These past few months, she had grown familiar with Southern Garden and wasn’t scared, just uneasy. She changed into indoor shoes, followed her memory to the stairs, went up, and found Shen Han’s room.
This was the second time standing before this heavy door since transmigrating.
Su Mi’s heart pounded nonstop.
The vast hallway was pitch black, with only a small lamp before the door emitting dim warm yellow light.
Southern Garden’s layout was somehow chilling—the hallway felt bone-piercingly cold.
Su Mi hesitated for a moment.
If Shen Han had already injected the suppressant by now… she could explain it away by saying she’d heard from the butler about the susceptible period and came to check out of concern.
But the odds of Shen Han being clear-headed now were low, since the blackening value was still jumping—up to 85%.
Before pushing the door, Su Mi reviewed a few Moments posts from Li Zhao on susceptible period and suppressant precautions.
She read them over and over, nearly memorizing the home suppressant injection guide, before mustering the courage to push open the door.
The room was pitch black.
Su Mi had been in Shen Han’s bedroom once and vaguely remembered it was to the left. She turned on her Light Brain’s light and rummaged in the sitting room first.
By luck, she found a transparent-door refrigerated cabinet in the side table by the sofa, neatly stocked with a row of syringes.
Comparing them, they were indeed common household suppressants.
Under the light, not a single syringe was missing from the cabinet.
It looked like Shen Han hadn’t used any.
Su Mi’s fingertips trembled as she took out one syringe. She was just about to close the door when she hesitated and took out another one.
The room was very quiet. Perhaps Shen Han was running a high fever, or maybe she had fallen asleep.
As long as she wasn’t rampaging, that was good.
Su Mi silently prayed in her heart and lightened her footsteps, trying her best to walk quietly toward the bedroom.
The entire Southern Garden seemed shrouded in tranquility. The only sound was Su Mi’s somewhat hurried breathing.
When she reached the door, Su Mi nervously gripped the door handle and pushed the door open.
The bedroom was even colder.
Su Mi had no time to wonder why it was so cold.
She clutched the two syringes tightly in her hand.
Upon entering the bedroom, it first led into a walk-in closet.
There were wardrobes lining both sides and the ceiling. To the right was a full-length dressing mirror.
Su Mi gave herself a pep talk and bravely stepped further inside.
At the end of the closet, the room layout suddenly opened up into a large bedroom. Directly opposite was an L-shaped double full-length window. The curtains weren’t fully drawn—only the inner layer of sheer gauze was pulled closed, letting in bright moonlight.
Su Mi immediately turned off the light from her Light Brain. Borrowing the moonlight, she looked toward the bed. Amid the black silk bedding, there was no figure.
She wasn’t on the bed.
Su Mi moved lightly to the center of the bedroom and soon spotted a balcony outside one of the floor-to-ceiling windows.
The balcony door was open. Wind blew in from there, lifting the sheer curtains and making them flutter in the moonlight.
Should she go take a look?
Su Mi bit her lip, placed one suppressant on the nightstand, and stepped quietly across the soft carpet to the balcony door by the floor-to-ceiling window.
It turned out the balcony connected to the bedroom was quite the hidden gem. Stepping out led to a half-level sunken swimming pool platform. On the side nearer to the bedroom, under the bright moonlight, she could clearly see Shen Han reclining on a chaise lounge.
On the square table beside her were several bottles of liquor with unreadable labels, along with a few blister packs of pills.
Sleeping outdoors, Shen Han wore only a thin robe. Her hair was scattered behind her head, her face flushed red, her eyes tightly closed, and her breathing uneven. She was clearly still ill from her susceptible period.
Compared to her usual frosty chill, she now carried a fragile, pitiable air.
The night was cold. How could she sleep on the balcony?
Su Mi couldn’t help but feel worried. She half-squatted by the chaise lounge and stared nervously at Shen Han’s sleeping face.
The outdoors was chilly. After watching for a bit and confirming Shen Han’s position wouldn’t shift, Su Mi shivered slightly and decided to get it over with quickly. Since Shen Han was asleep, she could just administer the suppressant first.
She straightened up a little. Because Shen Han was reclining, the inner side of her arm lay straight out in front of her.
Victory was in sight. Su Mi’s heart pounded wildly.
She exhaled a puff of cold air that shouldn’t exist in the height of summer, uncapped the needle’s protective cover, and prepared to press it against the vein on the inner side of Shen Han’s arm.
It was simple—just a light press—
Su Mi’s fingers trembled slightly as she stared at the syringe in her hand. Her thumb rested on the injection button. She adjusted it slightly to a more comfortable position on the cool metal and was about to press down—
But a pair of pale, slender hands suddenly gripped her wrist.
Su Mi’s pupils contracted. She watched as the syringe was effortlessly flicked away and sent rolling down the steps of the platform with a gurgle.
…Wasted.
Her other hand clenched into a fist at her side. Su Mi’s heart nearly leaped out of her throat. She looked up and met Shen Han’s already-open eyes.
Those ice-blue eyes usually held an inscrutable depth, but now they seemed light and hazy, like moonlight veiled by clouds, gazing at her with a hint of confusion.
Her expression was in a dazed, not-quite-rational state.
