Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 591: Chapter 592: Rare Free Time

Seeing Rose's timid expression, Yang Chen finally felt a bit more balanced. However, after this bout of playful banter, the previous gloom from Rose's injury dissipated. He started to seriously ponder what they should do.

But when he really thought about it, Yang Chen realized he had no idea. He usually lived a lazy and laid-back life without any special hobbies. His past had been spent in darkness and violence, so where would he find the romantic sentiments of young people?

Rose seemed to see Yang Chen's headache and laughed, "If you can't think of anything, let's just wander around. For someone like me who rarely goes out, everything is pretty interesting."

Yang Chen then remembered that except for attending some underworld events, Rose hardly ever went out and could be considered a "homebody." He started the car and drove toward the city center.

They aimlessly circled the center of Zhonghai City. Rose only got out of the car once to visit a record store on the ground floor of a building to buy a CD album by the British singer Adele.

After putting the CD in the car's player, the whole car was filled with the unique, slightly husky yet powerful voice of the young singer.

Yang Chen was surprised that Rose would think of buying a music CD. As he drove out of the city, he said, "I didn't know my Rose darling likes music, and even Western pop music."

Rose smiled faintly and glanced at Yang Chen, "I spend almost every day at home. Besides checking on some investment operations, the rest of my time is spent exercising or watching TV and movies. If there's nothing good to watch, I can only listen to music."

Yang Chen nodded, remembering that when Rose used to stay behind the bar, her bedroom always had a computer.

"Actually," Rose said suddenly and softly, "although it's been more than a year since we first met, we haven't spent much time together. You don't know what I like, just as I don't really understand what you like."

These words were spoken lightly, but Yang Chen didn't feel comfortable hearing them. He knew this was also a form of resentment from Rose about him not spending enough time with her.

Just because she didn't say it often didn't mean there wasn't a feeling.

Previously, Tang Wan had accused him of not taking enough time to understand Lin Ruoxi. Now it seemed that it wasn't just Lin Ruoxi; he hardly understood any of the women around him.

It's quite strange. People date for years without necessarily achieving anything, but he, not even knowing the hobbies of the woman he likes, had already taken the final step. Many men might be envious of this, but Yang Chen knew that if things continued like this, unnecessary troubles would arise sooner or later. Since he was determined not to give up on any woman, the days ahead were long. He couldn't just meet up and end up in bed every time. He couldn't always be the hero saving the beauty, touching their hearts. Understanding each other in daily life was still very necessary.

Yang Chen sighed internally. It was time to care about the lives of his loved ones. So, with the music playing, he said, "I don't listen to much music. Although I can sing some songs, I don't have any special preference for music. Tell me why you like this singer. Since you listen to music often, you must have some knowledge to share with me."

Rose pursed her lips and thought for a while. "I just listen randomly. Whatever song sounds good, I pick it. I don't pay much attention to the singer or country, let alone have any knowledge. This singer has a song that makes my heart ache, but it also attracts me, so I've been listening to it a lot recently."

"Which song is it?" Yang Chen asked.

Rose's education wasn't high, and she didn't speak English, so she couldn't name the song off the top of her head. She had to go through each song one by one.

When she heard the beginning of a particular song, Rose smiled and said, "It's this song. I've listened to it dozens of times these past few days and still like it. But I don't know English and haven't looked up the lyrics, so I can only enjoy the melody."

Yang Chen glanced at the song title on the screen, "Someone Like You."

The melodious voice of Adele filled the car, her voice stirring the soul, capturing that soft spot in people's hearts. Gradually, Yang Chen also got lost in the sorrowful melody.

When the lyrics were repeated several times, Rose, with a bit of confusion in her voice, asked, "Honey, what does this English sentence mean? Every time I hear it, my heart aches a little."

"Sometimes love lasts, but sometimes it hurts instead."

Yang Chen could understand every word of the lyrics. Because of this, he felt especially touched by the song, given his already heavy heart concerning matters of love.

Rose silently mouthed the words a few times, her moist eyes revealing a hint of sorrow. Finally, she smiled softly, "Even though I don't understand English, this lyric sounds beautiful even when translated. But I think what Adele means is that even if love can't last forever and even if it hurts, she still can't let go."

Yang Chen turned his head to look at Rose, who was now gazing down with a sorrowful expression. He frowned and gently stroked her hair. "Don't overthink it. This song is probably for a heartbreaker. I'm not that kind of man. We can make our love eternal."

