"Eat this," Ying Lili said, looking at the sweet between Sheng Li's lips. Sheng Li chewed the sweet inside his mouth and gulped. Licking his lips he said, "I ate."
"Do you want another?" Ying Lili asked, looking at the circular table.
"Those sweets aren't sweeter than your lips," Sheng Li remarked. Ying Lili widened her eyes. Sheng Li drew her closer to him and now she was on his lap.
"H-how could you say that?" Ying Lili complained and then pursed her lips together.
"Why can't I say that?" Sheng Li questioned her.
"Because it is not appropriate," Ying Lili stressed in each of her words. Sheng Li snickered, "No one is here. So, everything is appropriate between us." He put his forehead to hers. Their lips were so close to each other that Ying Lili could feel his breath. She closed her eyes, cherishing that moment. He leaned into her, connecting their lips. They stayed like that for a minute until Sheng Li heated the kiss by pulling her bottom lip and sucking it hard, thus earning a moan from her.
He shoved his tongue into her mouth, feeling the taste of the sweet they had eaten moments ago. Teasing her skillfully with his tongue, he pulled back. Both of their chests were rising and falling quickly because of this passionate kiss.
Sheng Li placed his hand on her slender neck and tilted it a little. Exposing the neck to him, he left feathery kisses on her neck and heard her giggles. Immediately, he bit her skin, resulting in a moan from her. The red mark appeared on her skin where her neck met her shoulder.
He lifted his eyes and met hers. Stroking her hair, he said, "There is something I want to show you." Ying Lili raised her eyebrow when she saw him taking out a red silk scarf from her eyes. His hand left her waist and held the scarf. "Close your eyes, Lili," Sheng Li demanded. Ying Lili, without questioning him, closed her eyes. Sheng Li tied the scarf around her eyes. "It's not tight, right?" Sheng Li questioned.
"Yes, it's not tight," Ying Lili replied.
Sheng Li kissed at the top of her head before lifting her in his arms. Her hands swiftly wrapped around him. He stepped out of the room with her.
"What is it that you want me to see?" Ying Lili curiously asked.
"You will know in a few minutes," Sheng Li replied to her. They were now outside the private chamber. Ying Lili waited patiently for his surprise. Sheng Li was walking through the corridor and soon they reached the Lotus Pavilion, which was surrounded by a small lake, filled with lotuses. Red and White Curtains were hanging around the Lotus Pavilion.
Sheng Li stepped on the stairs and reached inside the round Lotus Pavilion. He put Ying Lili down who reached her hands behind her head to open the scarf around her eyes. "WAIT!" Sheng Li grabbed her hands and put them down. Ying Lili lifted her face. "I will open it," Sheng Li stated. At that moment, Ying Lili looked like a Jade Star to him. He could not stop himself but planted a kiss on her lips.
Sheng Li placed his hands on Ying Lili's shoulders and turned her around. Sheng Li opened the knot of the scarf and pulled it away. "Open your eyes, Lili," Sheng Li whispered in her ear.
Ying Lili gradually opened her eyes and found her painting in front of her. She was on a swing with a transverse flute in her hand and behind her, a plum blossom tree could be seen. The light pink shade flowers were falling over her and her hair was swinging in the air.
The painting was flawless, making it alive.
"It's magnificent," Ying Lili proclaimed. "It feels like I am there," Ying Lili stated.
"I wish I could make such a painting. Alas! I am not good at painting. Though I recalled that day when you first visited my mother's place. So, I tried to convey to him those emotions which I had seen on your face," Sheng Li explained to her. On his birthday, when he took Ying Lili to his mother's secret place, he read every feature, every emotion of Ying Lili. It was his first time seeing a woman happy for him. That was the most precious moment for Sheng Li.
"It's perfect. Even if the painting is not drawn by you, but the emotions you had narrated to the Royal Painter are real," Ying Lili pronounced and tilted her head to look at him.
Sheng Li back hugged her, pulling her closer to him. He kissed her cheek and looked at the painting again. "That memory is precious to me. My heart fluttered that day for the first time," Sheng Li professed to Ying Lili. She turned to him and took the scarf, which was still in his hand.
"Let's play blind man's bluff," Ying Lili said.
"What's that?" Sheng Li asked.
Ying Lili astonishingly looked at him. "Don't tell me you never played this game," Ying Lili sternly said.
"Yes, I have never played this game," Sheng Li replied.
Ying Lili scoffed. "What did you even do for enjoyment as a kid? It's a very famous game among kids. I remember how Hu Jingguo and I used to play this," asserted Ying Lili.
"You and Hu Jingguo have played everything. You two know everything. Your friend indeed knows how to irk me even if he is not around. Play every game with me that you know and that you have not played with anyone." Sheng Li was annoyed just by hearing that Hu Jingguo had played games with Ying Lili.
"Oh, my husband!" Ying Lili pulled his cheeks, "Do you know when you act like this I love to tease you more," asserted Ying Lili.
"Let me blindfold you. You need to catch me with closed eyes. This is called 'Blind man's bluff'," Ying Lili pronounced.