Destined to be his Wife - Forced by Fate

A Kiss

“Thank you, Master Cai. Today’s lesson was enjoyable, and I really learned a lot.” TangShi bowed to her teacher, holding her bag as she was readying to leave and thanked him again for today. Time was passing so fast being in this school and her daily schedule here was a highlight of her life. She had found her love of painting again and her days were passing in relative happiness, compared to before.

“You are a good student. Rong was right about your talent and dedication, and I am enjoying seeing your skills grow, Miss. Lei.”

“That means a lot, thank you. I am so happy here, that words cannot express it. I bid you a good evening and shall see you bright and early.” TangShi bowed once more, full of the joy of having her respected tutor praise her and carried the rolled-up watercolor with her from yesterday. It was a practice piece while studying light on water, but she was incredibly proud of it and wanted to show YuZhi the piece. He was supportive of her time here and had hung her last lesson piece in his study at home.

“TangShi. Wait up.” Rong Cai called to her as she made her way to the gate, allowing him to catch up with her without fully stopping. She knew YuZhi would be waiting today as he had text her that he was taking an early day so he could pick her up.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Cai?” TangShi turned briefly, pulling the gate as she did so as she was eager to leave. They had plans for dinner and she was excited to see YuZhi after another couple of days of his absence. His work was slowing down enough to afford him one early night.

“How many times, TangShi? Call me Rong. We’re almost the same age. And I feel like we’re friends now…. friends don’t use titles.” He smiled, reaching over her head to open the gate fully so she ducked and quickly stepped aside so as not to end up in his armpit. Not overly comfortable with the way Rong always seemed to get very close to her in innocent ways. She couldn’t say he was not a nice guy, as he never openly did or said anything to make her doubt him. He was always pleasant and helpful and chatted to her respectively. It was just her own sense of personal space always felt invaded when he was close, and she was sensitive to it. He always seemed to find at least one instance a day to talk to her alone and never other students, so it made her wary. She wondered if it was because of how YuZhi reacted the first time they met, and it was a subconscious thing because he had told her to stay away from him.

“The school is thinking of hosting a small gallery in a month’s time. It’s a regular annual thing we do. Taking our promising students and showcasing them in an amateur gallery for a few days. Then we repeat at end of term with the same artists. It always brings a lot of interest, especially when those who regularly come get to see the progress in our students. It always fuels new applicants every semester.”

“Sounds amazing.” TangShi replied with only half interest, glancing over her shoulder into the carpark but didn’t yet see YuZhi’s jeep. Aware she was increasingly eager to get moving.

“I want Alice Lin to be one of the named artists. Of course, I know you like to keep her anonymous, but we don’t need to expose you. Just display your art and you can come as a guest to view the gallery showing. We can be go between for any interviews, so you don’t reveal your true identity.”

“That sounds awesome. I’m sorry though, can we talk about it tomorrow, as I really have to go. I hope that doesn’t sound rude; it’s just I have plans.” TangShi tried to politely rebuff him as she caught sight of the familiar black car turning in and her heart thumpity thumped at his appearance. A cross between excitement and nerves, because Rong Cai was standing practically hemming her in against the gate with his tall muscular frame and she knew YuZhi wouldn’t like it.

Rong Cai looked up and saw where her eyes flickered. Inwardly irritated at the appearance of the so-called boyfriend and pasted a smile on his face. He had searched them up after that first meeting, knowing a Leng would make headlines and was disgusted at the fact he had broken up with one girl mere months before TangShi dated him. His return of bad mood had lasted several days the first time he laid eyes on this asshole because he kept turning over the possibility he was using her as a rebound from his long-term model girlfriend dumping him. He felt TangShi was being used and would be discarded before long.

“Sure. Why don’t you come to my office a half hour before class tomorrow, when the two of us can discuss it. I’ll order some steamed buns for breakfast.” Rong moved back just enough for her to slide by, knowing to do so her body would skim his intimately. Aware he didn’t give her enough room and felt smug as the black jeep parked up with its bonnet facing this way. Full view of the two of them. He wanted that rich guy to feel threatened and know he wasn’t giving up on pursing her. If anything, a jealous fight between them might show TangShi he wasn’t a good guy.

TangShi hesitated and tried to flatten herself against the metal gate as she moved by him, turning so only her shoulder skimmed his abdomen and helped push him back to give her room. It was awkward and she nodded and mumbled an apology for bumping him as she sped past.

