Love at First Novel by Gu Lingfei

Zachary’s scorching lips could touch Serenity’s cheek if she cocked her head back.
Putting down the flowers, Serenity stripped his arms from around her, stood up, and turned around to meet him face–to–face.
“I asked. Shawn came back because his mother wasn’t feeling well. He took two days off and combined with the weekend, he
had four days to visit his mom.
“He thought about dropping in to see Jas since he was passing by the bookshop. He didn’t come for me.
“Jas told me that Shawn called her before coming to see if I was at the shop. He only came when he was sure I was not there. I
ran into him when he was about to leave. We didn’t talk for more than five minutes.
“Harry and Milo were outside watching. You know your bodyguards will be on your side if anything does happen.”
Serenity helplessly pinched his face. “Oh, you. You’re always jealous. I told you that I see Shawn as a younger brother. I don’t
have that kind of feeling for him.”
Taking her pinching hand, Zachary leaned his face into her palm and looked deeply into her eyes. He murmured in a raspy voice,
“I mind that you and Shawn know each other for many years. He had a lot more time with you than I did. Not to mention, he
loved you too.”
“There’s nothing we can do about that. I came to know him first, and we’ve been friends for more than a decade. Can you turn
back time? I don’t have to know him if you can. I’ll only have you in my life.”
The man would bring up the fact that she knew Shawn before him when jealousy reared its ugly head.
Zachary pursed his lips without a word.
He had no control over time. If he did, he would turn back time and grow up with Serenity.
Seeing that he could not shake off the ill feelings, Serenity softened her voice and pacified him. “Shawn has moved on, babe.
Shawn may be the first to know me, and our friendship dates back years, but you will be the one with me for the rest of my life.
“You can have decades with me if I die in my eighties. Isn’t that longer than Shawn?”
Zachary said, “We’ll live to be a hundred.”

He added, “You say Shawn’s name so naturally.”
Serenity answered, “Alright, I won’t call him by his name. He’s Mr. Lowe to me.”
She continued to soothe him. “Now enough of the jealousy.”
“Try not to see him again.”
“Alright, alright. I won’t see him. He’s rarely in Wiltspoon anyway.”
“Call me babe. Always call me babe.” Zachary was milking it.
Serenity usually addressed him as Zachary or Mr. York. It was only when he was angry that she would calm him with a term of
endearment.
“Alright, alright. Babe. You’re a babe. You’re acting like such a baby.”
Zachary responded, “It sounds weird coming out of your mouth.”
“I’m more used to saying your name.”
With a smile, Serenity pulled his head down and kissed his face before purring, “Babe.”
An electrifying wave coursed through his body.
Now that was the stuff.
With the tension along his facial muscles easing up, Serenity sighed in relief.
The jealous man was finally pacified.
“When can we go back?”