The Ageless Dream

10.3 Unmasking Huang Zhao (42)

"Alright." Dong Li Hua agreed. She is about to leave when she thought of an idea. "Only if you agree in one condition." she faced Huang Zhao with a smile that wasn't a smile.

"One condition? Im only asking for you to take one set of clothes for me. Why is there a condition?" Huang Zhao is a bit annoyed. She is really taking advantage of him. Where did she come from that she have such courage to challenge a man? With that question in mind, Huang Zhao recalled that their investigation about her origin have no leads nor clue as if she appeared out of thin air.

"Because I have a request that you will surely disagree with." she pointed her index finger upward and hinted a fact. Dong Li Hua is a hundred percent sure Huang Zhao will reject her request but blackmailing him is effective to make him agree instead.

"Since you know I wont like it, then why ask for such?" his canine teeth showing up, annoyance can be discerned on his face.

"Sire General, that is the point why I added a condition. So, will you agree or not?" Dong Li Hua tilted her head. With Xiao Hu purring in her arms and coupled with her innocent charm, it was like Dong Li Hua is not doing anything wrong.

"Don't make me force you." Huang Zhao threatened when Dong Li Hua moved back within five meters quickly.

"I can run to the camp too if you want." she giggled softly. Dong Li Hua's threat is not ineffective as Huang Zhao gave up.

"Fine. I'll agree." he crossed his arms and looked away from her.

"Promise me first to assure you won't trick me." Dong Li Hua said to safeguard their agreement. Learning a lot from her very siblings tricking her every summer, it is quite useful now that she is making a deal with Huang Zhao.

"I, Huang Zhao, promised not to fool you." he formally said before clearing his throat. "Satisfied?"

"Mhmm! Xiao Hu, lets go." she stroked the kitten, secretly thanking it for helping her blackmailing Huang Zhao. Once Dong Li Hua left, Huang Zhao turned to the lake water. His reflection is within.

"Bullying me like this, I'll make you regret." he playfully whispered. No annoyance can be seen from his crystal-clear eyes as amusement replaced it. Huang Zhao held his mask, having reluctance to remove it. "What a brave little beauty. It's a shame I can't have her now."

"Hmm..." Dong Li Hua eyed at the rows of robes and trousers inside a closet. She smiled deviously and picked a green outer robe, orange inner robe and a black trouser. "I wonder what will Huang Zhao look like if he wears these." covering her mouth to stifle her laughter, she left Xiao Hu on the bed then placed the set of clothes inside a bag before heading back to the forest.

Reaching the deepest part, she hummed cheerfully, expecting a funny looking Huang Zhao after he wear the clothes she picked. "Sir General, I brought the new set~." Dong Li Hua said but Huang Zhao is not around when she noticed a pile of dark clothes on the waterside fo the lake.

She sauntered there to place the bag next to his clothes and saw a silver object lying nearby. After picking it up, she discovered it was Huang Zhao's mask. Dong Li Hua was stunned. This is her second tine to hold the mask but will she see Huang Zhao's real appearance?

Suddenly, a splashing sound echoed. Dong Li Hua gazed towards the white figure. His upper body is on the water surface, lean and taut. Huang Zhao's dark lustrous hair covered his waist and it floated behind him. Unfortunately, he is not facing Dong Li Hua.

"Huang Zhao." she called out incase he turned to her. Huang Zhao flinched but he didn't face Dong Li Hua.

"Mn?" he simply hummed to disappoint her expectations. "Why won't you show your face?" she frowned, stepping forward in every words. Her gaze settled on him the whole time.

"It's- I have a ruined appearance." he made out an excuse.

"Let me have a look- ah!" she was shocked to slip on a slippery rock. Dong Li Hua was thrown to the lake the moment Huang Zhao turned. She was unable to catch a glimpse of his visage. She tried moving but still being pulled downwards. Dong Li Hua is not a good swimmer, her eyes went teary while hoping for Huang Zhao to show up.

Soon enough, Huang Zhao came to her vision. He is covering his face again with the silver mask. Huang Zhao reached his hand to grab her wrist and held her chin. Pinching it lightly, her mouth gaped open slightly as he leaned down to give her a lingering kiss. Dong Li Hua's eyes rounded but she has to accept it for oxygen. She closed her eyes while frowning yet engaging with a fierce kiss with him. Her heart beats fast which she doesn't like at all. Because her nervousness spiked up, her mind went blank.

Huang Zhao embraced her closer and brought her to the water surface before parting slowly. He nonchalantly leaned on the waterside the same way as Dong Li Hua. She, on the other side, is coughing fervently. Dong Li Hua slowly lifted her gaze when she saw many pairs of feet before them.

"Seems like General Huang is busy." Meng Tian is standing in front of the group of soldiers. The corner of his eye twitched.

"Eh? Is that Miss Lizi?"

"It's my first time knowing mandarin ducks can join in a lake."

"What a...vigorous couple."

"Tell me General didn't do it here! Tell me General didn't do it here!!!"

"Oh, a new knowledge to be passed down."

"Hey, ask someone to add this in a f*******n book. They will pay you for this new *ehem! Hehe."

Dong Li Hua gulped and meekly hid behind Huang Zhao. She can feel his murderous aura, either he is embarrassed that they were caught by their seniors or angry at their presence.