Mu Ran laughed out loud, placing her hand over his. Leaning lazily against his chest, she said softly, "Here is our child."
"Our?"
"Yes, yours and mine." She lifted her face, reaching out a hand to gently stroke his cheek. "Jin Zhi, don't be sad. You still have me and the baby. We are your family."
The word "family" made the youth's throat tighten again.
Finally, he leaned down, his tall figure completely enveloping her. His breath fell on the tip of her nose, his lips almost touching hers, carving the most enduring suppression into that final sliver of distance known as ambiguity.
"You are Mu Ran."
"Yes, I am Mu Ran."
"Here..." His fingertips moved gently against her lower abdomen, "is our child."
She smiled, "That's right, it's our child."
The youth raised the corners of his lips. The breath he exhaled felt like a smile, yet his nasal voice was slightly heavy, and a layer of mist shimmered in his cold eyes.
His fingertips still rested lightly on her lower abdomen, his movements so gentle as if afraid of disturbing something. The next moment, his slightly cool lips finally covered hers.
There was not a hint of aggression, only an exceedingly lingering tenderness, along with the unfamiliarity and caution unique to a young man. After merely rubbing gently against her lips for a moment, he retreated again, his gaze flickering.
Such a brief, superficial kiss obviously wouldn't satisfy someone who had practiced dual cultivation with her husband for hundreds of years.
Mu Ran turned around to face him. Looking into his moist eyes so close at hand, those usually cold eyes were now brimming with reliance and bewilderment.
The youth was truly at a loss and obedient.
Mu Ran's heart softened, and she no longer restrained herself.
She slightly stood on her tiptoes, her arms wrapping gently yet firmly around his neck, and took the initiative to kiss his slightly cool lips.
This kiss was no longer the careful and cautious one from just now, but carried the familiar indulgence of hundreds of years of companionship, along with a burning affection—gentle yet deep, lingering and intertwined.
The moment their lips and tongues intertwined, the youth's body stiffened slightly. Then, he subconsciously tightened his arms, holding her steadily in his embrace. His fingertips gently gripped her waist, responding to her with submission and indulgence.
His breath was light and slightly hot. He was clearly inexperienced, yet he tried hard to imitate her, sending his warm tongue and breath into her mouth. To Mu Ran, this felt more like a tease.
Oh no.
She liked him even more now.
When her touch reached his still intact arm, her heart grew even hotter, compelling her to want to do more to make him even happier.
At some point, the leader of this illusion had become her.
The surrounding scene changed. The youth fell onto the bed, looking at the person in front of him helplessly. The moment her hand roamed under his clothes, his entire body tensed.
Outside the illusion, the floral scent was rich.
Mu Ran opened her eyes and rubbed her slightly aching hand. Looking at the youth who had not yet woken up and the flush on his face, she inexplicably felt a bit guilty.
Unprepared, she locked eyes with the youth who had just opened his eyes.
"You—"
Before she could finish speaking, her jaw was already captured by one of his hands. He kissed her urgently and hotly, forcing her to retreat step by step until her back hit the tree trunk. However, because his other hand was placed behind her back, she didn't feel the pain of the impact.
Mu Ran was completely encircled in his arms, with no way to avoid it—perhaps she didn't want to avoid it either. His tongue invaded smoothly, aggressively plundering every inch of her breath.
Her legs went a bit soft. Just as she was about to sink down, she was quickly scooped back up by his hand.
Han Yu had been thrown far away and swam back, but couldn't get close due to the array. It stared dumbfounded at the sight of its young master losing control and pressing a woman into his arms to kiss her.
—Master, is this what you meant by being useful?!
—Master, how can you fall for a pregnant woman?!
—Master, you can't become a despised pervert!
Han Yu felt as if the sky had fallen. It wanted to stop him but was powerless, only able to spin around in circles anxiously.
Seeing many creatures around curiously poking their heads out to peek, Han Yu quickly lowered its head and hid in the bushes.
It didn't want others to know it had such a master, because it couldn't afford to lose that face!
The youth's breath was hot, and his breathing was chaotic.
As soon as their lips parted, he didn't retreat in the slightest, still trapping her firmly against him.
His scalding breath completely spilled over her face, carrying a trace of lingering bewilderment, yet hiding an unconcealable sense of aggression.
He lowered his eyes slightly. His gaze slowly slid from the reddened corners of her eyes down to her slightly swollen lips, and then back to her eyes, inch by inch, carrying an undeniable dominance.
He said, "You were the one who provoked me first."
His fingertips gently gripped her waist. The force wasn't strong, but it left her with absolutely no room to retreat.
Mu Ran felt the heat of his body. The corners of her mouth hurt a little, and the root of her tongue ached slightly. She felt some regret, but not much.
He looked at her from such a close distance, their breaths intertwining, the air scalding. Every inch of his gaze felt like it was tracing and possessing her, making the air hot and tense.
"Mu Ran, I don't know what your purpose was in approaching me, but from now on, don't even think about walking away easily."
He shouldn't have been drawn into an illusion by such a low-level hallucinogenic incense, but after meeting her, his state of mind had indeed wavered a bit.
He couldn't remember much of everything in the illusion from the moment he woke up. The only thing he remembered was a strong feeling.
Being with her made him feel an unprecedented sense of joy and satisfaction.
Since a long time ago, he had been a person with clear goals. He knew exactly what he wanted to achieve and what he needed to firmly control in his hands.
So now he was very clear: he wanted her.
This youth, who appeared cold and self-restrained, faintly showed signs of breaking down.
Mu Ran didn't feel any fear. Instead, she felt an excitement born from her very bones. She inexplicably felt a bit mischievous.
She reminded him, "I already have a husband, you know."
He said, "Divorce him."
Mu Ran laughed out loud. Taking his hand and placing it on her lower abdomen again, she said, "But I'm still pregnant with a child."
He said, "I'll raise it."
She tilted her face up, rubbing against the tip of his nose, and whispered, "Jin Zhi, how can you be so good?"
Suddenly hearing the name "Jin Zhi," the hand he had on her waist paused, and his expression was momentarily dazed.
He was cautious by nature. Afraid of enemies seeking revenge, he always acted under pseudonyms. Few people even knew his real name, let alone the name "Jin Zhi."
It seemed like it had been too, too long since he had heard anyone call him that.
She explained, "I heard it in the illusion. That's how your parents called you. Do you not like me calling you that?"
After a long moment, he shook his head. Resting his forehead against hers, his eyes were filled entirely with her. "Call me that again, will you?"
Mu Ran smiled.
"Jin Zhi."
"Jin Zhi."
"My Jin Zhi."
Every word that fell into his ears was like the spring sun caressing the lingering winter snow.
He gradually leaned down, his shoulders tensing slightly before slowly relaxing. Radiating a feverish heat, he gently leaned into her and buried his face deep in the crook of her neck.
His warm breath brushed against her delicate skin, carrying with it the grievances and insecurities he had suppressed for far too long.
He did not hold her tightly; he simply pressed himself quietly against her. Like a boy who had finally found his way home, he tucked away all his sharp edges and exhaustion into her small, yet incredibly safe haven.
"Call my name one more time."
She stroked the dark hair at the back of his head, her touch as gentle as if she were soothing a pet. A soft laugh escaped her lips. "Silly Jinzhi."
A long while later, the boy's disgruntled yet earnest voice drifted through the quiet woods.
"I'm not silly."
