Chu'he mercilessly left the half-undressed young man behind, rushing out to have the maids in the estate prepare what she needed to freshen up. Only after tidying herself did she slowly return to the room.
Ninth still hadn’t put his clothes back on, sitting dazedly on the bed. When he saw Chu'he return, he merely lifted his eyes to glance at her faintly before lying back down, pulling the covers over himself and turning his back to her.
For once, Chu'he felt a pang of guilt.
She had stopped abruptly and left without hesitation, but he had been left hanging, undoubtedly suffering from the unfulfilled tension.
Conscious of her wrongdoing, Chu'he crept back onto the bed and shook the figure bundled under the quilt. "Ninth, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t expect my monthly cycle to come either."
Ninth curled his tall frame tighter, initially refusing to acknowledge her. But then his nose twitched slightly—he caught the scent of blood. Alarmed, he threw the covers off and stared at her. "You’re hurt?"
Chu'he blinked. "Huh?"
"You’re bleeding."
Chu'he scratched her head awkwardly. "It’s not an injury. Like I said, it’s just my monthly cycle. Generally, girls go through this for a few days every month. It’s completely normal."
Ninth studied Chu'he carefully, and seeing no other signs of distress, relaxed slightly before retreating back under the covers, turning away once more.
Chu'he pursed her lips and nudged him with her foot. "I told you it was an accident. I was planning to get intimate with you—who knew my cycle would show up at the worst time?"
"Can’t it just… not come?"
"Huh?"
Ninth peeked out from under the covers, revealing only his eyes. "I know pressure points to stop bleeding."
Chu'he: "…No."
His brows furrowed slightly before he vanished beneath the quilt again.
Clearing her throat, Chu'he murmured, "I could… use other ways to make you feel good. It’s not impossible."
Ninth’s eyes reappeared, now tinged with a rosy hue. "What ways?"
Chu'he recalled the novels she’d read before—the ones flaunting "explicit" tags. Though she lacked practical experience, her theoretical knowledge was vast!
Using these techniques on an innocent boy like him… wouldn’t it drive him wild?
Bolstered by confidence, she climbed onto the bed, slowly lowering herself over him, straddling his waist. Cupping his face, she pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. "I’ll move. You stay still, got it?"
Ninth’s eyes shimmered, curiosity and anticipation swirling together, nearly spilling over. For some reason, he felt shy.
Turning his face away, too flustered to meet her gaze, his ears burned as he gave a small nod. "Got it."
Chu'he took a deep breath, mustering her courage before slipping a hand back into his loosened robes. The slack sash offered no resistance, and the taut lines of his body, the cool touch of his skin—all of it made her reluctant to pull away.
Ninth’s breathing grew uneven. He wanted to reach for her too, but he remembered his promise not to move. So he clenched his fists, suppressing the urge, remaining perfectly still.
Finally, he couldn’t resist looking up at the girl above him. Seeing the focus and infatuation in her expression, he felt an odd illusion—as if he’d become one of those little wooden figurines.
He’d seen it before. Sometimes, Chu'he would take out the small wooden doll he’d given her, meticulously running her fingers over every inch.
But this was different. Her face was flushed, as if she, too, was burning up just like him.
Ninth’s gaze lingered on her face, tracing every detail—even the faint flutter of her breath against the tiny hairs on her nose seemed unbearably adorable.
Young and enamored, they found fascination in each other’s bodies, as if even the slightest change was worth observing for eternity.
Then, Chu'he’s hand wandered somewhere—and Ninth suddenly let out a soft moan.
She paused. "Ninth… does it feel bad?"
He lifted a hand, covering his eyes, now vivid with desire. Only his pale skin and tightly pressed lips were visible before he forced out a whisper.
"Feels good."
—This was downright lethal.
Chu'he felt an endless surge of motivation, eager to please him even more.
She wanted him to forget the dark, suffocating prison of the medicine trials, to erase the endless battles that had once defined his life. From now on, she wanted his memories filled only with pleasure.
But then—another moan escaped him. This time, he curled onto his side, clutching his stomach, his usually bloodless face contorted in pain.
Chu'he immediately leaned down to check on him. "Did I go too hard?"
He shook his head.
"Stomachache?"
His eyes cracked open slightly, misty like a drizzling rain. For a moment, she glimpsed something ethereal.
Ninth nodded briefly before shaking his head again. "I’m fine. Chu'he, keep going."
He grabbed her hand, trying to guide it back under his clothes. "Touch me again."
She yanked her hand free. "No. You’re in pain—this isn’t good for you."
Ninth frowned, his grip on his stomach tightening.
Then it hit her. Her hand pressed against his abdomen. "I’m sorry, Ninth. It’s my fault you’re hurting."
"Why does it hurt?" He caught her hand, his eyes brimming with curiosity.
Chu'he explained, "Some women get stomachaches during the first couple days of their cycle."
Ninth’s gaze flickered before pulling her tightly into his arms. His body enveloped hers, as if shielding a priceless treasure.
"Still hurting?" she whispered.
He shook his head, voice slightly hoarse. "You said this happens every month. So… all those times before, how much pain did you go through?"
She wasn’t like him.
Timid and delicate, she’d cry out at the slightest bump, needing days to recover from minor injuries.
He couldn’t bear the thought of her suffering.
Chu'he’s heart melted at his words, her entire being softening as she gazed at his face so close to hers. Even the fiercest storms ahead couldn’t pierce this warmth.
"I never used to feel pain. It’s probably because I was soaking in cold water earlier—that’s why it’s worse this time."
The effects of the Lovebird Gu meant all physical pain Chu'he felt was transferred to Ninth. She was usually careful not to hurt herself, but this time was an accident.
She nestled deeper into his embrace, seeking warmth. Her nose brushed against his chest, his familiar scent bringing comfort. His arms tightened around her, his palm gliding over her back as if cradling a piece of jade afraid of the cold.
Burying her face against him, she mumbled, "Who told you to use the Lovebird Gu on me? Such a fool, Ninth."
Drowsy, he still managed a stubborn mutter. "Not a fool."
Half-asleep, he murmured, "I just… couldn’t stand the thought of losing you."
Chu'he lifted her misty eyes, fingers gently combing through the silver-white hair at his nape. "You really are an idiot," she whispered.
