The sun had reached its peak, and an unusual scene was taking place in the middle of the living room.
"Is this really necessary?" LiMingHu hesitated.
"It's not the time to feel shy! Just listen to me. Hurry up and take off your shirt!" TianTian ordered, wearing an unusually serious expression.
"I think... perhaps it's better not to..."
"If you're not willing, I'll take it off for you!"
TianTian stepped closer and immediately grabbed the hem of his T-shirt, attempting to pull it over his head.
LiMingHu tried to defend himself, although he secretly rather enjoyed her initiative.
"Alright, alright! I'll do it myself!"
Finally, he gave in and took off his shirt, revealing his well-built six-pack abs. Unfortunately, several bruises and wounds were scattered across his otherwise impressive physique.
Under normal circumstances, having TianTian standing so close to him, looking at his bare upper body, would have been enough to awaken the Beast King's desires.
But the wounds were a different matter.
TianTian's attention was immediately drawn to them.
Her expression softened as she remembered the incident that had caused those injuries. She felt a pang of guilt seeing how badly he had been hurt while protecting her.
She gently touched the darkest bruise, located around his left waist.
"Hey..."
LiMingHu flinched slightly.
"Does it hurt?" TianTian immediately looked worried.
She hadn't expected to find so many bruises. Every single one of them was a reminder of how much he had suffered while protecting her.
Seeing TianTian's eyes beginning to well up with tears, LiMingHu felt a strange warmth spreading through his chest.
"Don't cry. You'll look ugly."
TianTian immediately frowned.
Annoyed by his teasing, she deliberately pressed another small bruise.
"Ouch!"
LiMingHu pretended to be in great pain.
"Are you actually trying to treat my wounds, or are you planning to give me some more?"
"I really will give you more if you don't keep quiet and let me work!" TianTian scolded him, sounding exactly like a teacher reprimanding a naughty student.
LiMingHu chuckled but obediently remained still.
As she carefully applied the medicinal oil to his bruises, TianTian spoke softly.
"Next time, don't let anyone hurt you because of me. I'll also try my best not to get myself into trouble like this again. Just... please protect yourself, too."
Although her words were sincere, LiMingHu couldn't help finding them somewhat amusing.
"How am I supposed to do that?"
He looked at her.
"A real man should be able to protect his woman. I will never let you get hurt. And if something like this happens again, I'll still put your safety first."
His expression suddenly became serious.
He gently took TianTian's hand and brought it to his lips, placing a tender kiss on it.
"I'll protect these hands... and everything that belongs to you. I won't let anyone hurt you."
TianTian immediately blushed.
Now that she had begun acknowledging her feelings for LiMingHu, even the simplest romantic words from him were enough to make her heart flutter.
She quickly pulled her hand away.
"Hah... What are you talking about?"
Thump... thump... thump...
Her heart was beating ridiculously fast.
Trying to calm herself down, she fanned her face with her hand.
"I think the weather is just too hot today..."
Her reaction was simply too adorable for LiMingHu to ignore.
"Is it? I don't feel hot at all."
He deliberately moved closer, gradually cornering her against the bookshelf.
"Ah, perhaps you'll feel cooler if you take off your clothes, too. Should I help you, just like you helped me?"
He pretended to reach for her shirt.
Before he could go any further, TianTian quickly ducked beneath his arm and escaped.
"Hey! Where are you going?" LiMingHu shouted after her. "We're not finished yet! My wounds still need treatment!"
"Take a break! I need something to drink!" TianTian shouted back while hurrying towards the kitchen.
LiMingHu burst into laughter.
What a mischievous little bunny!
When TianTian finally returned, she warned him not to tease her anymore. She still had work to do.
This time, LiMingHu obediently followed her instructions.
A while later...
"Done!"
TianTian couldn't hide her proud smile as she admired her masterpiece.
LiMingHu had been forced to sit still for quite some time, and he was finally looking forward to getting up.
However, just as he was about to move, TianTian suddenly stopped him.
"Wait! Not yet!"
LiMingHu looked at her in confusion.
Hadn't she just said she was done?
Before he could ask, TianTian closed her eyes and gently placed both hands over the bandaged area.
"May the wounds heal quickly... and all the pain disappear!"
She then blew softly over the bandages.
LiMingHu stared at her for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"What are you doing?"