“Tomorrow then, bye.” She rushed out breathily and took off.

“Bye, TangShi. Tomorrow.” He smiled after her, waving and making a point of looking at YuZhi with a smug expression.

YuZhi got out of the car, having seen the way that Cai jerk was caging TangShi in against the gate and wall as she tried to leave. He could tell by her body language she was not happy and looking to escape and that asshole didn’t exactly give her any room. It riled that inner rage that this time was not just jealousy, but that fierce protectiveness he had for her. TangShi was firmly cemented in his heart as someone vulnerable and too sweet to be rude, and it made him crazy when people bullied her or took advantage of her nature.

Stalking towards them as she slid out, her face reddening at the body contact with him and YuZhi had to use all his will power to keep his expression blank and his mood controlled. This ass was smirking his way and making it obvious his intention was to rile YuZhi up. Only he didn’t have any idea who his opponent was, and it was clear there was a better way to piss this guy off than verbal b***h matches. If Rong thought it would start a fight between him and TangShi he was wrong.

YuZhi focused his eyes on TangShi who was walking towards him at a fast pace, seemingly flustered. YuZhi smiled as he relaxed his face and his heart raced at how much he wanted to run over and punch Rong Cai in the throat. Rong’s eyes on them, his attitude all over him like a black smog.

“Hi.” TangShi came up to YuZhi coyly, her cheeks were a little blushed and he could tell she was nervous about how YuZhi was going to react. Seeing as he had made an i***t of himself the last time he saw this guy all over her and wasn’t about to make the same mistake twice. Jealousy was never his thing and he had to be more controlled this time.

YuZhi pushed thought aside and acted on impulse. All that male testosterone on display and making sure that marking his territory was clear so this ghoul would stay away from her. He stepped the distance between TangShi and himself and swooped down with intent.

Catching her with a hand on each hip and tugging her into his body, he tilted his head, slid her close, and delivered a pecked kiss on her mouth that brought her to a shocked standstill. TangShi’s hands instantly landed on his shoulders in response as she gasped at his maneuver and became frozen still. YuZhi didn’t relent his hold and held her there for a long minute, more than necessary for a platonic peck on the corner of her mouth. Aware that the jerk would see it only from behind TangShi and assume the kiss was more passionate than it was.

He held his mouth to TangShi’s, her nose pressed to his cheek and only pulled away a hairsbreadth to separate them when he felt her starting to panic. Both breathing heavily and unmoving from their statue like positions.

Rong Cai snarled at the show of affection, turning away as soon as YuZhi leaned in and kissed her and stormed off back inside, slamming the gate as he went and cursing out that asshole Leng under his breath. He spent all this time trying to get close to TangShi, being the gentleman, the friend, and this rude ass swoops in and publicly kisses her like he owns her. It made him crazy.

YuZhi waited, until he heard the smash of the metal gate clanging as it closed, and mentally high fived himself. Too immersed in his pissing contest to feel anything about kissing her this time. He knew it was petty and immature, but something about Rong rubbed him up the wrong way. He hated how he fawned over TangShi whenever he saw him with her.

He was now aware of the way TangShi was gawping at him with labored breathing, her eyes wide and her lips slightly parted in shock and felt guilty. He knew he shouldn’t have sprung that on her like this, but damn that guy needed a clear message to back off. He would maybe stop harassing her.

“YuZhi?” TangShi uttered nervously, her words coming out strained and quiet as her voice wavered and YuZhi loosened his grip on her. Leaning back to give her breathing space but not fully letting go.

“I’m sorry. I just missed you a lot these past few days and that guy knows how to rile me. It was for his benefit. I’m sorry, don’t think too much on it.” YuZhi apologized, mumbling his excuse, turned, taking her hand in his and led her back to his car. Fully aware of how flustered she was and yet he wasn’t sorry at all.

“If Rhea saw that….” TangShi caved, her own sense of guilt eating away at her and allowed YuZhi to lead her and deposit her in the jeep before she fully calmed herself down. Blinking his way as he got in too and they both put on their seatbelts.

“She needs to get used to things that are nothing to do with her.” He answered under his breath, not quite loud enough for Tang to hear yet she caught it, only just.