Rose burst into laughter and gave Yang Chen a sidelong glance. "You're not a heartbreaker, but you are a playboy."

Yang Chen awkwardly shrugged and pressed the gas pedal, steering the car onto the highway, heading towards the commercial area in the outskirts of Zhonghai City.

The two of them continued to listen to music and chat. Previously, when they were together, it was either in bed or discussing underworld matters, with little time for sweet talk. They had only gone out together once before.

Now, with so much free time to chat and laugh, they discovered that there were still many sides to each other that they had yet to uncover.

When Rose talked about her school days, including the time she dropped out after helping a girl beat up a boy and getting reprimanded by the teacher, Yang Chen was deeply moved. He hadn't expected such a seductive and elegant woman to have such a heroic side.

As for Yang Chen, he had no school stories to share since he had never even attended kindergarten. Instead, he recounted his experiences of killing in the Amazon rainforest and sniping in Siberia, which sounded thrilling to Rose, making her eyes sparkle with excitement.

Time passed like flowing water, and the car had been running for over two hours when Yang Chen noticed the fuel light was on. He had to stop at a gas station to refuel.

After refueling and getting back on the road, they both fell silent again.

For some reason, after talking about so many things they hadn't discussed before, both felt a bit awkward and didn't know how to start the conversation again.

Rose suddenly blushed and glanced at Yang Chen, whispering, "Why do I feel like you're a bit of a stranger?"

A stranger? Yang Chen finally understood the strange emotion he was feeling. Indeed, Rose seemed very different, filled with many aspects he had never known.

"Oh dear, what should I do?" Yang Chen said with a serious face, "I ended up having a relationship with a stranger. Now my pure and innocent body is ruined."

Rose angrily pinched Yang Chen's arm, just like an ordinary girlfriend would, as if it were an instinct. "You shameless husband! I'm talking seriously, and you're just playing around with words."

Yang Chen laughed heartily, "Speaking seriously, having these chats is actually quite useful."

"What do you mean?" Rose asked, puzzled.

"Think about it, darling. If we become strangers, then the next time we roll in bed, it'll be with the passion of strangers. I'll be picking wildflowers, and you'll be stealing a man. Isn't that thrilling?"

Before Yang Chen could finish, Rose was already hitting him hard several times. "Yang Chen, go to hell! You're the one stealing a man, you're the one stealing a man!"

Seeing Rose's playful and unrestrained manner as she scratched him, Yang Chen laughed loudly, feeling a warm sense of affection in his heart.

In the past, Rose had to maintain her authority as the leader of the Red Thorn Society. She had to uphold her dignity and couldn't afford to act immaturely, always wearing a mask. But now, unburdened and opening her heart through their conversation, Rose's laughter and playful banter made her no different from other young women her age, equally capable of acting spoiled and mischievous.

They played around for a while, nearly causing Yang Chen to crash the car into the guardrail. When the car finally drove into a commercial district, Rose's face was flushed and she was panting slightly from all the laughing and playing.

Yang Chen winked at her and said, "Madam President, after all this fuss, aren't you thirsty?"

Rose realized she had lost some control, but given that the person beside her was her man and not a subordinate, it didn't matter. Being her true self was something she enjoyed. And after talking so much, she indeed felt thirsty, so she nodded.

"What do you want to drink?" Yang Chen saw that it was getting dark and planned to get a drink before finding a place for dinner.

Rose glanced around the shops on both sides of the street and suddenly her eyes lit up. She pointed to a beautifully decorated and easily recognizable restaurant up ahead. "Let's go there!"

Yang Chen looked and saw the large, eye-catching sign that everyone on earth could recognize—it was a Starbucks.

"Rose darling, why do you suddenly want coffee?" Yang Chen couldn't shake the feeling that a woman like Rose wouldn't choose a fast-food type of drink.

Actually, because Yang Chen had been abroad for so long, he didn't realize that in China, Starbucks was considered quite chic, unlike its fast-food image abroad.

Rose pouted her red lips. "I see it in TV commercials all the time and I've always wanted to try it, but I never knew how to order, so I never drank it. I'm very curious."

Yang Chen was momentarily speechless, not because he was surprised that Rose hadn't tried the ubiquitous Starbucks, but because he himself had only gone there once, accompanying Lin Ruoxi.

"In that case, let me take you in and show you. Although I haven't had much of it either," Yang Chen said, scratching his head and starting to park the car by the side.

Rose caught the implication and asked curiously, "Honey, didn't you drink it when you were abroad? Starbucks is supposed to be very popular there."