Chapter 158 - Would You Like to Check-In?

"Do you have a death wish?" Xiu looked up or at least, tried to look at Dylan as he went on, "Why are you drinking so much?"

He tried to snatch the drink from her hand and she resisted. "What does that have to do with you? We don't even know each other. Don't hold my drink hostage!"

Dylan's face twitched uncontrollably. "Missy, there is a thing called compassion. Although I lack that a lot, I still find it my responsibility to remind you that this is not good for health."

Xiu was about to drop a comeback when a voice from behind halted her movements. 

"Didi, what's going on here?" 

Xiu's eyes sparkled as if a fire had lit up inside them. His voice reminded her of whiskey. It was velvety smooth and yet it had that touch of a slow burn. But this was the kind of burn that awakened her soul.

"Great! Your green bean is back," said Dylan and Xiu turned around to face him.

"Green bean?" asked Darren in confusion as he looked at Dylan and then his eyes fell on Xiu. "And who is she?"

Dylan raised his hands, shrugged his shoulders and casually replied, "I have no idea. But she's looking for you." And then he fell back on the couch since he felt like his job was done. It wasn't like Xiu was there to look for him and from the starstruck look on Xiu's face, he could tell that she won't look at him again.

Darren raised his brows at Dylan's response and walked close to Xiu as he asked doubtfully, "You're looking for me?" The more Xiu heard his voice, the more she felt that euphoric bliss bubbling inside of her. In her daze, she bobbed her head up and down. Getting that nod of affirmation, he added, "O-kay. How can I help you?"

Xiu took a step towards him with a fascinated look on her face and Darren took a step back on instinct. They continued until Darren's back hit the wall behind him. "What are you doing?" he finally managed to question.

"Honestly, green bean doesn't do you justice. I have never seen such beautiful eyes from such close distance." Her eyes bore into his as if to search for his soul as she continued, "Fascinating. Or perhaps, I should say spellbinding. Because I certainly feel spellbound now." 

Darren's brows were raised as he felt awkward being pressed against the wall by a girl. It was a first for him and the way she was looking at him was making it hard for him to stay calm as well. 

Xiu's hand lifted up as if to touch his face but her other hand slapped her own hand as she rebuked it with, "Don't get unruly." Darren's lips lifted up as she continued, "Sorry about that. I think my hands have some improper ideas. But I don't. I am a very decent person." Leaning close to him, she smiled up at him and added, "By the way, I was wondering... Do you have a place to stay? If not, my heart is available 24/7."

"Cough! Cough!"

That cough came from Dylan who chocked on the peanuts he had yet to swallow. Xiu gave him a sideway threatening look before looking back at Darren with a smile and went on, "It's even free of charge. Would you like to check-in?"

Darren stifled his laughter and said, "Hmmm. That offer sounds really enticing."

"I know, right?" She placed her hand at the wall behind him and said, "Sorry for staring but the fault lies with your eyes. They are seducing me on purpose. I'm innocent."

"Really?" asked Darren and Xiu nodded her head innocently. "Should I close my eyes?"

"No, don't!" said Xiu hastily. "There is no need for that. I'm very willing to drown in these grey orbs."

"Huh?"

"Grey is your eyes color, just how can it make my heart flutter? Your looks are making me a sucker, would you like to be my lover? Your skin is like milk butter, why are you leaving my heart on a cutter? Just write down your number, don't make me suffer. After making my heart stutter, you can't leave me like any other. You're making me wonder, can't you really be my lover?" As Xiu went on and on, both Darren and Dylan had a look of disbelief palpable on their faces.

"Wow! This is the most unique way of flirting I have ever seen," said Dylan.

"You're really hitting on me, Red?" asked Darren staring back at her.

"Isn't that obvious?" was Xiu's response. "How much more obvious should I be?"

Darren stayed quiet for a minute before he held her shoulders and swapped their positions. Now, Xiu was pressed against the wall while Darren looked at her with mirth flashing in his eyes. "You don't have to be more obvious for me to know that you're new to this. But for a first-timer, you're doing pretty fine."

"Really?" She smiled as if she accomplished something huge. "That was a compliment, right?"

"Mhmm..." His face leaned down as he whispered close to her ear, "You just need a little practice. Would you like me to teach you?" Xiu felt a euphoria resonating inside of her with his voice. And since her heartbeat was slow and as her breathing was uneven, she blamed it all on him.

"A person should always be willing to learn something new. Because knowledge can't do any harm to us," said Xiu.

Darren played with a lock of her hair as he mumbled, "Aiya, little Red, you don't even know what you're saying. But if you're willing then..." His one hand wrapped around her waist while his eyes went down to stare at her lips before meeting her gaze again. He bit his bottom lip and said, "Little Red... I've found heaven in your eyes, now I'm curious what it tastes like."

Xiu was so engrossed in the texture of his voice that context didn't matter to her at all. All she saw was the way his perfectly shaped lips moved as he spoke. She even saw him moving closer. His lips, only inches away from hers stopped as he lifted his eyes to look at her as if asking for her permission.

But he didn't need it since Xiu pushed herself towards him as she threw her safe-self out the window of caution. If she was meant to be reckless tonight, she was gonna be exactly that!