The Ageless Dream

18.1 Xiang Gonzhi's Favorite (70)

Dong Li Hua inclined on the door. She won't let Xiang Ji get in. Xiang Ji is the amorous young master of the military family Xiang Clan and a lot of gossips had reached her side after staying here for three days. Every woman he is interested in always ended up in his bed. Some of them were noble ladies who lost their chastity to him and his promises of marriage were left empty.

"Miss Fei Yu." on the other of the barrier separating them, Xiang Ji is leaning on the wall while his arms were crossed in front of his chest. He turned his head sideways to look at the closed door. "I investigated your background but Madame San is already dead so I went to look for a family surnamed Fei. There is a commoner here with that surname but they claimed they don't have a relative called Fei Yu."

"Xiang Gongzhi [1], please state what you want." she frowned. From his words, she knew he is prepared to blackmail her but how?

"Since no one knew a person named Fei Yu, that means you are not a civilian of Xiang. I can guess you have nowhere to go to after the release." Xiang Ji's lips curved into a playful arc. He can hear her breathing stutter which meant he made the right guess. "I have a job to offer. If you accept it, you have to comply to only one condition."

"Tell me the condition first." after a brief silence, Dong Li Hua finally answered. If it's an unacceptable condition, she will decline and let fate help her through luck.

"Simple. Do as I say."

The door suddenly opened. Dong Li Hua wore a look of scorn and she barely held her annoyance. "I refuse." she stepped out them closed the door. To get Xiang Ji leave her, she has to pretend to visit one of the girls brought here the same day as her. Xiang Ji followed her with a carefree spirit, both of them passing through open hallways while the early winter breeze accompanied their silhouette.

"Its just an easy condition." Xiang Ji persuaded and walked next to her.

"If I were to do what Xiang Gongzhi wants, wont I be like a slave?" she snorted, entering deep in another corridor.

"Where are you going?" he asked, seeing that she is going to another room. As he anticipated, she stopped in front of the door and knocked.

"Miss Fei Yu?" a young girl with the same age as her opened it. Because of her unique eye color, Dong Li Hua was well-known in the group. Its surprising she visited someone she never contacted before.

"Oh. Feng Ning." the young man showed up behind Dong Li Hua. He waved his hand with an amiable expression that Feng Ning blushed.

"You know her?" Dong Li Hua raised a brow. Xiang Ji nodded with a proud look while Feng Ning's blush intensified. With their current reaction, Dong Li Hua assumed Xiang Ji must have plucked a flower from the garden...

"Feng Ning is actually affectionate. There is also Wang Li, Qiu Ran, Yan Suling, Shi Taozi, Tie Cui'er..." Xiang Ji started naming almost half of the youngest girls from the flower house who stayed in the manor. Dong Li Hua doesn't know how to respond. He basically did it in three days? How is that- he's not carrying HIV, is he?

Thinking it through, its better to distance herself from him. Xiang Ji became the worst man she met aside from 'Huang Zhao' and Du Feng. Too frivolous, ah.

"Hey, don't go. Im just jesting." he saw her walk back to her residence. Xiang Ji finds it funny teasing that always stoic girl. With her thoughts written on her face, he knew what she has been thinking but in truth, Xang Ji never meant to make her think of that. Sure, he and Feng Ning had dine the deed but those women he named were not touched by him. How in the name of Yue Lao [2] will he survive in three days of doing that?

"Xiang Gongzhi, I do need a job and I would have accepted your offer but not under such rule as obeying you. This girl is not a puppet who needs to be controlled." Dong Li Hua stopped and told him what she wanted. He really wont leave her alone which gave her a headache. Unlike the obedient cute bun Ying Zheng, Xiang Ji is more unruly.

"You're no puppet. Fei Yu is a wild bunny that needs to be tamed and loved." Xiang Ji stepped forward as she retreated. "No worries though, its not like I'll ask for something you wont willingly give."

"I can't trust your words." she glares, knowing the meanings behind his words.

"Miss Fei Yu." he slowly called her fake name and leaned down. Xiang Ji pressed his palm on the wall behind her. "I, Xiang Ji, am a gentleman. For my whole life, I never forced a lady."

"What is the job?" Dong Li Hua is still doubting him. However, she can guess those flowers were the one who pressed him down instead.

"There is a restaurant not far from here, looking for a waitress. They also offer a housing for employees." Xiang Ji smiled victoriously. She is now starting to lower her guard on him and he admits, its quite difficult to make her agree.

"Fine..." she turned her head sideways to avoid his gaze.

"Hm." his lips turned to a genuine kind curve yet mixed with haughtiness. He pinched her chin to make her look at him. Xiang Ji inclined downwards to skim through her lips but she was able to evade it by moving her head backwards. This made him pause.

"X-Xiang Gongzhi, Im not- Im not a girl who is cheap or easy to get." Dong Li Hua stammered. She nearly got kissed by a different man!

"Is that so." he slowly let her chin go. Xiang Ji nonchalantly placed his hands on his waist with his playful smile coming back. "Then I'll pursue you with more  effort. Until I can finally afford your response."

[1] gongzhi- young master

[2] Yue Lao- he is the god guarding the red strings and binding them for mortal lovers