Meilin stood in the center of the living room, her eyes lighting up as Ningshun entered. Her heart skipped a beat at the sight of his changed outfit—a tight, white tank top and jeans. Her eyes traced every curve and ridge of his arms, lingering on the sharp lines of his chiseled collarbone.
'Okay, think innocent thoughts. Puppies. Sunshine. Kittens playing with yarn. Anything but those... biceps!' Her hands trembled as she played with the hem of her blouse, the memory of their previous intimate moment still warming her cheeks. 'He probably thinks I'm... He left quickly... Was I too aggressive? Did I scare him? Oh no, what if he hates...'
He furrowed his brows, fixing his eyes on her averted face. Running a hand through his damp hair, he reminded himself of tonight's goal: not to worsen the awkwardness. Clearing his throat, he flashed a charming grin. "Hey, Meilin."
She quickly raised her head, catching him off guard. "Oh, hey!"
"Relax, it's just me," his tone casual with self-assurance. He stepped closer, tilting his head. 'I just have to think of her as... one of the guys. Maybe like... Kaili?'
In his imagination, Meilin's delicate features morphed into Kaili's sharp jawline and chiseled features, like a Picasso painting gone wrong. The absurdity of her softness turning masculine hit him like a pie in the face. He shuddered and let out a startled yelp before recoiling in mock horror.
'BAD IDEA! I'll just... pretend nothing happened! Yeah, that's it. I should be chill about it.' Determined to keep things smooth after his moment of silence, Ningshun opened his mouth to speak but missed his chance. Before he could utter a word, she breezed past him, her gaze fixed on the next person to enter.
"Hey, Kaili!" she exclaimed in an overly friendly tone as she spotted him entering the room. She practically rushed over to Kaili, her movements quick and almost desperate. 'Just focus on others, don't look back. Keep it casual.' She tried to steady her racing heart.
He stared in disbelief as she made a beeline for Kaili, leaving him with a bemused expression. It appeared as though he became invisible in her presence. "Seriously? She's going to play it like that?"
Taking a deep breath, he turned and strode confidently toward the kitchen. But her laughter, so full of joy and life, pulled him back. His brows furrowed, his smooth facade cracking momentarily as Meilin engaged in an animated conversation with Kaili after avoiding him.
"Smooth move," he muttered under his breath, a wry smile on his lips as he continued to the table, viewing over twenty different pizzas.
The delicious smell of pepperoni pizza caught his attention, a tempting mix of smoky, spicy goodness, melted cheese, and a touch of herbs. He grabbed a few slices, treating them like his new best friends, then returned to the living room and sat on the couch.
"Yo," Hooman's voice interrupted his pizza-pity-party.
Ningshun turned to Hooman. "Hey, what's up?"
Hooman followed Ningshun's gaze to Meilin and Kaili, who engaged deeply in conversation. Kaili gestured wildly as he talked, animated and expressive. "Looks like Kaili's making quite an impression," he remarked, nudging Ningshun.
Ningshun rolled his eyes, casually leaning back. "Yeah, seems like it." His jaw clenched just a bit, his grip tightening around the slice of pizza he had picked up. 'Why is she avoiding me?'
He could not resist stealing glimpses of her while taking a bite of his pizza. She avoided eye contact with him, as if he were a street marketer trying to sell her something. But as Kaili and Meilin made their way to the kitchen, bringing their laughter with them, he smirked and shook his head.
"Guess some people just can't resist Kaili's charm," Ningshun quipped, his tone light but his eyes darkening as he focused on her, a flicker of something more than frustration in his gaze. 'Maybe she isn't ignoring me on purpose... right?'
"Wow! There are so many of them. I can't choose!" She burst into the kitchen with her lively presence and enthusiastically placed different slices on her plate.
The mouthwatering smells hit her nostrils: tangy tomato sauce, melted cheese, basil, savory sausage, mushrooms, and aromatic garlic and herbs.
Kaili grinned and grabbed a slice for himself. "You've got to try this one, Meilin. It's got this spicy kick that'll blow your mind!" He accompanied her back to the living room, sitting across from Ningshun and Hooman on the couch.
Han chuckled as he joined Meilin and Kaili. "Well, Ningshun insisted on getting them all."
Ningshun's head turned as his name reached him. His gaze drifted toward Meilin and Han, catching a brief glimpse of her, but she averted her gaze when his eyes met hers. His brow twitched in confusion and frustration.
