Luo Luo was a little scared.
She had witnessed Li Zhaoye's unrestrained and wildly indulgent side in the soul illusion. If he went at her like that now, it would absolutely wreck her.
She pushed against his shoulders, her fingers trembling slightly.
She could feel the terrifying, storm-like intensity radiating from him. Every suppressed, low chuckle sent shivers down her spine, making her dread the moment he would finally lose control.
She knew this bastard all too well.
The more she resisted, the more it would excite him.
"Li Zhaoye…" She bit his ear.
He thrust deeper, answering distractedly, "Hmm?"
"Let me take the lead," she said.
He paused, arching a brow. "Oh?"
This surprised him. She looked utterly terrified—he had expected her to beg for mercy.
Who knew Luo Luo had such nerve?
Well, if she was offering, he wasn’t about to refuse.
"Fine. You do it."
He generously lifted her, settling her atop him.
Luo Luo immediately felt the staggering difference.
Before, when he held her in his lap, she had to tilt her head up slightly to kiss him. Now, with this new position, she towered over him.
Li Zhaoye noticed too.
A wicked grin curled his lips as he cupped the back of her head, pulling her down into a deep, possessive kiss.
Moonlight trickled in intermittently.
Her dark hair cascaded over her snow-white skin, glistening with a sheen of sweat like a nymph emerging from a forest spring.
Li Zhaoye clenched his jaw, fingers digging into her waist, trembling with restraint.
"Hurry up," he growled through gritted teeth.
Luo Luo: "...Oh."
She clung to his shoulders, weakened by his kisses, her body sinking limply against him.
Progress stalled—entirely his fault, refusing to yield, remaining rigid and unrelenting.
The air in the loft grew thin, each breath sparking like lightning.
Sweat slicked her skin, her fingers slipping over his hard muscles and sharp bones, her heart pounding erratically.
He wanted her. And she wanted him too.
She was just as desperate.
His large hand fisted in her hair, tilting her head for another bruising kiss.
He pried her lips apart, nipping at the corner of her mouth.
"Your mouth is just too damn small," he muttered against her lips.
Luo Luo: "..."
She didn’t need to think to know what nonsense he was spouting.
Angry, she bit down on his perfect lower lip hard enough to draw blood.
He groaned, grinning. "Yeah, bite me. Harder."
Luo Luo: "..."
She silenced him by pressing her mouth to his.
Outside, clouds drifted apart and merged again.
Spring wind turned to drizzle, whispering over the mountains.
The moon dipped westward.
Li Zhaoye held back as long as he could before finally snapping, "Luo Luo, you’re really dragging this out!"
Then his smirk deepened as he leaned into her ear, emphasizing, "Dragging. It. Out."
Luo Luo: "..."
She wasn’t stupid—she knew exactly what he meant.
Fuming, she gripped his arms and slammed herself down.
"Fuck—!"
Li Zhaoye wasn’t prepared. Veins bulged at his temples as he hissed, his soul nearly leaving his body.
Luo Luo held her breath, arms locked around him, pushing relentlessly.
Then—suddenly—she was fully seated.
Stunned.
Her lashes fluttered, lips parting in a shaky gasp as she looked up at him.
He stared back, pupils dilated.
"You," his voice was rough, "did I break you?"
Luo Luo panicked. "I don’t know…"
His jaw twitched. "Does it hurt?"
She shook her head quickly.
She debated telling him.
It didn’t hurt—but it felt like she’d been impaled by a sword, her organs crushed, her stomach uncomfortably pressed.
In the end, she kept that to herself.
Li Zhaoye was at a loss too.
No matter how badly he ached, he wouldn’t risk harming her.
Seeing her dazed, panting, on the verge of shattering, he was genuinely alarmed.
"Don’t panic. Stay still." He secured her with one arm, brushing his lips over her forehead before attempting to lift her gently.
…She didn’t budge.
They exchanged a frantic look.
Li Zhaoye’s lips twitched. "Stuck…?"
Luo Luo opened her mouth but couldn’t speak.
"Tch, no way." He scoffed. "Only dogs get stuck."
Luo Luo: "..."
She glared weakly. "And yet here you are, acting like one!"
He rolled his eyes, laying her back to inspect the situation.
The moment he looked down, his breath hitched.
The sight of her soft, flushed skin hit him like a delayed explosion, leaving him dizzy.
"Luo Luo, don’t be scared," he rasped, throat dry. "I’ll figure it out."
He kissed her, soothing her with his lips.
But soon, the kisses grew hungrier, deeper.
Luo Luo: "..."
His "solution" was kissing her breathless, silencing her protests.
Like a man starved, he devoured her mouth, stealing every sweet gasp.
He seemed to be trying to retreat.
But after what felt like forever, he only sank deeper.
Her breaths came in fractured whimpers.
"Li Zhaoye…"
He paused, shamelessly deflecting, "Not my fault. You’re the one not letting go."
Luo Luo: "..."
Knowing he had no ground to stand on, he simply sealed her lips with his again.
Luo Luo: "Mmph—!"
He captured her hands, pinning them above her head with one large palm.
