Sensing Lucian's silence, Natasha asked with a hint of confusion: "You don't like me being this straightforward?"
"No, I love your initiative, love your boldness. If you were shy and timid, you wouldn't be the Natasha I fell for." Lucian expressed his feelings with equal openness. "But that line — I still think it's way too 'domineering.' It's more suited for a guy to say."
This was because the original version of that line — left by Crazy Eight God — had left a rather deep impression on Lucian.
Natasha let out a long "oh," then chuckled mischievously: "Actually, when I said that, I had a whole scene playing out in my mind. I'd be performing Moonlight, creating that peaceful atmosphere tinged with gentle melancholy, then I'd step away from the Piano, walk up to you, kneel on one knee, take your hand, lightly kiss the back of it, raise my head to meet your gaze, and pour out my heart to you. Ha ha."
Lucian didn't know whether to laugh or cry — Natasha had taken the romantic confession scene she'd once envisioned for Sylvia and applied it to him word for word?
After that bright, carefree laugh, Natasha continued with amusement in her voice: "I'm joking. I know you wouldn't like that. But honestly, it's so strange — I used to be this incredibly romantic knight, so why is it that every time I try to get all mushy with you, the conversation veers off in some bizarre direction and completely ruins the atmosphere?"
"A romantic expert? A smooth talker? If I recall, that confession just now was something I taught you." Lucian's lips curved into a teasing smile as he poked fun at Natasha.
Natasha raised her voice, protesting with great seriousness: "That was just one line! I'm very good with sweet talk. Back then, that's exactly how I won Sylvia over — through romance and sweet nowords! But that's not the point. The point is, why does the romantic atmosphere between us always take such weird turns?"
With the passage of time and the healing that new love brings, she seemed to have put the pain of her past relationship behind her, able to mention Sylvia with relative ease.
"Honestly, I really love this kind of atmosphere. Being with you feels so relaxed, so pleasant, so warm — like we could just keep going like this forever, without ever worrying about where the relationship is headed." Lucian thought for a moment and then expressed his own feelings with equal openness and honesty, though compared to Natasha, he couldn't help feeling his cheeks flush slightly at saying such things out loud.
Natasha laughed softly, then said with deep affection: "Me too. It makes me so happy and comfortable — as if we've been together since ages ago, and will stay together until the very end of our lives. When I was with Sylvia, I was always worried — worried that one day she would choose to give up. But with you, I feel completely at ease, because I know you'll always be here, always by my side. It has nothing to do with gender or external pressure. Even if you were a girl, I believe you'd never choose to walk away."
"Lucian, I've had romantic experience before, but I've never been in an intimate relationship with a man. If there's anything I do wrong, or if I cross any of your boundaries, please tell me — I'll be more careful. The reason things went wrong between me and Sylvia was that we weren't honest enough with each other, that our communication wasn't sufficient. I want to truly protect what we have."
Lucian smiled, a little emotional but controlling his voice, keeping it gentle: "Natasha, the same goes for me. I have very little relationship experience. If there's anything I do badly, any way I'm too clumsy — please don't hold it against me. Just be honest and tell me."
"I love your clumsiness!" Natasha's voice turned slightly hoarse, sending a shiver through Lucian's ears. "The thought that I can spend my birthday with you this year makes me so happy, so eager."
"What kind of birthday present do you want?" Lucian asked, half-jokingly. Of course, something like this he'd have to prepare himself for it to be a surprise.
Natasha lowered her voice and murmured with a mischievous laugh: "You know perfectly well what kind of gift I want."
Lucian was rendered speechless, his gaze drifting to the ceiling.
But Natasha immediately laughed again: "I'm joking. I know that's your bottom line. You've never once encouraged me to abandon my family or my responsibilities and run away with you. I'll respect your wishes just the same — at most I'll let myself fantasize about it every now and then, unless one day you're truly willing. For me, the best birthday present is having you stay with me past midnight."
"Still, my birthday is over a month away. That's a long time — I'm sure we'll have chances to see each other before then. Lucian, I miss your warmth, I miss your smile, I miss your different expressions, I miss... I miss your 'scent.'"
Lucian had half-expected Natasha to sound a little embarrassed when she said that last part, but she'd merely paused briefly before saying it as naturally as anything. So, in an effort to preserve his dignity as a man, he echoed: "I miss you too. I miss everything about you."
"Really?" Natasha said in a slightly husky voice. "When the time comes, I'll pick out the dress style you like, choose the stockings you like. Do you want black, or some other color?"
Her voice was dripping with temptation. Lucian's body went warm and he was about to answer when Natasha cut off the electromagnetic transmission with a wicked laugh, leaving Lucian thoroughly frustrated.
Pacing back and forth in his study, Lucian muttered to himself: "Last time Natasha was the one who pounced on me. Next time, I'm going to take the initiative — I'll be the one to pin her down. Otherwise, I'll have no dignity left as a man."
"Hmm, what should I do then? What distance should I maintain with her so I can pin her down without getting pinned down myself..."
"If she walks in first, I'll wrap my arms around her from behind and suck on her earlobe — that'll weaken her..."
"If we walk into the room side by side, I'll distract her with a different topic first. Hmm, or maybe I should just go bold with a confession, catch her off guard so she can't react in time..."
"Or maybe I could use a romantic atmosphere to soften her heart and have her go along with being pinned down?"
"If she's as direct as she was yesterday, what then?"
Before he knew it, Lucian had begun hatching another "foolproof" Natasha-Pinning-Down Plan.
…………
The two lovebirds, burning with passion, were doing their best to limit how often they communicated — but they still maintained a frequency of once every two days. Before long, the month of Fierce Fire (July) had arrived.
Lucian adjusted his clothes and addressed his butler, Leo: "Take a few assistants who are skilled at auditing and go review the accounts of those companies. I've already spoken with Arthur and the others."
Since he didn't manage any of the operations directly, Lucian conducted quarterly account reviews to safeguard his interests in the Arlin Telephone and Telegraph Company, the Minerals and Harvest Company, and the "Elemental Gift" Company. Though with his current status and position, they almost certainly wouldn't dare embezzle his dividends, being strict was better for everyone — for them and for himself.
"Yes, Master." Leo answered respectfully.