"Thank you, Han, and... Ningshun," she uttered, avoiding eye contact with the team leader and quickly diverting her attention back to Kaili, who continued chatting in an animated manner.
Kaili, always the chatterbox, leaned in closer to her. "Did you hear about the prank I pulled on Coach last week? It was epic!"
Ningshun raised an eyebrow, forcing a confident smile. "No problem, Meilin," his frustration hidden by a nonchalant tone. 'What's up with her? Did I do something?' After a moment of contemplation, he sighed. 'Why the hell am I even bothered by this!'
Closing his eyes, he attempted to focus on the upcoming games and winning, but Kaili's loud laughter shattered his concentration. Opening his eyes, he clenched his fist, a smirk playing on his lips as an idea struck him. He took a sip of his soda, placing the mug down with a decisive clink, his gaze fixed on her.
He strode boldly toward the kitchen, catching sight of her disappearing inside. Without hesitation, he followed her, his presence demanding attention.
"Hey, Meilin," his voice smooth as he entered the kitchen. Startled by his sudden appearance, she lifted her head from the sink, her eyes widening in surprise. "Mind if I lend a hand?" His eyes locked onto hers, daring her to look away.
"I... uh," speechless, Meilin handed him the rubber gloves she held.
Caught off guard by her gesture, his jaw dropped. "What the—"
"Sure! Perfect timing! I just heard Hooman calling for help, so I'll go help him now. Thank you so much!" With that, she bolted out of the kitchen, leaving him to wash the dishes alone.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Alone by the sink, Ningshun scoffed and held his forehead. "She's driving me nuts!"
Despite his frustration, his eyes kept drifting towards the kitchen door, half-expecting Meilin to walk back in and join him. But she did not. Instead, her laughter floated in from the living room, grating on his nerves.
Meilin sat in the living room, her eyes glued to her phone, tracking the progress of her online order and anticipating the arrival of her package in the morning.
Kaili spotted her on the couch and approached with a smile, casually leaning against it. "Waiting for something exciting?"
She lifted her gaze, surprised by his early arrival. "Oh, just waiting for a delivery."
Ningshun slipped into the living room with his head held high, sitting in the spot farthest from Meilin. He did not even spare her a single glance, as if her presence—or lack thereof—meant little to him. 'Whatever. It's her loss.'
Kaili, in the middle of telling a story, drew peals of laughter from the group, his gestures animated. Seated next to him, she flicked her eyes briefly toward Ningshun but swiftly averted her gaze.
Ningshun caught her fleeting look with a hint of irritation but masked it with a nonchalant expression. 'If she wants to ignore me, fine. Two can play that game... Besides, I've got more important things to focus on.' He casually leaned back and perused the livestreams of their competitors on his tablet. Yet, every time she laughed or spoke, his attention sharpened, experiencing the sting of her avoidance. "What's so funny?"
"Oh, just Kaili being Kaili," Han replied. "You know how he is."
Ningshun gave a chuckle, forcing a smile. "Yeah, classic Kaili."
Han raised an eyebrow at Ningshun's aloofness. "You seem quiet tonight. Is something on your mind?"
"Nah, just thinking about the next playoff," Ningshun replied, his tone light but his gaze distant. "Got to stay focused, you know?"
Han nodded, but Meilin's eyes darted to Ningshun, curiosity sparking within them before she swiftly averted her gaze again.
Ningshun caught her brief look again and snickered. 'She noticed.'
Kaili's phone vibrated, and he lightly frowned at the screen. "Looks like I need to head out to the storage room for a bit," he announced, rising to his feet. "Hooman needs my help."
"Alright, catch you later!" Han called out, waving.
"See you, man," Ningshun nodded.
With Kaili gone, the atmosphere in the room shifted, leaving only Han, Meilin, and Ningshun in the living room.
Sighing, he scolded himself, 'Don't look at her, Ningshun. What are you going to do? Make her run away from you again? Haven't you had enough?'
She stood up. "Oh, I forgot to prepare!" she exclaimed, exiting the living room and heading towards the kitchen.
'Never mind,' Ningshun scoffed, his lips tightly sealed, eyebrows twitching with frustration.
In the kitchen, she wrestled with a jar of pickles on the counter. Struggling to open the lid, her brow furrowed as she applied more and more pressure. Her fingers turned white, but the jar would not budge.
