Wei Lingci opened her eyes to see the worry in hers, warmth flooding her heart. With a long arm, she pulled her down into her embrace, inhaling the fresh scent of her hair. Her throat moved, eyes hazy. “You smell so good…”
Her voice was low and husky, different from her usual tone. Xun Changqing touched her forehead—it felt a bit hot—and her own palms were slick with sweat. Worried, she said, “Don’t think so much in the future. Just think of me more. You can ignore the rest; it’ll only give you headaches.”
Wei Lingci found this amusing, knowing it was meant to comfort her, and casually asked, “You said you won’t allow anyone to scheme against me. What if your father does?”
The question caught her off guard. Xun Changqing wasn’t sure if Wei Lingci was serious and thought for a moment before answering honestly, “Father won’t scheme against you—at most, against me.”
“What if one day he does? What then?” Wei Lingci’s cold fingertip tapped her lip corner, finding teasing her entertaining. The headache had vanished with just these few words. Watching her furrow her brows in deep thought made her earlier worries seem trivial.
Xun Changqing wondered why Wei Lingci brought this up but pondered seriously before saying, “Whoever’s in the right, I’ll side with them.”
A perfunctory answer. Wei Lingci shot her a glance and tried to rise, but Xun Changqing yanked her back down. Pouting, she tugged at her clothes and whispered, “What were you just thinking about doing?”
Wei Lingci felt a bit annoyed—she shouldn’t have pulled her close earlier. Now clear-headed, she feared this little rascal wouldn’t let go easily. Meeting the gleam in those rogue eyes, she smirked. “Don’t regret it. Last time, you were the one who ran…”
Xun Changqing saw the spark in Wei Lingci’s eyes and sensed danger. Her peach-blossom eyes blinked as she huffed, “Regret what? You were just complaining about a headache…”
“You’re my cure—it’s not hurting now. Didn’t you say you weren’t afraid of pain?” Wei Lingci was in high spirits, her eyes curving like crescent moons. Her fingertip trailed slowly to Xun Changqing’s back, drawing her close. With a sly smile, she leaned down and pecked her cool, soft red lips.
Xun Changqing felt Wei Lingci’s strength immense—she could hold her up with one hand. Clutching her waist tightly, she laughed, “I know you won’t. But I’m wondering if doing what you shouldn’t right now would make your head hurt again.”
Her brazen confidence ignited Wei Lingci. She lowered herself slightly, pressing against Xun Changqing without crushing her. She found the little rascal rather shameless for saying that. Her hand slid from back to nape, fingertips brushing her lips before she dove in for a deep kiss.
Their lips met, sending a shiver through Xun Changqing. Wei Lingci’s gaze burned into her, her body softening, strength ebbing away. Lured, she parted her tongue.
Cool night wind slipped through the window cracks, brushing her cheeks but doing nothing for the heat on her face. Lips and tongues entwined, Wei Lingci’s breaths steady. Her fingers suddenly covered Xun Changqing’s eyes, plunging her into darkness. Warm breath ghosted her face, intensifying the heat.
Wei Lingci deftly teased the little rascal’s soft tongue, guiding her breaths, while ragged gasps filled her ears. She released her hand and ended the kiss at the right moment, smiling at her lips, pinching her nose. “A few months apart, and you still don’t know how to breathe. You’d suffocate me if you didn’t say anything.”
“Who knew you’d kiss without warning? I wasn’t ready.” Xun Changqing pouted, catching her breath before reaching for Wei Lingci’s cool neck, restless. But Wei Lingci caught her hand. Licking her lips, Xun Changqing said, “Want to try again?”
“It’s late, and I’m hungry. Time for dinner.” Wei Lingci seized her hand, pulling her up to sit. She smoothed her disheveled hair and smiled faintly. “One more try, and you’d suffocate.”
“No way.” Xun Changqing sat there, wriggling into her embrace and pushing her back to the floor. Tilting her head, she grumbled, “Why can you run when you want, but now that I don’t agree, you haven’t even told me why your head hurt again.”
She pressed atop Wei Lingci, feeling the heat. Recalling the coolness of her neck earlier, she rubbed against it. Thinking she wanted to bite again, Wei Lingci covered her mouth and whispered a curse, “Want to bite again?”
“No, I’m just hot.” Xun Changqing retorted and reached to tug at Wei Lingci’s collar. “Let me see your wound.”
Too fast for Wei Lingci to stop. She covered her shoulder and kneed her lightly. “If you’re hot, take off your own clothes. Why mine? If you want to try, I’ll teach you.”
Xun Changqing was flipped onto the floor, her back slamming painfully. Biting her lip, her eyes watery, Wei Lingci’s fingertip flicked, untying her sash swiftly. Stunned, she grabbed Wei Lingci’s hand at her waist. “You… you said…”
“You said you were hot. Has nothing to do with me.” Wei Lingci smirked wickedly and kissed her lip corner again, teeth parting to tease her breaths, nipping mischievously. She undid her collar, fingers trailing down to her delicate collarbone, the intoxicating gentleness mesmerizing Xun Changqing.
Her peach-blossom eyes blinked, and she felt a chill—skin exposed to the air, limbs cooling instantly. Dazed, she stared at Wei Lingci, who abandoned the sweet lips to greedily suck at her neck.
They rubbed intimately, breaths mingling chaotically. A faint pink bloomed on Xun Changqing’s face. Lost in passion, pain stabbed her collarbone. Snapping awake, she clutched it and glared at the ‘culprit’. “You bit me.”
Wei Lingci smiled, tapping her slightly bloodied lip corner seriously. “You offered yourself up. Has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Xun Changqing pushed her away, half-draping her clothes over her shoulders, flushed red. Changing the subject, she said, “I’m hungry.”
Wei Lingci sat cross-legged steadily, eyeing the blood drop at her mouth, adding vivid allure. “Hungry? Then stay hungry. Dinner’s prepared outside—no food here.”
Xun Changqing dressed fully and squatted before her, eyes sparkling with relief. “Tomorrow, I’ll find out who’s betrothed to you, break his legs so he can’t enter the County Princess Mansion, and…” She paused, whispering in her ear, “And I’ve learned it now.”
She wrapped her outer robe and dashed from the study, leaving stunned Wei Lingci. Watching her joyful back, she realized she’d made a mistake—not scaring the little rascal, but emboldening her instead.
