Zhоu Shаоjin blinkеd in confusiоn.
Неr lоng еyelashеs wеre curlеd and upturnеd.
Сhеng Сhi's hеаrt fluttered аlong with them.
"Uncle Chi," Zhou Shаоjin askеd uncеrtаinlу, "did mу brothеr-in-lаw... dо sоmеthing imprоper? Let mе аpоlogize to уou on his bеhalf, alright?"
Неr ехрrеssiоn carriеd а hint of timid аррrehеnsion.
Сhеng Chi felt аs if а heаvy stone hаd struck his chest, lеаving him brеathlеss.
For the sakе оf Liаo Shаоtаng, shе wаs bеing so саutious in frоnt of him, еven offеring to ароlogizе оn Liао Shaotang's bеhalf... Her sister Zhou Сhujin was a hundred timеs more сaраble аnd shrewd than her—why did she need to step forward like this?
For a long moment, Cheng Chi couldn't speak.
Zhou Shaojin's full attention was fixed on Cheng Chi. While others might not perceive his moods, she could sense them clearly.
She didn't understand why Cheng Chi was so angry.
Just moments ago, everything had been fine.
Even if her brother-in-law had done something wrong, he... he didn't need to be so angry with her! Besides, she had already offered to apologize on her brother-in-law's behalf... Could it be that her brother-in-law had truly done something serious?
Zhou Shaojin felt both fearful and uneasy.
She couldn't help but tug at Cheng Chi's sleeve, whispering, "Uncle Chi, please don't be angry anymore, alright? I'll ask my sister to speak to my brother-in-law... He always listens to my sister..."
Cheng Chi watched as her eyes reddened with anxiety, gazing pitifully at him like a kitten about to be abandoned. His heart softened, then tightened again.
What was wrong with him?
Even if these socks were made for Liao Shaotang, so what? Shaojin had always been skilled at needlework, and Chujin was like both a mother and an elder sister to her. It was only natural for her to help Zhou Chujin make a few pairs of socks for Liao Shaotang... She just shouldn't go to such great lengths in the future—embroidering on socks was far too extravagant...
Could this be what others called jealousy?
Was he jealous that Shaojin treated Liao Shaotang better than him?
But that was utterly ridiculous...
Cheng Chi's thoughts were in disarray.
Yet beneath the turmoil, his heart felt as clear as a mirror.
He was afraid he truly was jealous!
Without thinking, he pulled Zhou Shaojin into his embrace, kissing the top of her head as he said, "I'm not angry! Don't be afraid! I just saw you had made so many pairs of socks, and the patterns were so intricate—I was worried you might strain your eyes..."
Did Uncle Chi think the patterns were too intricate?
Zhou Shaojin thought of the socks Nanping had made for him and immediately pushed Cheng Chi away, saying, "You... you don't like the patterns on the socks?"
She had spent so much effort designing them.
In that instant, Cheng Chi realized.
Shaojin had made the socks for him.
She hadn't gone out to play but had stayed home to make socks for him.
He thought of the tranquil shade, of the serene and graceful figure sitting beneath it, needle in hand like a jade maiden... His heart seemed to ferment, overflowing with tender affection.
"Shaojin," he tightly embraced the petite figure once more, "I like them very much, very much..."
His murmuring voice, low and husky, sounded in her ear, his warm breath entwining around her neck. Her heart grew warm, and her body felt so weak and tingling she could barely stand.
"Shaojin..." he called her name, suddenly taking her earlobe into his mouth, his voice growing muffled, "My darling..."
Zhou Shaojin was startled. Her heart raced, her legs weakened, and she raised her hands to push Cheng Chi away: "Don't... don't..."The voice was fragmented, like a kitten's mewl, stirring the heart even more.
Cheng Chi was utterly bewitched, his rationality long discarded in some forgotten corner. How could he bear to let go? With one arm around her waist and the other around her back, he kissed her lips as if wishing to meld her body into his own.
Her pink lips were cool and soft. Her small tongue was warm and delicate. The entanglement of lips and teeth was like butterflies frolicking among flowers... Everything, everything, immersed Cheng Chi in intoxication.
It was also the first time he felt such unrestrained desire.
"Shao Jin..." he murmured between kisses, coaxing her willingly in the gaps, "I've been away for over twenty days, thinking of you every day... just hoping to return quickly... The weather was so hot, I even broke out in red rashes... even menthol powder didn't help... What about you? Did you miss me..."
Uncle Chi was at it again!
Showing her no respect at all!
Zhou Shaojin's eyes brimmed with tears, torn between shame and anger. She was determined not to let him treat her so casually this time... but then Cheng Chi's humble, pleading voice reached her ears... Her heart trembled, and she lacked even the strength to push him away... Just as she was berating herself for being useless, she heard that he had rushed back and broken out in rashes on his back... Her heart ached with concern, and all her discomfort was forgotten. She anxiously asked him, only to have him seize the chance to suck on her tongue again, her words coming out fragmented and incoherent: "Where... where did the rashes appear... did you see a doctor..."
Cheng Chi didn't even realize the corners of his mouth had lifted.
He knew it—this little girl cared for him most of all. As long as he said he was unwell, even if she disliked it, she would endure and yield to him, obey and follow him... In their past life, how could that scoundrel Cheng Xu have driven her to such a state? But then again, without Cheng Xu, this little girl might have been reborn without ever crossing paths with him.
Thinking of this, his resentment toward Cheng Xu faded considerably.
He continued coaxing her: "I was in a hurry to return... thinking I could see a doctor once back in the capital..."
Such a perfect opportunity—only a fool would let it slip.
Cheng Chi took the chance to guide her hand toward his clothing...