To him, TianTian's little ritual was simply too childish and adorable.
His reaction made TianTian suddenly feel embarrassed.
She had been doing that since childhood, whenever she treated her brothers' minor injuries. Sometimes, she even did it for her students.
It was simply a little family tradition.
Unfortunately, she had forgotten that LiMingHu was neither one of her brothers nor one of her elementary school students!
And now, look at him!
He was clearly making fun of her.
"Th-There's nothing!" TianTian stammered. "It's just a little tradition in my family. You don't have to laugh at it!"
She lowered her head, unable to meet his eyes.
She suddenly felt like leaving before the Beast King could tease her any further.
But LiMingHu noticed her embarrassment.
His laughter gradually faded, replaced by a warm smile.
He reached for her hand and gently held it, then rested his forehead against her shoulder as if trying to keep her from leaving.
"I like it."
TianTian blinked.
"What?"
"You should do that for me every time I get hurt."
LiMingHu raised his head, bringing his face surprisingly close to hers.
"Because it really works! Look, I don't feel any pain anymore. You're an amazing healer."
"You're exaggerating!"
TianTian was still embarrassed, although now for an entirely different reason.
The Beast King's face was simply too close!
"TianTian..."
LiMingHu gazed deeply into her eyes.
"Perhaps I need another treatment to make me feel even better."
"What do you mean?"
She barely managed to ask.
The distance between them was shrinking.
Slowly, LiMingHu leaned closer, and TianTian found herself unable to think about anything else.
She felt completely bewitched by his eyes.
Then, gently and without warning, his lips met hers.
It was a soft kiss.
Unusually for TianTian, she didn't resist or push him away. Instead, she simply closed her eyes and allowed herself to enjoy the moment.
Perhaps it was because she had finally begun opening her heart to this Beast King.
LiMingHu felt a wave of warmth spread through him when he realized how willingly she welcomed his affection.
This kiss was different from their previous ones.
It wasn't as demanding or passionate. Instead, it was gentle, almost tender.
Perhaps his injuries prevented him from being too enthusiastic.
Or perhaps he simply wanted to cherish this moment.
Whatever the reason, the tenderness comforted TianTian.
Neither of them seemed willing to end the kiss.
For several long minutes, they remained wrapped in each other's affection.
Finally, their lips parted.
They looked into each other's eyes.
Then, almost simultaneously, they smiled and laughed softly.
No words were necessary.
They seemed to share the same happiness.
LiMingHu gently stroked TianTian's cheek before kissing her once again.
He was becoming increasingly certain that she was finally accepting his feelings.
Perhaps, at last, he was getting closer to winning her heart.
But suddenly...
LiMingHu stopped.
He pulled away and looked at TianTian with a troubled expression.
TianTian also seemed to return to reality.
Only then did she realize what she had just done.
Her cheeks immediately turned crimson.
But she was equally confused by the Beast King's sudden withdrawal.
Why had he stopped?
Wasn't he the one who had initiated the kiss?
And now he looked worried.
"Are... you alright?" she asked cautiously.
"Y-Yeah. I think we're done here."
LiMingHu stood up and smiled, trying to conceal his troubled thoughts.
"I suddenly remembered that I still have some work to do. You should get some rest."
He picked up his shirt and put it back on before leaning down to place a gentle kiss on TianTian's forehead.
Then he walked towards his office.
"Oh... alright."
TianTian watched him leave, feeling a little disappointed.
She hadn't expected their sweet moment to end so quickly.
A part of her wanted to ask him to stay.
But she was simply too shy to do so.
After taking a few steps, LiMingHu suddenly turned around.
"Would you like to have lunch with me later, after I finish my work?"
"Yeah... sure."
TianTian answered with a small smile.
"Good."
LiMingHu smiled back before finally disappearing into his office.
TianTian remained where she was, feeling rather confused by the Beast King's suddenly polite behaviour.
Still, she couldn't deny that she liked seeing this gentler side of him.
What she didn't know, however, was that something frightening had crossed LiMingHu's mind just moments earlier.
---
The Beast's Dilemma
As soon as he entered his office, LiMingHu closed the door and tried to calm himself.
Yes, he was happy.
Extremely happy.
Kissing TianTian had filled him with a happiness he had never experienced before.
But at the same time, he was frightened.
