Ten Years of Yearning. My Love, Let Me Protect You.

Luo Lixi was very curious. She glanced at the red water and unexpectedly, a faint scent of flowers spread in the room. It made her relax her nerves and gave the urge to drink it without holding back.

Madam Wang glanced at the closed door and then murmured beside her ear, "The thing my father gave me. It's a secret formula that most soldiers use when they are in the same position as you. It calms them down and gives them the energy to stay alert throughout the night."

Luo Lixi heard her and then gently shook the bottle. Even though she didn't say it aloud, Madam Wang knew what she was thinking. 

"Don't doubt it, child. I will never harm you. I used the quantity a normal person can have at once" Madam Wang whispered with a hurt expression. 

Luo Lixi hurriedly spoke out, "I didn't say it, aunty. Just that, the stylist has forbidden me to drink anything until the wedding ends."

However, Madam Wang took the bottle and took a sip. Then, she returned it to Luo Lixi. "Taking a sip. It won't cause you problems."

Luo Lixi gulps, her eyes moving from Madam Wang's assuring gaze to the bottle and she heaves out a sigh.

Under her encouragement, Luo Lixi finally took a sip. Also, she was very curious about the red substance which was looking so bright and mouthwatering. 

But as soon as she placed the mouth of the bottle on her lips, she couldn't control herself. Madam Wang saw her and sighed, "Girl, drink more. Water is needed for the body to keep yourself hydrated."

The further she drank, the more her eyes turned bright. Then, under Madam Wang's dark yet smiling eyes, she finished the whole bottle.

"Aunty, it's very tasty. What medicine is this?" Luo Lixi licked away the drop which dangled around the corner of her lips. She felt the urge to drink more and more and never to stop. 

Like a dream addiction but Luo Lixi didn't notice the abnormalities...

Madam Wang took the bottle and went to the little trash bin of the room without giving a reply. 

When she turned around, she saw that Luo Lixi was rubbing her forehead with a frown. When she arrived before her, Luo Lixi's hazy eyes stared at her.

"Rest for a minute." Madam Wang put a palm on Luo Lixi's face and gently made her eyes close. Luo Lixi's mind subconsciously heeded and her mind turned blank. 

Looking at the girl sitting obediently and falling into a momentary daze, Madam Wang grinned. Even though Luo Lixi's eyes were slightly open, nothing from outside entered her mind. 

Then, she moved to the back of Luo Lixi and gently moved the transparent veil to the side. 

With utmost gentleness, Madam Wang took out a very little injection from her purse, opened the lid and pressed it on Luo Lixi's back.  

The little needle pierced Luo Lixi's flawless skin and soon the green liquid was injected into her body. 

Luo Lixi's whole body shivered but her eyes were still dazed. When it was done, Madam Wang put the injection back in her purse carefully and went back to her earlier standing position. 

Snap~

Madam Wang made a loud snapping noise with her thumb and middle finger and instantly, Luo Lixi opened her eyes with confusion. "Umm, what's wrong?"

Madam Wang patted Luo Lixi's shoulder and murmured, "You got comfortable and fell asleep. It's not the right time for it yet…"

Luo Lixi glanced at the mirror. At her neck, she felt a vague pain. Subconsciously, she moved her hand behind her head to touch but Madam Wang grabbed her at lightning speed.

"Girl, you will ruin your style." Madam Wang's serious words made her stop but the painful and itchy feeling was becoming a little too much for her. 

"Aunty, my neck…" She whispered anxiously. A vague pain like being bitten by a mosquito and a strong sense to scratch it rose in her mind.

It was driving her insane with discomfort.

When Madam Wang saw the door opening, she softly asked, "What's wrong with your neck? Even if you are feeling uncomfortable, bear with it a little until the ceremony ends. I will leave. You should come with Sheng Ruming in a while."

Afterwards, Madam Wang didn't wait for Luo Lixi to say anything or to ask as she went up to the door while Sheng Ruming was coming in. 

When he raised his eyes, she said awkwardly, "I should leave you two now. Come down in the least time possible."

