“Is there?”
Her face flushing red, Huai Yin blinked blankly, her eyes wide with confusion. “Where?”
Just as she was about to lift her hand, Shen Xiaozhou took the opportunity to catch her wrist. His fingertips lightly grazed her skin with subtle intent, applying just enough force to pull her a little closer toward him.
The delicate young heiress stumbled forward, her nose coming dangerously close to his Adam’s apple.
Instinctively, Huai Yin reached out to grab onto whatever she could find, desperate to steady herself.
Since Shen Xiaozhou was closest to her, he watched with wide eyes as the little culprit extended her hand and pressed it directly onto his thigh without an ounce of hesitation. Her fingers tightened, giving it a quick squeeze—and his entire body froze instantly.
Huai Yin let out a soft sigh of relief, feeling rather pleased with herself.
See? Good thing I reacted quickly.
When she raised her head, however, she noticed that Shen Xiaozhou’s expression looked slightly off. His jaw was locked tight, a fine sheen of cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and his Adam’s apple bobbed violently—as though he were desperately enduring something overwhelming.
His usually cool, distant voice was laced with ragged, heavy breathing. His chest heaved up and down, the corners of his eyes flushed a faint red, and the veins along his neck stood out in stark relief.
Huai Yin remained utterly oblivious. Before her clueless mind could register what was happening, Shen Xiaozhou reached his absolute limit. The scorching heat of his breath almost burned her face.
“Have you had enough of touching me?” Shen Xiaozhou lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.
“What?”
Dazed, Huai Yin followed his gaze downward, only then realizing her hand was firmly gripping his thigh.
His thigh was solid and firm. Even through the black fabric of his trousers, she could feel his scorching body heat. The taut muscles underneath were practically bulging against the cloth.
Panic seized her instantly.
“S-Sorry!” Huai Yin stammered out an apology.
As if scalded, she yanked her hand back at lightning speed, nearly knocking over the cake box on the edge of the table in her flustered state.
Look at how guilty she looks, as if she’s seen a ghost. Am I really that terrifying?
Shen Xiaozhou lowered his brow, his expression turning cold and gloomy.
The fact that the young heiress had stopped touching him actually made him deeply unhappy.
I shouldn’t have said anything, Shen Xiaozhou thought with a trace of regret.
A profound emptiness hollowed out his chest. Pressing his lips into a tight line, he tried to conceal the bitter disappointment on his face.
He stole a glance at her. Huai Yin was completely flushed, practically steaming from her head. Her lovely face was as bright red as an apple. A sudden wave of thirst washed over Shen Xiaozhou—he desperately wanted to open his mouth and take a bite out of her.
He let out a quiet, self-deprecating scoff. Is she really that shy? It was just touching my thigh. It’s not like she touched anywhere else.
Besides, he had touched her thigh before, too. By touching him back, they were even—neither of them was taking advantage of the other.
Shen Xiaozhou hadn’t expected himself to be so ridiculously generous.
“Did it feel good?” Shen Xiaozhou asked out of nowhere.
Huai Yin’s eyes widened in disbelief. Suspecting she had misheard, she stared at him blankly, her mind completely short-circuiting.
Shen Xiaozhou narrowed his eyes and leaned in close, his warm, intoxicating breath fluttering against her face.
“Tell me—did it feel good or not?” He asked again, enunciating every single word. He was determined to pry an answer out of her stubborn mouth.
Huai Yin tilted her head up to look at him, her expression dazed and silly, looking thoroughly startled.
“I-I forgot,” Huai Yin bluffed, trying to play it off.
Shen Xiaozhou’s brow furrowed, clearly dissatisfied with her response.
“Forgot?” Raising an eyebrow, he examined her with a look of cool composure.
After considering it for a few seconds, he asked, “Then do you want to try touching it again?”
The impact of those words was explosive.
Huai Yin’s mind went completely blank with a loud boom. Overwhelmed and utterly helpless, she nervously wrung her fingers together.
Shen Xiaozhou offered with generous authority, “Touch it one more time, and then tell me how it feels.”
Huai Yin was hopelessly torn.
This isn’t right, is it? It feels like I’m harassing him.
She didn’t have any strange quirks like that!
“Are you really sure you don’t want to try?” Shen Xiaozhou enticed her with endless patience.
Xu Shiyan was right. He really was a shameless third wheel, tempting someone else’s fiancée.
He was like a man holding a fragrant bone to lure a poor, solitary puppy guarding its house.
The hungry little creature’s eyes lit up the moment it saw the treat.
And Huai Yin was undeniably tempted by his words.
It’s just one little touch. It’s not a big deal, right?
Seeing the young heiress knitting her brows in troubled hesitation, Shen Xiaozhou grabbed her hand and placed it firmly onto his thigh. Covering the back of her hand with his broad palm, he guided her hand to slowly stroke up and down.
So warm and surprisingly firm. Does Shen Xiaozhou work out regularly?
Curiosity taking over, Huai Yin began to lightly stroke and squeeze his leg.
“How is it? Tell me, how does it feel?” Shen Xiaozhou’s voice had turned impossibly raspy. His gaze was locked tightly onto her, unwilling to miss even the subtlest shift in her expression.
Huai Yin unconsciously licked her lips like a greedy little cat.
“It feels nice. Very firm.”
Hearing her response, something stirred deep within Shen Xiaozhou. His breathing accelerated rapidly, and his body stiffened all at once.
Huai Yin let out a surprised gasp. “It got hard again.”
Without warning, the grip Shen Xiaozhou had on her hand tightened fiercely. His movements became heavy and aggressive, almost like a desperate release for his pent-up urges.
Like a wild beast in heat.
