"Apel, let's go. Don't let these guys ruin our mood." Seeing this, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, naturally took Apel's hand and led her away, a smile playing on his lips.
Just as he had said before, although it had been a while since they had last seen each other, this Italian national treasure, this European goddess, hadn't changed much. She was still as stunningly beautiful, and her every move was just as captivating. Men, after all, always yearn for beautiful things, whether they currently possess them or not… and clearly, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, was one of those men. Ahem, ahem…
"Ah, oh... sure." It wasn't until Chen Fei had naturally taken her hand that Apel seemed to snap to her senses. Her ravishingly pretty face instantly flushed a tempting shade of crimson, looking irresistibly alluring. However, compared to the shyer girls from his home country, a foreign girl like Apel was indeed much more straightforward and unreserved. She did what she wanted without hesitation or coyness.
So, when she finally registered what had just happened, a smile as radiant as a blooming flower lit up her beautiful, blushing face. She was so happy that she couldn't resist. She threw herself onto Chen Fei's back and wrapped her arms around his neck.
BANG.
She wobbled on his back like an exuberant, cheerful kangaroo. Anyone could see just how happy she was in that moment.
"Honorable Chen, thank you. You've stepped in to save me again," Apel whispered dreamily, her soft hands clutching his neck tightly.
"BANG!"
"After all this time, you're still pulling this routine on me? Behave yourself. You really expect me to carry you… pfft!" But this time, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, responded by mercilessly tapping her on the forehead, his face stern.
Yet, in the end, even he couldn't help but laugh. For some reason, other men who encountered this Italian national treasure, a charming angel considered a dream goddess across Europe, wouldn't have been able to pamper her enough. But him… he just had the urge to lightly tap that smooth-as-a-mirror forehead! He really couldn't help himself.
"Ow…"
In an instant, all feelings of gratitude and excitement vanished, replaced by a tearful, aggrieved whimper. Apel pouted indignantly, looking at Chen Fei with tears welling in her eyes.
"Does it really hurt, or are you just pretending? I'm not falling for it this time. Get down. You're too heavy for me to carry."
But who would have known that this time, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, wouldn't fall for her act? He just smiled and teased her playfully. This infuriated Apel so much that she ground her teeth, but lacking the courage to lash out, she could only feel helpless. Consequently, she just huffed twice with a pitiful look, slid off his back, and fell silent. Pouting, she looked just like a wronged little wife.
"Hey, I was just kidding. Are you that sensitive? You're not really mad, are you? I didn't mean it..." Seeing this, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, actually thought he had taken the joke too far and made her angry. He gave an awkward and uncomfortable laugh, wondering if he should apologize.
But what happened next instantly froze the awkward expression on his face. As the saying goes, what goes around comes around. When you're too mischievous, it eventually comes back to bite you! Because what followed was Apel suddenly stopping her act; she wasn't upset anymore! Instead, she wore the triumphant smile of a victor.
This scene was so familiar, wasn't it!?
"Haha, dear Mr. Chen, you're still so adorable. I tricked you again! You fell for it again! Haha, hahaha…" Apel hummed with sheer joy. All her previous "grievances" vanished in an instant, as if she'd eaten honey. Back then, in the top presidential suite of the Brad Family Castle, he had been fooled by this trick once before. To think he'd fall for it again today! Haha. Mr. Chen is just too cute, talking about how he wouldn't be tricked again. What a fool, haha, hahaha…
"I… you…" Chen Fei's face froze. A moment later, his expression darkened. He couldn't believe that he, ever the wise one, had suffered a moment of folly. He'd been duped twice by this foreign girl! Twice! This is the last straw!
Chen Fei shook his head and decided to follow Apel's lead, putting on an act of his own. He huffed and pointedly ignored her.
Unfortunately, his acting skills were nowhere near as good as hers. Apel knew he wasn't really angry and couldn't stifle her laughter, which only served to annoy Chen Fei even more.
But then, she stopped laughing. As if mustering her courage, she stood before Chen Fei. She said softly, her tone firm yet her expression betraying a hint of hesitation, "Chen, do you know? Since we last parted, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. Day and night, my mind is full of you. I can't even concentrate on work, and my boss yells at me every day… But I don't regret it. I know what I'm feeling. I like you. Whether you accept me or not, I just want to tell you that I like… you…" her voice hitched, trailing off into soft sobs.
For a woman to be the first to confess such feelings was mortifying, and it placed her in a vulnerable position. But Apel didn't regret it. She understood that this might be her only chance in this lifetime, even if it meant a moment of shame and humility. If she missed this chance, she would truly miss it, and she would regret it for the rest of her life! Besides, she was already prepared for rejection.
After all, what was Chen's status, his level? Even the most feared underground King in Italy treated him as a guest of honor! And for that minor incident before, the Brad Family had mobilized an army, not hesitating to offend both the Sicilian Family and the Aso Family in the process. In other words, Chen's importance to the Brad Family outweighed that of the Sicilian Family and the Aso Family combined? He was an unimaginable, true powerhouse. And for a being like that, what right did she, Apel, have to even look up to him? Perhaps rejection was to be expected… Dreaming of being an ugly duckling who turns into a swan, or of her own Cinderella story—wasn't that just laughable? This was reality, after all, not a dream.
However, what happened next left her mesmerizing, dark-green eyes wide with shock. An overwhelming surge of ecstasy erupted from within her, wild and uncontrollable.
With their skin mere inches apart, her soft lips were forcefully claimed, engulfed by a masculine presence.
"You asked for this. Now that you've fallen into my hands, you won't be able to run away even if you want to," Chen Fei's once-dense head had finally caught on. Their lips parted. Fixing Apel with a domineering stare, he proudly declared his ownership of her.
Apel stood frozen in place, stunned, as if unable to process what had just happened.
Chen Fei's large hand gave her porcelain-white hand a gentle squeeze. "Weren't you the brave one just now?" he teased. "Why are you so quiet all of a sudden?"
"That's not it… I'm just… I'm just a little overwhelmed. You're too domineering…" Apel defended herself, her face flushing as her voice grew softer and softer. And really, when had she ever experienced such an overpowering advance? It was a wonder she hadn't fainted on the spot; what more could anyone ask of her?
Is this really happening? Did she succeed? Did Chen accept her? Oh, God, this feels so much like a dream. It really feels like a dream… but it's so vivid, so real.
"Is that so? How about I give you some time to cool down?" Hearing this, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, smiled faintly. He released her hand and turned, walking gently toward the beach. Facing the afterglow of the setting sun, he found the scene breathtaking. Clearly, he wasn't completely clueless; he knew it was best to give Apel some space to calm down and clear her head. It would also give him a chance to compose his own emotions.
However, his method seemed to have no effect on the foreign girl.
"Don't! Why did you let go of my hand, my dear Chen? I like it when you hold me; it feels so good. Why don't you carry me instead? Please…?"
Apel followed him without hesitation, pouting and protesting. Yet her beautiful face was lit with a radiant smile as she lunged at Chen Fei, clinging to him like a little koala.