089 About His Promise

The probing fingers that had once sought to uncover secrets now turned into the gentle touch of a gentleman, merely testing the temperature.

At that moment, a cool, soothing scent wafted to her nose.

A sharp intake of breath escaped her lips.

Mu Qingcheng jolted awake, startled by the sound, only to find her body going rigid in the very next instant.

For she was being held tightly in a broad, solid embrace.

She had no idea how long this embarrassingly intimate position had lasted, her back and every part of her body enveloped by waves of heat and the steady thrum of a heartbeat.

Her own heart skipped a beat. Only then, belatedly, did she raise her hand to her face, feeling for her mask.

Thank goodness... it was still there.

"Awake?"

But just as she moved, a voice, still altered by a voice modulator, sounded from above her head.

Yet the tenderness and indulgence within could not be concealed.

At the sound, Mu Qingcheng looked up, meeting the face of the man before her, most of it hidden behind wind goggles.

"Why...?"

"Why didn't I take off your mask?"

"…"

"Because you don't like it, so I won't do it."

"…"

Every word he spoke rang out with certainty, each one clear and forceful, echoing through her ears and sinking deep into her heart.

Mu Qingcheng blinked in confusion, unsure how to respond.

But then, he deliberately leaned in, his breath warm against her ear as he continued,

"But I will wait patiently.

One day, you will willingly take off your mask yourself and let me see your true face."

"That day will never come."

"It will."

"You..."

Her tightly clenched hands were taken by his, and one by one, he gently pried her fingers open.

Then, he threaded his own fingers through hers...

Until their ten fingers were interlaced.

"This is my promise to you. From now on, whether you want me to or not, I will always be by your side."

He resolutely raised their joined hands before them, not allowing her the slightest chance to escape.

Mu Qingcheng bit her lip, a tide of unfamiliar emotion surging within her.

This feeling was intense—overwhelming, fierce, and inescapable.

It left her at a loss, unable to run, forced to face it head-on.

Her mind flashed back to that moment underwater, when his gaze upon her had been so burning.

Even in the face of life and death, he had been desperate to glimpse the feelings she kept hidden in her heart and behind her eyes.

And that persistence... it truly moved her.

But just then, he suddenly released her fingers, gently patted her back, and said softly,

"Alright, you can go now."

"Go?"

Mu Qingcheng looked up in surprise, then, realizing what he meant, quickly turned away.

The man chuckled lowly, his voice deep as he continued,

"If you want to come home with me... well, that's not impossible. In that case, tomorrow I'll—"

"Shut up, I'm leaving!"

She clapped a hand over his mouth, pulled open the car door, and jumped out.

Behind her, his quiet, teasing words drifted after her, making her even more mortified.

Who could have guessed that outside the car stood two burly men?

One of them was holding her motorcycle.

Seeing her emerge, he immediately bowed his head respectfully.

"Miss, your bike."

Mu Qingcheng was speechless. She took the bike and sped away at once.

Watching the girl's figure quickly disappear, the man holding the bike finally let out a long sigh. With obvious admiration, he turned to the man inside the car and said,

"Damn, Boss, when did you figure out... they were actually the same person?"

But all he got in response was the slow closing of the car door.

And the man beside him shot him a look of utter disdain, adding,

"You think everyone is as dense as you? Idiot."