An Sheng took her little hand, his fingertips tickling A Mei's palm, his voice low and gentle, his gaze fixed on her with a hint of pleading: "Oh, my little darling, our sweetheart — since we're already out here, we can't very well go back now, can we?"
A Mei shot An Sheng a reproachful glare, then turned away in a huff. "And why not? We have the carriage, and it's not far anyway — we came this way, so we go back the same way!"
A vein on An Sheng's forehead twitched faintly; a headache was starting to creep in. He paused, gave a full-body shiver, and then, with no regard for his image standing in the street, sniffled unabashedly. His brows drooped, and he shamelessly leaned in close to A Mei's face, deliberately slowing and softening his breath, speaking to her in a coaxing tone: "My lady, I do believe this weather is getting colder by the minute. I misspoke earlier — it's not you who feels cold and wants to return to the inn, it's me who's freezing half to death and needs to get to the inn. My darling, my treasure, could you take pity on your husband and just let it go? Let's head to the inn right now, shall we~"
An Sheng deliberately drew out his words, that rising lilt at the end carrying an indescribable softness that, for some reason, came off as strangely alluring.
Especially when that warm breath brushed against her small, blushing earlobe — A Mei felt her whole body tingle and go numb in an instant.
A trace of shy sweetness crept into A Mei's expression, yet she still pouted, feigning anger. But the moment she spoke, all her force melted away. She stole a quick glance at An Sheng: "Husband, you... you really feel cold?"
"Absolutely true." An Sheng nodded solemnly, barely holding back a laugh — because A Mei's little sulky look at that moment struck him as even more adorable and endearing, filling him with both tenderness and love.
"Then... fine." A Mei nodded without a second thought, following her heart. But then she realized she was supposed to be angry, and agreeing so readily was a blow to her pride. She blinked. Then blinked again.
Finally, she turned her face away again, her soft, syrupy voice carrying what she thought was a fierce tone, as she tried to save face: "A Mei is only going back for her husband's sake. It's you who wants to go to the inn — it's not that I'm so eager to go."
An Sheng finally couldn't hold it in anymore and let out a low chuckle.
A Mei turned her head and glared at him. "What? Did I say something wrong?"
"Right, right, right! Whatever my lady says is right!" An Sheng immediately straightened his expression, putting on an air of utter seriousness — though the twitching at the corners of his eyes and cheeks betrayed just how hard he was struggling not to laugh.
An Sheng then wrapped an arm around A Mei's waist, guiding her toward the carriage, and said slowly as they walked: "My lady also missed one detail — it's your husband who can't help himself, who's simply aching to be close and intimate with you, and that's the real reason I insist on taking you to the inn."
A Mei's face flushed bright red. She couldn't help tugging at An Sheng's sleeve, glancing left and right, and mumbled through bitten lips: "Husband, don't say things like that out in public. Someone might hear."
An Sheng straightened his brow, looking at A Mei with exaggerated gravity, all pomp and solemnity: "When love moves the heart, it's mutual willingness — affection between two people is only natural. So what if someone hears?"
A Mei: ...
A Mei felt both mortified and embarrassed, and finally managed to force out the words: "Husband, you're an official — now even an Imperial Envoy. Could you please maintain some dignity in public?"
An Sheng curved his lips into a meaningful smile, his brows and eyes lifting with a rakish, roguish air: "My lady, that's where you're wrong. With outsiders, of course I keep my dignity. But in front of my own wife — what need is there for blasted dignity? I do whatever I please."
With that, An Sheng deliberately leaned close to A Mei's ear and let out a breath, his words laced with teasing and flirtation: "I have the least dignity when I'm serving my lady — and yet you keep clinging to me, never getting enough. What, my lady doesn't like it?"
A Mei's eyes flew wide open, her face a blazing mix of red and shock: "Husband, you... you...!"
She was stunned — just moments ago, her husband had been so proper and stern, and now he'd become so... so... A Mei couldn't find the words. If she had to describe it, it was as if her husband had gone from a dignified official to a shameless, thick-skinned scoundrel. The contrast was simply too great, and too embarrassing for words.
An Sheng kept going, playing dumb with a brazen grin: "My lady, what about me?"
A Mei finally reached her limit and cried out in a cute, exasperated voice: "Just shut up!"
