Left alone, Zhang Xuan and Huang Wen just sat there in silence. Both could feel their heart pounded louder than usual.

"Uhm.. , so... your father said, that he would agree with our marriage after I go to find Chen Yao and Xia Yue's parent whereabout.... and my parents whereabout too. After that he wanted my parents to ask for you with all the formalities.", Huang Wen finally broke the silence.

"I see..."

"Yea... like that..."

More silence, Zhang Xuan opened her mouth a few times, as if to say something but lose her courage at the last minute.

"You want to say something?", Huang Wen asked.

"mm... Do you look down on me because I'm easily gave myself to you?", Zhang Xuan asked, she didn't raise her eyes.

"No..., never... I... I've been watching you, even in a dangerous situation you can think calmly. I ... I never thought why are you willing to give yourself to a man like me. I never expect that you will. So, I'm just happy when you did it.", said Huang Wen.

"Do you believe in love at the first sight?", Zhang Xuan asked.

"Not really, are you telling me that..."

"No, I'm not.", Zhang Xuan quickly replied.

"Then..."

"It's a bit complicated... would you listen to my explanation from start to its end, without any interruption?", Zhang Xuan asked.

"Sure", Huang Wen answered.

"If you felt annoyed or angry or anything. Please wait until I finish my explanation. Is that okay?",  Zhang Xuan asked for the second time.

"I will listen.", Huang Wen assured her.

"Okay then... It's not that I don't have any feeling for you. I ... I think I like you, probably love you, well, let's say it's not hard for me to imagine being your wife and... well... like that. But it's not like I can't wait to be your wife as well. I wouldn't rush into something like marriage base just on my feeling...."

Zhang Xuan paused for a while.

"I agree to be your wife, because I'm thinking about my family. I agree with your prediction that our current society is crumbling. Left unchecked, soon it will be strong prey on the weak but I believe that we could avoid such thing if there are people with power who uphold rules and law. The old rules perhaps are a bit too complicated with complex bureaucracy. We should come up with something simpler but enough to protect the weak and give some sort of justice system for those within."

"But it's possible and I want it to happen, because I have my little brother, my mother, my friends and other people I want to protect. Even if I could level up and have the power to defend myself. Alone I won't have the power to save other. We need society, we need rules and law. We need some sort of government."

"You want to marry me. Have you thought what would happen if we have children of our own? Should they live in hiding until they strong enough to protect themselves? Should we live day by day in fear and stress? Keep watching our surrounding 24 hours a day?"

"When I saw you, I saw someone who has the tenacity to be someone with great power but... it seemed that you are a bit too self centered... but at the same time you show that you're reliable. Somehow you make me feel that I can trust you and in this new world where the situation changes so fast... I guess that's why I decided to give myself to you. You can say that in a way, I'm using you for my own purpose. Do you understand now? Do you hate me for it?", Zhang Xuan ended her explanation and watched Huang Wen's expression.

Huang Wen felt a bit disappointed but at the same time he did understand Zhang Xuan's reasoning and applauded her decision. He thought about it for a moment before answered.

He shook his head, "No..., I don't hate you. In fact, if I think carefully about what you said, shouldn't I feel proud? You believe that I'm someone who you can rely on. How much a man could ask from his woman?"

"I know it's far from romantic... perhaps a bit business like... but that doesn't mean that I have no feeling at all. It's just that I choose you based on my rational decision rather than my feeling....", Zhang Xuan didn't dare to look at Huang Wen.

Huang Wen watched her expression and suddenly overwhelmed by his own feeling, 'This is my girl. This is my woman.'

His hand reached Zhang Xuan and pulled her closer, she didn't struggle against it and rest her head on his shoulder. Zhang Xuan relieved after she was knowing that Huang Wen could accept her explanation. Suddenly she felt Huang Wen's hand on her chin and gently lifted up. She raised her head and their eyes met. Her heart started to race faster.

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His hand was rough from days of using swords, but through the calloused hand she could feel his strength overflowing and that hand gently caressed her face. Slowly he moved closer and Zhang Xuan closed her eyes. She could feel his warmth ragged breath on her face, before his lips finally touch her lips. Soon they were kissing passionately. Zhang Xuan let her mind drifted away and simply enjoy the sensation that ran through her body as Huang Wen's hand gently explored the curves of her body.

"Wait...We're in my father's base... we're not out there...", suddenly Zhang Xuan's hand held on Huang Wen's hand, as his hand started to slip under her shirt.

They looked at each other, both with a reddened face.

"Sorry...", said Huang Wen.

"Would you mind to wait until we're married?", Zhang Xuan asked, her expression filled with worries.

"Sure... I'm the one at fault... I ... I think I was carried away...", Huang Wen answered.

"Thanks... I appreciate it.", Zhang Xuan then rest her head on his chest once again, she could hear Huang Wen's heart pounding.

To tell the truth, she could feel her body wants more too but she didn't want to be Huang Wen's plaything. Zhang Xuan wondered if this was enough to make Huang Wen returned after he was gone to search for his parent. Accidentally her hand touched the lower part of his body and could feel the bulging rock hard part, that was under the strained of his pant, struggling to free itself.

She took her hand away in shocked and raised her eyes to look at him. When their eyes met, both blushed even more.

Zhang Xuan didn't know where the idea came from, or where she found the courage to do it but keeping her eyes on his eyes, she bit her lips and braved herself.

Huang Wen's eyes widened as Zhang Xuan's hand courageously slipped under his shirt and adventurously slid down his pants. As her hands gently touch the part of him that despite the embarrassing situation insisted to demand the attention, Zhang Xuan couldn't keep her eyes to look at Huang Wen and hid it by resting her head on his chest. The last thing she saw was Huang Wen closed eyes.

Huang Wen let out a low growl as Zhang Xuan's fingers traced the path toward his towering part. She gently entangled it and let it escaped from its trapped position.

Zhang Xuan whispered, "Promise me, you will return to me..."

"I promise...I will complete all your father's requests then I'll come to marry you..."

Zhang Xuan looked into his eyes while blushing heavily and said, "I promise you... when you returned... I... I'll give you a present...And this just some hint about that present.."

She gently stroke and squeezed a few times and then pulled her hands out. She lightly kissed Huang Wen's lips and stood.

Huang Wen was looking at her, somewhat frustrated but trying to keep it controlled, finally he grumbled, "Argh... you're so evil..."

Zhang Xuan chuckled, "C'mon, I promise you, really, honestly, next time, okay?"

Huang Wen shook his head, "You haven't become my wife, but you already give me a headache."

"Well, are you regretting it now?", Zhang Xuan grabbed his hand and said while pouting cutely.

Huang Wen laughed, "Nah... I know you're going to be a headache from the start."

"Aw... you're so mean... I just teased you once and you already said that...", Zhang Xuan pretended to be angry.

"Well, you left me hanging now.", Huang Wen replied.

Zhang Xuan remembered and blushed, "Tsk... that's the punishment for what you did to me?"

Before Huang Wen could reply, she whispered to his ear, "Next time..., I won't leave you hanging."

She smiled gently, "I hope you could wait for that... but I'm yours ever since that day when you took my... you know... Please don't be angry. You're the first man for me."

"I know..", Huang Wen gently pulled her closer.

They walked back to Zhang Xuan's house, holding hand all the way to her house.

Next : Chapter 24.