Who would have thought that the lofty Fuzi, once pulled down to the mortal realm, would appear like this?
Prayer beads dust-covered, red marks lingering on his slender wrists.
Clearly a Buddha’s mouth with a lotus heart, yet lingering affections remained unresolved.
Yu Qing was his unresolved affection.
Xie Qing Ci buried his face in the crook of her neck for a long time.
Seeing his evident distress, Yu Qing thought for a moment before leaning close to whisper in his ear: “Shall we go to A Ci’s bedroom?”
Her soft, delicate voice blended with the unique, elegant purity of peony fragrance emanating from her.
Xie Qing Ci shuddered—Yu Qing could feel the body holding her instantly tense.
The arms encircling her and the chest pressed against her grew abruptly firm.
“Baby, what did you say?”
He hadn’t worn his glasses when he came out, and now his eyes were clouded with desire, gazing obsessively at Yu Qing.
His deep, magnetic voice was already unbearably hoarse.
Seeing the redness at the corners of his eyes, Yu Qing felt both frightened and heartached.
“Ne—nothing.”
How would the little coward dare repeat it?
His predatory expression truly scared her.
She began to shrink back.
But how would Xie Qing Ci give her a chance to retreat?
His low, husky voice was so tender it seemed to drown one completely.
“Baby—”
“My good girl—”
“Darling—”
“Alright?”
…
Yu Qing felt she was about to faint from lack of oxygen.
Her heart swelled full with his love, her mind blank, unsure how to respond.
While tilting her head to evade his incessant pecks, she lowered her gaze, listening to her own rapid breaths and drumming heartbeat.
Finally, worn down by his persistence, she silenced his murmuring lips with a kiss.
But the man who gained this advantage remained unsatisfied.
A large hand firmly clasped her slender neck, seizing absolute control.
The other arm wrapped around her slim waist, pulling her tightly against him until no space remained between them…
Startled by his sudden movement, Yu Qing clutched his shirt with small hands.
“Good girl, open up—”
Though she hadn’t drunk any wine, she felt intoxicated.
Unlike last time, Xie Qing Ci didn’t proceed gradually.
Instead, he conquered directly…
Yu Qing instantly lost all breath to him…
How deep the courtyard stretched.
On that gentle, tranquil afternoon, they embraced and kissed in the deserted lakeside pavilion.
The garden lay in silence—Yu Qing could even hear the occasional sound of koi surfacing.
Xie Qing Ci’s kisses were both tender and dominant.
He would briefly release her when she neared breathlessness, then nibbling at the corners of her lips.
Once her breathing steadied, he resumed his plunder…
Unaware when it happened, Yu Qing’s eyes misted over, clear yet enticing.
She could distinctly feel the man’s growing changes as they kissed…
Things seemed to be spiraling beyond control…
Hearing his increasingly ragged breathing and seeing his crimson-tinted eyes, Yu Qing suddenly saw Xie Qing Ci in a new light.
The Fuzi’s desires.
The gentleman’s recklessness.
Beneath that cool, noble exterior lay insatiable hunger.
Abstinence and courtesy were for others.
Only with her did wild desires flourish.
These extreme contrasts coexisted within him seamlessly.
Making him all the more captivating.
She had fallen for his refined, gentlemanly facade, and now drowned in his wanton desires…
Xie Qing Ci glanced down and noticed her distraction, applying a bit more pressure.
“Mmph—”
Yu Qing winced at the slight pain, shooting him a coquettish glare with her amorous eyes.
That one look nearly stole his soul away.
Xie Qing Ci could no longer maintain his self-restraint and propriety.
His large hand cupped the young maiden’s bottom as he stood up, striding directly toward his bedroom.
Suddenly lifted into his arms, Yu Qing felt a surge of fear. Without thinking about her skirt, she instinctively wrapped her legs around the man’s waist.
Then she realized…
This position…
With only a few thin layers of fabric separating them…
She could even feel its shape, and the scorching heat…
Using his last shred of rationality, Xie Qing Ci helped press down the hem of her skirt around her thighs to prevent any exposure.
The distance from the lakeside pavilion to the main bedroom wasn’t far.
But in their current situation, with every step Xie Qing Ci took, he would press against her…
Though she knew it wasn’t intentional—
just the natural movement from walking—
Yu Qing still blushed so deeply her cheeks seemed to drip blood.
Beneath her, sensations like electric currents tingled, leaving her weak and numb…
While Xie Qing Ci appeared calm on the surface, he had already reached his limit.
His jaw tightened slightly, veins bulging on the hands holding her.
If he had any rationality left, how could he be carrying the young maiden recklessly in broad daylight across the courtyard, ultimately heading to the bedroom…
Fortunately, Butler Chen was perceptive. The moment Xie Qing Ci embraced Yu Qing in the pavilion, he had dismissed all the servants from the main courtyard.
He then quietly retreated to the front yard to keep watch.
Xie Qing Ci’s self-control was truly formidable.
Even when already fully aroused and ready,
he could still steadily carry her back to the bedroom and gently lay her on the bed.
Just as he was about to rise to close the window, he noticed her slender, pale legs still tightly wrapped around him.
The young maiden’s almond-shaped eyes were misty with tears, gazing at him pitifully.
Xie Qing Ci’s carefully controlled breathing faltered, yet he patiently patted her leg and said softly:
“Be good, let go first, hmm?”
Yu Qing thought he could still resist even at this point.
She felt somewhat wronged.
After all, she had been so proactive.
“Where are you going?”
Hearing her slightly accusatory question, Xie Qing Ci realized she was afraid he would leave her there.
He couldn’t help but find it amusing.
What did she take him for?
Did she think he was truly a desireless Fuzi (Buddhist disciple)?
She had clearly already drawn him into this world of worldly desires…
He lowered his head and kissed her reddened eyes.
“Be good, I’m just closing the window.”
“Or would you prefer to keep it open like this…?”
???
Was he even listening to what he was saying?!
Yu Qing huffily released her legs, rolled deeper into the bed, and turned her back to him.
Xie Qing Ci didn’t delay, turning to securely close both the door and windows before drawing the inner chamber’s curtains.
The young maiden was too easily embarrassed.
If she later discovered the windows had been open, who knew how she would pester him.
He didn’t mind her little tantrums—in fact, he enjoyed them.
But he feared it might affect his future… happiness.
So it was better to be cautious.
This was typical of Xie Qing Ci.
Even at such a moment, he could remain so calm and thorough.
Returning to the bedside,
the young maiden maintained her earlier posture, presenting him with a sulking back.
Xie Qing Ci pretended not to notice her earlier furtive glance when she had twisted her head to peek at him.
Standing by the bed, he began leisurely unbuttoning his shirt.
Yu Qing waited for a long time without the man returning, feeling somewhat curious.
She only faintly heard the rustling sound of fabric rubbing together.
Suddenly, a thought crossed her mind…
Her small head burrowed deeper into the blankets.
What she didn’t know was…
This movement made her little bottom arch even more prominently.
At the old residence, she usually dressed very casually. Today she only wore a silk slip dress, and the outer robe had long been removed when Xie Qing Ci was kissing her.
Lying prone on the bed, the slip dress covered nothing, revealing large areas of fair skin that formed a stark contrast with the dark gray bedsheets beneath her…