Now free to roam, he resumed his mischief with renewed fervor.
Once in his rhythm, he regained control effortlessly.
"Luo Luo," he nipped at her lips, grinning. "No escaping now."
Breaths tangled, heat rising.
The blanket wrinkled beneath them as dawn’s first light crept through the window.
He nuzzled her forehead, teasing, "Took you so long, it’s already morning. Everyone’s finished their roast chicken, and you’re just starting on your—"
Luo Luo: "...Shut your damn mouth."
"Shut up and get to work? Fine." He bit her neck instead.
Luo Luo: "Ah—!"
Wise as ever, he kept her hands restrained so she couldn’t yank his hair.
Gradually, his bites softened into kisses.
Breaths mingled, warmth spreading.
Luo Luo’s worst fears didn’t come true.
Li Zhaoye might be a bastard, but he knew his limits—he didn’t lose himself like he had in the soul illusion.
Her heart melted into a puddle of springwater.
Sensing her surrender, he released her hands, letting her wrap her arms around him.
She did, clinging sweetly, fingers gentle and affectionate.
When he kissed her, she kissed him back.
A silent exchange of tenderness.
After a long, intimate moment, Li Zhaoye pulled back slightly, lowering his head to nudge the tip of her nose.
"Good girl, Luo Luo."
"Hmm?"
"Loosen up a little, let me move."
"?"
Dazed for a moment, Luo Luo asked blankly, "It's still stuck?"
Li Zhaoye: "What else?"
Luo Luo: "..."
She had thought he’d changed, acting so gentle all of a sudden.
Then, warmth bloomed in her lower abdomen.
A large hand pressed against her, like a physician examining a patient—pressing here, pressing there.
Luo Luo: "..."
"Here." Li Zhaoye’s fingers paused, guiding her hand over to let her feel.
Heat rushed from Luo Luo’s cheeks all the way down her neck.
Her fingers trembled as she touched him.
"Well?" he asked. "Impressed now?"
Luo Luo: "..."
Just as he was gloating, footsteps suddenly echoed from outside the library.
Li Zhaoye: "Tch!"
Luo Luo was stunned too: "No way?"
From afar, they could hear Yan Feng and the others grumbling: "The master’s really something, insisting on upgrading that broken hammer. Where are we supposed to find clues about Purple Nether Iron and Netherfrost Water on such short notice?"
"Let’s check the library first. If we can’t find anything, forget it."
"Isn’t there a forbidden archives upstairs? Maybe we’ll get lucky!"
"..."
Li Zhaoye nearly laughed in frustration. "Seriously? This place hasn’t seen visitors in centuries!"
Luo Luo: "..."
"Hurry up," Li Zhaoye gritted out. "Get it out."
Luo Luo frowned helplessly. "How?"
As the footsteps entered the building, every hair on her body stood on end.
"Solve it in the illusion—quick!"
Li Zhaoye’s gaze sharpened. He cupped her face and—thud—knocked his forehead against hers.
In a dazed instant, the two of them plunged into a shared dreamscape.
"Make it fast."
Li Zhaoye yanked her close, slanting his mouth over hers while his other hand tugged off her robes.
Luo Luo had never experienced anything this thrilling in her life!
Trembling, she clung to Li Zhaoye, meeting him boldly as he pressed her down.
"...Mmm."
Both of them, familiar with the motions, sucked in sharp breaths.
Li Zhaoye let out a ragged laugh. "Hold it in."
Luo Luo nodded frantically. "Got it, got it."
This time, the warmth of jade and fragrance finally settled into place.
He locked her against his chest and instantly lost all restraint, wild and unrestrained.
He bit her lip, moving with rough, unbridled intensity.
Luo Luo was so tense her stomach cramped.
Then, abruptly, Li Zhaoye stilled.
He dropped his head, forehead resting against her chin as he took deep, shuddering breaths.
Two heartbeats later, he waved a hand, dispelling the illusion.
Luo Luo’s vision blurred—and suddenly, they were back in the archives.
Li Zhaoye scooped her up with one arm, flicking his other hand to unleash a surge of terrifying spiritual energy that swept through the forbidden archives, erasing every trace of their presence.
He tossed a robe over her head. "Get dressed."
"Right, right."
Luo Luo scrambled into her robes while Li Zhaoye straightened up, regaining his usual composed demeanor.
They exchanged a glance before slipping silently out the window.
Downstairs, Yan Feng and the others were still flipping through books like fools.
Luo Luo exhaled in relief. "Phew..."
The two of them fled the scene at top speed.
"Hey," Li Zhaoye called suddenly as they darted away. "Luo Dummy!"
Luo Luo glanced at him. "Yeah?"
His dark eyes gleamed faintly. "We were in a hurry this time. Got it?"
Of course she got it—she’d been so nervous her soul nearly left her body.
She nodded obediently.
After a while, he spoke again. "Hey. It definitely wasn’t over too fast. Got it?"
Luo Luo: "I know."
His throat bobbed. "If no one had interrupted, three days and nights wouldn’t have been enough. Don’t you dare overthink it!"
Luo Luo: "..."
Well… she hadn’t been overthinking it. Until now.
