I See Roses

I See Roses – Chapter 44

Back when Cheng Yu used to tease Yu Chuan, he often nagged about him staying in the lab all day without exercising, warning him to beware of getting weak.

Ke Lijie couldn’t stand it and would often hum in response, “Oh please, Yu Chuan exercises with Brother Xian all the time. It’s a load of nonsense about him being weak.”

At this juncture, Ming Si didn’t know why she suddenly remembered this scene. Then, only fragmented phrases remained in her mind…

Brother Xian, exercising, not weak.

Just a moment ago, she had been sitting in her place. Before she could feel frustrated about the failed retort just now, Liang Xian effortlessly lifted her up and sat her on his lap. Due to inertia, her body quickly leaned back. Startled, she grabbed onto his shoulders. However, in the next second, her waist was tightly embraced and guided, instantly restoring her balance.

Still a bit shaken from the surprise, Ming Si was rather angry, “Liang Xian! I almost hit the back of my head just now!”

Liang Xian’s hands circled her waist, and he chuckled. “No, you wouldn’t have.”

“How do you know I wouldn’t? What if I hit my head and got a concussion?” Ming Si raised her face with a pout, “You’d be legally responsible for that.”

She actually wouldn’t have gotten hit on her head.

Liang Xian took hold of her hand, interlocking their fingers, and chuckled playfully, “I just wanted to hold my wife. Why would that make me legally responsible?”

Wife.

The word left Ming Si in a daze, causing pink bubbles to almost pop up in her mind. After coming back to her senses, she regained her composure, lifted her hand, and poked his face with an inquisitive gesture, “Why do you say it so naturally?”

Liang Xian caught her hand and let it go, teasing her, “Isn’t it the truth? Besides, you seemed like you were considering…”

“I wasn’t!” Ming Si quickly interrupted him, averted her gaze, and crossed her arms with a chilly expression, “Who said I want to share a bed with you?”

“Well, how about girlfriend then,” Liang Xian adapted just as quickly, his gaze carrying a smile, “Is that fine?”

Ming Si reluctantly nodded after a moment, then continued, “But still, we should experience the process.”

That process from liking each other to holding hands, embracing, kissing… every second, every moment of that ripple, she wanted to magnify it so she wouldn’t miss a thing.

They couldn’t just jump straight into the husband-and-wife mode.

It wouldn’t be romantic at all.

Liang Xian chuckled and replied, “En.”

“Moreover, if it wasn’t for the arranged marriage, you might still be chasing after me right now,” Ming Si suddenly thought of this, a trace of smugness appearing at the corner of her eyes. She pointed at his nose with her index finger, “You wouldn’t even have a girlfriend right now.”

In her current position, seated on Liang Xian’s lap, she was almost like a princess being carried. Her legs swung lightly, her fair and straight legs occasionally peeking out from under her bathrobe. Every line looked beautifully taut.

Liang Xian’s Adam’s apple moved slightly.

Unaware, Ming Si continued to gloat and asked him, “Isn’t that right?”

She looked to the side, waiting for his answer, but coincidentally met his gaze.

Liang Xian had very standard peach blossom eyes, with a gentle curve and slightly lifted corners. At this moment, his gaze seemed to deepen slightly.

Being stared at by such eyes felt a little dangerous.

Ming Si stopped moving her feet and withdrew them back, leaning against his leg, before lifting them up again and placing them on the coffee table.

Then, her gaze returned to Liang Xian’s face, and she gently bit her lip.

Outside the window, the sky was overcast and dark, while inside the room, bathed in warm-toned soft light and the scent of cedarwood, a young man and woman embraced each other.

Liang Xian held her waist with one hand and lifted her face with the other, guiding her to lower her head, and then, he kissed her.

Later in the evening, the two of them went downstairs to cook. Even though Ming Si didn’t wear any lipstick, her lips were rosy from the kisses, displaying a moist sheen. After looking at herself in the small mirror, she angrily tapped the mirror against Liang Xian’s body, “Scoundrel.”

Young Master Liang had no way to argue, so he rolled up his sleeves and went to the kitchen to cheer her up by cooking.

Since they were abroad, they might treat it as a vacation. Their business competitors wouldn’t be able to catch up with them here. The bodyguard Shi Tai, who was relatively free at the moment, took on the versatile task of buying groceries.

