Chapter 38: Chapter 38 Captivatingly beautiful
Jules emerald eyes settled on Alana. Her exquisitely delicate features were indeed
captivatingly beautiful.
A faint smile touched her lips as she inquired, “Alana, might I call you Lala? After all, addressing you by name alone feels rather formal."
Alana, her head already throbbing from the cruel man’s taunts beside her, hadn’t quite caught the question clearly. Instinctively, she replied, "Y-yes..."
Stephan’s brow furrowed.
Lala?
What an intimate nickname?
Jules pressed, "Lala, you’re so lovely, do you have a boyfriend?"
Faced with Jules’ sincere smile, Alana suddenly found herself unable to utter a lie.
“I... I don’t."
Stephan frowned.
What did she mean by that?
In front of him, she’d claimed she already had a boyfriend.
Yet why did she tell Jules she didn’t have one?
Which statement was actually true?
Jules looked surprised. "You don’t have a boyfriend yet?"
Her gaze drifted indifferently towards Stephan before her eyebrow shot up in surprise. She leaned in slowly towards Alana. "Well then... how about I be your partner?"
Alana’s eyes widened. "Eh?"
Jules observed her stunned expression, her clear, distinct pupils widened, rippling with shimmering light, beautiful and moist.
Her expression perfectly matched her astonished, dazed look.
It must be said, she looked utterly adorable.
Jules couldn’t resist reaching out to pinch Alana’s cheek. The soft, delicate skin felt incredibly supple.
She chuckled, "Just teasing you."
Alana breathed a sigh of relief.
That had truly scared the life out of her.
What woman tells another woman she wants to be her partner?
Unless she was gay.
Stephan shot a glance at the pair beside him, furrowing his brow as he spoke in a cool tone.
“Jules, one more round."
Jules shook her head. "No thanks. You’re too good. I can’t beat you."
Jules affectionately draped an arm around Alana’s shoulder. "Lana, do you play golf? Let’s play together."
Alana hesitated, shaking her head. "I... I don’t know how."
Jules patted her shoulder. "No worries, I’ll teach you."
Unable to refuse, Alana nodded. "All right. Stand up. I’ll start by showing you the swing."
Jules pulled Alana to her feet and picked up a golf club.
“Right then, come and stand in front of me."
“Follow my lead, grip the club."
“Spread your feet slightly apart, knees slightly bent..."
After adjusting Alana’s stance, Jules moved behind her, pressing close as they gripped the club together.
“Picture the ball right beneath your feet, then swing through with power..."
Jules was practically pressed against Alana. Looking down, she saw her high ponytail and her delicate, rounded earlobes.
Her profile was fair and exquisitely sculpted.
Her slender neck, with strands of hair softly twining around it, appeared all the more fair and alluring.
So close she could almost smell the faint fragrance emanating from her.
Oh dear, she felt like taking another bite.
Such a sweet, soft girl, who wouldn’t adore her? Who wouldn’t want to kiss her?!
Alana remained utterly oblivious to the burning intensity in Jules’ eyes.
She simply treated it as a task, approaching it with earnestness.
She turned her face away, asking earnestly.
“Is that so?"
Jules snapped back to attention. "Ahem, yes."
“Now, let’s swing together. Follow my rhythm, starting light, then building in intensity..."
Stephan’s dark eyes involuntarily lingered on their overlapping hands and the uncomfortably close proximity.
His brow furrowed, a faint unease and irritation lingering in his chest, refusing to dissipate. It was only intensifying.
The two of them...
How much longer must they continue this charade?
It’s merely a swing technique, is it truly necessary to instruct them at such length?
And even going so far as to teach them personally, step by step?
Jules hadn’t failed to notice the piercing glare fixed upon her from behind.
But she couldn’t care less. After all, he hadn’t lifted a finger.
If he didn’t make a move, she wouldn’t be blamed for doing so.
Even heroes couldn’t resist a beautiful woman~
After practising with Jules for a while, Alana found herself sweating profusely from the exertion.
After all, this was an intensely focused sport that tested one’s patience.
She fancied a trip to the loo, and might as well splash her face to clear her head.
Jules pointed her in the direction of the washroom.
Alana had barely set off for the lavatory.
Stephan, who had been sitting motionless, suddenly rose to his feet.
After using the facilities, Alana emerged to splash water on her face.
Her cheeks, flushed pink from the heat, felt much more comfortable after a splash of cool water. She took a tissue, carefully patted the moisture from her face, tossed it into the bin, and then turned to leave.
The moment she stepped out, she collided with a man emerging from the men’s lavatory.
Alana’s heart skipped a beat. Without sparing the man a second glance, she hurried away. But before she could get far, he seized her wrist, and the world spun.
There she was, pinned against the cold wall by the man, who pressed himself forcefully against her.
She lifted her gaze and met the man’s pitch-black pupils, deep and terrifying.
“You... let go of me..."
She couldn’t help but struggle.
Her free hand instinctively pressed against his chest, slapping him in a mix of shame and anger.
Stephan lowered his gaze, fixed upon her. To him, her struggles felt like nothing more than a tickle, utterly without force.
“Why did you ignore me? Why did you say you didn’t know me?"
Alana glared at him, clenching her teeth. "Why should I acknowledge you? We’re not even close.”
Stephan lowered his head, his scorching breath brushing against her delicate cheek.
"Kissing and sleeping together. doesn’t that count as being close? Then what, in your eyes, constitutes being close?"
Alana’s flushed crimson.
Stephan’s gaze lingered on her flushed cheeks.
