He is a fool, she would never speak to him again.
A large hand caressed her back. He finally embraced her from behind, his voice hoarse, "Don't cry, it makes me uncomfortable."
As if drained of strength, he pressed his entire weight onto her, pinning Xue Niang so she couldn't cry. She struggled to turn her face, almost suffocating her.
"Knock, knock, knock—"
At that moment, a not-too-loud, not-too-soft knock sounded at the door.
"Zhiyu, are you asleep yet?"
It was Lu Yanmo's voice.
So late, what did he want?
Sensing the killing intent erupting from Xiao Shan, Xue Niang quickly replied, "What is it?"
As soon as she spoke, the person on her body pinched the soft flesh of her waist forcefully, making her gasp in pain.
This scoundrel, what was wrong with him?
Outside, Lu Yanmo breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing the light extinguished inside, he thought she had run away again. Since she was still here, he felt reassured.
"It's nothing, just wanted to tell you, don't say anything to Zhusheng in the future, he'll take it seriously. Alright, get some rest, we'll set off early tomorrow."
After speaking, he listened intently for a moment longer before returning to the adjacent room.
Xiao Shan rolled off her, lying on his back on the bed.
"A Shan, what's wrong with you?" Xue Niang sat up and went to feel him, wondering if he was injured.
"Stop touching me. I just haven't slept for a few days."
Xue Niang finally noticed his voice was dry and unpleasant, as if lacking water. After he spoke a sentence, she could feel a tearing pain.
How could he not have slept for days? Was it to find her?
She quickly got out of bed, but he accurately grabbed her wrist. "Where are you going?"
"To get you water."
Xiao Shan then released his grip.
Xue Niang fumbled in the dark to find the table, carefully poured water, and then moved it bit by bit to the bedside.
Xiao Shan could see her clumsiness and caution, his eyes growing warm. He pouted.
"A Shan, drink quickly." She took his hand, signaling him to sit up.
"I have no strength. You feed me."
Xiao Shan having no strength? Xue Niang felt both pained and unsure how to feed him, he was so heavy…
She wondered if she should light the lamp, fearing that the man named Lu would come over again out of nosiness.
"Feed me with your mouth."
Xue Niang's eyes widened. Feed him with her mouth?
Xiao Shan grasped the hand holding the water cup, sat up, took a sip, and then covered Xue Niang's mouth.
"Do you get it now?"
Xue Niang coughed, half the water spilling out and wetting her clothes, the other half flowing into her throat.
She seemed to remember this action from the lewd picture book Yuan Bufie had given her. In that picture, the water flowed down the woman's chin, and then the man extended his tongue to lick it away…
Xiao Shan had lied to her; he had seen that picture book!
"No, drink it or don't!"
Xue Niang's tone turned cold. She shoved the cup into his hand and turned over to lie down.
For a moment, silence reigned.
After a while, she heard Xiao Shan drink the water, get out of bed, and pour himself several more cups.
Then he stood by the bed, his expression unreadable. "The bed here is soft, isn't it? You don't want to leave?"
"Xiao Shan, if you don't speak properly, then leave."
Her joy at seeing him had been worn away by his inexplicable attitude. She had imagined various scenarios of seeing him, the grievances she wanted to express, his comfort, his embrace—none of it materialized.
Perhaps he thought that this time, she had deliberately run away again?
They didn't even have that much trust between them.
Were their past affections merely physical pleasure?
"He isn't restraining you, why didn't you leave?"
In the darkness, no one knew that his eyes were bloodshot to a terrifying degree, his face etched with fatigue and hardship. He hadn't slept for three days and three nights, his condition was dire.
But he dared not rest, fearing that if he rested for even a moment, Xue Niang would drift further away from him.
"I'll kill him right now!"
"Stop! Are you crazy!" Xue Niang, barefoot, jumped out of bed and hugged Xiao Shan, who had already reached the door. "Stop messing around, come back."
"I'm messing around? Heh! You can't bear to part with him?"
Can't bear to part with your ass! Xue Niang was truly going mad with anger. How could Xiao Shan be so irrational now, like a petulant child.
"Do you know who he is? He's the son of Grand Tutor Lu! If you kill him, are you asking for trouble?"
"How could I not know—"
Xue Niang abruptly covered his mouth. "Keep your voice down!"
She forcefully dragged him back to the bed. Only then did Xue Niang understand what was wrong with Xiao Shan.
"Xiao Shan, are you suspecting that there's something between him and me?"
Her tone was dangerous, and she lifted her chin, looking at Xiao Shan's direction unpleasantly, as if she would beat him if he answered "yes."
"I..." Xiao Shan pursed his lips. "I saw you during the day. You were eating noodles with him, and you even leaned into his arms."
"Which dog's eyes saw me leaning into his arms?"
Was anyone ever so wrongly accused?
Indeed, her feeling earlier was correct; that gaze was his.
"Both dog eyes saw it," Xiao Shan muttered. "His hand even stroked your head."
Xue Niang shuddered. She thought back to the scene during the day. No wonder her chin had bumped his when she looked up; it turned out that fellow had been taking advantage of her secretly then?
Looking at Xiao Shan again, his meaning was clear: he was waiting for her explanation.
What was there to explain? If there was nothing, then there was nothing. How dare he think of her like this!
"Are you thinking in your heart, did I sleep with him?"
Xiao Shan's body stiffened, and his hostility surged. "Don't talk nonsense!"
"Then why aren't you kissing me, not touching me? Don't you have doubts in your heart?"
"No, I don't—"
"Then try it. See if I've been unfaithful to you?"
She pulled his rough hands, guiding them under her clothes. The calluses on his hands rubbed against her delicate skin, and she shivered, letting out a seductive moan.
Xiao Shan's body became as rigid as stone.
He had missed her too much.
From the day he left home, he had thought of her eight hundred times a day, wanting to eat her, bite her, wanting that warmth, that fragrance, that beautiful melody.
Although the timing wasn't right, he still followed the desire in his heart, his large hands beginning to roam his territory.
Heavy breaths echoed in the small space.
Xue Niang arched her graceful neck, enjoying his caress.
This was her Xiao Shan, the man like a wolf and a tiger.
Just as Xiao Shan was about to draw his sword and prepare for a great battle, Xue Niang quickly withdrew, tidied her clothes, and retreated to a safe corner.
Xiao Shan, caught in a state of anticipation and confusion, called out, "Xue Niang?"
"Men are all the same. They only covet this body. Xiao Shan, you are too! When you make love with me, everything is good. But as soon as there's a slight disturbance, you start doubting me, neglecting me."
"I didn't—"
"I waited for you for a long time, and when you arrived, you didn't ask anything, as if I had done something to wrong you. Did you ever ask me what happened? Did you notice the gauze wrapped around my neck? Did you condemn me simply because I didn't escape from here?"
"Gauze? What happened? Let me see!"
Xiao Shan's other thoughts vanished. He pulled up his pants and was about to examine her.