As the silence between them extended, so did the discomfort in her heart. The confidence that she had when she confessed everything to him evaporated at a speed that science would not be able to explain its cause.

Now, she was having second thoughts. What if Mu Shen lied to her? What if she was not the one he loved and they were truly 'just friends' in his eyes at that time? What if he started having second thoughts about his feelings as she feared? What if he did not believe her in the first place and thought that she was spouting nonsense?

What was she going to do then?

"I wanted to tell you about it much before but…I was scared. I thought you would be having second thoughts about our relationship and…" She grabbed his palm as he glanced at her expressionlessly but the shock in his eyes was not hidden from her, "And in all this, I messed up. I am not lying to you this time. Trust me.''

He did not respond to her.

She blinked, "Zixuan, I-whatever you decide…just tell me about it," Maybe Mu Shen lied to her about it. She concluded in her mind, "Just know that I am Han Mei. The rest…I will leave it up to you,'' Her shoulders slumped slightly as she lowered her head, "You can decide what you want to do with our relationship. I will give you space-''

"I never wanted space," He twisted her hand, bringing it behind her back as he pulled her closer to himself.

Her body collided against his as she tilted her head to look at him.

He raked his fingers through her hair as he grabbed the back of her head, "I don't believe in such things. Another soul. Another body. Such concepts are strange to me for I have never heard of anything like that.''

Her eyes dimmed. So, he did not believe her but it was expected.

''But I trust you," He watched as the glow in her eyes returned within an instant, ''You remember the confession I told you about? I said that I will tell you something on our date today?"

She nodded as her eyes teared up. She blinked.

''I wanted to confess that I am seeing someone else in you. Whenever I look at you, I get reminded of her. I was afraid how you would react to that as it is really improper but…in the end, I had decided to tell you the truth lest you feel betrayed later," He pressed his forehead on hers, "But I just realized that it is you. It has always been you.''

"You really don't want space to think over it? Are you that sure?" She whispered against his lips,

"I am sure that I don't want space. I only want you," He tilted her face towards him, ''I have wanted you since the first time I saw you,'' His husky voice fazed her body in ways she could not explain.

But his words…Those words pierced right through her mind and her heart, "You mean…" So, Mu Shen did not lie to her? ''You mean that you-"

And all of a sudden, without any warning, his mouth was on hers as he kissed her roughly. One of his hands was on the back of her head, his fingers gripping her hair, firm enough to keep her head in place, just not enough to hurt her. His lips were completely unyielding as he pressed her hand on her back with one of his arms possessively wrapped around her waist.

He pulled back from when she did not respond.

She glanced at him through her dense lashes as she leaned closer to him, her actions demanding what her mouth was unable to.

His heart raced faster and faster as he watched her approaching him. It was like his heart was taking flips just at the sight of her.

He fell in love twice. Both times, it was her.

His guilt, his internal conflicts were non-existent at this point for now he knew who she was. Despite the doubts in his mind, he knew that it was her.

Han Mei. The person who never got off his mind even after all these years.

She was right in front of him. Not like a dream. Not like a fantasy. This time….she was so real.

He could sense her sweet scent lingering around him. As one of her arms wrapped around his neck, her fingers stroked his skin.

She was right in front of him. Not just as friends but with every recognition of what they meant to each other.

He closed his eyes and in one swift move, he took control of her lips yet again, kissing her roughly as his tongue slid inside her mouth.

She closed her eyes as he angled her head to a better position, taking more access to her mouth. Their bodies leaning against each other which she felt glad about. She was glad that his powerful body was supporting hers effortlessly for she was weak in her knees.

Would he let go of her, she was sure to drop down.

The realization came late but at least it did.

She tried to respond to his kiss with equal intensity but there was something different about the way he kissed her today, without any restraints, without any shackles.

Something magical.

They parted after a long hard kiss that rendered both of them breathless. She leaned her head against his chest but he stepped back from her.

She lost balance but before she could fall, he pulled her up in his arms in a Princess carry and walked towards the couch.

As he took a seat, she settled on his lap with her arms around his neck and her face still buried in his chest. Her breathing was still irregular.

His fingers grazed on her back, in gentle motions, "How?" He asked after a moment of silence.

She tilted her head to look at him.

Eyes covered in a layer of sheen, face flushed, swollen lips….she incited him beyond anything. His gaze darkened as he bit her lips before kissing her gently.

She leaned closer to him, tightly wounding her arms around his neck.

''How could it happen?" No matter how he thought about it, the idea of everything that she told him sounded very far-fetched.

Had it not been her who was telling him about this, he would have passed it off as a joke without a moment's delay.