“Damn it!”
Jiang Yu silently cursed in her mind. And you dare to look at me with those eyes…
Unless I don’t want my waist anymore.
She stayed unmoved, continuing to pretend to sleep.
The scorching heat pressed against her back slowly withdrew.
Just as she wondered why he was behaving so obediently tonight…
Her ankle was suddenly seized by his calloused hand.
Then, a kiss, cool and teasing, traced up her inner thigh…
Her eyes flew open. Through the pale moonlight, she saw his lowered back.
Bastard!
What was he trying to do?
“Mm…”
A shiver of pleasure shot up her spine.
She instinctively curled and tightened her fingers into his long, slender ones tangled in her hair.
A soft moan escaped her lips, instantly igniting the room with heat.
“A-Qing, weren’t you asleep? Why are you awake again?”
Xiao Lingzhou leaned over, biting her earlobe. His breath was scorching.
His voice was taut like a drawn bowstring, restrained yet teasing, carrying a faint playful smile.
Jiang Yu felt limp all over. Her thin white gauze top slipped off one shoulder, revealing smooth, fair skin. Rising and falling with her breath, the hint of her curves peeked through.
Her softened waist was held firmly in his hands. She could only cling helplessly to his broad chest, her porcelain face flushing a deep red.
“You’re asking deliberately!” she bit out.
Wasn’t he tired?
Late at night, and still… this.
“It’s my fault. Hit me, A-Qing,” he said, words of apology on his lips, but his actions betrayed none of the guilt one might expect.
“Don’t—”
Her long neck arched backward in helpless resistance, her waist curving, nails digging into his arm.
“You don’t want me?”
His lips traced shallow kisses along her collarbone and neck.
His husky, almost sandpaper-like voice now sounded intoxicating, roughened with desire.
Jiang Yu wanted to kick him off the bed, but thinking of her escape plan, she forced herself to endure.
Her voice, soft and coquettish: “I’m just worried you’re tired from working under the sun all day, it’s not—”
“I’m not tired,” Xiao Lingzhou interrupted, capturing the corner of her lips with his own.
I’m tired!
I’m exhausted!
Jiang Yu cried silently in her heart.
Every time it happened, it wasn’t her expending effort—it was him.
Yet she was the one collapsing from exhaustion.
She had no resistance to a handsome, well-built man, but she couldn’t handle nightly entanglements.
Since their marriage, she always felt drained.
Most importantly, she wanted to escape. What if she ended up carrying his child by accident?
Before, she had resigned herself to a simple life with Xiao Lingzhou, letting any child matter take its course naturally.
But strangely, after over half a year of marriage, she hadn’t become pregnant.
She had regular check-ups in her previous life—no health issues.
There was only one possible reason.
—Xiao Lingzhou’s seed was ineffective!
“What are you thinking?” Xiao Lingzhou asked, nibbling her shoulder in mock revenge, noticing her distraction. “A-Qing, are you tired today?”
She pressed her hands against his chest, head lowered, and hurriedly replied: “Tired… You need to wake early tomorrow, go sleep.”
“You’re naughty, lying like that.” His hands gripped her slim waist, voice tinged with danger. “You’ve only delivered me meals these past few days. How are you tired?”
Jiang Yu stiffened, fumbling for an excuse: “I… lying at home isn’t tiring?”
“Just this once, okay?”
His head buried in her neck, coaxing her like a pitiful begging dog.
His voice was so pleasant, clear as jade striking stone.
The low tone carried warmth, softening the air around them.
Jiang Yu was captivated by appearances, voices, hands, and abs…
And Xiao Lingzhou excelled in all of them.
A single hint of seduction, and she couldn’t resist.
They say lust is a double-edged sword.
When she found herself saying “yes” in a daze, she knew her life was over.
The next day, Jiang Yu lay sprawled on the bed, covered in red marks, utterly defeated, while Xiao Lingzhou left for work, refreshed.
Before leaving, he gently reminded her to eat breakfast.
She angrily turned away, muttering complaints about his lack of moderation.
After he left, she lingered in bed before finally massaging her aching waist and getting up.
Just as she put on her shoes, Jiang Mo barked furiously from the courtyard.
Since the bamboo hut only housed her and Xiao Lingzhou, such commotion meant a stranger had entered.
Sure enough, she heard a young woman’s shrill voice.
“You little beast! Get away from me! Go away!”
A princess?
Jiang Yu’s brow twitched.
Could she be here for Xiao Lingzhou?
She tiptoed to the window, peeking out. A young girl in an orange-yellow dress with two braids faced off with Jiang Mo.
Jiang Mo bared teeth and barked furiously. The girl brandished a stick, shaking in fear. “Don’t… come near me!”
The more frightened she was, the fiercer Jiang Mo became.
“Woof! Go away!”
Without the master home, the dog was determined to protect its mistress.
“Ah—”
Seeing Jiang Mo lunge, Jiang Yu shouted to stop it: “Jiang Mo, come back!”
Hearing her voice, Jiang Mo returned, tail wagging happily, seeking praise.
Jiang Yu patted its head and approached the girl, who had fallen to the ground in fright. She extended a hand: “Are you okay?”
No pain came, and Xiao Zuiyue slowly lowered her arm to see a woman in a light purple gauze dress observing her calmly.
The girl had delicate features, fair skin, rosy cheeks, and a faint beauty mole on her forehead.
Most striking were her seductive peach blossom eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, sparkling like a stream beneath spring sunlight, making the surroundings seem dim in comparison.
Xiao Zuiyue froze for a moment, realizing her purpose, but didn’t let it show. She stood, hands on hips, exuding authority: “You’re the woman Xiao Lingzhou married in the countryside?”
Jiang Yu understood.
This girl had come to cause trouble.
Judging by her tone, she seemed to be another admirer of Xiao Lingzhou.
“I am. Who are you?”
Xiao Zuiyue lifted her chin, looking down on her. “Who I am is none of your business. I’m here to tell you, Xiao Lingzhou isn’t someone you can reach. Be sensible and leave him, or—”
“Or what?” Jiang Yu met her seemingly threatening gaze unflinchingly.
Thinking of the previous days with Cui Ling, and now this one, Jiang Yu couldn’t help but grin internally.
Why were all these rivals rushing to give her money?
Her eyes sparkled green—not with anger, but with a wild greed for wealth.