For a long moment, neither of them moved. The air between them felt charged with a strange, electric energy that seemed to pull them closer. It felt like invisible strings tightening around their hearts.
Gu Yixuan continued to stare into Yan Rouxi's confused, wide eyes, searching for something, anything, before he finally lowered his gaze. Slowly, almost reluctantly, he removed his hand from her mouth. His fingers traced her delicate jaw.
"I'll only kiss you if you let me, Rouxi," he said, each word leaving his lips slowly, deliberately, as though he was giving her all the time in the world to process, absorb, accept, or reject it.
"And even if you never do..." He swallowed hard, his throat bobbing visibly, "I'll still wait. Just...." He broke off, drawing in a shaky breath like it hurt to even say the words. "Give me a chance. Just give this relationship a chance, Rouxi. I-I..."