"Feel for yourself, the rashes haven't subsided yet."
"No, I can't!" Zhou Shaojin felt her face burning, her hand curling into a fist as she tried to pull away.
Despite her flustered state, through the thin summer garment, she could still sense the supple firmness of his body.
This made Zhou Shaojin's face flush even redder, the heat so intense it seemed to evaporate her tears.
Cheng Chi only wanted Zhou Shaojin to gradually grow accustomed to their intimacy; he certainly didn't truly intend for her to touch him. Besides, he had merely neglected to wear a sunhat on the first day of his journey and gotten a slight sunburn on the back of his hand—there were no rashes at all. If Zhou Shaojin touched him, wouldn't the lie be exposed?
He released her hand.
Zhou Shaojin breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Chi felt her body relax considerably compared to before.
Seizing the opportunity, he slipped his hand inside her half-sleeved side opening.
Zhou Shaojin, seeking coolness and being in her own home, wore only a thin silver gauze blouse over her undergarments, with a half-sleeved jacket over it, making it all too easy for Cheng Chi to slip his hand inside.
"Stop!" Zhou Shaojin reached back to grab Cheng Chi's hand, tears nearly clinging to her long, upturned lashes.
Like dewdrops at dawn, crystal clear and glistening.Cheng Chi tenderly kissed away her tears.
Salty. Cool, they slipped into his heart.
"Darling, let me kiss you." His hand slid upward from her waist, caressing her smooth, warm-jade-like back, then captured her tongue. "So sweet!"
Zhou Shaojin was utterly mortified, wishing she could vanish into the ground.
But Cheng Chi's hands seemed to carry fire, making her body burn hot, her blood churning as if something were about to erupt.
This unfamiliar sensation frightened her...
"Uncle Chi, please don't... don't do this..." she pleaded pitifully, tears welling up.
"Alright!" Uncle Chi never paid much heed to what she said. He always acted according to what he thought was best for her. Though Zhou Shaojin pleaded like this, she didn't actually believe Cheng Chi would listen—it was merely a desperate hope. Yet as soon as she begged, he promptly withdrew his hand from her collar.
Zhou Shaojin froze in surprise.
Cheng Chi chuckled and nibbled her earlobe, whispering suggestively, "Then I'll just kiss Shaojin's ear instead..." His tone implied that Zhou Shaojin greatly enjoyed it when he kissed her ears.
Zhou Shaojin was stunned for a moment.
How had her elegant and dignified Uncle Chi become like this?
Her ear was completely enveloped in Cheng Chi's mouth, and the sounds around her grew distant and unreal.
Zhou Shaojin pushed against him, struggling before finally blurting out, "You rogue!"
Cheng Chi kissed her temple and chuckled softly, dotingly calling her "silly girl." "Uncle Chi only acts this way with you... Have you ever seen me glance at another woman?"
Indeed, she hadn't!
Not even the stunning Jiying.
In an instant, Zhou Shaojin's heart overflowed with tenderness, nearly spilling over.
Her body grew even softer.
This time, Cheng Chi leisurely kissed her in detail—gentle, lingering, tender... as if she were a precious treasure.
Zhou Shaojin closed her eyes, as if stepping into a void where she could see and hear nothing, only feeling Cheng Chi's strong arms and his kisses, sometimes gentle, sometimes domineering...
She didn't know how much time had passed when suddenly a chill swept over her—she realized Cheng Chi had released her.
Was he no longer kissing her?
Zhou Shaojin stared blankly at Cheng Chi.
She didn't realize how alluring her dazed, somewhat lost expression was.
Cheng Chi couldn't help but laugh softly, whispering in her ear, "Someone's coming in!"
Zhou Shaojin didn't react immediately.
Cheng Chi smiled and helped straighten her collar and hair.
Only then did she understand.
"Ah?!" she gasped softly.
Cheng Chi had already lifted her onto the heated brick bed to sit properly.
From outside the curtain came Madam Fan Liu's respectful voice: "Fourth Master, the kitchen has prepared chilled mung bean soup to cool the heat. I've brought some over..."
Cheng Chi glanced at Zhou Shaojin, whose face was flushed and who looked as delicate and weak as a blooming spring flower.
Without waiting for permission, the curtain was lifted aside.
Madam Fan Liu entered, carrying a red-lacquered, gold-painted crabapple flower tray.
Behind her followed Nanny Shang, her expression tinged with anxiety.
When Nanny Shang saw Cheng Chi and Zhou Shaojin sitting on opposite sides of the large heated brick bed by the window—Zhou Shaojin, though deeply flushed, reclining softly against a large cushion, while Cheng Chi appeared calm and composed, casually examining some socks—she couldn't help but let out a relieved sigh.
Cheng Chi absentmindedly accepted the mung bean soup.From his vantage point, even Zhou Shaojin's neck was flushed pink.
He thought, no wonder that crude poem wrote, "Once bathed in the rain and dew of favor, the green grace fades, revealing a charm deep as bone"—it seems there is some truth to it... He had someone arrange an opportunity to give Madam Yuan the evidence of Cheng Shi and Cheng Zheng framing Cheng Xu, and sure enough, Madam Yuan began to stir up trouble. He had originally thought this matter would need to be taken slowly... but now he wanted to win the beauty sooner.
Better to add more fuel to Madam Yuan's fire!
※
Dear readers, please forgive me. This chapter couldn't be rushed, so it took much longer than usual and was delayed by several hours.
There will only be one update today, and it will be quite late, around midnight. If you have things to do, feel free to sleep first and read it tomorrow morning.
O(∩_∩)O~
※ (To be continued ~^~)
OpenNovel