts of the road, even requiring detours. Monica directed, Steven drove, and the two of them struggled for a while before finally bringing the car back to the Perez family villa halfway up the mountain.

The nanny, Bella, had been waiting at the entrance from early in the eveningmorning, with and Monica's beloved dog, Chocolate, was lying next to her. When ChocolateBella saw Monica getting out of the car, she enthusiastically wagged her tail and jumped up.

Bella took a step forward: "Mr. Wright, thank you for bringing Monica back in this heavy rain. Come in and have a cup of hot tea."

"Thank you, but it's a bit late. I have to go to work tomorrow morning, so I won't stay."

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud thunderclap resounded in the distance, and the rain intensified even more.

"It's pouring outside, and the road down the mountain must be difficult to drive. The news also reported severe flooding on the road. Mr. Wright, why don't you stay here tonight?" Bella's tone was concerned.

"We have guest rooms at home, and all the supplies are brand new. Eric has a lot of clothes he hasn't worn, and your sizes are similar. Just pick out something to wear."

Monica was kneeling on the ground rubbing Chocolate, and she looked up: "My brother didn't come back?"

"No. It's pouring today, and Eric said it's inconvenient to drive, so he's staying at the Floating Light Manor."

Since Mrs. Perez handed over the Perez family to Eric three years ago and went to Europe with Mr. Perez, supposedly to oversee the European division but actually to travel around the world, they rarely returned home.

The large villa was now only occupied by them and their siblings, looked after by Bella. Bella had been working for the Perez family since before Eric was born, and was treated like family, hence the endearing appellation.

Monica rubbed the snowy white fur of the Samoyed and remembered the drive back earlier.

MonicaKanke said to Steven, "Just stay here. It's too rainy outside, and it's unsafe to go back." Despite her dislike for Steven, safety is not something to joke about.

Seeing that the rain wouldn't stop anytime soon, Steven had no choice but to agree. Bella led him to the guest room, while Monica leaned against the door, occasionally making sarcastic remarks,

"Bella, he isn't that delicate. Does he even need his scents changed?"

"Sleep is important, especially for Mr. Wright, who works hard. He needs to rest," Bella emphasized, turning to Steven.

"Can we use the one in Monica's room? Monica said it's good for sleeping." Steven stood politely to the side and said, "I'm fine with anything. Thank you for your trouble."

Monica huffed, "If you can't sleep well in the bed, don't blame it on my scents."

"It's alright," Steven replied, "I'm not that delicate. I can sleep without scents." She was once again caught off guard and glared at him resentfully before turning away and leaving.

Monica went back to her room, took a shower, and came downstairs in a nightgown to pour herself some water. Bella was in the kitchen washing fruit and handed some to Monica, saying,

"You can eat these first. I'll wash a plate for Mr. Wright later." Monica picked up a grape, peeled it, and threw it into her mouth, mumbling unclearly, "Why be so good to him? He's not a good person."

Bella replied,said, "He specially brought you back today, despite the weather. You should show some gratitude."

Monica fell silent. Bella's movements gradually slowed down, and she deliberately said, "Monica, Mr. Wright is actually very nice. Stop picking fights with him all the time."

"Bella, you don't understand. If you spend more time with him, you'll see. He's a bad person; he just acts nice in front of you all." Bella shook her head and sighed.

How could she not understand? The Perez family lived halfway up the mountain, which took over an hour to commute from the city center where Steven lived.

Sometimes, when Eric worked late, he wouldn't bother coming back and would just stay near the office. But as long as Monica asked, no matter how late it was, Steven would personally drive her home.

If he only treated her as a friend's sister, then his patience was somewhat excessive. Bella finished washing the fruit, and Monica had almost finished eating. Bella asked Monica to bring some to Steven when she went upstairs.

Though reluctant, Monica did as she was told and stood at the door of the guest room, knocking. The door opened, and Steven seemed to have just finished showering.

His hair was still damp, and some strands fell over his forehead. His usual cold gaze unexpectedly carried a hint of softness.

"I can't understand why Bella likes you so much," Monica muttered, placing the items in his arms.

"These are fruits prepared for you." Suddenly, she remembered something and stopped Steven as he was about to take the items, revealing a mischievous smile.

"Today,

"It was kind of you to bring me back and peel the shrimp for me for so long. To show my gratitude, let me peel a grape for you."

She picked up a grape, peeled the skin off, deliberately approached, and saw that his eyes remained completely calm and his expression unchanged. She continued to test his limits.

He was tall, and Monica had to stand on tiptoes to look him in the eye. Finding it troublesome, she directly hooked her other hand around his neck, pulled him down, and forced him to bend his waist, meeting his gaze.

Monica was very beautiful, especially her eyes, which were clear and shining. When she focused on looking at someone, her eyes resembled ripples that a spring rain splashed on the lake, tickling hearts, but she was completely unaware.

She slowly approached, almost pressing against him. The close-fitting silk nightgown revealed the curves of her graceful body, and her fragrant scent after her shower bathing enticed himthem, slowly seeping into hertheir breath.