A particular warning suddenly echoed in his mind.
'I believe you, Son... Don't disappoint me and ShuEr...'
It was President Sam's voice.
The memory made LiMingHu's expression darken.
Should I let her go before it's too late?
He knew one thing for certain.
He could no longer let TianTian go.
Not now.
Not after she had finally begun opening her heart to him.
I want to protect her... no matter what the cost.
But the chain of responsibility that had bound him for so many years was not something he could simply break.
His personal feelings and his obligations were beginning to collide.
And for the first time in a long while, the Beast King found himself struggling with something he couldn't defeat through strength or authority.
Love.
He sank into his thoughts for quite some time.
Eventually, YuFang called him regarding several work-related matters. One issue led to another, and before he realized it, LiMingHu had become completely absorbed in his work.
He was destined to work until late that evening.
---
A Glimpse into His Past
Meanwhile, TianTian decided to spend her time helping Aunt Ma prepare lunch.
However, when lunchtime had passed and LiMingHu still hadn't left his office, she finally decided to bring his meal to him.
"Just put it there," LiMingHu said without looking up from his work.
TianTian had already learned that when LiMingHu was working, he could become a complete workaholic.
He could easily forget to eat until everything was finished.
Not wanting to disturb him, she quietly placed the food on his desk.
It was her first time entering his office.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she began looking around.
There were several interesting things in the room, and she felt as though she was discovering another side of LiMingHu through the objects he kept.
Then she noticed a glass display cabinet containing several old photographs.
One of them caught her attention.
It was a family photograph.
His parents stood beside a much younger version of LiMingHu.
TianTian approached the cabinet and looked at it more closely.
He was already so handsome when he was little... And his parents were both good-looking, too. What wonderful genes!
She smiled to herself.
LiMingHu noticed her standing in front of the photographs.
He stopped working and approached her quietly.
"What are you looking at?"
TianTian turned around.
"You were so cute when you were little! I wonder how such an adorable little boy could grow up to become a beast like you?"
She teased him with a playful smile.
But the moment she noticed his expression, her smile gradually faded.
It seemed she had chosen the wrong subject.
LiMingHu wasn't someone who could look at those photographs without feeling the pain of losing his parents.
TianTian immediately regretted her words.
"I'm sorry... I shouldn't have said that."
She took a small step away from the photograph.
LiMingHu reached into the cabinet and carefully picked it up.
For a moment, he simply stared at the picture.
Then he spoke softly.
"My parents..."
His fingers gently brushed the frame.
"They were the best parents in the world."
LiMingHu wasn't usually someone who talked about his parents.
In fact, he rarely allowed anyone to see this vulnerable side of him.
But that evening, for some reason, he wanted to share those memories with TianTian.
She noticed the change in his expression.
Perhaps this was an opportunity to understand him better.
So she gathered her courage and asked gently:
"What were they like?"
LiMingHu smiled faintly.
"My father was the smartest man I've ever known. He taught me so many things, including how to ride a bicycle."
His smile grew a little warmer as he recalled his childhood.
"Although he was always busy, he never missed taking me to the theme park or the game arcade on my birthday."
He paused before continuing.
"And my mother... she was the gentlest woman in the world. She loved reading books to me every night. Sometimes, she would even sing me a lullaby before I fell asleep."
His eyes remained fixed on the photograph.
For a moment, he was no longer the intimidating Beast King.
He was simply a little boy remembering the happy days he had once shared with his parents.
"They sound like wonderful parents," TianTian said softly.
"They were."
LiMingHu's smile slowly disappeared.
"But they're gone now."
As he carefully returned the photograph to its place, another memory began creeping into his mind.
The accident.
The fire.
The unbearable fear.
The moment everything he had loved was taken away from him.
That day had changed his entire life.
He had lost his parents and been left alone in a cruel world.
And somewhere along the way, the innocent little boy in that photograph had disappeared.
He had learned to become a beast because he believed that was the only way to survive.
Now, looking at the photograph again, all he could feel was an overwhelming sadness.
TianTian watched his expression.
She couldn't begin to imagine what he had endured during those years.
And she knew that no words could erase the pain of losing someone so precious.
But she still wanted to comfort him.
She slowly reached out and touched his hand.
LiMingHu looked at her.
"I... I just don't want you to be sad."
