Tang Mi sighed inwardly, stood up, and wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders, pressing her cheek to his. “But no matter what, your brother still loves you, and you love him, don’t you?”

“Of course, and now I have you,” Arthur said, reaching out to stroke the soft strands of Tang Mi’s hair on her neck. Then, he gently pulled her onto his lap by the shoulders. “You are the best gift God has given me, although I used to curse Him,” he said with a smile, his finger tracing her jawline and then moving up to caress her soft, rose-tinted lips. A few strands of her hair brushed across his brow, and the dark green in his eyes was as deep as the Aegean Sea at night, with golden waves rising to meet her.

Tang Mi was sitting on his lap, feeling his thumb slide over her lips. The slightly rough texture of his skin sent a tingly, warm sensation through her, making her feel a slight itch of electricity.

Just as his lips were about to meet hers, she suddenly tilted her head back and mischievously smiled, saying, “I haven’t finished asking.”

“What else do you want to know, Officer?” Arthur raised his eyes and gave a helpless, amused smile.

The occasional helpless expression he showed deeply pleased her. She blinked and asked, “Do you have children?”

Arthur’s smile instantly shifted from a bitter grin to a hearty laugh. He shook his head, his face filled with affection and admiration. She hadn’t directly asked if he had a girlfriend or a wife, but instead asked if he had children. Because having a girlfriend or a wife didn’t necessarily mean he had children, but having children would imply he had both—whether or not he had them now, he likely had them at some point.

Her clever way of framing the question encompassed both his past and present.

He mimicked her, blinking and pretending to frown as he teased her, “Do I look old enough to make you think I’m already a father?”

Tang Mi clearly wasn’t satisfied with his response. She released her grip on his neck, rolled her eyes, and said, “That’s hard to say. Many people become fathers at fifteen or sixteen, especially in such an open place like Western Europe.”

“Alright, fine. I’ll tell you. I don’t have any children, and I don’t have a wife. I didn’t have one before, and I don’t have one now,” he said, taking her hand that had slipped away and gently placing it back on his shoulder.

“Then you must have had girlfriends, right?” Tang Mi, still not giving up, placed her fingers on his lips to stop his advancing kiss.

“Of course, but that was all in the past. Or did you imagine me as a pure choir boy?” He laughed softly, then gently took her slender fingers into his mouth, slowly savoring them. His low, raspy voice and teasing look sent a spark like thousands of volts through Tang Mi’s heart, as tingling sensations spread from her fingertips, hitting her chest with every pulse.

“I never thought that!” She hadn’t expected him to say something so… “shameless.” Her cheeks burned bright red as she quickly pulled her fingers free from his lips.

“I think maybe it’s time to let you find out for yourself if I’m really so innocent.” He finally released her fingers, but his lips quickly captured hers. His hand slipped under the loose hem of her dress, slowly moving up her waist, and then rested in a way that ignited an even hotter flame.

Tang Mi’s heart skipped a beat, her mind blank for a moment.

When she finally regained her senses, she pressed down on his wandering hand and broke free from his kiss, warning, “Don’t get carried away! If you keep this up, be careful—I might just use Maasai’s poison on you.”

Arthur’s lips curved into a smile. With a flick of his wrist, he held her hand in place and removed her hairpin with his other hand.

Her long, flowing hair fell over his arm, and he softly bit her earlobe, chuckling, “Commander, your weapon has been seized. You might as well surrender.”

Pinned down by him, Tang Mi felt a helplessness mixed with the thrill of his raspy voice brushing against her ear. She felt like a defeated soldier stripped of her armor, awaiting the enemy’s victory trumpet as her defenses crumbled.

“Excuse me,” came Father Rebmann’s calm voice from behind, effectively halting Arthur’s advances and saving Tang Mi from her imminent defeat.

Tang Mi quickly jumped off Arthur’s lap, embarrassed enough to wish she could just dig a hole in the ground and hide, like an ostrich burying its head.

