Take Me Away, My Love - Chapter 8 - Stirred Desires
On this day, Li Minchun once again accompanied Jian Yiqing for a day of fishing at sea, just like always.
From afar, she sat idly on the beach, playing with a few shells at her side. Her gaze was on Jian Yiqing on the horizon, but her mind was contemplating the ever-changing nature of life.
Just a few months ago, they were a high-ranking president and a top-tier mercenary, yet in the blink of an eye, they found themselves in their current circumstances, which felt unbelievably surreal.
Fortunately, the natural barrier near Zhenmu Island provided some shelter; otherwise, they might not have been able to enjoy this short, leisurely time.
Jian Yiqing had his pants rolled up high, and he stood shirtless on the boat. Holding a fishing spear, he was intently focused on the fish in the water below.
Spotting one, he quickly thrust the spear, and a large fish, weighing one to two kilograms, was soon skewered on it.
Despite this, the fish struggled fiercely, swishing its tail in a desperate attempt to escape the threat of death.
Jian Yiqing waved his catch proudly towards Li Minchun on the distant beach, showcasing his triumph.
Li Minchun chuckled to herself-this guy was becoming more and more childlike.
Thinking about it, perhaps this place wasn’t so bad after all. In such a simple setting, where people’s hearts could remain tranquil and they could live peacefully, it might not be a bad thing.
This was the kind of life she had always wanted to pursue, though she felt a vague worry about how long these good times would last.
Now that the baby in her belly was over three months old, her small tummy had already become noticeably round, and if she leaned close, she could hear the faint sound of its heartbeat.
The process of pregnancy was quite remarkable. Nowadays, Li Minchun had become picky about food and experienced intense daily reactions.
She often had to rush out to retch and frequently ended up vomiting everything she had just eaten.
Every time he saw this, Jian Yiqing felt a pang of heartache. Meanwhile, Xiao Ru’s mom comforted her, saying, “It’s normal; it’ll get better when your belly gets bigger.”
“I’m heading back first, so tired!”
Li Minchun shouted towards the distant sea. Jian Yiqing, on the boat, nodded and waved back.
Only then did Li Minchun turn to leave.
But not long after she left, unexpectedly, someone deliberately approached to strike up a conversation with Jian Yiqing.
“Hey!”
Hearing someone calling him, Jian Yiqing turned around. He saw a boat approaching with two women on board.
One appeared to be in her thirties, nearing forty, while the other looked only about eighteen or nineteen, very youthful.
He recognized them-they were Juanzi and Xiu’er, and Juanzi was Xiu’er’s sister-in-law. He often didn’t interact with them, so he wondered why they had sought him out that day.
“You calling me?” Jian Yiqing deliberately feigned a bit of dullness.
Juanzi laughed openly and said, “We’ve heard that two charming young people have come to Zhenmu Island, and seeing you today, you indeed live up to the rumors.”
As she spoke, Juanzi confidently appraised Jian Yiqing.
His looks were undeniable, surpassing those of most women, and even his physique was top-notch. After being accustomed to the local men on Zhenmu Island, how could Juanzi not be intrigued by someone like Jian Yiqing?
Though she was a married woman, the saying “women are like wolves at thirty, like tigers at forty” fit perfectly. Juanzi was at an age wanting more than her man at home could provide. She hadn’t had such wandering thoughts before, but upon seeing Jian Yiqing, she felt suddenly youthful again.
With her husband’s sister present, she had to restrain herself, suppressing her impulses.
“Not at all,” Jian Yiqing replied simply. He didn’t like the way she gazed at him so brazenly. Having been around women for many years, he could easily guess what she was thinking.
And behind her, seeing Xiu’er’s shy face, he could also guess most of it.
Ah, this handsome face is truly troublesome.
“Buddy, got something on your mind? How about we chat a bit?”
As Juanzi continued to edge closer, Jian Yiqing turned away with a bit of disdain and said, “Forget it, maybe next time. My wife is waiting for me at home.”
Saying this, he was already preparing to row away.
Juanzi was unwilling to give up such a rare opportunity to be alone with Jian Yiqing.
Without waiting for his permission, she boldly stepped over from her own boat onto his.
With her weight, the boat started to wobble on the water’s surface as soon as she set foot on it, and if not for Jian Yiqing’s quick reflexes in steadying her, she might have ended up in the sea as shark bait.
She didn’t mind the look of disdain in Jian Yiqing’s eyes; on the contrary, being in his arms made her heart race.
That magnified handsome face was right before her, and the masculine scent emanating from him overwhelmed her senses-she couldn’t deny it was quite enticing.
Even a seasoned woman like Juanzi felt as nervous and shy as a teenager seeing this scene.
Unfazed, Jian Yiqing released her before she could indulge in her fantasies further, and bluntly said, “Make it quick if you’ve got something to say; I’m busy.”
