In the courtyard, amidst the drifting snowflakes and the world cloaked in silver,
A young man embraced the slender, soft waist of a mature, beautiful woman from behind while his other hand held the delicate, boneless hand, painting the snowy scene.
If this scene were witnessed by others, they would likely stare wide-eyed, their jaws dropping in shock!
Of course, this wasn’t just because of the age difference between the two.
But also because the mature, noble beauty was none other than the Master’s Wife of the Spirit Treasure Sect, and the young man was her junior.
Yet, Xiaoxiang Elegant Garden was Qu Qirong’s private residence.
Apart from a few trusted maidservants, no one else could enter this place, let alone witness the scene before them.
Even Qing’er and Ling’er would not step into the courtyard without the Madam’s command.
The atmosphere right now was intimate. Qu Qirong and Deng Tianyu didn’t speak, and even the soft hand holding the charcoal pencil didn’t move.
Because the two were pressed so closely together, Deng Tianyu could clearly perceive Aunt Rong’s mature, fragrant, rich scent, the slender, soft waist, and the soft, round buttocks.
The restless feeling that had been suppressed rose once more, and his state of mind became slightly disturbed.
Qu Qirong felt the same. This was the second time she had been held in Deng Tianyu’s embrace.
Last time was because of removing the Heart-Controlling Gu. Whether it was having her full bosom held or being embraced in that warm chest, it was all due to irresistible factors.
But what about this time?
Qu Qirong’s thoughts were very chaotic, her mind a blank slate. She didn’t know how to provide an answer.
Perhaps she simply wanted to complete this painting of ‘After Snow Clearing’ properly!
As for that subtle emotion—indefinable and entangled in reason—she herself didn’t dislike it, and there was even a hint of indulging in it.
As her Tianyu had said, he stepped onto the path of cultivation only to follow his heart’s desires.
For so many years, she had always been subject to her family’s arrangements, doing things she didn’t like.
Now that the Heart-Controlling Gu had been removed, why couldn’t she do the things she liked?
Now, it was merely painting an ‘After Snow Clearing’ with Tianyu. What harm was there in that?
“Aunt Rong, let’s start painting.”
Just then, a warmth brushed her ear, and a gentle voice came.
“Mm.” Qu Qirong hummed softly in a velvety tone. Feeling the warmth transmitted from the back of her hand, she slowly began to sketch.
First the overall outline of the courtyard, then the lotus pond and waterside pavilion, the rockery and flowerbeds, the surrounding snow-covered greenery, and that stroke of sunlight after the snow.
In that moment, her heartbeat and his seemed to overlap, each able to feel the other.
Within this atmosphere, tinged with intimacy yet captivating, the outline of ‘After Snow Clearing’ gradually took shape.
“Tianyu~ slower!”
The outline was only halfway done when Qu Qirong’s slender hand holding the charcoal pencil paused.
Deng Tianyu asked with some surprise: “Was I too fast?”
As soon as he said it, his expression turned a bit strange.
Why did that sentence sound so wrong?
Qu Qirong naturally didn’t notice Deng Tianyu’s odd expression. Her red lips parted slightly: “Mm, I’m having a bit of trouble memorizing it.”
“Then I’ll sketch a bit slower.”
Deng Tianyu nodded. Continuing to hold Aunt Rong’s soft hand, he slowed the pace of sketching and asked: “At this speed, can Aunt Rong adapt to it?”
Qu Qirong smiled softly: “Just like this is fine. I can clearly feel the weight, the lightness, the urgency, and the leisure of the strokes!”
“Alright, I understand!”
Deng Tianyu followed Aunt Rong’s words. Maintaining this rhythm and speed, he slowly sketched the complete ‘After Snow Clearing.’
After a long while, when the overall outline and lines were drawn, Qu Qirong began to pick up a paintbrush to add color.
“Huuu…”
Seeing this, Deng Tianyu exhaled a deep breath of turbid air and released her soft hand and slender waist.
Aunt Rong’s noble aura, her light, intoxicating fragrance, plus that mature, full figure, directly caused continuous ripples in his heart.
