Hot…
Something doesn’t seem quite right?
Jiang Yin pondered inwardly, but dared not show it on her face. She allowed the young master to hold her hand and gently rub it, then press further, sliding his hand from her wrist beneath her sleeve.
But the young master’s hand was truly scalding, and his movements were heavy, so she couldn’t help but instinctively shrink back.
Perhaps sensing her hesitation, the young master’s expression cleared slightly. He abruptly withdrew his hand and apologized hoarsely, “My apologies… I did not mean to… Please, young lady, leave first and call someone in to attend to me…”
…Leaving was impossible. If she left now, she would never have another chance to get close to him.
So Jiang Yin reassured him, “If you are unwell, young master, just tell A Yin. A Yin is willing to share your troubles.”
“…”
After stumbling through those words, the young master’s expression grew dazed once more. When Jiang Yin spoke again, he showed no reaction, as if he hadn’t heard her at all.
But his lips moved slightly, muttering something unintelligible.
Curious, Jiang Yin leaned in to listen.
Suddenly, a hand pressed down from behind her, gripping the back of her neck.
At the same time, the young master propped himself up halfway and kissed her.
The suddenness of the action startled them both.
A scalding kiss tinged with the scent of wine was utterly intoxicating. Jiang Yin herself had also drunk wine, her mind feeling light and floaty. Trapped and unable to move, she could only let herself be carried away by the kiss until he finally released her.
That night, snow fell without wind. Outside the window, white flakes drifted softly, and the faint, lively sounds of people masked the commotion between them.
She touched her lips and glanced at the young master, who lay sprawled on the bed, his expression dazed and disoriented. For a moment, she was lost in thought, forgetting what she should do next.
The young master simply lay there, motionless. His eyes were slightly closed, his breathing rapid. He tilted his chin upward slightly, the lines of his neck taut and tense, his face showing a hint of pain.
Yet even so, he remained as cold and distant as the pristine snow atop a mountain, restrained and composed, without the slightest hint of impropriety.
…Only then did Jiang Yin realize she should fetch some cool water to help lower his temperature.
Patting her own flushed cheeks, she scrambled clumsily off the bed.
But the more flustered she was, the more mistakes she made. As soon as her feet touched the floor, Jiang Yin jolted her injured spot with a sudden movement.
Wincing in pain, she lost her balance and tumbled straight into the young master’s arms.
Caught off guard, the young master grunted softly as she fell onto him, his brow furrowing slightly.
—The next moment, the door to the room slammed open, and a flurry of hurried footsteps rushed in.
“Ah…”
Before Jiang Yin could process what was happening, she felt the world spin around her. Then, she was enveloped in the warmth of scented incense, her vision plunged into darkness.
Startled, she gasped and quickly covered her mouth, curling into herself.
The young master’s voice rang out above her, icy and terrifying: “Get out.”
After a deathly silence, several voices replied in unison, “…Yes.”
Another flurry of hurried footsteps followed, and with a creak, the door closed once more.
“…”
Only then did Jiang Yin realize that the commotion between them must have been overheard by the guards outside, who had mistakenly assumed she had done something to the young master.
…Heaven knows the truth.
As she thought this, the young master, who had been pressing down on her, slowly withdrew. He seemed to have lost all strength, sliding limply to the side, his voice trembling: “Hot…”
“…”
The room brightened again, and a cool breeze brushed against her face, pulling Jiang Yin’s thoughts back to the present.
She lay on her back, waiting for her pounding heart to calm somewhat before letting out a long sigh, slowly rising, and turning her gaze toward the young master beside her.
The candlelight flickered, casting swaying shadows. Under its glow, the young master’s robes were disheveled, revealing glimpses of his lean and firm muscles. His skin, affected by the medicine, took on a faint pink hue, giving him an appearance of helpless weakness.
In this state, it seemed as though the moment earlier when he had shielded Jiang Yin beneath him was nothing more than a figment of her imagination.
…This time, she didn’t hesitate. Carefully, she slipped off the bed to fetch some cool water.
But just as she reached the table, a pair of strong hands reached out from behind, sliding beneath her waist and pulling her backward.
Jiang Yin was startled, instinctively wanting to cry for help, but her mouth and nose were covered as she was pressed back into the embroidered quilt.
The silk bed curtains fell, plunging her vision into darkness once more. Only the scorching breath, hot against her ear, remained.
The young master struggled to breathe, his voice barely audible: “Someone has harmed me… Help me… A Yin, I will repay you generously…”
“…”
Jiang Yin was no innocent young girl; she understood exactly what he meant by “harmed.”
She pondered for a long while, wavering in uncertainty.
The young master didn’t move recklessly, only burying his face in the crook of her neck, breathing heavily and trembling slightly, as hot as a burning coal.
