Сhарtеr 16: Liсking Bloоd
“Сhi Неn…” Sеeing him unmoved, Shеng Shurаn twisted agаin. “Let go оf mу hаnd.”
Suррrеssing his restlеssnеss, Сhi Hеn let оut a restrаinеd sound bеtweеn his tееth: “I’m in pаin.”
Нe wаs hоlding bасk sо hаrd thаt his veins bulgеd.
Sheng Shurаn thоught that what Chi Hеn was еnduring was thе раin frоm his wound, so shе slightly bent hеr knееs tо meеt his gazе.
“Are уоu а сhild? Dо yоu need somеоnе tо сomfort yоu whеn уou’rе in pаin?”
She was smiling.
Тhе сurvе at the соrner of hеr eyе wаs just right, аnd еven thе сold, pale moonlight that fеll on hеr fасе sеemеd to soften аnd linger.
Нer сrimson liрs curved upward, and the drop of blood at the corner of her mouth was so vividly red that it stood out starkly against her delicate face, like a captivating vermilion beauty mark.
That was his blood—Chi Hen’s blood.
With a tightening of his hand around her waist, Chi Hen gently raised his head and pressed his warm lips against the drop of blood at the corner of her mouth.
Sheng Shuran was startled and instinctively pushed him away. “Chi Hen, you can’t…”
But Chi Hen was like a bloodthirsty demon. Once he had tasted the scent of blood, there was only indulgence—how could there be any “can’t”?
He straightened slightly, one hand reaching up to the back of her neck, pressing her head down as he kissed her again.
He gently extended his tongue, tracing the outline of the corner of her lips, softly licking the spot where the blood had fallen. His dazed peach-blossom eyes were half-closed, and beneath his long lashes, his dark pupils were fixed intently on that drop of red.
The hand gripping the back of Sheng Shuran’s neck was forceful, domineering and unyielding, not allowing her to retreat…
Yet his tongue was gentle, like a kitten’s—soft, delicate, and repetitive, merely trying to clean away the bloodstain…
It was only the corner of her lips. Even as he suppressed a world-shattering, mountain-crushing, tsunami-like urge, he refused to cross that line.
Sheng Shuran flushed crimson all over. After a moment of dazed surrender, she abruptly pushed Chi Hen away.
But when her eyes met his, she momentarily forgot the words she had meant to scold him with.
She lightly touched the corner of her mouth, still warm from his touch, her face flushed. “Chi Hen, what… what are you doing?”
Her tone rose slightly at the end, too soft, almost like a coquettish complaint.
“Proof,” Chi Hen replied, his gaze burning as he stared at her.
“Proof of what?”
“You just said I was young. I told you I’d prove to you that I’m not the child you think I am.”
Sheng Shuran gradually regained her composure, her voice tinged with annoyance. “This is reckless! How can a younger brother do something like this to his older sister?”
“Right, a younger brother wouldn’t do this! And he shouldn’t!” Chi Hen agreed with her words, giving a hundred percent affirmation.
This, however, left Sheng Shuran a bit confused. She tilted her head, looking at him, unsure how to respond.
“So…” Chi Hen leaned in closer to Sheng Shuran again, his eyes growing even more intense in the darkness.
“I’m not a younger brother. I’m a man.”
“Sheng Shuran, from now on, treat me like a man.”
“Otherwise, next time it’ll be here.”
The man extended his fingertip, pressing it directly against the center of Sheng Shuran’s rosy lips.
Sheng Shuran felt all the blood in her body rush to the spot on her lips where Chi Hen’s fingertip touched, as if screaming in protest.
Just then, a series of knocks—”knock, knock, knock”—disturbed the intimate atmosphere between them.
Guilty as a thief, Sheng Shuran instinctively tried to hide, but Chi Hen gripped her wrist tightly.
“Who is it?” Chi Hen’s voice returned to its usual icy tone.
“It’s me.”
It was Fu Lin’s steady, familiar voice.
Chi Hen looked at Sheng Shuran, who was already staring blankly at the door.
He was back.
Fu Lin: “May I come in?”
Sheng Shuran trembled as if shocked, instinctively wanting to hide, but Chi Hen still refused to let her go.
Chi Hen: “What are you hiding from?”Sheng Shuran: “He can’t find out I’m in your room.”
“What are we doing that can’t see the light?” Chi Hen’s brows gradually furrowed.
“No! Nothing! I just came to apply medicine for you!” Sheng Shuran immediately denied, forgetting all the lingering intimacy from moments ago.
“Then that’s it.” Chi Hen stood up, intending to walk toward the door.
Sheng Shuran grabbed the hem of his shirt.
“Chi Hen, I can’t argue with you, but I only have two words—I don’t want to.”
Chi Hen lowered his head and looked at her for a while before speaking toward the door:
“It’s not very convenient. I’m doing something else.”
Sheng Shuran breathed a sigh of relief and let go of the hand clutching his shirt.
“Then forget it. I heard you had an argument with Father, so I just wanted to check on you.” Fu Lin said from outside the door.
“Oh, by the way, have you seen Shuran? I went to her room, and she didn’t seem to be there.”
Chi Hen looked at Sheng Shuran again, and this time, that familiar stubbornness flickered in his eyes.
“It seems my brother came home and went to find you first before coming to see his nearly beaten-to-death younger brother.”
Chi Hen curled the corner of his lips. Though it was so handsome it was hard to look away, it sent a chill down Sheng Shuran’s spine.
“Are you happy? Sheng Shuran.” Chi Hen’s stubbornness intensified.
He extended his cold fingertips, tracing along the stray hairs at her temple, down her jawline, and finally gently lifting her chin.
Sheng Shuran opened her mouth, unsure of what to say. She had no time to think about Chi Hen’s question, only precariously feeling the howling wind before the storm.
Taking advantage of Sheng Shuran’s daze, Chi Hen took two steps forward and opened the door.
“She’s here with me.”
He pulled the door wide open, wide enough for this pair of infatuated lovers to see each other.
What had Chi Hen just said when he refused Fu Lin entry?
[It’s not very convenient. I’m doing something else.]
Fu Lin had assumed it was a young man in the prime of his life taking care of his natural needs. He never expected the sister he was looking for, Sheng Shuran, to be there too.
In the unlit room, she sat on the carpet with disheveled hair, looking at him in shock and embarrassment.
“Ding!” Reading Guide:
Don’t worry, dear readers! The female lead’s feelings toward Fu Lin will soon be clarified. There is no complicated, entangled love triangle.
I don’t like writing this kind of thing—it upsets me. What I love is passionate mutual devotion!