Chapter 155: Vulnerable

Lyca bathe on his warmth as she lifted her arms and folded them around him. It was as if… she hadn't seen him for days when it was only hours. Yes, she missed him and this incident made her realize that she had been naive and immature. She honestly, was too frightened to attach herself again but was adamant to start a new relationship with Shen Qui. 

His soft expression made the guilt that she felt more suffocating.

"Don't do that again." His gentle voice made her swallow all the explanations that she wanted to tell him. Instead, Lyca tightened her arms around him. 

Lyca bit her lower lips before she whispered. "I'm sorry." There are no other words that could describe what she felt. It wasn't just embarrassment for her actions and guilt over the fact that he had been so worried about her. It wasn't just the fact that he still acted as if she wasn't acting like a child.

She felt him stroke the back of her head, his arms easing around her. "What happened here?"

She froze as she recalled that people were still watching them. Lyca slowly pulled away from his hug and looked at everyone in the room. "This is your restaurant?"

"Ours." Shen Qui corrected.

She nodded in response. "Then… I don't want to see them again."

"Understood." Shen Qui nodded and looked at one of his people. Almost immediately, his men helped the people on the floor up.

"Your master Q! What are you doing? These people are my bodyguards."

"And?" There was no amusement in Shen Qui's voice.

"I— I— " Jessica gulped as she nervously looked at Simon as if trying to ask him to help her. And he did. The man immediately said.

"Why would you banned us in this place?"

"Aside from the fact that the owner doesn't want you here?" Shen Qui fired back, he looked down towards Simon's leg before he snorted. "You dared attack the owner and you still asked why you were banned? Did a donkey kick your head?"

Lyca pursed her lips as she stopped the laughter from escaping her mouth. It seems that Shen Qui was still the same all along. She playfully pinched his arms as her eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Take them out… Including the mayor's daughter." Shen Qui uttered.

"Young Master Q! You can't do that to Miss Jessica! She is— "

"Now." After Shen Qui's words, more people suddenly arrived in the room and almost dragged Simon and the others out of the room.

"My father will surely know how you treated me today!" Jessica pouted as she glared at Lyca. "I hope it's worth it." Warning laced his voice before she stormed off and followed her people out of the room.

The silence that followed seemed to wake Lyca up from her stupor. She lifted her head and stared at him. She wasn't surprised to see him already staring at her. "I'm sorry."

"Let's go." Shen Qui gave her a wry smile as he tried to lead her out of the room.

"But… "

"Is there something wrong?"

"I'm hungry."

Realization flashed in his eyes before he chuckled. "To the office."

"Oh!" she nodded. She had forgotten that Shen Qui owned this place. He should have his own office in this facility. She smiled and followed him out before she realized that she wasn't wearing her shoes anymore. She halted her steps, looked at her feet before lifting her gaze back to the man next to him. Without saying another word, Shen Qui lowered himself and carried her in his arms like a princess, an action that made her smile. Then he brought her inside a room that was three times bigger than the private room earlier.

The locking sound of the door almost made her flinched. She turned towards him and eyed his hands that were still on hers. "I think I was overwhelmed," she started. The small distance between them somehow made her feel a little lonely and confused. She met his gaze. "Waking up… " And realizing that she wasn't gone for days but years. "Waking up, three years after, was overwhelming. I don't know if I should be happy or sad. I don't know how to act. I don't even know how to act around you." For the first time since coming into this world, Lyca started fidgeting. 

She tried to lower her head and avoid his gaze, but Shen Qui was quick to hold her chin up. "I'm sorry," he said as he erased the small distance between them. His warmth immediately sent flutters on her skin. Her gaze turned glassy, she felt her cheeks turned hot as tears pooled in her eyes. She held her breath, trying her best to act strong in front of him. 

Since they had been together, Lyca had never shown any of her vulnerability. She had avoided it and run from it. But this time… it's different. She wanted him to hear everything, her fears, her wants, her anxiety when she arrived. But no words came out of her mouth. Instead, her tears started flowing on her cheeks. Her upper lip quivered. 

She could feel her emotions ran rampant. Lyca closed her eyes, she could hear her heartbeat racing against her chest, it thundered against her ears. "I'm sorry," she whimpered. She didn't know if this was an apology for her cursed fate, for her husband who had clearly suffered while she was sleeping, for herself who found it hard to adjust to this new reality, or for everything.

Letting out an uncontrollable sob, Lyca felt his thumb wiped away the tears on her cheeks as he cupped her face. Lyca slowly opened her eyes. The creases on her eyebrows eased when she saw the gentleness in his orbs. There wasn't a hint of anger in his brown eyes, not a tinge of irritation. Only patience… kindness… and some other emotions that she didn't recognize.

Shen Qui rested his forehead against hers as his lips lifted into a slight smile. "You really are a handful."

"Did you regret marrying me?" she asked.

"Not a bit."

She beamed at that. "Same," she uttered. "I think I would never regret becoming your wife."