Сhарtеr 3 (4/19)
Gong Ziyu sighеd, "Nоw, I саn оnly see mу mоther in my drеams, so thеrе's nо diffеrеnсe betwеen a sweet dream аnd а nightmarе."
His vоiсе wаs rasру, likе сhаrcоal that had burnеd оut in the night, сarrying the lаst remnants оf warmth.
Thе mооnlight wаs hеаvу.
Outside thе windоw, the night wаtсhmаn's drum soundеd, marking thе lаte hour. Dоwnstаirs, the wаiter was clеaring the messу winе tаbles. Аll the revelrу аnd lingеring affесtiоns hаd shiftеd tо higher flооrs and mоre sеcluded rоoms.
Аt thе stаirwaу еntrаnсe to the sеcond-floor roоm, Jin Fan stood guаrd with his sword held in his аrms, his eхрressiоn serious. Gong Ziyu had insisted on coming here, and Jin Fan was equally determined to protect his safety, doing his best to maintain a stern demeanor.
Tonight, after all, was understandable.
Suddenly, a jingling sound rang out. Jin Fan alertly leaned over and saw a boat approaching the riverbank through the window. A woman dressed in exotic attire stepped off the boat and gracefully entered the Myriad Flowers Pavilion. She wore a half-mask made of hammered gold foil, adorned with bells, jade fragments, tassels, and pearl chains, swaying seductively as she ascended the stairs.
When she reached him, Jin Fan immediately extended his hand to stop her. "Private area, please do not disturb."
The woman silently covered her mouth with a laugh, gently placing her hand on Jin Fan's arm, coiling around it like a water snake, while the silk scarf in her other hand brushed across his face.
A faint, elusive fragrance of powder made Jin Fan freeze on the spot.
The woman giggled, "How private? How disturbing? Tell me..."
Jin Fan tried to dodge but eventually lost patience, using the hilt of his sword to swat away her hand as she reached out again.
The woman cried out in pain, "Jin Fan!"
The voice struck Jin Fan like a bolt from the blue. Swiftly, he removed her mask, revealing her true identity as she greeted him.
"What a coincidence, you're here too..."
It was none other than Gong Zishang, her eyes and brows curved in a mischievous smile, her lips slightly pouted, looking full of vitality.
Jin Fan's face turned pale and then flushed, and he could only bow his head in respect, presenting the mask with both hands. "Miss? What are you doing in a place like this?"
Naturally, she had come to see Jin Fan, her eyes unabashedly filled with admiration for him.
Gong Zishang took the mask but did not explain directly. "I haven't even asked what you're doing here!"
"I'm here—"
Gong Zishang clicked her tongue, interrupting him. "Tsk, tsk, tsk... I never thought someone as honest as you, someone as upright as Jin Fan, would also fail to control your..." As she spoke, her gaze, as if tangible, swept down Jin Fan's tall frame toward his lower body.
"...legs!" Gong Zishang finished the sentence.
Jin Fan, seeing Gong Zishang's unflinching gaze, flushed bright red, stammering and unsure of what to say.
"I..."
Gong Zishang asked him again, "How do I look in today's outfit? Exotic enough?"
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