After a polite knock came a man's inquiring voice."May I come in?""Just a moment."Startled by the sound, Yun Miao quickly emerged from the water and reached for the clothes she had removed nearby.She glanced at the garments in her hand, which still felt damp in her palm.She had intended to cast a Cleansing Spell, but the thought of the Spring Gu within her body made her abandon the idea.Although the current situation was not much better either—the surging heat inside her still threatened to overwhelm her.Yun Miao peered through the screen toward the outside, where the man's silhouette was cast upon the door by the moonlight.He stood quietly outside, showing no intention of hurrying her.Yun Miao hastily put on her inner garments, tied the sash, and, still enveloped in the lingering steam, draped her outer robe over herself as she walked toward the door.She didn't open the door fully, only pulling it ajar slightly and leaning her head out to ask tentatively, "Is there something you need?"Xie Jue's gaze swept over the strands of damp hair clinging to her cheeks before meeting her eyes. He nodded, his tone tinged with apology."Earlier, the innkeeper told me that the town is holding a flower-viewing festival these days, and the inn is fully booked."The implication was clear: there were no extra rooms available, and their previous plan was no longer feasible."Then come in for now."After a moment's thought, Yun Miao pulled the door open, took a step back, and made enough space for him to enter the room.After all, this was originally his room. He had been willing to help her out of goodwill, not obligation, and she couldn't in good conscience continue to occupy it like a cuckoo usurping a magpie's nest.Xie Jue did not refuse. He stepped into the room.But almost as soon as he entered, his beast-like sense of smell keenly detected the faint, familiar scent of lotus blossoms mingling with the lingering steam in the room.An indescribable unease made him blink lightly, subtly avoiding her presence.Xie Jue felt that his decision to let her stay might not have been wise.Yet, in the earlier situation, he could hardly have let her leave while bearing the Spring Gu in her body.But now, how was he supposed to remain calm and composed while sharing the same space with her, ensuring he didn't cross any boundaries?Perhaps "hoist with his own petard" described his current predicament perfectly.Pressing his lips together, he fell into thought and said nothing more.For a moment, the atmosphere in the room inexplicably sank into silence.Seeing the man before her with downcast eyes and lightly pressed lips, Yun Miao assumed he felt apologetic for failing to keep his promise."How about… we make do for tonight? I'll stay here for just one night. You can take the bed inside, and with the screen separating us, it should be fine."But this was clearly not a feasible suggestion.Because by now, she had already reached her limit. The effects of the Spring Gu enveloped her entire being through her bones, blood, and meridians, and an overwhelming desire, like a pot of boiling water poured over her head, tormented her nearly to the point of collapse.Not to mention, standing before her was a presence that seemed almost like an antidote.And this antidote was exceedingly handsome.He also happened to suit her taste perfectly.By the end of her words, Yun Miao couldn't help but close her eyes.Perhaps only this way could she restrain those unfamiliar and absurd thoughts.But the moment she closed her eyes, the heat surged once more, carrying a wave of dizziness, threatening to drag her entirely into the sea of desire.Even she herself felt somewhat dazed, yet her body had already softened uncontrollably.She nearly stumbled backward.As the sensation of weightlessness washed over her, Yun Miao hurriedly reached out, trying to grasp something.Unfortunately, there was nothing around her to steady herself.Yun Miao had already resigned herself to the reality of falling to the ground.But the next second, a strong hand gripped her forearm.Driven by inertia, she leaned toward the source of the force.What followed was no longer the cold, hard ground, but a soft embrace carrying the cool comfort she had long craved.Almost as a reflex, her desire shattered the rationality she had long upheld, compelling her to clutch the other’s lapel.With considerable force, her grip tugged at the inner robe the man had casually tied, loosening it to reveal a large expanse of pale, jade-like skin below his neck and collarbone.Yun Miao’s gaze lingered there, and she swallowed quietly.Moreover, a soothing coolness continuously emanated from the other’s body, enveloping her entirely.The prolonged torment after being drugged was finally alleviated, and Yun Miao’s body trembled slightly with comfort.She even felt that it wouldn’t be so bad to indulge herself like this, to let herself sink into the sea of desire…At this moment, her body’s instincts had clearly overtaken her reason.As this thought surfaced, she acted on it, pulling the other’s lapel to draw him closer.His wide sleeves slid down her arms with the motion, revealing most of his pale forearms.Beneath her exposed skin, something seemed to writhe and crawl, slightly lifting her flesh in a somewhat eerie manner.Xie Jue had not expected her sudden movement and was momentarily stunned before regaining his composure, looking down.His gaze inadvertently caught a glimpse of the snowy skin peeking through her disheveled lapel. As if scalded, he quickly averted his eyes and carefully adjusted her robe, trying to cover her.He did his utmost to pretend nothing had happened, yet the tips of his ears flushed as red as if they were about to bleed.The