Finally noticing his cold demeanor, Juanzi hurriedly said, “Buddy, seeing you suffer like this at such a young age, I really feel for you. We’re all adults here and can understand your troubles.”
As she spoke, Juanzi daringly extended a finger, lightly tracing it along Jian Yiqing’s chest.
Facing this, Jian Yiqing coldly clamped her wrist tightly and reprimanded, “What do you think you’re doing!”
Unexpectedly, his icy attitude didn’t deter her; in fact, it left a deep impression on Juanzi. Compared to her spineless husband, the man in front of her seemed far more appealing.
She adored him!
“You’re hurting me,” she whimpered, leaning closer to Jian Yiqing. However, she was met with an unyielding command: “If you don’t get back on your boat, I won’t hesitate to throw you over.”
His cold gaze and the unquestionable tone instantly intimidated Juanzi.
Her heart raced as she once again recognized the undeniable allure of this man.
After steadying herself, Juanzi finally spoke, “Don’t get me wrong, it’s my sister who’s interested in you. She’s a pure young woman, and she said she doesn’t mind that you have a wife and kids. As long as you’re willing, whether in secret or out in the open, we’re okay with it!”
Jian Yiqing was taken aback by her forwardness.
He looked over at the girl, and just that one glance was enough to make her blush even more.
The idea that an inexperienced young girl would agree to something like this-what kind of place was this?
At that moment, Jian Yiqing felt a bit of disdain for the place, but more so, he loathed his own good looks.
“I’m not interested. You can give up on this idea.”
With that, he promptly picked Juanzi up and unceremoniously tossed her back into her own boat.
As Jian Yiqing left without a backward glance, Xiu’er couldn’t hold back and burst into tears. Juanzi, meanwhile, was shaking with anger. “Xiu’er, don’t cry. Your sister-in-law will stand up for you. Does that bastard really think he’s some kind of prize? You, my sister-in-law, a well-mannered young woman, were willing to say those things to him, and he doesn’t appreciate it. He wouldn’t take kindness.”
“Sister-in-law, please stop, let’s just go back, please stop…”
The more fiercely Juanzi cursed, the more heartbreakingly Xiu’er cried. Eventually, the two of them retreated in embarrassment.
Little did one know, Xiu’er, despite her young age, has had a difficult life. A few years back, she was engaged to a family, but just after the engagement and before the wedding, the groom passed away.
Strangely enough, when Xiu’er later agreed to a lifelong commitment with another young man, he too was eaten by a shark just three days after their engagement.
If one event is a coincidence, what about two?
Since then, Xiu’er has been regarded as a curse, and no one dared to talk to her, let alone the men, who feared she would bring misfortune upon them.
Over time, Xiu’er, who was no longer that young, still couldn’t find anyone to marry. The long-term suppression and constant judgment had distorted her psyche.
Recently, after seeing Jian Yiqing, her interest was suddenly piqued once more.
To start with, Jian Yiqing, being an outsider, might not even believe in the rumors about being a widower’s curse. Perhaps one day, he could take Xiu’er away from this heart-wrenching place.
Even if none of that were to happen, just having Jian Yiqing-a man with such striking features-would be enough for her to hold her head high among the villagers.
What difference does having a wife make? Aren’t there plenty of people who keep secret lovers?
Now that Li Minchun was pregnant and not as active, if Xiu’er didn’t seize this opportunity, she’d never have another chance.
With this in mind, she sought help from her brother and sister-in-law.
Her elder brother and sister-in-law, on the other hand, were looking at the potential of what Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun could achieve.
Anyone capable of swimming to Zhenmu Island from the outside couldn’t be ordinary. Moreover, with Li Minchun easily obtaining Millennium Leaf Sand and Jian Yiqing effortlessly fishing, it was clear these two were exceptional.
If they could align themselves with such advantageous people, their future would be much brighter.
Each harboring their own motives, they naturally began scheming about how to engage with Jian Yiqing and Li Minchun without hesitation.
“Why are you back so early today?”
Li Minchun had just returned home not long before Jian Yiqing followed. He chose not to share the incident with her, fearing she might worry.
He sidled up to her, playfully saying, “I missed you, so I came back.”
“Go away, you’re getting more and more shameless,” Li Minchun said with a frown as she smelled the ocean’s scent on him.
“Wife, how about we, you know, just once? I promise to be so careful that neither you nor the baby would be hurt…” Jian Yiqing pleaded while nudging closer, making her burst into laughter.
“Okay, okay,” she said, pushing him lightly and helplessly adding, “I really can’t. If you can’t resist, maybe you should find another woman to…”
Before she could finish, Jian Yiqing’s lips pressed firmly against hers, swallowing the rest of her words.
This woman, always using such reasoning to provoke him. It seemed she needed a little lesson to understand who really was the head of this household.
