Chapter 405 - Closing A Distance

In the end, Jang Shin found a dress that was less revealing than the previous dresses displayed on the bed. It was an off-shoulder dress that hugged her curvy body. 

But at least, it did not have those slits that exposed her beautiful legs nor did it have a low plunging neckline that showed her deep cleavage.

Tang Xinyang obediently wore the newly chosen dress. It was way more comfortable than the last one, so she instantly liked it.

This dress was worth her suffering. Well, minus those high heels that could kill people.

"Alright. You look good. Now, let's go." Jang Shin wiped the sweat that formed on his forehead when busily looking for a suitable dress earlier.

Now, after making sure that his Young Miss was properly dressed, his thoughts began to wonder as to where the reinforcement he asked for earlier was.

Were they either bribed or threatened by Tang Xinyang as well?

He turned around and was about to get out of the room when Tang Xinyang's voice sounded behind him.

"Ah, wait!" 

Jang Shin: What was it now?

The woman walked in front of him and began fixing his crooked necktie with practice action.

Jang Shin's body unconsciously stiffened. For what, he didn't know.

His body just stayed rooted in the spot and he just let her close the distance between them. 

He suddenly remembered Tang Xinyang's crazy and fearful pranks in the past.

Tang Xinyang had unexpectedly changed her usual routine with him in the past two years.

Before, whenever she saw him, she always dragged him for a duel practice and gave him a round of 'intimate' exchanges of martial moves. At the end of the day, he would always suffer a great amount of pain and bruise. This left him a deep fear of Tang Xinyang whenever they met.

However, she suddenly changed one day. Instead of dragging him for a fight, she would drag him somewhere to watch a horrifying movie or to an isolated dinner in the dark night with no intention of opening the lights. Remembering the nightmare he had to endure in these past two years, Jang Shin shivered.

He confirmed it. Tang Xinyang changed tactics of bullying him. Instead of making him suffer through 'physical pains', she upgraded to making him suffer through 'mental anxieties'. And this was a lot scarier than before. 

However, when does it change? When this feeling of fear changed into something else that he didn't know?

Seeing her now, seeing her long lashes and sensing the warmth on her body...and the natural scent she had...he did not feel fear at all. 

Nor he was intimidated by her.

Did it start when she unconsciously sticks her body close to him? Or when she incidentally close the distance between them?

Jang Shin's brows relaxed for a moment. The wall around him that he always put up on Tang Xinyang suddenly loosen for a moment.

A magical spell was cast.

She was too close. Yes. She was just too close.

The fingers that accidentally touched his chest in a rather dragging manner sent shivers on his spine.

Her serious eyes looked bright while focusing on straightening the necktie. Was his necktie was really that messed up?

He always thought that her eyes were pretty up close. But he was always scared to meet them as he was afraid that he would entice her to duel with him again. But...seeing them once more...was actually not that bad.

While looking down at her, his eyes coincidentally fell on her lips. They were luscious and red and seemed to be moist and plump. 

He hated those red lips.

But why he hated it? He seemed to forget the reason... 

He distractedly thought, they actually look so soft. They were tempting him to touch them...

When he felt the softness under his fingers, he suddenly remembered why he hated it.

'Ah, right. These are the lips that I once had a nightmare about.'

Tang Xinyang suddenly felt warm fingers lightly stroking her lips.

She looked up to see a dazed Jang Shin gazing fixedly at her lips. His warm fingertips were pressing on them.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Tang Xinyang's heartbeat accelerated.

But it was not only hers.

They were both martial artists. They clearly heard the loud heartbeat from the other's chest.

The serious eyes that were looking down earlier on his necktie were suddenly staring at him, wide-eyed.

"!!!!!"

Jang Shin suddenly recovered his wits and hurriedly put down his hand with a red face. He swiftly turned around and left the room, even using internal force to fly down the stairs.

"...."

Tang Xinyang recovered from the magical spell as well.

