Wang Keyan's body stiffened for a moment, as if she had guessed something, then she slowly looked up—her large, dewy eyes meeting Li Ming's shocked gaze head-on.
"Ah!!!" Wang Keyan cried out in mortification, never expecting Li Ming to wake up so quickly! She hurriedly tried to pull away, but in her panic, she forgot her hand was still pinned beneath him. The more she struggled, the less she succeeded—instead of freeing herself, she lost her balance, slipped, and tumbled straight back onto Li Ming!
Before Li Ming could react, Wang Keyan had already crashed onto him, her lips landing perfectly on his as if guided by some unseen force.
Mouth to mouth, wide eyes locked onto equally stunned ones—even Wang Keyan, who had been flustered moments ago, now seemed frozen in place. Neither moved a muscle.
Li Ming could feel the soft warmth of her lips and the delicate curves of her body pressed against him, and it nearly drove him mad. Fighting to control himself, he summoned all his willpower to gently lift Wang Keyan off him.
They sat side by side in silence, the air thick with awkwardness.
"So… are you hungry? Maybe we should grab something to eat?" Li Ming finally broke the tension, testing the waters.
Wang Keyan, who had just started calming down, flushed again and gave a small nod.
Ahem. "Let’s go then. Do you need to grab anything else? If not, after breakfast you can come with me. I’ve got some business to take care of before heading back to Black Mountain Prison. You can visit your mom while we’re there." Li Ming stood up, stretching his stiff limbs before heading to the bathroom to splash some water on his face.
Wang Keyan kept her head down, trailing behind him. She washed her face hastily, too embarrassed to speak.
Once ready, they left the apartment one after the other. Li Ming led the way to his Jeep parked outside the complex, and Wang Keyan climbed in after him.
They didn’t go far before Li Ming pulled over at a random breakfast stall, where they ate a quick meal.
Today, he still had to pick up another prisoner from a different facility before escorting them back to Black Mountain Prison. Checking the files, Li Ming confirmed the location and set off.
On the road…
Wang Keyan seemed to have forgotten the morning’s awkward intimacy and began asking Li Ming about Black Mountain Prison and her mother.
Unfortunately, Li Ming had only been there for two days himself and had already shared everything he knew.
The car fell silent again until Wang Keyan’s eyes lit up with a new idea—she started probing for details about him.
"Li Ming, you’re so young to already be a prison warden! You must’ve been top of your class, right?" Wang Keyan gazed at him with admiration, thinking how the so-called "elite" seniors at her school paled in comparison.
Tall, handsome, with an incredible physique—gentle, kind, and the bearer of news about her mother? The more she thought about it, the more infatuated she became.
Normally, her personality matched her photos—cool, aloof, the epitome of an ice queen. But under Li Ming’s unintentional charm offensive, she’d melted into a docile kitten.
"Ah, well, I got lucky," Li Ming chuckled awkwardly. He couldn’t exactly admit he’d gotten the position through his father’s connections—that would ruin the image.
Wang Keyan only admired him more. Humble and capable? A stark contrast to the boastful guys who’d pursued her.
In her limited experience, Li Ming was the most remarkable man she’d ever met. And after what had happened between them… well, for an innocent girl like her, Li Ming had already planted a seed in her heart—one that was growing at an alarming rate, threatening to bloom.
"So… Li Ming," she ventured, stealing glances at his profile as he drove, "someone as amazing as you… you must have a girlfriend, right?" Please say no, she silently prayed.
Li Ming tensed. Was she… developing feelings for him?
Even ignoring whether they’d be a good match, there was Wang Xin—her mother, and the things he had done. Getting involved with Wang Keyan would be unforgivable. He’d be no better than scum.
His mind raced. How could he let her down gently without hurting her?
That morning had been pure accident. He only remembered holding her hand—how had they ended up tangled together? And that kiss? Absurd, yet undeniably real.
After a tortured internal debate, Li Ming decided honesty was best. "I’m just an ordinary guy. Plenty are better than me. And no, I’m single."
Wang Keyan’s heart leaped at his words. A faint blush crept up her cheeks as she nibbled her lip, gathering courage for the next question.
"Then… what kind of girl do you like?"
Li Ming’s grip tightened on the wheel. This direct? He took a steadying breath. Maybe he was overthinking—maybe she was just making conversation.
"I think mutual understanding and respect matter most. Compatibility is key." He chose his words carefully, keeping them vague. "Looks aren’t the priority—a kind heart is." He glanced sideways just in time to see her nodding thoughtfully, mentally checking if she fit the bill.
Oh no. This was exactly how other girls had acted before confessing.
The car hummed along the highway, but the atmosphere had shifted into something far more delicate. Li Ming scrambled for a distraction—anything—when his phone rang like a lifeline. He answered without checking the caller.
"Li Ming! You done with your errand?" Lin Xi’s voice crackled through.
"Yeah, all set. Driving to Qingcheng Prison now—should arrive by noon," Li Ming replied, silently thanking Lin Xi for the perfect timing.
"Good. Qingcheng’s staff called earlier. When I mentioned our warden was coming personally, they insisted on rolling out the red carpet. Just be careful on the road. If they won’t let you leave, staying overnight’s fine."
"Got it. Don’t worry." Lin Xi hung up before Li Ming could say more.
Checking the GPS, he saw they were close. Qingcheng Prison by lunchtime—no problem.
"Brother Lin, the sister who just called you has such a lovely voice! Who is she?" Wang Keyan blinked her eyes curiously as she asked.