"Hmm." Sheng Ruming nodded. Madam Wang gave a slight nod and left hurriedly. Her face turned excited as soon as she walked out. 

From another room, Luo Tiankong walked out. He didn't step out from the doorframe and whispered, "Done?"

When both of their eyes met, Madam Wang gave a smile of victory. Luo Tiankong nodded and then went back to the room where his wife and daughter were.

He sat down beside them and didn't say anything and silently watched them talking ill about others. Mostly, whose dress was cheap, whose was expensive… etc etc.

…

Sheng Ruming walked in with a black box. Luo Lixi hurriedly stood up and waited for him to reach her. She called out urgently, "Ruming, you come here."

Sheng Ruming eyed her suspiciously. He went to her and placed the box on the table and turned his face to her and began to examine her.

Luo Lixi turned her back on him and lifted her transparent veil. She showed her flawless back to him and asked urgently, "Do you see something strange? I think a bug must have been bitten there. It feels itchy…"

"...itchy?" Sheng Ruming's eyes narrowed. 

"En." Luo Lixi made a sound. 

"I see… let me check." Sheng Ruming shifted his hands on her back and saw a little area that was a bit red. He rubbed it gently and Luo Lixi sighed in bliss. 

"It's too comfortable. Ruming, rub...it more."

"..." Sheng Ruming raised his eyes and saw the reflection of her in the mirror. Luo Lixi's eyes were closed as she enjoyed the feeling.

After several minutes had passed, Luo Lixi opened her eyes and cried out, "Done." 

Then, she smiled sweetly as she turned towards Sheng Ruming, "Ruming, I think I can go now without any fear. Let's go."

"I just rubbed it for five minutes or less and already you're looking so good and full of spirit? Something is fishy!"

Sheng Ruming gently stepped ahead and caressed the bridge of her nose and continued to say, "Spill out."

Luo Lixi squinted her eyes and gently lifted her hand and began to caress her ear slowly. The pearl earring shook with her motion.

Her eyes slowly drifted to the black box as she was saying, "You are right. Aunty gave me a secret medicine. After I have it, I am feeling much better. Not because… you rubbed it!"

"Really?" Sheng Ruming asked while looking at her. He didn't like that her attention was on another thing rather than himself.

Sheng Ruming snatched the box and put it back on the table. Suddenly being robbed of the thing, Luo Lixi was displeased. "You… humph!"

Nonetheless, Sheng Ruming made her sit on her seat and asked her from above. "Is your head still hurting?"

"En." Luo Lixi nodded her head. "There is still a vague kind of pain… around my forehead and neck."

Sheng Ruming checked her neck and immediately guessed, "Must be because of the lack of proper rest. After the ceremony ends, you should go to our room and rest properly"

Luo Lixi took a deep breath a couple of times and finally raised her head and smirked at Sheng Ruming meaningfully, "... If you really think so, it's enough."

When Luo Lixi said that, Sheng Ruming finally got back his mind. He rashly stated in a deadpan attitude, "I want to take back my words!"

Luo Lixi gave a mischievous smile, "You can't."

"..." Sheng Ruming watched her smiling and wanted to smile as well but he forced down his urge and put on a helpless front, "If you say so, what can I do?!"

Right after, Sheng Ruming turned towards the box. He opened it and then, a pair of similar shoes appeared. These were flat and looked more comfortable to wear.

Luo Lixi blinked and whispered, "Aren't these of the same design as my heels?"

However, Sheng Ruming didn't respond. He directly crouched down and lifted her legs. Then, with the utmost gentleness, he took off her heels. 

Luo Lixi appreciated what he was trying to do and stayed quiet. When he saw the little bruises around her ankles, Sheng Ruming glared at her in disapproval. 

"Lixi…"

"..."

"You are completely mine now. If you injure yourself again, be ready to get punished!" 

"..."

Luo Lixi pressed her lips tightly. As for what kind of punishments she would receive, only Sheng Ruming and his wicked brain knew~