Huai Yin thought hazily.
Her delicate palm rubbed against the coarse fabric of his trousers, causing her genuine pain. She gasped softly, her almond eyes glistening with unshed tears as her eye rims burned hot. She was on the verge of crying.
Is it over yet? Her hand really hurt. Shen Xiaozhou felt like he was going to crush her bones.
With a heavy grunt, the veins on Shen Xiaozhou’s forehead throbbed. He panted raggedly for a moment before his head slumped forward in defeat, resting his weight against Huai Yin’s shoulder. The sweat from his face dripped down onto her neck.
It was scorching hot. Huai Yin couldn’t help but shiver, a tingling sensation coursing down her spine.
It seemed to be over. Huai Yin finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Yet Shen Xiaozhou didn’t move away, keeping his head comfortably rested on her shoulder.
He’s so heavy. Shen Xiaozhou was leaning almost his entire body weight on her—how was she supposed to hold him up?
Huai Yin extended her hands and tried to push him away, but he didn’t budge at all. She had no choice but to give up.
Shen Xiaozhou held her hand, imperiously intertwining his fingers with hers, pressing their palms tightly together without a gap. They could even feel each other’s pulse fluttering.
Only then did Shen Xiaozhou feel truly satisfied.
They looked just like an affectionate couple enjoying a tender moment together.
For a brief, dazed second, Huai Yin actually fell into that illusion.
“What are you thinking about?” Shen Xiaozhou asked, sensing her distraction.
Lifting the young heiress’s hand, he brought it to his cheek and rubbed against it affectionately—looking every bit like a needy, clingy puppy.
“Nothing,” Huai Yin replied lamely, her voice lacking any real conviction.
A lie.
Shen Xiaozhou instantly saw through her.
His gaze shifted slowly downward, settling on the girl’s slender, porcelain wrist. Leaning in a little closer, he tentatively touched her skin with his lips. Seeing that Huai Yin didn’t pull away, he opened his mouth and bit down firmly on the inner side of her wrist.
A sharp gasp escaped Huai Yin’s lips from the sudden pain. She instinctively tried to pull her hand back, but Shen Xiaozhou bit down even harder.
No, no, no—he wasn’t a puppy at all! He was a vicious hound! A bad dog that would bite its master the moment things didn’t go his way!
So mean!
A faint sob slipped past Huai Yin’s lips—so quiet it was almost imperceptible, yet Shen Xiaozhou caught it instantly.
He finally released his bite. Huai Yin’s tense body relaxed along with it.
Shen Xiaozhou lowered his eyes to look at her wrist.
A deep set of tooth marks sat prominently on the inside of her wrist—left behind by him just moments ago. It was his exclusive mark.
“Does it hurt?”
The young heiress bit her lip, nodding her head pitifully.
Of course it hurt! She had no idea why Shen Xiaozhou had done that.
It was merely a small punishment. Who told the young heiress to be thinking about other things while she was with him?
Leaving Huai Yin feeling entirely innocent and wronged.
After all, the young heiress was pampered and delicate; she had never been treated like this before. A pang of sympathy washed over Shen Xiaozhou—perhaps he really had gone too far. Leaning in, he pressed his lips gently against the bruised skin he had just tormented, softly sucking at it.
It tickled. Huai Yin hunched her shoulders, trying to shrink away.
Shen Xiaozhou wrapped his other arm around her waist, anchoring her against his chest and completely blocking any chance of escape.
Following the ring of tooth marks, Shen Xiaozhou placed a series of soft, dense kisses against her skin, his actions laced with a mix of soothing tenderness and coaxing intent.
“Does it still hurt?” He asked her softly.
Huai Yin blinked in surprise. This was the very first time Shen Xiaozhou had ever spoken to her in such a gentle tone—he was usually so cold and distant.
At his words, the lingering discomfort melted away in an instant.
Huai Yin shook her head truthfully. “It doesn’t hurt much anymore.”
“Is that so?” Shen Xiaozhou let out a soft, inscrutable chuckle.
She really never learns. Give her a little piece of candy and she’s completely appeased. What a silly girl.
He sucked firmly against her skin once more, as if trying to draw out every bit of her sweetness.
“N-No more,” Huai Yin mumbled, her voice sounding muffled as she sniffled slightly. “Thank you.”
How foolish. What was there to thank him for? The young heiress didn’t even realize she was being taken advantage of.
Driven by a streak of mischief, Shen Xiaozhou extended his tongue and ran its tip across the inside of her wrist.
Huai Yin froze instantly.
What was that? Wet and slick—it felt as though a snake were slithering up her arm.
“It’s not all better yet,” Shen Xiaozhou murmured, his voice slightly muffled against her skin. “Look at how swollen it is.”
Isn’t that all your doing? Huai Yin pouted, complaining silently in her heart.
His soft tongue greedily licked the delicate, tender skin on the inside of her wrist, leaving behind a slick moisture and producing faint, distinct wet sounds.
Listening to it made Huai Yin’s face burn crimson. Realization finally dawned on her.
“Y-You aren’t even.” Huai Yin nearly bit her tongue, utterly speechless for a long moment.
“I don’t want this anymore!”
Regret washed over her. Why on earth had she listened to Shen Xiaozhou? He was deliberately picking on her!
Shen Xiaozhou let out a low chuckle. So she isn’t completely clueless after all.
He kissed and licked her wrist over and over again, behaving as if he couldn’t bear to let her go.
Lowering his voice, he spoke in a tone that was half-coaxing and half-threatening.
“Didn’t you know, My Lady? Saliva acts as a disinfectant.” He let out a wicked smile. “If I don’t help you, you’ll end up with a scar on your hand.”