Freshly washed, her fair skin glowed with a faint sheen of moisture.
Her lashes were damp, her eyes clear and luminous, utterly captivating.
For a moment, he truly wanted to kiss her right then and there.
But he forced himself to restrain.
Lowering his gaze, he asked earnestly,
“Just now, when you told Jules you didn’t have a boyfriend, was that true?"
Alana, still fuming, replied without hesitation.
“No, it wasn’t."
Stephan’s large hand, clasping her slender wrist, tightened abruptly.
Alana felt a sharp twinge of pain and couldn’t help but say, "Let go."
“I don’t want anyone to discover we know each other."
Stephan frowned. "Why?"
Alana bit her lip. He was asking that knowing full well.
Who in their right mind would want their fling exposed?
Her voice softened. "Let go of me first, then we can talk."
People could come by any moment, and she certainly didn’t want anyone to see them in such an intimate tangle.
Stephan murmured, "What if I don’t want to let go?"
The more she tried to distance herself, the less inclined he was to grant her wish.
He’d always been rebellious.
Alana couldn’t help but glare at him, her almond-shaped eyes bright and clear.
“You... you’re going too far..."
“What if I am?"
“You...” Alana was fuming, tempted to bite him.
She’d never encountered such an insufferable man!
“Stephan, show some restraint!" She addressed him by name once more.
Last time, he recalled, it had been in the car when he’d kissed her against her will and she’d been furious.
This moment mirrored that one perfectly.
Like a little wildcat with its fur standing on end.
She was telling him to behave himself?
He was always reserved and restrained, how could he not know the meaning of self-restraint? Yet whenever he encountered her, his self-restraint seemed to flee of its own accord, never to return.
Stephan lowered his gaze to meet hers. The girl stared back with her beautiful, moist eyes, their clarity tinged with a hint of vexation.
Though clearly vexed, the expression on her face, part pout, part scowl, didn’t seem like anger at all. Rather, it resembled a childish tantrum.
The sound that escaped her lips was soft and sweet, utterly devoid of any threat. It only... made a man want to press his advantage.
Suddenly, his throat tightened, and he yearned to kiss her.
“Alana, break up with that boyfriend of yours and come to me, I...”
Before he could finish, footsteps approached.
Several uniformed staff members were approaching.
Taking advantage of the man’s momentary daze, Alana swiftly pushed him away and took off running.
Stephan hadn’t even registered what was happening when the girl in his arms slipped away. And she was running like the devil was after her.
He clenched his jaw in frustration.
He refused to believe she could run forever.
No sooner had Alana returned than
Stephan followed close behind.
And after Alana returned, she dared not even glance in Stephan’s direction.
Stephan’s gaze, however, grew increasingly unabashed.
Jules sensed the subtle tension between them but chose not to dwell on it.
She smiled and invited Alana to play golf together.
Having just instructed Alana, it was now time to see the results.
Vera, observing Jules’ interaction with Lin Yuan from the sidelines, seethed with
jealousy.
Seeing the pair preparing to play golf together, she couldn’t resist approaching them. "Miss Jules, might I join you both for a round?"
Jules aised an eyebrow. "Do you play golf?"
“No, I don’t."
Vera gazed at Jules with earnest eyes, hoping she would teach her golf just as he had taught Alana.
“Can you teach me?"
“Ah, I’m afraid I don’t have the time. You’d best ask your friend to teach you, he’s far better at it than I am." With that, Jules pointed towards Stephan, hoping to offload Vera’s troubles onto him.
Vera turned to Stephan, unable to suppress a blush.
She had recognised him long ago, as the man in the private room that night.
He was the one who’d taken Alana away.
Yet just now, Alana hadn’t interacted with him at all.
She couldn’t fathom what sort of relationship Alana had with him.
But regardless, it couldn’t stop her heart from fluttering at the thought of him.
She approached the man and asked in a sweet, coquettish tone, "Mr Hudson, would you be so kind as to teach me golf?"
Stephan glanced up at Alana, his brow furrowing at her utterly indifferent demeanor. Seeing him approached by another woman, she seemed utterly unmoved.
Did she truly care so little for him?
His tone grew colder. "If you wish to learn, find yourself a coach."
Vera’s face fell.
To be refused so bluntly.
This man was showing her no respect whatsoever.
Noticing Jules and Alana had already headed to the court, Stephan lifted his stride to follow.
He showed no inclination whatsoever to linger alone with Vera.
Vera stamped her foot in frustration, unable to resist, and thick-skinnedly followed after them.
Jules and Alana arrived at the tee box.
Upon reaching the tee box, Jules began explaining the rules of golf to Alana.
As Alana was a beginner, they positioned themselves on the white tees.
The white tees were suitable for amateur players, making them ideal for a beginner like Alana.
Professional players, however, opted for the black tees.
Alana grasped only bits and pieces, but from what Jules said, it seemed success meant getting the ball onto the green and then into the hole.
Moreover, the fewer strokes taken to hole the ball, the better.
The ultimate achievement, naturally, was a hole-in-one.
However, not everyone can achieve a hole-in-one.
Even for professional players, the probability of achieving it was minuscule.
Jules demonstrated for Alana.
A hole-in-four.
Though not a professional player, achieving a hole-in-one in four strokes was already quite impressive.
Alana tried several times without success, inevitably feeling a bit disheartened.
Missing the target direction was one thing, but sometimes she couldn’t even make contact with the ball.
It seemed this elegant, aristocratic sport simply wasn’t for her.
“Clumsy!"
“Your grip on the club is all wrong."
A deep, magnetic voice sounded from behind her.
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