Chapter 422: Chapter 421: He Refused to Restrain Himself, Sinking Deeper with Every Step
The curtains were swaying in the breeze.
On the rosewood couch, only two faint breaths remained. He could sense the girl beneath him stiffen instantly.
The surrounding darkness was pitch black, and neither could see the other’s face clearly.
Cui Yun, who had practiced martial arts year-round, had calloused fingertips, which now accurately encircled her head by the pillow and pressed against her nape.
Shen Hua trembled with shock.
Yet, he did not let her shrink away.
His scorching lips first landed on her moist eyes, then on her pert nose, and finally tore through gentleness bit by bit with eager licks and grazes.
Shen Hua’s drowsiness fully awoke in alarm, her heart in disarray, her lashes trembling violently while the rooted suckling of her tongue made her numb and ache, her hands weakly pressing against the firm chest before her.
She was gasping for breath, a whimper involuntarily escaping her throat.
Cui Yun paused his actions, ceasing his assertiveness.
He gasped lightly, his breath green and seductive. Shen Hua felt her face flush with heat.
But Cui Yun morosely rested his head against Shen Hua’s neck. That was a sensitive spot for Shen Hua, and his breath tickled her, making her shiver.
"It was too much of me."
His voice was hoarse, the frustration evident as he spoke against her forehead.
"At this age, indeed, full of youthful vigor."
Shen Hua had been silent all along. She clenched her lips tightly, her tender body still trembling.
Cui Yun thought he had simply frightened her.
Indeed, he should not have done this.
As reason returned, he couldn’t help but think back to when he had just gone to Fengzhou to pick up Shen Hua.
Back then, he was heartless and preoccupied with calculations, and he had never cared about girls; distant and polite.
He arranged for Shen Hua to stay in the pear garden, and though considerate, wasn’t he just abandoning the girl to the unfamiliar Shengjing, leaving her to fend for herself?
Latterly, he misunderstood Shen Hua’s secret affection for him. What started as evasion gradually changed with more interactions.
At first, he thought that since he would marry sooner or later, it would be nice if it were Shen Hua. Cui Yun then planned to fulfill her infatuation.
But the truth was he could not restrain himself, falling deeper with every step.
It was he who harbored impure thoughts,
And he who fell in love first.
Shen Hua, however, had always seen him as no more than a brotherly figure.
But clearly, that was not enough, nor should it have been.
As time passed, he wished for the girl to reciprocate his feelings.
So, he patiently lured her into the trap, step by step.
Cui Yun kissed her fragrant, jade-like neck, about to pull back. That’s when he heard a soft voice from beneath him: "Not going to continue?"
It took him aback.
Shen Hua was embarrassingly red-faced. But thinking about leaving Hengzhou, and not knowing when she would see him again,
The girl mustered her courage, pushing down her shyness, and tentatively reached out to take hold of Cui Yun’s hand, leading him somewhere.
Shen Hua couldn’t see Cui Yun’s expression at the moment, but she was certain that he was looking at her with intense heat.
In the end, Cui Yun’s hand was guided to the sash tied around the girl’s waist.
There, a beautiful knot was tied.
The prettier it was, the easier it was to destroy.
All he needed was to give it a slight tug. What he desired was within arm’s reach.
Shen Hua was too nervous to speak, her heart pounding with a reckless abandon.
But in reality, she was frightened, lying still and rigid, her eyes tightly shut. Wasn’t that a silent invitation?
Cui Yun’s eyes trembled fiercely.
Time passed, so much that Shen Hua’s nervousness was replaced by a sense of numbness. Yet, the person half-leaning on her made no excessive moves.
Confused, Shen Hua could only urge in a mosquito-like voice: "Hurry, it will be light soon."
Tonight, Cui Yun’s mood swung wildly, entirely led by Shen Hua.
He got up and lay down beside her; the darkness in his eyes deep and unknowable. He coiled the sash around his fingertips, shaking slightly.
Cui Yun couldn’t resist holding her in his arms again, seeking her moist lips. Unlike before, this time he treated them like a delicate flower, too tender to pluck, gentle and meticulous. In the end, he only gently patted her back in restraint.
"Go to sleep."
Seeing that Cui Yun truly intended to do nothing more, Shen Hua obediently closed her eyes.
As her consciousness blurred, the person beside her got up lightly, and in short order, she seemed to hear the sound of water from the washroom.
————
The next day.
The azure sky clear as if washed, the warbles outside the window melodiously delightful.
"My lord left early in the morning."
Shen Hua was slightly taken aback: "To the He Residence?"
Yingwu hastily replied with respect: "It’s business with the secret stake that has arisen."
"The specifics are not known to me, but it should be no worry, madam need not be concerned. The restaurant has just sent over dumplings filled with fresh bamboo shoots and shrimp, surely at the behest of my lord."
Shen Hua’s lush eyelashes cast a shadow as she rose from her bed, washed, and dressed herself.
The girl had a small appetite, yet without a word, she ate every dumpling in the bowl.
After the morning meal, she went to the study in Cheng Garden.
This was Cui Yun’s office after arriving in Hengzhou.
Cheng Garden was heavily guarded. Calling it an ironclad bulwark would not be an overstatement, yet Shen Hua could enter without hindrance.
Yingwu and Xiaoqi naturally waited outside.
The girl casually surveyed her surroundings, showing no interest in taking a closer look. Quickly, she made her way to the desk.
Of the other items in the study, Shen Hua naturally did not dare to touch any without care.
Suddenly, her gaze paused on something.
It was a painting in the corner of the desk, partially covered by a stack of letters, revealing only the black cloud-like hair.
On the hair, that golden hairpin, was all too familiar to Shen Hua.
Her lips curved up, her fingertips touched the scroll, carefully pulling it out.
The person in the painting also came completely into view.
With a delicate and charming appearance, animated eyes and eyebrows,
It was her.
!!!
Cui Yun, feeling the days in Hengzhou as long as years, secretly sought solace in her portrait to express his yearning!
Shen Hua had not had time to revel in her pride when surprise flickered in her eyes.
Why did the person in the painting have a fluffy tail?
Biting her lips, she felt that the painting was not quite proper. Yet looking it over from different angles, she couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
She focused on the essential point.
No wonder it was the tail that she used to cuddle at night!
It truly was beautiful!
It did not diminish the girl’s beauty; rather, it added a touch of playfulness.
As if it were naturally meant to be.
Shen Hua, holding the portrait, silently praised the girl in the painting from her hair to the soles of her shoes.
Then, remembering the task at hand, she set the portrait aside. The brush pen soaked with ink, she wrote exquisite characters on the blank Xuan paper, as graceful as a willow, as serene as a gentle breeze.
Quickly, she put down the pen and walked out.
"Madam." Xiaoqi softly called out.
Shen Hua looked at the sky.
"Pack up."
She smiled gently.
"It’s time to go back."
Cui Yun had his tasks, and she had hers. The two were not actually conflicting.
Each had to shine brightly within their own capacities.
Xiaoqi and Yingwu exchanged glances.
"Madam, won’t you wait for my lord to return before leaving?"
"No need."
"Seeing each other would only make it harder."
Shen Hua was about to cross the threshold when suddenly she remembered something.
She rushed back, picking up the painting and pacing the study.
Yangyang’s portrait, how could it be pressed under letters?
She must have it framed.
More than that, it must be hung!!!
It must be positioned so Cui Yun could see her tail the moment he looked up!