She gently spoke, her words soft: "Does my shower gel smell good?"

He didn't say anything, just looked at her with those black eyes.

Monica was a little perplexed.

She had initially just wanted to disgust Steven for a while and see a disgusted expression on his typically calm face. But she didn't expect that she would get so close to him without him pushing her away.

It was as if he wanted to see what other tricks she could perform, which resulted in her now being caught in a difficult situation.

The two seemed to be engaged in a game, and whoever wavered first would lose.

In this almost ambiguous atmosphere, she brought the grape close to his lips and gently tapped them with her slightly curled fingertips. "Open up."

Her breath was light, and there was a faint blush on her face, with a barely perceptible tension in her expression.

Steven silently watched her, his gaze lowered for a long time, and his lips moved slightly, as if he was about to bite down on her hand. Monica was pleasantly surprised and immediately turned away, putting the grape in her mouth and biting down on it.

She let go of the hand that was hooked around him and proudly raised her eyebrows at him, .

She had won.

Daring to tease her in the car, she had to retaliate.

However, Steven's gaze looked peculiar. It didn't seem like he was feeling ashamed or angry, but rather like a brewing storm about to erupt.

At that moment, the sound of Bella's footsteps on the stairs could be heard.

Monica quickly decided to retreat and turned around to leave. However, the next second, her wrist was grabbed, and before she could make a sound, she was suddenly pulled into the room.

The door was closed with a loud bang, causing the fruit plate to fall to the ground in the hallway, creating a mess with juice flowing everywhere.

**Chapter 4: Kissing **<Chapter>Chapter 4: Kissing</Chapter>

This wasn't the first time the two of them kissed, although Monica didn't admit to the previous incident.

The first time was two years ago on Christmas Eve.

A group of people were having a party in the villa, gathered around the Christmas tree in the living room, drinking and playing games. Monica drew the dare card, which required her to hug someone of the opposite sex for ten seconds.

For her, it seemed too easy because Eric was present.

But she circled the living room and couldn't find Eric. Instead, she saw Steven standing by the French window, smoking.

He was looking down, lost in thought, and the moonlight cast a long, cold shadow behind him.

Sparkling like tiny stars, flickering with a faint light, as if they were on the verge of extinguishing.

Noticing Monica, he put out his cigarette and threw it in the ashtray, softly asking her, "What's wrong?"

Someone behind them urged Monica to hurry up, saying that time was running out and if she couldn't finish, she would have to drink another shot. In the heat of the moment, she rushed up and hugged Steven.

He seemed quite surprised, pausing for a moment. With all eyes on them, Monica was afraid he would push her away, so she pulled at the clothes behind him and threatened him in a fierce tone, "Don't push me away."

Like a small cat baring its teeth and claws.

Steven lowered his head to look at her, not saying a word. Amidst the whistle from the crowd, he gently embraced her.

"Six, five, four..." People who enjoyed watching a scene cheered and began the countdown. Monica buried her head in Steven's embrace, pretending to be dead. She could feel his cool breath on her nose, making her ears burn, and every second felt unbearably long.

When they reached one, Monica hurriedly tried to let go, but at this moment, the lights went out as if planned. In an instant, everything went pitch black, with only the faint moonlight shining through the window.

Panic filled the living room, and she was no exception. In her haste, her slippers stepped on the hem of her long skirt, and she was about to fall when Steven reached out and pulled her back into his arms.

She was still trembling with fear, and instinctively turned her head to thank him, only to find that he was also leaning down, their lips brushing against each other.

A warm, soft touch...h.

it It was just a brief touch, but it sent electric tingles running through her body, spreading like a swarm of ants.

It felt like their breath had stopped in that moment.

His eyes were pitch black as he looked at her, moonlight falling on his shoulders, giving them a thin layer of silver.

The crowd surrounding the Christmas tree erupted in cheers. Monica remembered that someone had planned to confess tonight, prepared a surprise, and agreed to use the "countdown" as a signal.

But in the heat of the moment, everyone forgot about it, and the person who wanted to confess was probably confused by the early countdown but still went ahead with the confession, turning off all the lights.

The living room was bustling, but in a corner near the window, the two of them remained silent, locked in their gaze.

Monica had no recollection of who initiated it. Perhaps it was the darkness that gave them a sense of escaping reality, or maybe it was the intense atmosphere combined with the effect of alcohol on her. In any case, by the time she realized it, she was already kissing Steven.

A moist, lingering touch.

Like the ebb and flow of waves, beating against the shore in rhythm with their breaths, gradually seeping in until completely saturated. The dry grains of sand were filled with the scent of the ocean.

Monica felt as if she was also soaked in his presence.

Their noses touched, their slightly rapid breaths mingled together, and their lips and tongues slipped and entwined, accompanied by the sound of gentle water-like kisses that made their faces flush with embarrassment.

She was dizzy from the kiss, and with unstable breath, she let out a muffled sound, wanting to pull away, but the back of her head was firmly held. He held her close, pressing his lips harder against hers.