Did...did Jang Shin just touch her lips? He really touched it, right? He did! He looked like he was about to kiss her! Right?!

With a blushing face, she put her hands on her chest and calmed down her heartbeat. Her heart was about to explode from excitement and nervousness. 

But then...why did he suddenly leave?

Tang Xinyang looked at the door a bit confusedly.

*******

Additional scene:

Jang Shin remembered the scenes of the 'terror' he had experienced in the past two years.

Tang Xinyang: *locked her strong arms to Jang Shin's 'weak' arms* Let's go!

Jang Shin: W-we will have a duel again?! We just fought hard yesterday! My bruise wasn't healed yet!

Tang Xinyang: *smirking evilly* Hehe, no. We won't duel this time. Just follow me.

Later on.

A creepy music in the background, a sudden loud scream that burst one's eardrums, and horrifying appearances on the screen. 

Jang Shin had a pale face as he wanted to escape the freezing, stark, and creepy cinema. 

Tang Xinyang: *suddenly held his arm/ preventing him from escaping* Where are you going? The movie is not finished yet.

Jang Shin: X-xinyang..l t-think we should w-watch a h-horror movie with m-many people a-around. 

Tang Xinyang looked around and smiled. 

"But being with you alone is more fun. Did you not appreciate my effort of renting the whole cinema?"

Jang Shin: I. Did. Not. Appreciate. It. At. All!!! Especially in watching a horror movie!

(A/n: Oh, blame the books that Song Xuantin lent to Tang Xinyang. 'How to capture a young man's heart' excerpt. 

Step 1: Be Alone with your man in a scary atmosphere. Example: Watching horror movies, visiting horror booths, or walking in the street at night. Use this opportunity to hold his hand, Ladies! )

Second encounter:

Tang Xinyang: Shin! Let's go!

Jang Shin: We will have a duel again?! My bruise is not yet healed! (Actually it faded a lot by this time) 

Tang Xinyang: Silly! We will not duel this time! Come with me!

Later at night. 

Jang Shin: Where are you bringing me? 

Jang Shin looked left and right. The places they were walking to were becoming more isolated. There were wild plants everywhere and the howling of wolves was loud and clear. Were they in the forest?!

Did Tang Xinyang finally decided to get rid of him once and for all?!

Tang Xinyang: We are here.

She then brought out candle lights and a garbage sack (actually it is a blanket).

"!!!!!"

Was that the sack where his body would be stored into?! And the candle that she would lighten up to let my soul rest in the afterlife?!

Tang Xinyang suddenly brought a knife. The sharp edge glistened and Jang Shin's terrified face reflected on it. 

Was that the murder weapon?! Would she burry it alongside with him?! (A/n: didn't you see the utensils, the plates, and the wine glass she was taking out one by one?)

Jang Shin frighteningly took a step back. He did know when the candle lights were lit up. Tang Xinayng was done preparing his 'resting place' and turned to him. She was holding a knife. Her piercing gaze and menacing eyes all focused on him.

Jang Shin gulped.

Tang Xinyang smirked (evilly), "Let's eat."

A/n: Actually, that's what you called candlelight dinner, Jang Shin. Not a murder case.)

The 'nightmare' that Jang Shin had when he was fourteen.

The young Jang Shin had unfortunately been 'favored' again by the eldest young miss. This was the case since the two met since they were kids.

However, the beaten Jang Shin felt awkward for the first time. Tang Xinyang's body developed early than her peers. Her soft b.r.e.a.s.ts would sometimes hit his back whenever they fought. And she was as tall as him. There was a time when she accidentally kissed the back of his neck.

The teenage Jang Shin felt the warm, moist, and soft lips of a girl for the first time. And it landed on his sensitive spot. It felt ticklish and ...hot.

On that night, he had his first wet dream.

And he hated it. 

How could the subject of his first spring dream be the frightening lips of that gorilla?!

Ugh!

Thus, the young Jang Shin erased that nightmare from his memory and began to hate those 'soft' and warm lips.