Fake dating my enemy, The playboy billionaire-Chapter 72: She’s my betrothed

Jun’s POV:

I wave Yiren over to the roaring fire where we’ve set up camp. Her lips are still swollen at the corner, but she brushes it off, insisting it’s nothing.

"Hey, Yiren!" Vivian calls from the barbecue station, and Yiren takes off like a rocket, moving faster than I thought possible. Of course—food is the ultimate motivator.

She inhales the delicious aroma. "Is that Chicken Tikka I smell?"

"Wouldn’t dream of missing it." I grin, feeling a spark of satisfaction. It’s both our favorite, and I order the chefs to prepare a special batch without red chilly so it wouldn’t sting her injured lips.

The campfire area is arranged with comfy mattresses and thick blankets spread out on the ground. Fire lamps flicker around us, providing a warm glow and a cozy atmosphere. Everyone is paired off, sharing blankets and getting comfortable. It’s not hard to guess what might—or might not—be happening under some of those shared covers once the movie starts. For instance, Jianyu and Meimei look redder than tomatoes already, and honestly, I don’t want to know what they’ve been up to.

Yiren makes her way over to the kids, breaking my heart a little as she bypasses our spot. But Yuyu, ever the clever one, spreads her legs and declares, "No space. Go there." She points directly at me with her stubby little finger.

Smart girl.

"Yes, ma’am," Yiren picks up Bear with one arm and turns in my direction. I open my blanket wide, giving her an inviting grin. "Always welcome."

*****

Yiren’s POV:

I settle between his legs, and he wraps the thick blanket around both of us, pulling me close so that my back is flush against his chest. His breath grazes the back of my neck, and I try to pretend that the contact isn’t making me hyperaware of every little sensation.

Conspicuously, I glance around and catch more than a few sets of eyes on us. Great, everyone is watching. "You okay?" Jun whispers. I turn my head over shoulder, and our noses brush. "Okay," I murmur. No I’m not okay. Save me.

"Need something to drink?" he offers, and I’m hyper-aware of how close we are, how his voice vibrates against my skin.

"Beer," He hands me a cold can of beer and pours himself a glass of scotch. The heat radiating from his strong chest against my back, the rhythm of his heartbeat echoing in my ear, and every small, subtle brush of his hand under the blanket... it’s overwhelming.

Fake boyfriend. Fake boyfriend, I remind myself, trying to calm my racing heart.

"Renren," Honey offers me chocolate-glazed strawberries.

"Oh, those are my favorite! Thank you, love."

The smile that spreads across his face is absolutely priceless, especially with that little window in his teeth. Jun leans over, his voice playfully stern. "Honey bro, she’s taken."

"Maybe for now," Honey retorts, sticking his tongue out at Jun before turning back to me as he winks.

"Watch out, Jun. Honey’s coming for your spot," Jianyu jokes.

Amidst the teasing, I try to ignore Jun’s hands sliding around my waist, pulling me closer. His palm sneaks under my top, rubbing slow, warm circles on my skin, sending little sparks of heat across my nerves. I need to focus on something else- anything else....

"Vivian, what do you do?"

Vivian’s eyes brighten. "I’m an archaeologist and also specialize in decoding ancient scripts."

"Wow. That’s so cool," My eyes wide with fascination. "I’m getting Indiana Jones vibes here."

She laughs, "Definitely not as glamorous as the movies make it seem, but yeah, my days are usually spent digging up ancient sites or studying old scripts."

"So, how did you and Zian meet?" I ask, genuinely curious. Zian, who’s nursing his whiskey, asks for a refill, and Vivian glances at him once before answering.

"Our families have been friends for generations."

Zian interrupts, reaching out to gently touch her hand. "That’s not the whole story," he says, his voice lower, more serious. "Vivian once saved me and my grandfather when the library in our family palace caught fire. She risked her life, got badly burned, and nearly died."

A shudder runs through me. My gaze shifts to Vivian’s clothing, now seeing it in a new light. Is that why she is wearing long sleeves, covering every inch of her skin?

"She’s my betrothed," Zian finishes, his words heavy with pride and affection. My heart softens, and I can’t help but feel newfound admiration for him for standing by her side so steadfastly.

Hong snorts, an ugly sound that cuts through the heartfelt moment. Zian’s eyes narrow, anger flaring. "Excuse me? You have a problem?"

"No. Nothing. It wasn’t meant for you, Z." Zeng quickly intervenes, placing a hand on Hong’s shoulder to calm her down and prevent her from getting ripped into pieces by Zian.

Jun’s grip on my waist tightens, and I can feel the irritation radiating off him. Something about Hong tonight is pushing everyone’s buttons, and I can tell Jun is barely holding back. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Thankfully, the dinner is served, dissipating the tension slightly as we all get lost in the delicious food, the warmth of our drinks, and the movie playing on the giant screen. I cuddle into Jun’s chest under our shared blanket, savoring the cozy moment.

"This chicken tikka is missing something," I grumble, glaring at my plate.

"Red chili and pepper," Jun says, "I asked the chef to make a special batch without spice so it wouldn’t sting your lips."

I pause, surprised. "Wait... you did that for me?"

He shrugs, but there’s no denying the care in his gesture. Leaning back against his chest, I tilt my head up, our faces inches apart. "Thank you. And... thank you for staying calm earlier when Hong made me fall."

A dark glint flashes in his eyes. "Mhmm. There are other ways to get revenge."

I bolt upright, alarmed. "What did you do?"

"Nothing that I shouldn’t have."

"Stop talking in riddles."

He bites into a piece of chicken, chewing slowly. "Hmm... this version is different. Bland. I like the original one better."

"Don’t change the topic!" I protest.

"I’m not changing anything. Just wait. You’ll get your answers," he says cryptically, nodding toward someone.

I follow his gaze and see the servants quietly scooping up the sleepy kids and carrying them inside. Jun’s calm, confident demeanor does nothing to reassure me.

Whatever he’s planning, it’s going to be big, and knowing him, it’s bound to be unforgettable.

And then I glance in Hong’s direction who was glued to her phone, but with every passing second her face contorts.

******