In the end, she sighed softly and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
The night was dark and windy, with heavy snow swirling fiercely outside the window, blanketing the world. Inside, the candlelight danced wildly, casting flickering shadows that lingered for a long, long time.
…
When she slowly awoke from her slumber, the morning sunlight had already filled half the room, streaming through the window lattice.
Jiang Yin drowsily opened her eyes, feeling as though her head were filled with water—dizzy, heavy, and unable to recall anything.
She stared blankly at the bed curtains for a long while, gaining no clarity, and finally gave up trying to think. Dragging her sore and heavy body, she struggled to sit up.
All around was quiet. The bed held only her, the blankets warm and neatly arranged, carrying the fresh scent of newly applied incense.
Looking down at her own body—free of any sticky traces, clean and refreshed, clad in new, soft undergarments…
Something was off.
The wild scenes from the previous night flashed through her mind like a revolving lantern, and only then did Jiang Yin remember what she had experienced.
Her heart trembled. Ignoring the aches in her body, she struggled out of bed and walked barefoot toward the door.
But as she pulled open the bed curtains, the figure seated by the window halted her steps.
“…Young master?”
In the thin, bright morning light, the young man’s face was serene, his attire neat and proper. A soft, gentle glow enveloped him, as if he were a celestial being, untouchable and pure.
Hearing her voice, he didn’t move, only curling his lips slightly as he spoke gently, “Awake?”
“…”
Though the words were simple and his tone calm, Jiang Yin sensed something unusual in them.
Suppressing the chaotic images that surfaced in her mind, she softly hummed in acknowledgment, hesitantly taking two steps forward before pausing and whispering, “Young master…”
“Come here.”
“…Huh?”
The young master still didn’t move, only patiently repeating, “Come to my side, sit.”
As he spoke the last word, he extended his left hand, resting it on the soft cushion beside him, withdrawing it only when he heard Jiang Yin’s footsteps.
The doors and windows were closed, and the room was quiet—so quiet that the faint rustle of fabric and the sound of their breaths were almost audible.
Jiang Yin obediently followed the young master’s guidance and sat down, stealing a glance at his expression. Seeing his calm demeanor, she relaxed slightly, letting go of some of her tension.
She cleared her throat softly and spoke hesitantly, “Last night…”
“Last night…”
Unexpectedly, the young master also spoke at the same time.
Their voices overlapped, and both were taken aback, pausing together.
Jiang Yin pursed her lips and yielded, “Please, young master, you go first.”
The young master composed his expression, gave a slight nod, and asked her, “Last night, Miss A Yin was injured. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“…”
After a night of absurdity, the first thing he asked upon meeting the next day was this…
Jiang Yin was momentarily speechless and mumbled, “…A Yin already feels indebted to the young master. I didn’t want to trouble you further with my worries.”
“But if you don’t say it, I wouldn’t know, and then…”
The young master’s words trailed off halfway. After a moment of silence, he tilted his head slightly and opened his palm toward Jiang Yin. “It was my fault. You suffered.”
As he spoke, his voice carried a faint tremor. He took Jiang Yin’s hand as she placed it in his, then gently traced his fingers up to her face, asking softly, “Does it still hurt?”
“…It’s… it’s fine.”
…Perhaps it was Jiang Yin’s imagination, but she always sensed a subtle hint of teasing hidden beneath the young master’s seemingly composed tone.
Yet his expression remained unchanged, even carrying a polite distance. His actions were not the least bit improper, leaving no trace to be found.
Never mind.
Since things had already come to this, what was done could not be undone. It was better to focus on how to secure a way out for herself.
With this thought, Jiang Yin quietly suppressed the chaotic thoughts in her mind, lowered her head, and pondered how to speak up to gain more advantages.
—Just then, the young master turned his head and looked at her.
…
To be honest, in Shen Shouyu’s eyes, the girl before him could hardly be called beautiful. Even describing her as delicate would be a stretch.
But yesterday, when she threw herself at him, clinging tightly without letting go, that stubborn tenacity had rooted him to the spot.
Originally, he thought saving someone was just a trivial matter, insignificant to him.
Yet he never expected that such a frail and delicate girl could harbor so many messy thoughts in her mind.
…How interesting.
Shen Shouyu’s gaze darkened slightly, drifting from the small face cradled in his palm down to the striking red mark at the overlapping collar of Jiang Yin’s plain white robe.
The lingering memories of last night’s intimacy were still vivid. He lowered his eyes, his long lashes casting a shadow, concealing the subtle glint in his gaze.
Though he didn’t know who had drugged and harmed him, at this moment, he truly had to thank that person.
After a moment of silence, Shen Shouyu withdrew his gaze and spoke before Jiang Yin could, asking her, “Do you know who I am?”