Ningshun, still lounging on the couch, caught Meilin's efforts from the corner of his eye. He gave a deep sigh, eyes softening as he witnessed her struggle. His first instinct was to help, but he hesitated, her earlier avoidance echoing in his mind. 'Why should I bother if she's just going to ignore me?' But catching her look of determination and frustration, he could not resist. 'I'm going to regret this,' he thought with a resigned sigh as he stood up. However, she had already returned to the living room, holding the jar. 'About time she comes and asks for my help—'
"Han, can you give me a hand? It's stuck."
Ningshun blinked. 'Han? Seriously? I'm standing right here, and she... WAIT! Why should I care?'
Han hesitated. As the skinniest team member, the last thing he expected was for a girl to come to him for this. Unsure of his abilities, he stepped forward. "Uh, sure, I'll give it a try."
Meanwhile, Ningshun lounged back on the couch, chuckling with amusement. 'That tiny jar? I can open it with one hand tied behind my back.'
Han took the jar from her, gripping it with a firm hold. He strained, his face turning red as he twisted with all his might.
Ningshun grinned. "Need a hand, Han?"
"No, I'm... fine," Han muttered with determination, his breath growing heavier. After a few more seconds of struggle, he finally managed to pop the lid open.
Ningshun raised an eyebrow. "Seriously? She asked him?" he muttered under his breath, shaking his head and trying to brush off the irritation creeping over him. 'Why does it even matter?'
Meilin's eyes widened in surprise. "Whoa, you're so strong! Thanks, Han! You're a lifesaver."
Meanwhile, Kaili and Hooman strolled in, taking in the unfolding scene. Han's ability to open a pickle jar had already surprised them, but they never imagined he would receive a compliment from a girl, especially with Ningshun in the room.
Han blushed, flustered by her praise. "Y-You're welcome."
Kaili and Hooman exchanged smirks. The time had come to address the obvious: a girl had blatantly overlooked Ningshun in favor of Han, the smallest and quietest guy on the team.
Hooman nudged Kaili with a grin. "Did you see that? Han, the pickle hero!"
"Pickleman!" Kaili laughed, then walked over to Han. Leaning in, he whispered, "Who needs strength to score babes when you've got technique, right?"
Han's face turned even redder as Ningshun sat there in bewilderment, his forced smile failing to hide his confusion.
Hooman jumped in, relishing the moment. "But why Han? Honestly, who do you think is the strongest guy here, Meilin?"
Kaili, noting Ningshun's reaction, decided to stir the pot with a playful grin. "Yeah. Who would you call to open a jar if Han wasn't around?"
Caught off guard, her eyes darted around the room. "Uh, well..."
Ningshun leaned back with a relaxed expression, raising an eyebrow. "Don't worry, Meilin. We won't take it personally," his voice filled with sarcasm.
Kaili and Hooman chuckled, drawn into their banter.
She squirmed in discomfort, cheeks flushing a deeper shade of red as her eyes flicked briefly to Ningshun before swiftly turning away. "I, uh... I mean, you all look pretty strong."
'Looking strong?' Kaili thought and leaned forward, eager to keep the fun going. "Alright, let's make it more interesting. Meilin, who do you think has the best body here?"
She blinked in surprise. "What?"
Hooman laughed. "Come on, Meilin! You're telling me you've never noticed? We've got some pretty impressive physiques on this team."
Ningshun's smirk deepened as he crossed his arms over his chest, relishing her squirming under his gaze. "Yeah, Meilin. Spill it. Who's got the best body?" He found far too much pleasure in this moment. The sight of her, cornered into answering this question after dodging him for so long, provided a petty yet satisfying victory.
Her gaze swept across the room, aware of everyone's eyes on her. Taking a deep breath, she sought an escape from the uncomfortable moment. "Uh, I mean, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right? You're all in great shape," she let out a nervous laugh. 'I want to punch something.'
Kaili did not intend to let her off the hook so soon. "Nice try, but that's not an answer. We want a name."
Her cheeks flared a deeper shade of crimson. "Okay, fine! It's..."
Seizing his moment, Ningshun leaned back, the fabric of his tight white tank top stretching as he flexed his biceps, making a show of his impressive physique with a cocky smirk. "Well, I don't like to brag, but..."
"Definitely Han! Look at those muscles!"
Ningshun's jaw dropped, his ego taking a massive hit at Han being declared The Chosen One. 'In my life, I've never been so... so...'
Still clutching the pickle jar, Han's face turned a deeper shade of red, pointing a finger toward himself. "Me? Muscles?" He blinked, shying away from her smile. At her compliment, he discreetly pressed his fingers against his arm, finding little muscle. "Uh, thanks, Meilin," he mumbled, pleased but taken aback.
