Asan stepped aside slightly, running a hand through his hair, eyes flicking toward Mai with a mixture of apology and exasperation. "I… I'm sorry about what just happened," he said, voice low but earnest, the weight of responsibility clear in his tone. "I didn't expect… all this."
Mai tilted her head, her violet eyes gleaming with amusement and something darker, almost mischievous. She smiled faintly, leaning just enough to convey confidence and ease. "No worries," she said softly, almost casually, but her gaze lingered on the air between Sayuri and Elira. "I like to watch."
Asan's brow shot up. "You… what?" His voice was incredulous, though the heat in the room didn't falter him; he was more curious than offended.
"I said I like to watch," Mai repeated, shrugging lightly, the faintest smirk on her lips. "Watching people like them… it's exciting. It arouses me." Her tone was casual, almost teasing, but there was an unmistakable edge of honesty.
Asan blinked, a slow smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He shrugged, almost amused. "Well… that's… different," he said, voice low. "I mean… I don't really care. But about this—contract marriage—I need to know if you're okay with… flexibility. Open relationships, perhaps? You keep your side, I keep mine, but my parents mustn't find out. When we go out, we act like a couple. We can sleep in separate rooms. I don't care. I just need my parents off my back."
Asan's eyes sparkled with curiosity, his lips parting slightly, a soft laugh escaping. "I noticed how… close you got to them just now," he said,"Did you… want to join them?"
Asan raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly, intrigued. "Did you want to join them?" he asked again carefully, tone even, almost teasing. Mai's flush deepened, and she tilted her head, voice low and almost conspiratorial. "Yes… but not like that," she said softly, letting the words hang. "I just wanted to watch. See how long they could keep it up. I'm used to this stuff, but it arouses me too. So it benefits me as well, not just them. I'll chip my way in their relationship to get my fill." Asan blinked again, surprised at her honesty, but he didn't flinch. Instead, he leaned slightly forward, curiosity sharpening his features. "Interesting… you're bold." Mai said "I have terms of my own. I want to invite my friend here. She'll be around often. It's important for the arrangement." Asan eyes flicked up, a faint smile forming. "I can agree," he said slowly, nodding. "I have my own… conditions as well, of course. But we can work together. It'll be fun… I like seeing… things unfold." Asan leaned back, running a hand over his face, trying to make sense of the swirling tension and possibilities. The room had shifted—charged, electric, emotionally complex, yet strangely satisfying. This arrangement… this contract… it would give him space, control, and freedom, while keeping the world at bay. Yet at the same time, it came with a storm of desire, jealousy, and unforeseen consequences he could already feel in the air. Mai stepped closer, almost gliding, and glanced at Sayuri and Elira again, her lips curving in a faint, almost wicked smirk. "They're… fascinating," she said softly. "And so are you, Asan. I think we'll make this arrangement… very interesting." Asan's eyes met hers, a slow understanding passing between them. He could see it: the subtle possessiveness, the attraction, the shared understanding of desire and control. "Yes," he said finally, voice steady. "Interesting indeed." The air between them shifted, charged with possibility. Watching, wanting, scheming, protecting—the room was thick with unspoken rules and heat. The arrival of a new player in their storm, but the fire between them was unyielding. The tension had grown, expanded, stretched thin, and yet their bond—the possession, the longing—remained untouchable, fierce, and consuming.