Her voice was gentle, but her eyes were sincere.
"I know there aren't any words that can take away what you're feeling. But please remember that you're not alone anymore."
She held his hand a little more firmly.
"I'm here with you."
In her heart, she wished she could take away all his sadness.
If only she could carry that burden for him, even just a little.
LiMingHu felt warmth spreading through his chest.
He gently held her hand, stroking it and absent-mindedly playing with her fingers.
"Having you beside me is enough to make me happy."
Forever...
Those last words remained unspoken in his heart.
TianTian didn't pull her hand away.
In fact, she wanted to be even closer to him.
She allowed him to caress her hand and gently touch her cheek.
If only time could stop right here...
"TianTian..."
"Hmm?"
She lifted her face when she heard him call her.
LiMingHu was leaning closer.
TianTian thought he was going to kiss her again.
So she instinctively closed her eyes.
But instead of kissing her, the Beast King suddenly wrapped his arms tightly around her.
He embraced her as though he were someone desperately longing to be loved.
"Do you really mean it?" he whispered.
TianTian opened her eyes.
"Mean what?"
"That you'll stay with me..."
His arms tightened slightly.
"Can you... stay with me forever?"
TianTian was suddenly brought back to reality.
Forever?
The question caught her off guard.
She had only recently begun discovering these gentle sides of the Beast King, and they were already melting her heart.
But her rational mind immediately protested.
Hey! Don't forget who he is!
THE BEAST!
He kidnapped you, remember?!
Her logic and her feelings seemed to be fighting an endless battle inside her head.
Yet, despite all those warnings, TianTian slowly lifted her arms and wrapped them around LiMingHu's back.
Her feelings won.
"I do..."
She whispered softly but firmly.
"I want to be with you."
Forever... I hope.
LiMingHu had never felt so happy.
He loosened his embrace slightly and looked at her face.
A charming smile appeared on his lips, one that TianTian had rarely seen before.
And before she could prepare herself, he lowered his head and kissed her.
It was gentle at first, but soon became more passionate.
TianTian welcomed his affection happily.
However, when the Beast King's hands began wandering further over her body, she instinctively pulled away.
Her cheeks were burning.
She might have opened her heart to him, but that didn't mean she was ready for every kind of intimacy.
"Erm... It's getting late."
She tried to sound casual.
"I... I think I should go back to my room."
She looked at him cautiously, wondering how he would react.
Would he allow her to leave?
LiMingHu still wanted to hold her.
He wanted to kiss her again and keep her close for as long as possible.
But he had made a decision.
He wouldn't force her anymore.
He didn't want to ruin the warmth and tenderness they had just shared.
"Alright."
He leaned closer and whispered into her ear.
"This time, I'll wait until you're ready. Whenever that may be."
TianTian's heart practically leaped out of her chest.
She stepped backward, wearing an awkward smile.
"Hah... I see. Alright..."
She turned towards the door and began walking away.
But just before reaching the doorknob, she suddenly stopped and looked back.
"Are you planning to work all night?"
"No. Just a little longer. Once I'm finished, I'll go to bed, too."
"Hmm..."
TianTian seemed hesitant to say something else.
LiMingHu noticed her expression and couldn't resist teasing her.
"Or... would you like to wait for me? Then we can go to sleep together later."
"Of course not!"
TianTian immediately blushed.
"Good night! I'm going to bed now!"
She hurriedly slipped out of the room.
---
The Dangerous Feeling Called Love
Once the door to LiMingHu's office closed behind her, TianTian stopped and stared at it for a moment.
Then she placed a hand over her chest.
What's wrong with me?
It's only been one day, and I already don't want to be separated from him...
She remembered how she had been worrying about him working until late.
And even more embarrassingly...
She had actually felt disappointed when she stopped kissing him earlier.
This is dangerous!
TianTian shook her head and began walking back to her room.
She needed to regain control of herself before she did something foolish.
She recalled all the romantic stories WenWen had told her.
Back then, TianTian had always thought WenWen's behaviour in love was ridiculous and overly dramatic.
She had even made fun of her for being so easily swept away by romantic feelings.
But now...
It seemed she was becoming exactly the same.
TianTian sighed as she entered her room.
I never knew love could be this scary...
And perhaps the most frightening part was that, despite knowing how dangerous it could be...
She didn't really want to escape it.