Unlike that time they kissed properly, YuZhi seemed unaffected and like he had not done anything at all wrong this time. While TangShi’s heart was racing, butterflies were going wild in her stomach, and she was lightheaded. Her thoughts hectic over the way his soft lips had pressed to hers and she couldn’t remove the memory of how he felt and smelled when that close to her.

It was a nothing kiss, a literal pressing of his closed mouth on hers and yet TangShi was completed knocked for six. Maybe because she was aware her feelings for him were growing stronger the longer she was around him, that the simplest of touches were starting to be meaningful lately. So this one blew her mind.

“Tang? Did you hear me?” YuZhi snapped her out of her dazed state by putting his hand on hers as they drove home. Making her flinch in surprise because she wasn’t aware she had zoned out.

“What?” She balked his way, unsure what she missed and tried to pull herself together. Knowing she was being weird and should ignore that peck as nothing, the way he seemed to be doing.

“I said where to? What do you want for dinner? Japanese, Western, Korean?” YuZhi really was not overthinking it at all, and happily focusing on what to put in his stomach. Maybe because this time was with intent and in his head had a purpose, whereas the last time, was purely emotional.

“Ummmmm….. you pick. I don’t mind.” She turned away to stare out the side window, pressing her palm to the cheek that was shielded from him to cool her temperature and tried to bring back her sense of calm

“I fancy sushi. We’ll go hit a Japanese restaurant then. Also, did ZhengLi give you the schedule for the upcoming events we need to attend. He said he would put in a brief about each, so you know exactly what to expect and wear. Use your credit card and I’ll sort out the bills.” YuZhi was already focused on other things, and she tried to regulate her breathing to sound normal.

“kayyy.” She answered halfheartedly, her mind elsewhere. Unable to figure out YuZhi’s two extremely different reactions to the same thing.

“Hey, you okay?” YuZhi reached out and planted his hand over her head, cupping the top gently, his thumb rubbing her hair as he turned her to him, and she smiled impulsively.

“I’m fine. I just….. I didn’t expect the kiss, after what happened ….” She didn’t want to bring up the last time as he had abandoned her for days after.

“I’m sorry. Although, you should get used to the occasional peck given we will be expected to do it sometimes. Red carpet events normally have some degree of photographers demanding kiss shots. It’d be weird if we never do it.” He shrugged, letting go of her to signal a turn off and went back to focusing on the road.

“Right, of course.” Her face flamed again, her breathing raspier as she hit a full-on flutter and YuZhi side eyed her with a small frown.

“You can’t act like that if we ever do it in public, Tang. It’s obvious I don’t kiss you if you freak out and clutch your pearls.” He smiled, a mischievous look on his face, amused at her, and TangShi reddened further.

“It was unexpected, if I had known…maybe I wouldn’t be so flustered.” She tried to excuse her obviously weird behavior.

“Should I pull over and do it enough times I can no longer shock you with it?” YuZhi winked, playful at how much this was turning her into a sweet virginial mess. He never thought TangShi would be overly prude to a peck, given eight years ago he had his tongue in her mouth around an hour after meeting her.

“What?!?! NO!!” TangShi squealed it at him, thinking he was serious and slid away with wide eyes and raised palms as though he was going to maul her to death. Mortified, embarrassed, and excruciatingly shy.

YuZhi burst out laughing, reaching out to catch her pointer finger in between two of his and shook her hand to mock her. Eyes on the road, but his genuine warm laugh echoed around them and lightened the mood. TangShi rarely heard him laugh and when he did it, was the most melodic sound. He had a sexy voice anyway, but his laugh was particularly nice.

“You’re so easy. Relax. I promise next time I have to do it; I’ll warn you first. It shouldn’t be something we have to do often but maybe we should do it a few times to stop the shocked reaction. You look about ready to cry or faint. Was it really that bad?” YuZhi headed in the direction of his favorite sushi bar and kept glancing her way as she returned to sitting properly and straightening her dress. Smoothing her hair in a bid to calm back to a normal level.

“Sometimes, I really don’t trust you.” She joked, smiling at him with a reserved shyness and got a wink in response. YuZhi reached out and smoothed his hand over her head and down her ponytail.

“You can always trust me. I promise, Tang. I’ll always protect you even if sometimes my methods seem a bit weird.” YuZhi was back to serious and scolded himself mentally, that if there was ever a next time he should prewarn her before lunging on her.