"Your Excellency—"
He squeezed out fragmented, trembling syllables laced with heat from deep within his throat.
Su Cheng was about to speak, but stopped herself.
The silver-haired youth let out a soft hum, the tip of his tongue lightly sweeping over his petal-pink lips.
Her gaze froze for a moment. "So, ahem, shouldn't we first deal with the issue of this wine?"
"...It's fine."
Xiao Lan gasped for breath. "My constitution is different from humans. Even if I don't relieve it, it will definitely pass after a while. You don't need to worry. Perhaps taking this opportunity, I can finally say what I've been wanting to say."
The youth paused. "Actually, I don't quite understand it either. I used to think that liking someone had to be built on... the foundation of familiarity and understanding, from which resonance is born. I thought love at first sight was merely an illusion brought about by physical attraction, because we are not irrational animals."
Su Cheng completely agreed. "I also develop favorable impressions of people based on their appearance, but I usually take steps to understand them further. However, do you really know me?"
"I don't know," Xiao Lan closed his eyes slightly. "But the first time I saw you, I felt a strong affinity for you. I felt like I had already seen your true nature. I detest those who actively commit evil; aside from madmen, the rest are just despicable cowards who bully the weak. They have two completely different faces when facing the strong and the weak—or at least those they perceive as weak. But by the same token, I also like those sharp, distinct bottom lines. Someone like you, who doesn't look for excuses to whitewash harm, and who isn't bound by society's moral demands to tolerate evil deeds..."
His words grew increasingly disorganized, as if he was just saying whatever came to mind, yet his tone was incredibly sincere.
Su Cheng sighed. "If that's what moved you, I have to say, there are actually quite a lot of people like that. The truly forgiving ones are the minority."
"It's not just that," Xiao Lan tilted his head up to look at her. "You also rejected my invitation. Mmm, and talking to you feels very comfortable. In short, I think you are very special."
In this posture, those eyes shimmering with intoxicated tears made him look even more like a wet puppy.
Su Cheng continued to sigh. "Well, Your Excellency, I appreciate you. From the first time I met you and heard you speak up for me, I thought you were a good person. I'm very happy to be your classmate, to study and discuss problems together, and I was quite glad to run into you at the hotel earlier. But when I don't see you for many days, I don't constantly think about you. Obviously, our feelings in this regard are not mutual."
"Really?" Xiao Lan seemed to automatically ignore the last sentence, his lips curving into a smile just from hearing the first part. "You think I'm a good person?"
Su Cheng: "............Is that all you heard?"
"Oh no," the youth stood up shakily. "I understood what you meant, I do. In fact, I don't expect to receive the same response; this is just my one-sided feeling. Goodness, I didn't even want to tell you originally, because I also felt a bit lost. I wasn't sure what this feeling meant, but the people in the mercenary group said that if I'm always thinking about someone like this, then I must like her. And you don't mind that I'm not human, which is wonderful."
Su Cheng hesitated to speak. "Well, alright, you—"
"Also," Xiao Lan tilted his head. "What did that person just mean by releasing once?"
Su Cheng looked at him in silence.
The silver-haired youth looked back at her blankly.
Good heavens.
Su Cheng felt he probably wasn't faking it.
Perhaps he really didn't know, or of course, it could be that his brain had been burned to mush so he couldn't figure it out.
Thus, she gave a brief explanation, delivering a sex education lecture, and one tailored to the level of children and young teenagers at that.
"...In summary, based on what that person meant just now, you just need to do it once. I mean, you can do it yourself."
Su Cheng said calmly. "If you don't feel anything, you can use some imagination."
Xiao Lan looked at her in silence.
Su Cheng rubbed her forehead. "I can't control what goes on in other people's heads. If you really want to fantasize about me—"
"No."
Xiao Lan quickly shook his head. "Actually, I'm still trying to understand what you mean. Mmm, someone actually told me before, about human..."
He pursed his lips, a blush rising on his cheeks once again. "For me, because I am not human, some of my... instincts prevent me from thinking about problems the way humans do. If I were to engage in certain fantasies, it would probably be different from what you're imagining. However, you can do anything to me. If you are willing, though I'm still not quite sure if I can succeed."
A richly dressed waiter walked by, carrying a crystal tray holding several goblets filled with pale golden wine.
Su Cheng sighed and casually picked up a glass. "There aren't any magical plant additives in this, right?"
The waiter smiled and shook his head.
She led the silver-haired youth behind a colonnade, and they leaned into the shadows between the pillar and the wall.
The two were mere inches apart, their breaths intermingling. Dark and light strands of hair entangled, a subtle ticklish sensation brushing past the sides of their faces.
Su Cheng lifted the draping hem of his coat, her fingertips caressing the metal buckle of his belt. "Don't be nervous—"
Her slender fingers touched the youth's firm abdominal muscles. His lean waist pulled taut like a drawn bowstring, trembling slightly in the air.
She touched the goblet in her hand, the pads of her fingers gliding over the long, smooth stem, tracing the flowing, elegant, and crystal-clear curves.
"Don't be nervous—"
Su Cheng soothed softly.
Due to the height of her heels, they were now of similar stature. She only had to lean in slightly to kiss the youth's coral-red lips.
She gently pressed a kiss to the corner of his lips. "Although I can't be considered experienced, at the very least I won't hurt you. Besides, you are a sixth-tier warrior."