He came back carrying bags of various sizes. He then placed these bags on the kitchen bar before exiting the kitchen.

Leaning against the refrigerator door, Ming Si had no intention of helping. She smiled as she watched Liang Xian take out ingredients one by one and occasionally chatted with him.

However, Liang Xian was busy cooking, and she was worried that constantly talking to him might affect the quality of dinner.

So, when Shi Tai passed by, she stopped him.

Ming Si turned around, preparing to start the conversation from a work standpoint, “How long have you been working under Liang Xian?”

Shi Tai answered truthfully.

“After coming back to the country, you’ve spent more time with him than I have,” Ming Si turned her head, feeling annoyed at Liang Xian’s back.

Shi Tai remained silent.

She turned back, “Can you cook?”

Shi Tai: “Yes.”

Ming Si found this bodyguard quite amusing. He was reticent and seemed to lack enthusiasm, yet there was sometimes a strange nosy quality about him. And he could cook.

It’s quite strange. Ever since she developed feelings for Liang Xian, she also became interested in the people around him. It was as if she wanted to know more about him through them.

Shi Tai considered walking away several times.

But as soon as he saw the lazy glances Liang Xian occasionally cast over at Ming Si, he felt a chill down his spine.

“When did you learn to cook?” Ming Si didn’t notice anything unusual and continued to chat excitedly with Shi Tai.

“Shi Tai, go check the yard.” Liang Xian’s voice, neither loud nor soft, came from the kitchen.

Shi Tai felt as if he’d been granted a pardon and wiped away most of his cold sweat. He left in a hurry.

Ming Si: “…”

She realized why the young master suddenly started picking on her. She pressed down the corners of her lips that were slightly curled upwards, turned around, placed her hands behind her back, and strolled over to him. She leaned in, sniffed carefully, and then elongated her tone as she exclaimed, “Ah, it seems there’s a hint of vinegar smell1.”

Thinking that Liang Xian might deny it, she was surprised when he casually put down the knife and turned his gaze towards her. His voice held a hint of danger as he asked, “Chatting with other guys right in front of me, care to explain?”

She had thought Liang Xian wouldn’t admit it, but to her surprise, he casually put down the knife, his gaze flicking over, his voice carrying a hint of danger, “Flirting with other men right in front of me, care to explain?”

“Hmph.”

Flirting? Weren’t those questions all about you?

“With such an improper attitude, come here,” Liang Xian had just finished cutting vegetables and his hands were only slightly wet. Before Ming Si could run away, he pulled her back and kissed her on the forehead. He hadn’t put on a stern face yet, but a smile had already formed at the corner of his lips, “Don’t let it happen again.”

Ming Si finally couldn’t help but retort, “I approached him because I wanted to learn about you.”

“Directly approach me,” he finished, paused for a moment, then his lips curled up, “You can learn about me in any way you want.”

“…”

Dinner was Italian pasta, red wine, fragrant roasted lamb chops, and potato wedges. Ming Si noticed that Liang Xian was quite adept at making Western dishes.

“Don’t like it?” After hearing her assessment, he placed one hand on the edge of the table, “I can make Chinese dishes as well.”

“I like it,” Ming Si sat at the dining table, resting her chin on her hands as she gazed at him. Perhaps feeling a bit guilty for not helping while he was busy, she even added in an unusually direct and affectionate manner, “I like everything you make.”

Liang Xian chuckled.

They then discussed their plans for the next day.

Ming Si would know the results of the design competition in the morning. If she secured the first place, she would meet with the founder of the brand, Merald, in the afternoon.

She wasn’t particularly nervous and she enthusiastically shared her design ideas with Liang Xian. Words alone were insufficient, so she even sketched out a diagram for him.

Finally, with a serious tone, she asked, “Do you think I truly deserve the first place?”

“Yes.”

“What if I don’t get the first place tomorrow?”

“They’re blind.”

Ming Si smiled contentedly. She liked how he always unconditionally stood by her side. Then she heard Liang Xian ask, “Isn’t Merald the heir of that silverware aristocratic family?”

She nodded, “But he didn’t inherit the family business. Do you know him?”

“Not exactly,” Liang Xian answered. Facing her inquisitive gaze, he finally explained, “He used to pursue my mother.”

