A Song For A Summer’s Night - Chapter 102

“What do you mean he wants to challenge you?” Su Xiang asked him.

Xun Zichen stared at the ground, almost spacing out. “It’s about honour,” he told her.

“Honour?” she questioned.

“Song Ren told me that the succession of the organization is hereditary. It’s a traditional duel between family members, and whoever is left alive, will succeed it,” Xun Zichen responded.

Su Xiang approached him quickly, taking his hands in hers. “You don’t have to fight him, we can leave,” she whispered to him. “We can run away.”

Xun Zichen gave out a sad smile. “You know we can’t do that, Xi. We have everything here,” he said.

Su Xiang pursed her lips. “At least for today, can we please forget about families, traditions, and people trying to kill you?”

Xun Zichen nodded, “of course,” he replied. “Why don’t we go to a hotel?”

Su Xiang raised a brow.

“It’s not what you think,” he continued to say, “you feel unsafe here now, and for the night, let’s forget about everything.”

Su Xiang nodded. “All right,” she said.

Xun Zichen’s apartment used to be an escape from troubling times, a haven. She felt comfortable and at ease there than her own home. But the Cloak shook her to the point where the space of his apartment, did not feel safe anymore. But, she had to remind herself that anywhere with Xun Zichen, would do.

Su Xiang and Xun Zichen checked the apartment before leaving, locking everything up.

They took overnight bags and drove to the next city over, checking into a hotel.

The receptionist passed them their room key, and they walked to their large suite.

Inside, they settled their things down on the bed.

Su Xiang felt like she desperately needed a wash. “I’m going to shower first,” she told him.

Xun Zichen nodded, continuing to make some preparations.

In the shower, Su Xiang scrubbed her body thoroughly, trying to remove the blood from her nails. After she finished, she twisted her hair, squeezing out the water before using a towel to scrunch it dry.

In her robe, she went back into the room, and Xun Zichen hopped into the shower right after.

Su Xiang was about to change into her clothes when she heard someone knock from the room door.

Shit! Su Xiang glanced around, but she realized that Xun Zichen was still in the shower. She then tightened her robe, walking to the door, looking through the peephole, and it was an employee.

She opened it, and he told her it was room service for Su.

He then entered the room with a trolly full of meals and desserts, a bottle of champagne, and a single rose.

The man placed the food on a table and left the room shortly after. Su Xiang smiled, and Xun Zichen stepped out of the steamy shower, wearing nothing but a towel over his waist.

“What do you think?” he asked, walking towards the table.

Su Xiang grinned further. She made slow steps towards him, circling her arms around his neck. “I think you know me well,” she said.

Xun Zichen leaned in for a kiss, when Su Xiang parted from him and said, “I mean, I just love food so much, and you got my favourites.” Her eyes sparkled, and she sat down, digging through her meal. Xun Zichen sighed, realizing he lost her attention to food, though he wasn’t upset at all.

Xun Zichen joined her for dinner, eating through their meal. After they finished, Xun Zichen slumped on the bed, flat on his back, closing his eyes due to feeling tired from the large meal. As he was resting his eyes, he felt the mattress sink a bit as Su Xiang joined next to him.

He opened one eye, and she looked at him with an innocent smile. “Can I put this clay mask on you?” she asked. “I brought it with me.”

Xun Zichen hesitated at first, but by seeing her expression, he couldn’t help but say yes.

She then sat him down on her lap, applying the cool mask over his face. “This will help purify and balance your skin,” she said, using a small brush. Xun Zichen arched a brow, but he closed his eyes, allowing her to sweep his hair aside, putting it on his face.

After she finished, she put it on her own face, turning off the lights right after, returning to the bed, waiting for the mask to dry. She flipped on the television, switching channels. “What do you want to watch?” she asked Xun Zichen.

“Anything,” he replied.

Su Xiang wasn’t interested in watching anything, so she put on a music program. On the television appeared her favourite artist performing.

She hummed the tune while interlacing her fingers, Xun Zichen’s hand. He watched her with adoration and fondness, thinking about the lyrics and how they were about loneliness and cynicism.

He then had an idea.

He hopped off the bed, pausing the pre-recorded performance. He then retook Su Xiang’s hand, gesturing her to follow him. They went into the washroom, washing the clay from their faces, flushed.

He then led her to a spot in their hotel room, resuming the program, placing a hand over her waist, and holding one of hers, lifting it.

“Are we going to dance?” she questioned softly.

“Yes. I recall that we never really get these opportunities in public,” Xun Zichen said.

Su Xiang slid her free hand up his arm, over his shoulder.

She let him take the lead, taking each step carefully. He held her waist tightly, making slow circles in rhythm to the music. He then twirled her around, tucking her in firmly when she made a full circle.

Su Xiang smiled, enjoying herself. She clung to him, resting her head on his chest. They wordlessly listened to the song, embracing, slow dancing.

Xun Zichen then dipped her backwards, arching her back. She titled her head back, lifting a leg. He then pulled her back up gently and slowly, still holding her leg around his waist. He kissed her on the lips softly, like a light stroke on a canvas.

When the song finished, they still held onto each other, unwilling to let go.

Su Xiang exchanged breaths with him, inching towards his face for more kisses.

“It still surprises me that just only a few months ago, I really didn’t believe that this was possible,” she whispered admittedly.

“Me neither,” he replied, “And before, I thought an engagement would have made me forget you.”

Su Xiang smiled because it didn’t work, and he acted impulsively in towards the engagement when he agreed to it.

“Well, to make up lost time, I have to take advantage of every opportunity I am alone with you,” she told him.

Xun Zichen raised a brow, “Oh? And how would you do that?”

Su Xiang’s smiled widened.