Chapter 053 Sunbathing—"Aphelion"

Like a lotus rising from clear water—Le Xiaotian thought this would be the perfect phrase to describe Chen Fang at this very moment.

He had no idea how many times he’d swallowed nervously by now; all he could do was lament his own inability to withstand the allure of beauty. But then again, how could he help it, when he was a great hero after all?

He strolled to the beach chair and gulped down several bottles of water and soft drinks before the heat in his chest finally subsided a little.

At last, he glanced up at the sky and then, with a smile, suggested, “How about a bit of sunbathing?”

Chen Fang put down her glass, dried herself with a towel, and replied, “Sure, the sunlight’s perfect right now.”

Once she’d arranged herself on the lounger, Le Xiaotian picked up the sunscreen from the table and walked over to her. “Here, let me help you apply this.”

Meeting his gaze, Chen Fang seemed a little unsettled; she felt a passion she’d never known before radiating from him.

She didn’t know why, but she nodded her consent, and, a little shyly, lay down on her stomach on the beach chair.

Gazing at her smooth back, Le Xiaotian poured some oil into his hand and gently began to rub it in with his right hand.

The moment they touched, he could clearly feel Chen Fang’s skin tense up beneath his palm.

After kneading her back twice, Le Xiaotian murmured, “They say for it to work, you have to cover everywhere.”

Chen Fang didn’t reply, only grew even more rigid.

Realizing he’d asked a foolish question, Le Xiaotian, a surge of excitement running through him, undid the black strap.

As it loosened, he felt as if both he and Chen Fang had stopped breathing.

With a heavy exhale to steady himself, Le Xiaotian’s hands moved with gentle reverence.

As his palms glided across her skin, Chen Fang gradually relaxed. Though her ears still burned red, her body eased beneath his touch.

He massaged slowly, giving her time to adjust.

But as his hand drifted lower, his own breath grew heavier, until his movements finally came to a halt.

Sensing the fire inside him threatening to blaze out of control, he struggled to suppress it, reciting a passage from “The Nameless Source” under his breath: “Water gives birth to all things, water embraces all things; all things have names, yet none are eternal. Water is the source of names, water is the rule of names; source and rule are never constant. Water swallows names into emptiness, water merges names into the void; emptiness and void are never constant. Water deep is called an abyss, water shallow is called a hollow; abyss and hollow are never constant. Water below is called yin, water above is called yang; yin and yang are never constant.

Water light is called sky, water heavy is called earth; sky and earth are never constant. Water reversed is called darkness, water upright is called light; darkness and light are never constant...”

Meanwhile, Chen Fang’s breath was already ragged, a fire burning ever more fiercely through her, her legs pressed tightly together.

Finally, before she could lose all reason, she blurted, “Where’s Yuzhen?”

That did it. Too far. Le Xiaotian’s hands froze, and the blaze in his abdomen was instantly doused.

Clarity returned, and he diligently began applying sunscreen to the backs of her knees and calves.

He smiled as he worked, “I’ve sent her somewhere safe.”

The atmosphere having been thoroughly defused, Chen Fang exhaled deeply, relieved. That was close, she thought. She’d nearly lost control.

She managed a laugh, “So that’s why you dare act so bold?”

Le Xiaotian grinned, finishing up, “Don’t rush these things. We’ll take it slow. For now, all my focus is on Quan University—I don’t have time to shoot commercials.”

She gave his chest a playful squeeze and teased, “Is that so? I think you’re not nearly as dedicated as you say.”

Watching her coquettish manner, Le Xiaotian was utterly captivated. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

His blatant, even exaggerated, gaze made Chen Fang blush, her heart fluttering uncontrollably.

As for what was really between them, Chen Fang couldn’t say—were they lovers?

It seemed as though Le Xiaotian possessed an irresistible magnetism, drawing her in like a moth to a flame.

Since meeting him over a month ago, he’d come to occupy the most important place in her heart. She thought of him every day.

Looking back, her previous relationship barely seemed worthy of the word “love”—comparison had shown her the difference.

And yet she couldn’t be completely certain. For someone who always sought certainty, this was a dilemma without an easy answer.

So even now, she couldn’t quite decide whether to let Le Xiaotian win her over.

Sensing the heat between them rising again, Le Xiaotian, who hated being interrupted at such moments, declared, “That’s enough sunscreen—any more and I’ll catch fire. And then I’ll become a beast.”

Chen Fang burst out laughing.

Putting out his cigarette, Le Xiaotian chided her with a smile, “You’re too tempting. Go and put something on. Let’s go for a walk.”

But Chen Fang boldly leaned in close, her gaze tender. “Oh? Aren’t you afraid Yuzhen will get jealous?”

Lifting her chin, Le Xiaotian smiled, “You may not know, but I’m really easy to tease—especially by a beauty like you. If you keep it up, I’ll eat you up right here.”

His dark eyes seemed to melt everything, and as Chen Fang lost herself in them, a thrill of fear ran through her.

She was certain if she teased him any further, he’d pounce on her for real. Best not to play with fire!

In the end, Chen Fang chose to trust him.

Watching her graceful figure disappear into the room, Le Xiaotian gave a wry smile. “Damn, I’m throwing myself into the fire here. The days ahead will be hard to endure.”