"Seriously? Is she blind?" Ningshun muttered to himself.
Kaili snickered, diverting his attention to Han. "Let's see those guns. Give us a real flex."
Han blushed deeper but complied, raising his arm and flexing his modest bicep. "Uh, here you go."
Kaili chuckled and shook his head. "Impressive."
'This is so cringe,' Hooman thought as his lips curled in discomfort. Standing close to Ningshun, he flicked his eyes toward Han and Kaili's dynamic and leaned in with an amused smile, whispering, "Is she that oblivious, or...?"
Ningshun sighed, struggling to maintain his composure. "Beats me."
Unable to resist, Kaili clapped Ningshun on the back and whispered, "Don't take it too hard, man. She's just keeping us all on our toes."
With a charming grin, Ningshun rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever." Leaning back, his smile cracked. 'She's trolling me. There's just no way—What the? Why do her likes and dislikes matter? I need to stop thinking about her... I mean, her... WHATEVER!' He scoffed loudly, drawing everyone's attention.
Hooman caught the tension in Ningshun's defined jaw and leaned in. "Meilin, ever noticed the real buff dude on the team?" he teased, giving Ningshun a playful nudge.
Her cheeks flushed. "Um, well..."
Ningshun shifted in his seat, his annoyance barely concealed. "Enough of this."
Kaili chuckled, seizing the opportunity to tease. "Ningshun trains with weights every morning like crazy. You should see him in action. It's like watching a titan in training!" He extended his arms as if grasping invisible weights, his cheeks puffing out with exaggeration.
She bit her lip, cheeks burning crimson with suppressed laughter. Ningshun sighed, striving to keep his cool, but warmth crept up his neck as Kaili took it a step further, mimicking the leader's workout grunts and groans, sparking laughter from the group.
Hooman jumped in with a playful smirk, pointing at her. "Meilin, did you accidentally tab out and miss the whole show? His build is harder to ignore than your main champ."
'Unbelievable. Can't they just...?' Her laughter hitched as she fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve.
Ningshun's patience wore thin, his jaw tightening as he caught her discomfort and leaned forward, raising his voice. "Guys, cut it out! Can't you see? She's not—"
"Okay, okay! Next time, I'll explore every single inch of Ningshun's body thoroughly before jumping to conclusions! Happy now?" She lightened the mood with a chuckle.
Ningshun sat there, stunned—his jaw practically hitting the floor. He had not expected it, especially after playing the role of the invisible man all evening. 'Did she just...' His cheeks flushed crimson as he swallowed hard, unable to process.
Hooman choked on his drink, coughing and laughing simultaneously as Kaili's eyes widened, and he let out a dramatic gasp. "Meilin! Never thought you'd be so... forward."
Han blinked with wide eyes. "Uh, this is... I think I'm going to my room now."
Ningshun's eyes flicked around the room, his heart pounding with anxiety, hoping no one caught his reaction. Yet, Kaili's lively nudges and Hooman's knowing smirk hinted otherwise. 'Note to self... Meilin definitely knows how to keep us on our toes.'
"Why all the fuss?" She furrowed her brows.
"You really don't know?" Hooman asked.
"Uh, I mean... I was just talking about expl—" Her eyes widened. 'Oh, wait... SHOOT!'
"Don't you dare, Kaili!" Ningshun snapped, gritting his teeth as he caught sight of Kaili moving toward her. "HEY! KAILI!"
"Sure thing, dude," Kaili halted in his tracks, a grin playing at the corners of his lips.
'Now he surely hates me... I had just one day to make a great first impression... JUST ONE! Not only did I make him uncomfortable in my room, but now he probably thinks I'm a... Oh no, he thinks I'm a... that I'm a...' Panic coursed through her chest. "Come on, guys! You know what I meant... right? It was a slip-up! Alright? You guys kept bugging me, and I couldn't think straight." She laughed in a nervous manner.
"Sure you didn't," Hooman joked.
As the others laughed and continued their banter, Ningshun sank deeper into his seat, thrown off balance by the unexpected turn of events. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah, well... let's not make a big deal out of it, okay?" He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, unable to shake off the lingering embarrassment, despite Meilin's innocent intentions.
"Demon King's Love" is updated every Wednesday and Saturday. If you want to read more often than twice a week, I'll grant "early access" to my Patreon. I publish there as soon as new parts are written.
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Demon King's Love - Copyright © 2023 by Aurora Luxi. All Rights Reserved.
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