After finishing lunch, Mu Qi brought out the Ice Muscle Cream and patiently massaged the medicine onto Yun Shulian’s wounds.
"Don't move." Seeing Yun Shulian trying to pull away, Mu Qi used one hand to apply the medicine and the other to steady her waist.
She didn't want to dodge, but Mu Qi's warm breath tickled her abdomen.
It was so itchy…
Even though they were married, it still felt embarrassing…
Yun Shulian took a deep breath and, to distract herself, picked up the Ice Muscle Cream from the table and fanned herself with it, sniffing the scent.
Yun Shulian murmured absently, "It's just those few herbs." Even the medicines she casually concocted with that old man were better than this.
And this was enough to make Diao Guan fret so much? Diao Guan was probably an incompetent physician!
How could an incompetent physician be Mu Qi's personal doctor? Mu Qi's health was her personal responsibility, and she felt more at ease knowing that.
It seemed she needed to find that old man soon.
In her past life, Yun Shulian had been pestered by an old man who insisted on taking her as a disciple. Annoyed by his persistence, Yun Shulian had eventually agreed.
However, after meeting Zuo Nan, she had said many hurtful things to the old man, completely abandoning her medical skills.
That old man must be very sad now.
"What's wrong?" Mu Qi finished applying the medicine and, not having heard Yun Shulian clearly, looked up and asked with confusion.
"Nothing, Mu Qi." Yun Shulian smiled brightly and ruffled Mu Qi's soft hair.
Fortunately, she had a second chance now. Mu Qi was back by her side, and she still had the opportunity to apologize to the old man.
Mu Qi squinted as if enjoying the gesture.
If anyone were to witness this scene, they would likely be astonished.
The tyrant, the tyrant, was so utterly devoid of temper in front of Yun Shulian. In her presence, Mu Qi transformed from a king of the forest into Yun Shulian's big, docile cat!
"Eat, Mu Qi, it's getting cold." Yun Shulian released Mu Qi's hand and turned away, shoveling food into her mouth while contemplating how to get Mu Qi to let her go out again.
Meanwhile, Mu Qi, who had stopped moving and remained on the bed, watched Yun Shulian eating, a vague sense of unease stirring within him.
What was she thinking?
Hah, what else could she be thinking? Only about how to escape him!
Mu Qi was very familiar with Yun Shulian's faraway look. Every time she plotted to leave him, she would wear that same expression.
Mu Qi's long eyelashes drooped, casting a silhouette full of unspoken thoughts in the sunlight.
"Eat. Mu Qi, it's getting cold."
Mu Qi turned at her words and looked at Yun Shulian's smiling face.
The shadows in his heart deepened. He had already seen the sun; how could he bear to return to darkness?
"Mu Qi?" Seeing that Mu Qi hadn't reacted, Yun Shulian raised her hand and waved it in front of him.
Mu Qi, however, suddenly grabbed her hand, carefully avoiding the bruise on her waist, and pulled her tightly into his embrace from behind.
"Mu Qi?" Yun Shulian turned her head in confusion, but Mu Qi seized the opportunity, sealing her lips. His hands involuntarily moved to caress her chest.
Yun Shulian struggled uncomfortably, but the more she resisted, the tighter Mu Qi's grip became.
Eventually, Yun Shulian felt like a lifeless fish, utterly unable to resist and left to Mu Qi's ministrations.
After a long while, just as Yun Shulian thought she would suffocate to death, Mu Qi finally released her.
Yun Shulian, gasping for breath, asked with a mix of seriousness and jest, "Mu Qi, what good would it do you if I died?"
Mu Qi's body stiffened abruptly.
How long had this thought of escaping him been in her mind?
Yun Shulian watched Mu Qi's face gradually turn pale, wondering where his capricious mood had wandered off to now.
She was the one being kissed to the point of suffocation, yet he looked at her with such a pale and fragile expression. Was that fair!
Pale and fragile, that wasn't quite right. Mu Qi would never reveal such vulnerability to Yun Shulian.
It was simply that Yun Shulian, having fallen in love with him without realizing it, could now perceive even the slightest change in him.
Yun Shulian forced herself to turn her head away, ignoring Mu Qi as she continued to eat her meal.
Mu Qi stared blankly, then slowly moved his hands away from Yun Shulian and sat opposite her to eat together.
Even after Aunt Ning cleared the plates from the table, Mu Qi's heart remained in a state of high alert.
At night, Yun Shulian lay in bed, gazing at the golden chain attached to the headboard, her mind racing with ways to make Mu Qi let her go.
When she heard the familiar footsteps approaching outside the door, Yun Shulian lay flat on the bed and closed her eyes.
Soon, Yun Shulian was enveloped by Mu Qi's clean scent. Her eyelashes fluttered slightly in the moonlight, but she ultimately did not open her dewy, crescent-shaped eyes.
Only when she felt Mu Qi's steady breathing beside her did Yun Shulian open her eyes and turn to look at him.
Sigh…
She was still angry, but seeing his face, Yun Shulian could only think one thing.
He was still so handsome.
She wanted to kiss him, to hug him…
But she was still angry!
Yun Shulian thought this, yet her gaze was glued to Mu Qi's alluring collarbone, unable to look away.
Yun Shulian whispered very softly, "It's okay, Mu Qi is asleep. He definitely won't know."
As long as Mu Qi didn't know, she would still be the dignified Yun Shulian, who was currently angry.
In the moonlight, everything was silent.
The moon silently indulged Yun Shulian's audacious behavior.
Yun Shulian leaned forward and cautiously licked Mu Qi's collarbone, then looked up, quickly observing if Mu Qi showed any signs of waking.
Yun Shulian held her breath. Only when she confirmed Mu Qi had no reaction did she relax and continue her ministrations…
Later that night, Yun Shulian finally fell asleep.
Mu Qi, who Yun Shulian believed was sleeping soundly, opened his eyes.
It turned out that it wasn't the moon indulging Yun Shulian, but Mu Qi, who she thought was completely unaware.
Mu Qi slowly reached out and touched the collarbone Yun Shulian had kissed, then looked at Yun Shulian beside him with an innocent gaze.
Mu Qi recalled her expression when she had changed into the casual outfit she bought earlier.
She seemed to really like his body.
"Baby, I finally have something to keep you lingering," Mu Qi said, pulling Yun Shulian closer into his embrace, a smile curving his lips.
However, if the usually affectionate Yun Shulian were to see this smile, she would not be happy.
Because this smile held no trace of joy, only a possessive obsession and an ever-present fear of loss.
…
In the morning, Yun Shulian woke up and instinctively reached for Mu Qi's warmth. However, after searching around his side several times, she couldn't find him anywhere.