Ying Lili pushed him up and sat on the ground. "Are you done teasing me? It hit so hard. Let's go inside. I will check," Ying Lili grabbed his hand and was ready to stand up when Sheng Li pulled her down.
"I am not teasing you," Sheng Li looked towards the water pool and continued, "We two can play in the pool and then you can examine my back." Sheng Li reached his hand towards her hair bun and pulled out the Middlemist Red Camellia.
Sheng Li looked around and saw Ying Lili had planted the Red Camellia there. "You made a fool of me! The flower grows in the Imperial Garden," Sheng Li stated.
"How did you find out the meaning? Did you ask the gardener?" Ying Lili folded her arms. Sheng Li laughed upon hearing her questions.
"My brain acted, and I recalled what my teacher told me once. Love, Passion, Excellence, and Loyalty," Sheng Li repeated the meaning and traced Ying Lili's face with the flower.
Ying Lili pushed his hand aside and asked, "Who told you about this?"
Sheng Li saw that Ying Lili was annoyed because her surprise was ruined. "Forgive me. I ruined your surprise. But, when did you prepare all this?" Sheng Li looked around. The smile did not leave his lips. The sky had turned red and the night was falling. "It's surprising that I could not find out about this. It appears that my servants are more loyal to you than me. Nobody informed me," Sheng Li asserted and put back the Camellia into her hair bun.
"But what's the use? The surprise is ruined. I had thought of many things, but now I cannot do that," proclaimed Ying Lili and averted her gaze from him.
"Lili, you should not have taken Wang Hao's name. He is back, and I encountered him." Ying Lili turned her head and looked at him. "He told me that the Camellia blooms in the Imperial Garden. I had gone to the mountains, but Wang Hao ruined it. Scold him instead of me. Get angry at him," Sheng Li pronounced.
"They are back!" Ying Lili was astonished. "How is Hu Jingguo?" Ying Lili asked him.
The smile on Sheng Li's lips disappeared. "He is alright," he replied monotonously. Ying Lili smiled upon knowing about that.
"I am going to see him," Ying Lili mumbled and stood up when Sheng Li grasped her hand. "Leave," Ying Lili glared at him when Sheng Li pulled her down. He tightly wrapped his hands around Ying Lili, making her sit on his lap.
"I will tie you up to that pillar if you keep acting this way," Sheng Li threatened her.
"You will never do this. Leave me. I need to go," Ying Lili screamed. She moved her legs in the air when Sheng Li with his other hand, put them down and the next second he was pinning her to the ground.
"I will indeed tie you up, Wildcat! You planned a surprise for me and are now leaving me in the middle. This is bad. Meet him tomorrow because this evening is ours," Sheng Li affirmed, grinning at her.
"But isn't the surprise already ruined? Enjoy your evening yourself. I will not stay here tonight," Ying Lili asserted and averted her gaze. Her legs were still moving beneath him. Sheng Li locked them with his legs and put his fingers under her chin.
Making her look at him, he said, "Who said it is ruined? I did not even check it completely. My focus has been on you for a long time. It happens to me. Whenever you are around, even the most beautiful thing appears dull to me in front of you." Ying Lili's lips moved up, however she suppressed her smile.
"Are you trying to say I am not the most beautiful woman but because you love me I look beautiful to you?" Ying Lili raised her eyebrow. Sheng Li chuckled and clicked the tongue from the top of his mouth's roof.
"I did not mean that," Sheng Li stated. "I mean you decorated this place so beautifully but it failed to grab my attention because you took all the attention," Sheng Li clarified the meaning of his words. "Throw away this anger. You wanted to give me more surprises, right? I will keep my eyes shut and you can prepare for that. I would like to see how it feels to be surprised a second time," Sheng Li expressed his wish.
Ying Lili's anger had gone away by now. She gripped the collars of Sheng Li's robes and pulled him down. Their lips met, shocking Sheng Li for a second. Ying Lili pulled back and gazed into his eyes. The two smiled as their lips again met, and gently kissed each other.
Ying Lili placed her index finger between their lips, thus stopping him from kissing her. "I still have a few things left to do," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li nodded and made her sit. "Close your eyes and do not open them if you do not want to make me angry," Ying Lili stroked her soft palm over his eyes. Sheng Li closed them upon Ying Lili's command.
Ying Lili stood up and went inside. Sheng Li slightly opened his eyes but did not find her. "Where did she go?" He murmured when he heard her footsteps. He closed his eyes again. Ying Lili had a tray in her hand in which there was a wine jar and two porcelain cups.
She placed them on the circular carved table with two circular seats around it. An umbrella-shaped shelter was made to protect it from the rain. She put the tray there and asked Sheng Li to open his eyes.
Immediately, he opened them and looked at Ying Lili, who was preparing the tea. He went to her and keenly observed her.
"Have a seat. Let's drink wine today," Ying Lili stated. Sheng Li with a bewildered expression gawked at her.
"What happened? You are asking me to drink wine with you! It is so... strange," Sheng Li, taking a pause, said.
"Why is it strange? Couples do drink wine together and spend their time playing games. We will play a board game as well. It will be fun to play under the dark sky and lantern lights. Oh, I almost forgot that I need to light the lanterns first!" Ying Lili stated.
"I will do that. You shall take your seat, Lili. This place is looking great." Sheng Li moved close to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Let your husband do the rest of the work," he said.