Her breathing remained erratic. Shen Han’s nose twitched slightly. Rather than questioning why she was using the syringe, her pale, almost bloodless thin lips parted. Her clear, cold voice was slightly hoarse as she enunciated each word deliberately, as if grinding them between her lips and teeth.
“Good fragrance.”
Su Mi’s heart skipped a beat.
Fragrant… fragrant what?
In her bewilderment, she was stunned by the words.
To her, there was no scent outdoors—not even Shen Han’s usual cool fragrance. There was only coldness.
Still lost in confusion, Shen Han had already half-sat up. Her face bore an unnatural flush, and her gaze lacked focus as it turned toward Su Mi.
At the same time, Shen Han’s cool fingertips gently brushed Su Mi’s cheek.
The touch was smooth and warm, like fine jade.
Shen Han had gathered her long hair to one side. She had changed into a robe, but her earrings remained—the long Jade Silver Pendant swaying gently with her movements.
Along the line of her jaw and upward, Su Mi felt half her body go numb from the moment of contact, goosebumps rising all over.
Shen Han wasn’t exerting any force, yet Su Mi couldn’t move. She could only watch as Shen Han propped herself up from the chaise lounge, tilted her head slightly, and leaned in close.
Her habitually aloof eyes narrowed as she drew nearer, until their noses nearly touched.
Hot and cold breaths intertwined chaotically under the moonlight.
Su Mi nearly stopped breathing. She closed her eyes, only to see Shen Han’s nose twitch as if sniffing lightly.
Her exhaled breath was cool. In a soft voice, she said, “Can I smell you?”
…Smell what?
Wasn’t this already smelling?
Su Mi’s brain short-circuited. She didn’t understand what Shen Han meant.
Immediately after, cool, soft lips gently pressed against hers.
Su Mi: ………………
The world seemed to freeze in an instant.
Her ears suddenly filled only with the pounding of her own heart: thump, thump, thump…
It was about to burst from her throat.
And… right in front of her, Shen Han’s lips were pressed to hers—so close that she could hear the rhythm of the other woman’s breathing.
Inhale… exhale…
She felt like a piece of wood, her entire existence reduced to that breathing.
Cool breath sprayed across her cheek. Su Mi could almost feel the tiny hairs on her skin swaying.
It was such a pure connection—just lips pressed to lips, petals rubbing, breaths mingling, like two puppies sniffing each other.
It didn’t last long before Shen Han pulled back slightly, separating their tightly pressed lips. Her lashes lifted, and her ice-blue eyes locked intensely onto Su Mi.
In a soft voice, she asked, “Is it okay?”
Her tone was ethereal, but her eyes fixed firmly on her prey.
Su Mi felt dizzy and dazed. She opened her eyes in confusion and looked at Shen Han before her.
Okay for what?
Shen Han’s butterfly-wing lashes trembled slightly over her ice-blue eyes. Perhaps taking the silence as refusal, they seemed on the verge of shattering.
Before Su Mi could speak, Shen Han leaned forward again, pecking the corner of Su Mi’s lips. Gazing deeply at her, she said, “Please.”
The final syllable was heavy, as if grinding against Su Mi’s earlobe.
…Shen… Shen Han was begging…
She didn’t know how to describe the feeling. Perhaps it was lust clouding her mind.
Su Mi nodded.
Then her mouth was forcefully sealed, invaded.
At first, it was gentle—sucking lightly on the lips, teeth grazing past, soft tongues intertwining…
Unlike the soft tone of her request.
Shen Han’s intrusion was forceful, almost greedy in its plundering. The kiss deepened, and Su Mi unconsciously leaned back, only for the hand on her cheek to press her nape forward, making her meet it.
She felt her breath being stolen, her mind turning to mush from the stirring tongues, her whole body numb.
She didn’t know how much time passed before Su Mi’s body went limp, unable to support itself. She knelt to the ground.
Their lips and teeth naturally parted. Su Mi’s knees hit the cold floor, sending a jolt of pain that snapped her back to some semblance of awareness.
She looked up. Shen Han was half-propped up, leaning over from the chaise lounge to look at her. Her face was flushed, seemingly not yet satisfied.
Her lips were glossy and wet, shimmering with light.
Some of it was Su Mi’s, some hers.
Su Mi couldn’t help swallowing. She pinched her own palm.
Shen Han… Shen Han was in her susceptible period… She wasn’t clear-headed right now.
This wasn’t allowed…
Her heart drummed even faster. Su Mi pursed her numb lips and forced herself to stand.
She didn’t know what to say. She opened her mouth mutely, her mind fixed on one thought: get out first.
No—she couldn’t stay with Shen Han any longer, or she’d give in herself.
Su Mi backed up a few steps to the balcony door.
Mumbling incoherently, she gripped the doorframe, ready to flee regardless.
Her foot stepped onto the soft indoor carpet, restoring some warmth. Only then did Su Mi realize her limbs had gone ice-cold from the outdoors, while her cheeks burned hot.
Shen Han didn’t follow her in. Su Mi let out a breath of relief.
Later… later she’d wash her face and have the housekeeper administer the suppressant…
This had to be a full-blown susceptible period…
Su Mi’s thoughts were a jumble as she hurried along.
She had just reached the walk-in closet, her heart pounding like a drum—unable to tell if it was relief or something else—when her hand touched the cold copper door handle.
—Her waist was suddenly seized by an irresistible force.
😆😆🫣💓