"When did you arrive?"
"Why are you going to the airport?"
On the motorway back to the city centre, Ethan and Eva seemed to share a telepathic connection, asking their questions at the same time.
Ethan was driving, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. He kept his speed low. He had only just received his driving licence.
"Hehe, you ask first!" Eva said, acting like a shy young wife.
"When did you arrive? Why didn't you call me?" Ethan asked again.
From this, Eva could tell that Ethan did not know she had gone to the Newton Heath Training Base to look for him. This meant he had planned to go to the airport all along. Where was he going?
"I arrived today, but I couldn't find you, so I thought about going back. What about you? Where are you going?"
Ethan smiled. "New Zealand. I haven't had a holiday in a long time, so I wanted to go and relax for a couple of days. Since it's Christmas, I thought I'd go to New Zealand to have a proper rest and do some travelling!"
"Just that?" Eva's delicate body trembled slightly, and she asked with a hint of expectation.
"Hehe, also, I planned to visit your film set and see you. If there was time, it would be nice to spend Christmas together!"
Eva immediately leaned over and kissed Ethan hard on the cheek.
Ethan was stunned. He immediately turned the steering wheel and stepped on the brake, bringing the car to a steady stop at the side of the road.
"How did you..." Ethan was about to ask, but Eva clearly was not going to give him the chance.
Her fair hands reached out, gently caressing Ethan's cheeks, and her burning lips pressed tightly against his.
At that moment, Ethan could not help feeling proud of his foresight when he bought the car. He had tinted the side and rear windows, making it impossible for passing vehicles to see what was happening inside. It was practically made for moments like this.
Ethan had not thought much of it at the time, nor had he known he would have a day like this. He had simply added the tint on a whim.
Although Eva had taken the initiative, Ethan was even more excited. He quickly took the lead, pulling Eva onto his lap and holding her close, and the two began to kiss passionately.
They did not know how long they kissed, but no one came to disturb the young couple in the cramped space of the sports car. Only when they were exhausted did they finally break apart, though they still remained tightly embraced.
Eva held Ethan tightly, resting her head on his shoulder. "Yeah, yeah, you must be very proud of yourself, right?"
Ethan laughed out loud. "Proud of what? This was my first kiss, you know!"
"You? Who are you trying to fool?" Eva pulled away from his shoulder, and the two pressed their foreheads together, looking at each other face to face. Their eyes were filled with deep affection, though their words were still competitive.
"God, you're really wronging me. That was definitely my first kiss. Don't think my technique is good. I just learned it from watching TV and films, then practised on thin air." Ethan cried out, feeling wronged.
Hearing this, Eva burst into laughter. She could not help leaning in again, falling into another passionate embrace with Ethan.
"I love you, Ethan!" Eva whispered softly.
Ethan gently kissed her lips. "I love you too, baby!"
"Don't... don't move, Ethan!" Eva suddenly stopped him.
Ethan complied and stopped moving, though his hand showed no intention of pulling away. He could not help thinking of a news story he had once read. Could she really be the conservative type who would only give herself to a man after marriage?
Perhaps afraid that Ethan would be disappointed or angry, Eva took the initiative to lean in. After kissing him for a while, she leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I'm not ready yet, and besides, we're on a public road!"
Upon hearing this, Ethan was filled with joy, but he did not show too much excitement.
"By the way, you still haven't told me why you came but then wanted to leave?" Ethan suddenly remembered this question.
Eva thought for a moment, stared into Ethan's eyes, and acted coyly like a young woman. "I'll tell you, but you mustn't get angry."
"Of course. I couldn't bear to be angry!" Ethan said, acting very manfully.
"I saw you and Scarlett get into this car together, so..."
"So you were jealous?" Ethan laughed.
Eva gave Ethan a charming glare, but still nodded slightly.