In the darkness, their wet kisses indulged each other silently, their gasps and heartbeats unleashed without restraint.

Then, little by little, it eroded people's sanity and dragged them into the abyss. The people behind finally finished their uproar, and someone shouted to turn on the lights. It was only then that Monica snapped back to reality and pushed him away.

She felt like something was wrong in her mind. After separating their lips, she took a gentle breath and the first thing she said was a complaint, "I hate the smell of smoke."

Steven was taken aback, but then he smiled and pinched her cheek. "Okay."

From then on, Monica never saw him smoking in front of her again.

However, the ambiguity ended there. Monica went back to her room and took a nap, resurrecting with full vitality the next day.

There was no trace of the hazy half-dream state from the night before. When she met Steven again, their gazes silently intertwined, and they stood in silence for a while before Monica broke the silence, "Where is my brother?"

Steven calmly replied, "He went downstairs first."

"He didn't wait for me!" She turned around and ran downstairs without looking back.

One pretended to be clueless, and the other pretended to be clueless with her. They tacitly brushed that night aside and continued being each other's heated adversaries.

It was normal for single adults to occasionally get caught up in romantic confusion, and Monica thought this was an accident and a mistake. She believed that Steven must have thought the same.

In Steven’s room... The sweet taste of grapes filled her lips as it gradually pressed into the depths of her mouth through the action of licking. The grape that Steven didn't eat from before was now tasted in a different way.

Monica was pressed against the door with her breathing becoming irregularunevenly, forced to tilt her head back and kiss him. Behind her was the hard door panel, and in front of her was his sturdy chest.

She couldn't avoid it and tried to push him away, but he grabbed her wrist and raised it above her head, firmly holding it down.

Because of this action, she had to straighten her body, and the curve wrapped in soft silk sent her directly into his arms. He leaned in, pressing closer to her, their skins rubbing against each other through their clothes, igniting an intense pleasure that burned in their bones, creating an unbearable itch.

"Wright..." she struggled to breathe and speak, but it was futile. Their lips and tongues were invaded recklessly, his momentum overwhelming like a tide, as if he wanted to completely engulf her.

At that moment, Bella's knocking on the door came from outside, "Mr. Wright?"

Startled, Monica suddenly snapped out of her dreamlike state and viciously bit his lip. Steven frowned and finally retreated, his thin lips glistening with the wetness that highlighted the intensity of their kiss.

He looked down at her for a moment, then reached out to hold her waist, guiding her to the side. With his other hand, he opened the door, only partially exposing himself to the outside world, "Bella, what's the matter?"

"I heard a noise and saw the fruit spilled on the floor, so I came to ask what happened."

Steven glanced at the fruit corpse, "I'm sorry, I didn't hold it steady and accidentally spilled it."

"It's okay, I'll bring another plate later."

"No need, it's getting late. Bella, you should rest early too."

Bella hesitated to speak, "Mr. Wright, Monica..."

Upon hearing her name, Monica thought she was about to be discovered .

and heris fingertips tightened on the corner of Steven's clothes.

Steven reached down and held her fingertips, still looking outside the door. "Hmm?"

"...Monica is pure-hearted and has been well-protected by her family since she was young. She can be a bit spoiled and sometimes her tone can be harsh, but she has a good nature and. And , if she really dislikes someone, she won't say a word to them."

Steven calmly said, "I know, thank you Bella."

Closing the door, he turned to look at her. Just as Monica was about to explode, she saw blood slowly seeping from his lips, making it impossible to ignore.

Steven noticed her gaze on his lips and wiped the stinging spot with his hand, leaving a bloody mark on his fingertips.

"Serves you right," she bit her lip guiltily, "Who told you to suddenly kiss me?"

He remained calm, "Didn't you provoke me first?"

Monica knew she was in the wrong, but she refused to admit defeat, "That doesn't mean you can lay a hand on me."

Only the ruler can start a fire, while the common people are not allowed to light a candle. Indeed, this was Miss Monica's usual style.

Steven flicked his fingertips covered in blood and didn't care, "I dare to do even more outrageous things, do you want to try?"

Rain poured outside the window, accompanied by occasional thunder, tearing a corner of the night sky.

Monica felt a heavy gaze from those black eyes and suddenly felt like she was the prey being targeted.

Subconsciously, she took a step back, her spine pressed against the solid door panel. It felt like she had grabbed a lifeline in a rushing stream. She immediately turned around, opened the door, and ran out, leaving him with a shaky statement, "You dare!"

The door slowly bounced back with her vigorous movement and closed with a "click" in front of him.

Steven touched his lips again, and silently smiled.

Monica ran back to her room and lay on the bed for a long time. Her heartbeat was still racing loudly. Her mind was filled with that kiss just now, and no matter how much she tossed and turned, she couldn't fall asleep.

Whenever she closed her eyes, she would see Steven's face so close, and it felt like his lips still had the lingering bite marks, making her feel numb even now.

"So annoying, so annoying!" she mumbled in frustration, burying her head in the pillow, "I can't sleep, it's all your fault, Steven!" she said furiously.

Chapter 5: Eric