When Tang Xinyang and William arrived at the lower floor for the EMA members, there was an ongoing duel happening inside the ring.
The floor was very spacious and huge, but it was quite crowded than the upper floors.
Tang Xinyang's eyes were sparkling as she watched the two EMA experts exchange blows.
"That's a good shot!"
"What a smooth parry!"
"Wow! That baldy is quite strong!"
Tang Xinyang placed a bet for the huge bald-headed man on the ring to win. It did appear like the bald-headed man had the upper hand.
William who was initially grumbling about life also halted his thoughts and watched the fight inside the ring.
His eyes sparked with interest.
"Hmm... He might be strong, but I think the other guy will win this," William stated his opinion.
"Eh? Why do you say that?" Tang Xinyang curiously asked.
"Baldy's punch is strong and forceful. However, during the whole match, he is using too much energy in attacking the other man. Do you see that none of his attacks properly landed on the tall guy? The tall guy is very keen on defense, his evasion techniques are very high-skilled. Can you see his left hand repeatedly feigning to attack? This induces the baldy to think he has the upper hand."
Tang Xinyang looked at the tall guy's left hand that would attack from time to time but failed every time.
So it was not because the tall guy could not do it, but because he was feigning it?
"How did you know that he is feigning it?"
"Because his movements are practiced and has the right control. If he is really attacking, it should be like the Baldy's punch, strong and forceful." William leaned towards Tang Xinyang closely and pointed at the tall guy's right arm. He did this so that only the two of them could hear what he was going to say.
"Look closely, focus on the tall guy's right arm. It slowly gathers qigong, very subtly."
William's warm breath was hitting Tang Xinyang's cheeks.
The scent of Tang Xinyang's shampoo also reached William's nose.
It was a refreshing scent. Not too strong and not too sweet.
He liked it.
He involuntarily leaned closer and sniffed her hair.
'Oh, it must be lavender.'
William's focus shifted from the fight to Tang Xinyang's likable scent of shampoo.
Bang!
The tall guy used his right fist and punched the bald-headed man with qigong.
It was so sudden that the people watching cheered.
"Oh! You are right!"
With bright eyes, Tang Xinyang turned to William. But because William is too close, Tang Xinyang, who just turned her head around swiftly, accidentally brushed her lips against William's.
It was just a second yet William could feel the touch of the soft and warm lips.
William's eyes widened and he immediately took a step back. His hand covered his mouth.
Tang Xinyang was also surprised. After a momentary pause, she scratched her head. "I am so sorry. I didn't know you are standing too close."
William: "..."
Then Tang Xinyang blinked at William. "Hey. Why do you look so surprised? Don't tell me, is that your first kiss?"
"...No!"
"That's a relief! I thought I snatched your first." Tang Xinyang patted her chest then looked at the ring. "It's just as you said! The tall guy is actually waiting for the right timing..."
Tang Xinyang's words about martial arts blurred in William's ears.
William could only hear the loud thumping of his heart. He patted his chest.
He must be really surprised.
It was so sudden and his guard was down. That's why... He was so shocked.
He was no freaking v.i.r.g.i.n, dammit!
William lightly slapped his hot cheeks.
After calming down, he took a peek at the girl beside him.
Tang Xinyang's eyes were bright and sparkling as she watched and commented about the movements of the two men in the ring.
Clearly, she had already forgotten about the gaffe moments ago.
William stared at her.
Seriously, how could this woman be so defenseless and indifferent at the same time? If it was another woman, they would be very fl.u.s.tered. Although it was an accident, he had been prepared to get slapped.
William did not focus on the fight anymore. All his attention was poured on this woman.
Actually, this feisty Tang Xinyang's looks were still really good even when wearing men's clothes.
"Xinyang..." William called out to her.
Tang Xinyang turned around questioningly. "Yes?"
"Is it not your first kiss?" These words escaped his lips before he could stop himself from asking such a vulgar question which he did not usually ask from any girl before.
Tang Xinyang was silent for a moment. She avoided his eyes and scratched her head awkwardly.
"Honestly... That is my first. But don't worry about it! I'll forget it in no time! Just think about it as if kissing a hand. Haha!"
'Kissing a hand?'
William did not like that thought at all.
They kissed on the lips, not on hand! Although it was barely a kiss.
Somehow, it was a blow on his pride.
The tall and aristocratic man stared helplessly at the unladylike Tang Xinyang.
A woman who was laughing like a man. A woman who found men's clothes more comfortable than women's. A woman who called this arena fight a date. A woman who found her first kiss no different from kissing a hand.
She was definitely not his type at all.
Yet, why did she look cool and intriguing?
William's mouth moved on his own. "Actually, I would like it if you won't forget about it."
Tang Xinyang was stunned. She looked up at him with a question in her eyes. She then laughed. "For memories' keepsake? I did hear of that kind of thing. I didn't know that senior is very romantic."
"You can think of it like that," William answered. His alluring deep blue eyes did not leave Tang Xinyang as he spoke.
The fight inside the ring was over. The host called for the next duellers.
[We now present two challengers today. Young Miss Tang Xinyang and her friend William!]
The crowd cheered loudly.
Who didn't know Tang Xinyang!
This would be a cruel and violent fight!
A one-sided match!
But when they saw the very tall foreign man with blue eyes and blond hair, the experts in EMA were dumbfounded.
The heck...
Wasn't that William Grand?!
The person who took a master championship cup in his youth!
Tang Xinyang the reaper, and William Grand the undefeatable...
The crowd's eyes burned with fervor.
This fight would be interesting!
William gracefully took off his suit jacket, unbuttoned the cuffs and the collar, and folded his sleeves to his elbows.
Tang Xinyang was ready, standing a few meters away from him.
They raised their fists to their chests and bowed to each other.
"Please be gentle on me, senior."
"I should be the one saying that."
Woooo!
The crowd cheered.
This would be an exciting fight!
At this moment, a figure of a man entered the lower floor.
He was sweating profusely and was breathing heavily. He looked like he had ransacked all places in the hotel, which he did, and was still looking for something which led him here.
He looked left and right. The usually easy-going face was tensed in a somber mood.
When the bell rang to signal the start of the match, he also looked up at the ring.
He then found what he was looking for.
******