"Silly girl, why are you getting angry over nothing? I couldn't buy a ticket to New Zealand, and she happened to have a friend working at the airport, so I asked her to help me find a way. In the end, she helped me get a ticket. I was just thanking her and taking her back. Is that something to be jealous about?"
Eva rolled her eyes mischievously and kissed Ethan, as if admitting her mistake, but soon she asked again.
"Will you like Scarlett Elan?"
Ethan looked hesitant. "For now, we're just good friends. But she's so beautiful that any man would like her. You know, men are very fickle. Do you regret liking me?"
Eva wrinkled her nose cutely but hugged Ethan even tighter, as if telling him through her actions: I will hold on to you very, very tightly, and I won't give you any chance to flirt with other women!
After Eva sat back in her seat and fastened her seatbelt, Ethan started the car again and drove toward the city centre.
They slowly drove into the residential complex. Along the way, they saw decorations full of Christmas atmosphere. Now, almost every household had set up a Christmas tree, hung with colourful lights and gifts. In families with children, the kids chased and played around the tree.
Perhaps because of his rebirth experience, Ethan placed great importance on the idea of family. He often felt that he was all alone in this world, and he longed to have a home.
On the way back from the airport, Ethan specifically took Eva to the supermarket to buy many things, such as a Christmas tree, colourful lights and other decorations, and a pile of food for the two of them. Of course, he did not forget to buy a gift for his newly confirmed girlfriend to make her happy.
After parking the car, Ethan carried the bags upstairs.
Pushing open the door, he discovered the room was a mess, with things thrown all over the floor. One look told him it had not been cleaned in a very, very long time.
"Don't you hire a cleaner?" Eva frowned.
Ethan laughed and shook his head. He had said several times that he would hire one, but he kept getting busy and forgetting.
Eva glared at him, walked in, took off her coat, rolled up her sleeves, found an apron in the kitchen, tied it on, wet a rag, and immediately began to clean and tidy up.
"I couldn't tell. You actually know how to do housework!" Ethan was very surprised.
Eva gave him an annoyed glare. "My mother told me since I was little that women should do housework and take care of the children at home."
"But from what I can see, you haven't listened to even a tiny bit of your mother's advice." Ethan helped with a smile.
"But that doesn't mean I don't like doing housework. I think even if I'm a movie star, I can still do housework at home, take care of the children, and be considerate to my husband, right?"
Ethan heard this and thought it made sense, so he laughed along.
The young couple, having just established their relationship, were naturally very attentive while cleaning their newly formed love nest. Even the most hidden corners were not spared, and they cleaned every inch of the room, living room, balcony, kitchen, and everything else until it was spotless.
This was definitely a huge project, so they were busy until evening before they finally finished.
After dinner, the two came to the balcony, squeezed together on a rocking chair, and quietly watched Manchester in the distance.
Ethan sniffed Eva's hair, and Eva responded lazily, her whole body leaning against Ethan's chest, feeling incredibly warm and dependent.
This was the first time she had wanted to rely on a man like this, and at the same time, she did not feel the slightest reluctance. On the contrary, this dependence made her feel very sweet and satisfied.
The two of them stayed out on the balcony, listening to the creaking sound of the rocking chair, making one promise after another.
Without realising it, they each put the other's gift on. Ethan gave Eva a very exquisite diamond and white gold necklace. It was very thin, but it looked dazzling and beautiful on her neck.
Eva gave Ethan a men's white gold diamond ring, which was also a style she had carefully selected.
After completing the Christmas Eve gift exchange, the two sat quietly on the rocking chair again, but both their hearts grew hot and restless, as if they were about to melt the couple wrapped in passionate love.
"Baby, are you ready now?" Ethan leaned toward the corner of Eva's mouth, kissed her gently, and asked in a murmur.
Eva held Ethan's neck tightly and kissed him back passionately, answering his question. Then she nodded almost imperceptibly.
Ethan immediately picked her up by the waist, his heart burning with excitement, and carried her back into the house.
(To be continued.)