"Are you alright? Do you want some water?"
"I'll be fine after a short rest." Rosa Linda looked up at Lin Feng. It had been a long time since someone had shown such thoughtfulness and care towards her.
"What's the matter? Why are you looking at me like that?"
Rosa Linda let out a sigh of relief and patted Lin Feng's calf, "To be honest, before meeting you, I didn't know there were humans like you."
"Gentle, kind, understanding and considerate of others, not looking down on beastmen with an arrogant and aloof attitude just because they are not human."
"Emily and Yuna have said similar things."
"Although I resent humans, I can't bring myself to dislike you." Rosa Linda took the water from Lin Feng and gulped it down in one go, "If I had met you ten years ago, I would have fallen hopelessly in love with you."
The corners of Lin Feng's mouth curved up slightly. He felt happy to have gained the approval of his lady.
"Why not now then?"
"Now?... Forget it. I'm already an old auntie. It's too late for that, haha..." Rosa Linda let out a strange laugh and quickly averted her gaze.
Hold on. This seems promising!
Oh well, might as well go all in and make her mine.
"Rosa Linda, let me take care of you for the rest of your life."
"What are you talking about! Don't spout nonsense. I'm already old, yet you still jest about me?" Her heart was beating wildly, but she had no intention of competing with Emily for a man at this time.
"Hmm, it must get lonely being by yourself. Your dreams reveal your longing, both emotionally and physically." Lin Feng leaned in closer to observe Rosa Linda's changing expressions.
She was clearly getting flustered.
It seems she is not good at handling these situations.
A series of rapid system prompts sounded.
[Rosa Linda's favorability +5, current (25/100)]
[Rosa Linda's favorability +5, current (30/100)]
[Rosa Linda's favorability +5, current (35/100)]
[...]
Lin Feng watched as Rosa Linda's favorability shot up to 50 before finally stopping.
Her heart was pounding loudly.
My lady is... almost completely wooed?
Strike while the iron is hot!
"I know it's difficult for you to decide, but I still hope that you will let me take care of you for the rest of your life. I will make you happy."
Rosa Linda's face was flushed. She didn't quite dare to look Lin Feng in the eye now, "You really know how to jest. Save those words for Emily and Yuna, haha..."
"I'm too old. You don't need to covet me anymore." She waved her hand dismissively. Her smile was strained, "I know you're a lecher. Saying such things to an old auntie like me, you must be lusting after this body of mine!"
"After having your way, you'll surely find me annoying after a couple of times!"
It was quite the exaggeration to say, with Rosa Linda's looks,
She far surpassed the top celebrities of Earth.
A couple of times?
Even a couple thousand times probably wouldn't be enough! Just like with Emily.
"That reason does account for a part of it, but everything I said just now was genuine. And Rosa Linda, you're not old at all. Stop deluding yourself." Lin Feng took the chance to pinch her cheek.
Her skin looked delicate enough to break with a poke, but when pinched, one could feel the firmness within.
"You've really got some nerve, openly touching my face now."
"Opportunities are only for the daring. How else can one woo their sweetheart without some thick skin?"
Listening to Lin Feng's words, Rosa Linda felt as if she had returned to the innocent days of her maidenhood for a moment.
But she quickly regained her senses, shaking her somewhat feverish head and decisively pushing Lin Feng away.
"I'll go back and tell Emily on you, just you wait!" Rosa Linda didn't want to fall into Lin Feng's clutches.
Although his words did resonate with her.
But she just couldn't get over the age difference...
She was almost a decade older than Lin Feng... Wouldn't it be awkward for them to be together?
And there was also her previous partner to consider... That would surely be a cause for concern...
"I know you're struggling with this, you can take your time to think it over. I will await your answer." Emboldened, Lin Feng took the initiative to tidy Rosa Linda's somewhat disheveled hair.
After so many years, this woman once again felt the fluttering of a young doe.
The two of them rested for a while longer before continuing to track the Gold Fanged Wolf Spider, but had no luck finding it by nightfall.
"It's injured, so probably won't come out to disturb us for now. Let's rest up while we can and gather some more crystals." After discovering a small crystal deposit that was previously missed, Lin Feng broke up all of the crystals and put them in his basket, "When it shows itself again, it will be its time of death."
"Here, let me help too." Rosa Linda snatched away Lin Feng's iron pickaxe and started swinging.
The crystals in this area were quickly cleared out.
But there was barely half a basketful. Still far from enough.
"Shall we go look for more?"
"Forget it. We've been traveling nonstop these past few days without much rest. While that spider is still recovering from its wounds, we should rest up as well."
Rosa Linda nodded in agreement. That made sense to her.
In this very short period of time, she had unknowingly come to rely on Lin Feng.
After finding a more secluded cave, Lin Feng laid out his blanket and lied down.
Rosa Linda looked at him, then silently sat down beside him.
"Here, use my body as a mattress. Lie on me." He patted his sturdy abs.
Rosa Linda stole a glance at them, having made contact with those muscles unintentionally before. But being asked so blatantly like this, she felt somewhat embarrassed.
"I'll be fine sleeping sitting."
"Come on, just lie on me. You were daring enough to ask me to warm up the sheets for you before, but now why are you being shy?"
Rosa Linda looked a little awkward. She didn't meet Lin Feng's gaze, "That was me playing around with you for fun, whereas you're being serious now. We should maintain some distance."
"Alright, alright, I understand what you're thinking. Just come on over." Lin Feng boldly hooked Rosa Linda's waist and pulled her down towards him.
One must jump into the tiger's den to catch its cub.
Courage is a must.
"W-Wait! If you continue, I'll get mad!" With great restraint, Rosa Linda pressed her hand against Lin Feng's face.
Lin Feng gambled that she wouldn't bear to harm him. And he really did win the bet.
After struggling for a bit, Rosa Linda just stopped moving altogether.
"Hold onto my neck."
"No."
"Then I'll have to do some excessive things to you."
"You... really are too bold!" Rosa Linda gave Lin Feng a smack, "Didn't we agree for me to think things over?"
"Once you've thought everything through, I won't be able to trick you into being mine anymore."
"Trick? I knew you weren't any good!" Rosa Linda bit Lin Feng fiercely.
"Stop fooling around. Rest your chin on my shoulders and sleep like this, don't mind me."
"Mind you? Hah!" Despite her words, she obediently followed Lin Feng's instructions.
Rosa Linda instinctively sniffed Lin Feng's neck.
The slight bodily contact unexpectedly gave her some comfort.
She yawned.
"Sleep if you're tired. I meant what I said, I will cherish you for the rest of your life." Lin Feng gently caressed her earlobes as he had done with Emily.
"Then... I'll have to trouble you just for today." Having clenched her fists indecisively for a while, Rosa Linda finally steeled herself to hug Lin Feng's neck.