They were in a church, after all, and Father Rebmann’s kind face was as radiant as the holy son on the cross. Even though she was an atheist, she couldn’t help but think, ‘God, please forgive us for our sacrilege.’

Compared to her awkwardness, however, Father Rebmann seemed completely unfazed. He set down his Bible and smiled, saying, “Tonight, there’s a Red Cross convoy heading to Kenya with relief supplies. I thought you could hitch a ride out of here.” Then, he made the sign of the cross over his chest and went outside to greet his students.

Tang Mi’s head drooped even lower in embarrassment, but amid her discomfort, she heard Arthur’s delighted laughter.

Several days later, in a small town along the Mediterranean…

Blue and white parasols lined the narrow street, floating in the sunlight like drifting jellyfish. Bright red poppies stretched from the roadside to the snow-white window sills of houses, evoking images of flamenco dancers’ fiery skirts, accompanied by the passionate yet melancholy notes of a street guitarist.

Tang Mi lounged lazily in an outdoor café chair, squinting as she took in the vivid yet harmonious scenery. Her mood was as light as the scent of macchiato wafting from her cup, leisurely flowing through the air with a sense of unhurried comfort.

A sea breeze brushed her cheeks, while a few children nearby licked their ice cream with satisfaction, everything as sweet as the chocolate syrup clinging to their lips.

“Careful not to hurt your eyes in the sun—they’re a photographer’s most valuable asset,” Arthur said, draping an arm around her shoulder and placing sunglasses on her.

Tang Mi opened her eyes, and the sunglasses cast a warm brown tint over her view. The surroundings dimmed slightly, but the sky turned bluer, the flowers more vibrant, like a Lomo photo with a color filter. Against the light, his face became the most captivating focus.

“Why haven’t you returned to H Country to report in, and why are you still here?” she asked, leaning against Arthur’s shoulder. She looked up at him, his face softened by the tinted lenses, with a lazy and contented smile on his lips. One leg was casually crossed over the other, looking for all the world like an ordinary tourist fully indulging in his vacation.

“Because I’m on vacation. I told my boss that after completing the mission, I’d need a break to spend time with someone I love,” Arthur said, taking a sip of his cold beer, a mischievous glint in his eye.

Tang Mi pushed his shoulder and lowered her sunglasses, glaring at him with some annoyance. “You tricked me. At the embassy, you didn’t mention anything about a vacation. We came here because MI6 agents were waiting to meet us.”

A few days earlier, she and Arthur had been hiding like fugitives in a Red Cross supply truck, bouncing along with stacks of alcohol-scented medical supplies until they crossed into Kenya. Once they reached the H Country embassy in Kenya, Arthur contacted MI6, and a private jet flew them to this seaside town. He had told her they were here to wait for MI6 to arrange her return, but it turned out his true purpose was a vacation.

Feeling tricked, Tang Mi shook off his hand and said indignantly, “You didn’t even ask my opinion before deciding to trap me here.”

Arthur had a habit of making all the arrangements for her. From their travel itinerary, the hotel, the restaurants, even the lovely dress she was wearing now—he had picked it all, without asking her preferences, as though he had complete confidence she’d like it. And frustratingly, every single choice he made fit her tastes perfectly, leaving her no room to stay mad.

It was as if she were a cat under the spell of catnip—trying to resist but secretly savoring his care.

Arthur laughed and pulled her hand back, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. “This town is my favorite place. Bringing the woman I love here has always been my dream. Can’t you grant me this small wish Tomorrow is my birthday.”

He looked at her with eyes as clear and deep as the sky above, his gaze filled with passion and her reflection. In the depths of his eyes, Tang Mi saw a fierce longing, and even a hint of pleading, like a thin, unbreakable thread that wrapped around the softest part of her heart, tying it tightly into an unbreakable knot.

---

Author’s Note: It’s been a while since I’ve shared any pictures. I just found one that really captures Tang Mi’s vibe, so here it is for fun.