Yun Xiu scooted to one side and perched on the edge of the bed. She lifted her pair of dazzlingly fair legs onto it, then drew the gauze curtains on either side, sealing off the space atop the bed.
The glowstone still shone steadily on the table. Even through the curtains, the bedchamber remained well-lit.
Beside her, Yan Zhen lay on his side with his back to her, his breathing deep and even, as if he had already drifted off to sleep.
Yun Xiu blinked her lovely eyes and slowly lay down, keeping her shoulder about a fist’s width from Yan Zhen’s back.
There was no dire cave-bound necessity this time. She had chosen to book her own room, and she had taken the initiative to share a bed with him—even going so far as to don his clothes in an attempt to stir his desire…
The thought made Yun Xiu’s heart quicken bit by bit, her delicate body growing warmer by degrees.
“Yan Zhen.”
Her voice came out unexpectedly coquettish, laced with a hint of appeasement.
Yet Yan Zhen didn’t turn around. He only replied coolly, “What is it?”
Yun Xiu rolled onto her side. Her small hand gently pressed against his back as she moistened her lips and said, “I’ve thought about a lot these past few days. I’ve found answers to many things. I really shouldn’t have made decisions about your major life events without consulting you. That was my mistake—I didn’t consider your feelings. I’m sorry, all right?”
Yan Zhen fell silent. Only after a long moment did he respond with a single “Mm.” His attitude remained unchanged.
Yun Xiu’s heart fluttered with anxiety. She bit her lip but pressed on. “I won’t interfere with your engagement to Wenqing anymore. Your affairs are yours to decide. Whether it works out or not, it’ll be up to your fate.”
“Are you done? If so, let’s sleep.”
Yan Zhen’s tone grew even colder. These weren’t the words he wanted to hear.
Yun Xiu finally panicked. “Wait, I’m not finished!”
Yan Zhen opened his eyes. Even with his back to her, his expression stayed impassive.
A flicker of hesitation crossed Yun Xiu’s face. Then resolve hardened in her eyes. She closed them, arched her ample bosom forward to press against him, and slid her arm over his waist, hugging him tight.
“I like you, Yan Zhen. I like you so much—so much—from my previous life until now, I’ve always liked you that way… But you already have an engagement with Wenqing, and I’m her master. I can’t be with you, or I wouldn’t be able to face her.”
At last, Yan Zhen rolled over to face her up close.
“Didn’t I say that once I win the battle pact, I’ll have Wenqing call off the engagement? Then there won’t be any issue.”
Yun Xiu bowed her head, unable to meet his gaze. “If you beat Wenqing, she won’t call it off.”
As her master, Yun Xiu knew full well how proud her disciple was. Her highest standard for a partner was that they had to be stronger than her!
Among Garo Kingdom’s younger generation, very few could meet that criterion.
If Yan Zhen defeated Huangfu Wenqing, she certainly wouldn’t end the engagement.
“But if you lose, you’ll have to marry into Cloud Heaven Palace,” Yun Xiu said with a wistful sigh. “Either way, it’s impossible. You should give up.”
“…I don’t care about that. I want you!”
“No, Yan Zhen. You can’t hurt Wenqing just for me. I—Mm!”
Before she could finish, Yan Zhen sealed her lips with his own in a deep, passionate kiss. His hands naturally found one of her full breasts.
He felt the softness of skin on one side and the texture of fabric on the other, with a firm peak right along the boundary, brushing against his palm.
This was Yan Zhen’s “bad habit.” In the script, every time he got intimate with Yun Xiu, he’d start fondling her while they kissed, teasing that sensitive spot—gently pinching it between his fingers to draw a muffled moan from her, then rolling and rubbing it until she melted boneless in his arms, her eyes glazing over as she surrendered to him.
And just like that, he fell into the habit now, assailing her from two angles at once. Yun Xiu couldn’t hold out.
“Wait, Yan Zhen, stop—listen to me, mmph—let me finish.”
Yan Zhen released the beauty in his arms and rolled atop her. He knelt with his legs straddling her waist and braced his hands on either side of her face. Struggling to contain the fire surging through him, he panted, “Go on.”
Yun Xiu clutched her breasts with both arms to fend off his advances, blushing furiously. “I-I can be your secret lover, but you have to promise me: if you beat Wenqing, you’ll marry her as agreed. Don’t break her heart.”
“Ha?”
What the hell was a secret lover? Yan Zhen couldn’t follow Yun Xiu’s train of thought for a moment.
“Are you serious, Yun Xiu?”
“Of course.” Yun Xiu stared at him stubbornly. “If you agree, I’ll let you do whatever you want to me.”
Whatever he wanted? Were there sweeter words in the world?
Yan Zhen felt a thrill shoot through him, nearly ruining his composure.
Regaining his senses, he shot back, “Why does it have to be a secret lover? I want to be with you openly.”
“I already told you—you’re going to marry Wenqing, not me.”
“Why not both?”
“You—you—of course not!” Yun Xiu turned her face away. “Wenqing’s too proud for that, and Cloud Heaven Palace would never allow their sect master and young sect master to share one husband. What are you thinking, wanting both master and disciple?”
Yan Zhen scratched his cheek awkwardly.
By the script’s progression, his relationship with Yun Xiu did resemble that of secret lovers. Though separated, their bond never fully severed. Each reunion inevitably led to heated embraces, only for Yun Xiu to halt things just short of the final step.
But that dynamic was supposed to develop much later. This was way too soon, wasn’t it?
Seeing Yan Zhen’s furrowed brow, Yun Xiu said stubbornly, “If you really won’t agree, then this is the end. We can’t keep going down this wrong path—Ah~”
Off guard, Yan Zhen slipped past her arms’ defenses. Her sensitive peak fell into his grasp once more.
“No, stop, Yan Zhen, let go, mmph.”
Even her mouth fell to his onslaught.
Under Yan Zhen’s assault, Yun Xiu’s resistance weakened until she surrendered, closing her eyes in resignation.
Their lips parted. Yan Zhen’s kisses trailed down her neck to her chest.
Yun Xiu clutched his head tightly, shaking hers lightly. “No, you haven’t agreed yet.”
Yan Zhen ignored her and pressed on.
But Yun Xiu clamped her legs shut, refusing to yield. She stared at him with unyielding eyes.
Yan Zhen wrinkled his brow. “Can’t I just rub against you?”
Yun Xiu bit her lip, inwardly torn. After a long pause, her tense body relaxed slightly.
“…If it’s just rubbing—Ah! Y-You liar!”
“Ahem, just for a little bit. I’ll finish outside.”
“You—Little Bad Egg, hurry up.”
Thus, a half-hour later, Yun Xiu—filled to the brim—lazily pounded tiny fists against Yan Zhen’s back. Her expression mixed post-climax languor with shame, annoyance, and reluctance.
—That naughty brat. Not a word of truth in him. What a waste of his name!