Ming Si choked.

She felt like she had just bitten into a piece of gossip concerning their elders. For a moment, she didn’t know how to react to this piece of information.

Moreover… she hadn’t heard him say the word mother in a long time.

Liang Xian handed her a tissue, his expression calm and serene, without revealing any specific emotion, “After my mother fell ill, he and his wife visited her a few times.”

Liang Xian was still young at that time. After Merald left, he had overheard his mother talking to a doctor. His mother had some psychological issues and needed regular counseling from a psychologist.

From their conversation, he had only extracted a few key words. As he grew older, he pieced together bits and pieces and probably reconstructed the whole story.

In essence, Merald pursued his mother, but his mother’s heart was set on Liang Zhihong. She was so infatuated with him that she even chose to sever ties with her family to marry him.

The Bai family was a prominent overseas Chinese family in the UK. His mother marrying Liang Zhihong, who wasn’t highly regarded during the struggle for inheritance, was indeed considered marrying beneath her.

Over the years, what stuck with Liang Xian the most was the doctor’s exclamation: One was the heir of a silverware aristocratic family, the other was… sigh, how could you make the wrong choice.

At that time, his mother seemed to sigh and say: Because I love him.

However, this love probably had already been depleted through countless trials and tribulations.

Liang Xian was immersed in his memories, lost in thought for a moment.

At some point, Ming Si had already walked up to him, cautiously embracing him from behind. Her chin rested on his neck, and her voice sounded a bit muffled, “If you’re upset, you don’t have to say anything.”

Liang Xian lifted his hand and caressed her hair, whispering softly, “I’m not upset.”

“Really?” Ming Si looked at him skeptically, “But…”

He held her hand, “Really.”

“Well… next time you go to the cemetery, can I go with you?” Ming Si asked, and then playfully added, “After all, I’m the daughter-in-law personally chosen by your mother. Aren’t you going to show her that you managed to deceive me?”

Liang Xian chuckled softly. “Sure, I’ll take you.”

In the end, the saying people’s hearts are fickle was probably not wrong.

In the past, he had never imagined that someone would occupy a special place in his heart.

The next day, the rain continued, but it gradually lessened, falling gently. The sky over Venice remained dim, but it wasn’t as annoying as it had been when they first arrived. Perhaps it was acquiescing to their mood.

As soon as Ming Si left the venue, she excitedly called Liang Xian to share her good news. When the call connected, she coughed lightly in a very reserved manner, “Mr. Liang, guess what position I got.”

On the other end of the line, Liang Xian’s voice was slightly deeper, carrying a hint of amusement, “Judging from your expression, they probably weren’t blind.”

Ming Si took half a second to react and immediately raised her gaze to look.

Beside the couch in the lounge, there was a tall potted plant. Its broad leaves stretched out freely; one of the leaves happened to rest on the man’s shoulder.

Liang Xian stood by the potted plant, dressed in a thin black coat, his shoulder line clean and neat. With a handsome face that carried a smile, he extended his arms toward her.

Ming Si walked over, gradually picking up the pace until she was almost running. He caught her firmly in his embrace. The leaves of the potted plant brushed over his shoulder, falling quickly behind him.

“We’re still in public,” Ming Si said in a shy manner, yet she didn’t show any intention of letting go. In his arms, she tilted her head back and asked, “When did you arrive?”

“Just a short while ago,” Liang Xian chuckled lightly, teasing her, “First place, what reward do you want?”

“Rewards? Am I in primary school?” Ming Si put on a disdainful expression, and then she buried herself deeper into his embrace, honestly saying, “My small wish is for you to accompany me to explore the small shops in the alleys tonight.”

The streets and alleys of Venice were like hidden paradises.

Yesterday, as Liang Xian carried her along the way to the villa, she happened to see small shops selling fresh flowers, porcelain, and glass products. In the rain, these shops sparkled with radiant colors. Yesterday, she had looked at them for a long time while being carried on his back.

“What about the big wish?”

“I want you to be at my beck and call when we explore those small shops. The time limit is the kind that lasts a lifetime,” Ming Si said quickly, supplementing her statement.

Liang Xian was momentarily taken aback, sensing the underlying affection in this gentle expression of love. He gradually broke into a smile, “Sure, I promise you.”