Xiao Lan nodded slowly, gazing at her earnestly, his pupils changing shape slightly with her movements. "I'm not scared..."
Su Cheng held the goblet, her soft fingertips rubbing against the rounded curve of the bowl.
The touch was cold and smooth, like an extension of skin.
Her fingers circled the thin rim of the glass. The smoothly polished crystal let out a crisp resonance under the friction of her fingertips.
The wine in the glass trembled as it swayed, rippling in layers. The liquid surged upward, slightly dampening the palm of her hand.
Her slender fingers slipped down, gently pressing at the junction of the long stem and the swelling bowl, gliding and circling along the cool, smooth curved surface of the glass with a feather-light touch.
The silver-haired youth took a sharp, short breath, his shoulders tensing, his spine pressing against the hard stone carving of the pillar. "Ah—"
"It's okay," Su Cheng stood on her tiptoes and kissed his forehead. "Relax."
Footsteps occasionally echoed in the corridor. People passed by on the other side of the pillars, but it seemed no one looked in their direction.
She continued to caress the wine glass, pressing her fingertips into the indentation under the base, massaging it with a certain secret rhythm.
The wine glass constantly shifted angles in her hand, enveloped by a warm, firm palm. The pale gold liquid continuously rippled outward in fine waves, light fluctuating within the broken reflections of the wine.
Xiao Lan kept inhaling and tilting his head back. "Mmh... I know... I just..."
The shadows of the sculptures between the pillars swallowed his expression.
Those azure eyes lost focus amidst his heavy panting.
A stone carving had already shattered in his tightening fingers, fine powder drifting down from between his knuckles.
Su Cheng's wrist, holding the wine glass, sank slightly. She continued tracing the contours of the glass as if caressing a piece of art.
Between the straight stem and the bulging bowl of the glass, her five fingers firmly wrapped and pressed, then subtly twisted upward.
Xiao Lan furrowed his brows slightly, his gaze fixed on the glass.
The clear, translucent crystal was heating up in the warmth of her palm. Every upward slide and downward stroke of those fingers carried an intoxicating force.
The intoxication fermented in his mind, constantly assaulting his reason. At times, he felt as if he were ascending into the clouds; at others, plummeting into the deep sea.
His body tensed and relaxed uncontrollably. Every inch of his muscles and bones screamed with desire, yearning to be graced.
The silver-haired youth slightly arched his back, unable to resist pushing backward. With a faint cracking sound, fine fissures appeared on the jade pillar behind him.
Su Cheng sighed, "...Now I owe him even more money."
Xiao Lan hadn't yet registered her words. "Wha—"
Su Cheng's fingers gripping the glass tightened once more. Pressing into the indentation at the base, she pushed upward, precisely and repeatedly scraping the crystal bottom.
The goblet suddenly tilted. The amber-gold liquid, glinting in the light, shook violently before breaking free from the confines of the glass, splashing out with a splash.
The sweet, heady wine traced an impassioned arc, slightly dampening her fingers before landing on the cold marble floor.
Droplets brushed against the edge of an expensive dress, splashing up a patch of fine, sticky gleam.
The glass swayed between her fingers.
The silver-haired youth opened his mouth soundlessly, as if wanting to say something, but only gasps remained.
He leaned against her shoulder, eyes lightly closed. The noisy world around them seemed to lose its color, leaving only a certain intense, almost reason-swallowing pleasure.
Su Cheng washed her hands with the remaining wine in the glass. "...Feeling better now?"
Xiao Lan nodded slowly, his chin resting against her shoulder blade. "Mmh, thank you. I'm so sorry for causing you trouble."
Su Cheng was about to speak again when she suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the crowd.
Amidst the silver haze of the banquet hall's lights, in the air woven with the scent of wine and laughter—
Someone stood at the corner of the corridor, looking over thoughtfully.
Light and shadow danced dazzlingly in the extravagant mansion. From the resplendent domed ceilings and pillars to the dresses and jewelry worn by the nobles, dazzling gold, colorful gems, and lustrous pearls were everywhere.
That blonde hair, like flowing morning light, remained so vibrant and dazzling.
His expression held a sense of detachment, as if he stood apart from the world.
Thousands of flowing lights rippled around his eyes and brows, yet they seemed suppressed by an invisible law, becoming dim and settled.
It was as if only those golden eyes remained in the world—resembling the dusk of late autumn, yet also like the rising sun of early spring.
Su Cheng suddenly heard her own heartbeat.
Then she watched him walk toward her.
She rubbed her fingers together almost instinctively, trying to wipe off the dried wine, before hiding her hand behind her back.
"The aura around you—"
Ian walked through the crowd until he stood before her.
"Is even more chaotic than last time."
He said in an elusive tone.
Su Cheng let out a breath. "What kind of answer are you hoping to hear? A polite one? Or a blunt one?"
"I suppose the difference between the two is merely 'I've been through a lot' versus 'none of your business.' To be honest, they're both the same to me."
Ian said lightly, "...Aren't you going to introduce me to this gentleman?"
Su Cheng looked at Xiao Lan. "I don't know, do you want to meet this person?"
Xiao Lan's gaze darted between the two of them. "Is this gentleman your friend?"
"He is—"
"I am," Ian suddenly spoke up, "someone who is about to fulfill a promise and go on a date with her."
Su Cheng: "......"