person in his arms remained completely unaware, one hand still causing mischief, and the sensation of her touch on his body grew increasingly distinct.Xie Jue naturally dared not let this continue, whether for her sake or his own.He quickly pulled down her restless hand, leaned slightly forward, and effortlessly lifted her by the waist.The sudden change left Yun Miao momentarily bewildered.She blinked, her mind sluggish, and looked up at the man holding her.From her angle, she could only see his slender neck and defined jawline.In her line of sight, the man’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly.Her attention was quickly drawn to it. She extended the hand he had just pulled away and lightly tapped the tip of her index finger against his Adam’s apple.Immediately, she felt the man holding her stiffen noticeably.As if she had discovered something amusing, Yun Miao reached out and poked it again.“Don’t poke… there.”The man seemed to have finally reached his limit and spoke up to stop Yun Miao's actions.His voice was noticeably hoarse, as if he was restraining something.At this moment, Yun Miao naturally couldn't react in time and instinctively asked in return, "Why not?"She asked earnestly, like a student thirsting for knowledge while seeking guidance.Xie Jue, however, was left speechless by her question. He knew that any explanation to the person in his arms would be futile at this moment, so he simply quickened his pace, stepping past the screen and heading toward the bed.In just a few steps, he carried her to the bedside.He bent down to place her on the bed, then casually pulled the inner blanket over her, wrapping her up completely."Sleep well. Call me if you need anything. I'll be right outside."As soon as the words fell, Xie Jue turned to leave.But just as he turned, before he could take half a step,the hem of his robe was tugged from behind."Don't go."He followed the sound and saw the person he had wrapped in the blanket now sitting up, extending a hand from within to grasp him.His gaze fell on the hand holding him, then followed it to look at her.His Adam's apple bobbed slightly, and he remained silent for a long while before finally speaking."Do you know what this means?"Yun Miao's mind was already a complete mess. Of course, she had no idea what he was talking about, but she nodded reflexively.Xie Jue naturally knew this as well. He remained standing in place, unmoving, yet his amber eyes were turbulent with emotion.Yun Miao's slightly misty eyes sparkled under the lamplight as she gazed at him, looking just like a child begging for candy.In that moment, Xie Jue was utterly defeated.He moved toward the bedside, following her unspoken request.Yun Miao exerted a little force with her hand, and he obediently sat down beside her.Her rationality had long been shattered by the fleeting comfort she had just experienced and lost. Now, she craved more.Her hand once again reached for the collar of his robe, and she propped herself up, leaning toward him.But with a sudden loss of strength, she tumbled into his embrace.Perhaps afraid of hurting him, she guiltily lifted her eyes to look at his face.Yet what she met were his beautiful amber eyes,now reflecting her own image.As if guided by some unseen force, she raised her head and lightly pecked his thin, attractive lips.The man's lips were soft, carrying just the right warmth.It was a stark contrast to the impression his appearance gave, yet it seemed perfectly fitting with that impossibly beautiful face.The man's ears flushed an intense red in an instant, the blush even spreading to his face.Under the lamplight, it was utterly enticing, like the sugar-coated hawthorn berries she loved to eat.She wanted to kiss him again.And indeed, she did just that.The fleeting touch on his lips left Xie Jue almost frozen in place.But the oblivious person, as if playing a game, pressed her lips to his once more.The man's eyes darkened as he reached out and pulled the troublemaker closer, turning the tables and deepening the kiss.The candlelight flickered, casting the warm yellow glow of the lamp to stretch their shadows against the white wall, intimate and ambiguous.The temperature in the room steadily rose, enveloping them both.Yun Miao felt something wondrous.The fire within her was gradually soothed, yet it seemed a new flame had ignited outside.The air in her chest was slowly compressed and stolen away.Yun Miao felt as if a piece of ice, radiating coolness, had fallen upon her feverish body, melting and continuously releasing a soothing chill…The entanglement of lips and teeth persisted, yet Yun Miao’s mind went blank, leaving only a suffocating sensation that enveloped her completely.Involuntarily, she loosened her grip on the man’s lapel, which she had been clutching tighter and tighter, and instead formed a loose fist, pounding weakly against his chest.The man’s lips did not cease their movements, but his free hand captured the one on his chest, deftly prying open Yun Miao’s clenched fist. His distinct, knuckled fingers slid perfectly into the spaces between hers, forcefully intertwining their hands in a tight clasp.Yet his lips considerately withdrew slightly, granting Yun Miao a brief moment to catch her breath.As soon as the man pulled back, Yun Miao gasped for air hurriedly, her chest rising and falling with each breath.She looked at him and saw the man gazing at her with leisurely composure. His clear, beautiful eyes appeared even more mesmerizing under the lamplight.And the next moment, Yun Miao watched as the man reached out and severed the lingering silvery strands still connecting their lips…
Chapter 3
Mistakenly Believing I Was Given the Substitute Lover Script