Luckily, after years of being teased by his Shizun, his mental state was exceptionally strong, and he didn’t make any improper moves.
Qu Qirong also breathed a sigh of relief, but after leaving that warm embrace, she felt a sense of inexplicable loss in her heart.
Half a moment later, after ‘After Snow Clearing’ was fully colored, it instantly became vivid and lifelike.
Qu Qirong’s gaze shifted and she looked at Deng Tianyu: “Tianyu, it’s your turn to write the inscription!”
“Let me think!”
Deng Tianyu pondered for a while, searching through poems about snow from his past life.
But after looking for a while, he didn’t find a suitable one.
Suddenly, he saw the plum blossoms in the courtyard still covered with frost and instantly had one.
He picked up the brush and slowly began writing on the rice paper.
[Opening the door at dawn, snow fills the courtyard; snow clears, clouds thin, the sunlight cold.]
[Eaves’ drip has not yet frozen on the plum blossoms; a kind of pure solitude, not of the common sort.]
“Is this another poem you saw in the miscellaneous books of Purple Cloud Sect’s Library Pavilion?”
Qu Qirong had only casually mentioned it, never expecting that Deng Tianyu would actually produce another fitting poem.
Discovering that the Filial Piety Water drops had increased by a few more, Deng Tianyu smiled: “Previously, when I was idle, I happened to see this poem. I just felt it had profound artistic conception, so I remembered it!”
Qu Qirong’s brows and eyes held a smile, and a hint of teasing flickered in her beautiful eyes: “Someday when Tianyu has free time, you must lead Aunt Rong through the Purple Cloud Sect’s Library Pavilion!”
Hearing this, Deng Tianyu’s expression froze, not knowing how to answer.
Seeing his awkward state, Qu Qirong found it incredibly amusing, but she didn’t press further. Instead, she changed the topic:
“Tianyu, it’s time for the midday meal. What do you like to eat? Aunt Rong will instruct the kitchen to make it.”
Deng Tianyu reached out his hand to feel the chill in the air and said: “Then let’s have hot pot!”
Eating hot pot in winter was a perfect match.
Although he had eaten it once in the sect yesterday, he didn’t enjoy it to his heart’s content then.
Because the Big Loli Li Shishi and the Little Fox Yingying were there, the ingredients were quickly eaten up, and he didn’t get much.
“What is ‘hot pot’?” Qu Qirong was somewhat puzzled by this novel term.
“Where there’s fire and a pot, that’s hot pot!”
“Aunt Rong, just have the kitchen send some ingredients over.”
Deng Tianyu retrieved a mandarin duck pot he had previously asked Shishu Chen to forge from his storage ring and placed it on the stone table.
Hot pot was something that could reap Filial Piety value; how could he not have it?
“If that’s the case, I’ll have the kitchen bring some fresh ingredients.”
Though Qu Qirong didn’t quite understand, she still followed Deng Tianyu’s words, using a transmission jade slip to have Qing’er instruct the kitchen.
“Right, Aunt Rong, let Miss Ling’er come along too!”
“Hot pot is livelier with more people.”
Not long after, the stone table in the Orchid Pavilion was filled with various ingredients.
Qu Qirong, Ling’er, and Qing’er all looked curiously at Deng Tianyu’s preparations.
Deng Tianyu didn’t keep them waiting long before he prepared two soup bases: one clear and nourishing, the other spicy and numbing.
Then, he also took out dipping sauces and placed them on the stone table.
“Aunt Rong, Miss Ling’er, Miss Qing’er. Whatever you want to eat, just place it in the pot to cook for a bit, then dip it in the sauce and you can eat.”
“The left side is milder, the right side will be a bit spicy!”
Deng Tianyu picked up a slice of beef roll, cooked it briefly, then dipped it in sauce and put it in his mouth.
Seeing this, Qu Qirong also imitated him, cooking a piece and placing it into her small mouth. Her beautiful eyes immediately lit up: “It has a unique flavor!”
Especially the naturally gluttonous Ling’er, who could no longer hold back and quickly joined in.
