A Mei gradually came back to her senses, feeling as though her entire body no longer belonged to her.
The overly fervent movements of An Sheng upon her could not conceal the brutality and madness within him.
A Mei's consciousness blurred slightly, as An Sheng rarely lost control like this. Whether it was the crushing strength of his embrace or the tearing force of his kisses, everything carried a strange, cruel edge.
A Mei could feel her husband's complex and volatile emotions in this moment.
In a flash, words her husband had once spoken crossed A Mei's mind.
...
"I never had any interest in women before, but ever since I married you, slowly, a twisted desire has bred deep within my body. It bewitches me, making me want to swallow you whole, to play with you ruthlessly, to watch you cry and beg for mercy, utterly powerless to resist. Just the thought of it excites me so much I cannot sleep."
...
A Mei knew this, and deep down, she accepted it. She was not afraid. But when it actually happened, A Mei realized she simply could not bear it. It wasn't that she didn't want to endure it, but her body instinctively resisted.
Listening to his heavy, ragged breathing, A Mei saw that his tyrannical emotions could barely be suppressed, his pitch-black eyes revealing a thick, dark obsession and wicked desire.
His breathing grew heavier and more rapid, his movements becoming increasingly rough.
"...Mmph..."
A Mei shuddered from the pain.
Her mouth hurt so much. She seemed to taste blood; her husband had bitten her lip.
A Mei began to cry again, struggling subconsciously. But how could she possibly have the strength to push away the frenzied An Sheng?
Swallow her whole?
Play with her ruthlessly?
Did her husband want to see her cry?
Would he truly only feel satisfied this way?
But, why were her husband's hands trembling?
Why could she feel his entire body tensed so rigidly?
Amidst those rough touches and caresses, there was no malicious brutality or desire to destroy. A Mei understood; it was her husband restraining himself.
Why was he holding back? It was clearly because he couldn't bear to hurt her. At this thought, A Mei suddenly sobbed until she was out of breath, crying so heartbreakingly that even her voice hitched with every gasp.
"Hus... band..."
At this call, reason instantly returned to him, and An Sheng abruptly loosened his grip.
He was about to pull away from A Mei, but she suddenly hugged him tightly.
An Sheng froze completely. He listened as A Mei, trembling and sobbing in his arms, said, "Don't stop, Husband, don't stop."
"A Mei is not afraid, nor does A Mei want to push you away. A Mei is truly happy."
"Husband, A Mei loves you so much."
An Sheng breathed rapidly, the muscles in his face twitching under his restraint. He stared fixedly at A Mei's pitiful, weeping face, and finally spoke in a hoarse voice: "But, you are crying."
His slightly trembling, large hand brushed against the tear tracks at the corners of A Mei's eyes, gently wiping them away. Then, tracing the path of her tears, his fingers slowly moved down to caress the smear of bright red at the corner of her mouth. He asked, "Does it hurt?"
When An Sheng touched her bitten lip, A Mei hissed in pain. She nodded aggrievedly, "Mhm, Husband bit through it, it does hurt a little."
A Mei blinked as she looked up at An Sheng, her watery eyes full of love and reliance. "But A Mei isn't crying because of the pain. At first, it was because Husband scared A Mei. But then A Mei understood, and A Mei is crying out of happiness."
An Sheng's breathing gradually calmed down. His deep, dark eyes locked onto A Mei as he asked, "Why?"
An Sheng watched his delicate, soft wife beneath him—who had been bullied into such a disheveled state by him—say to him with complete earnestness:
"Husband clearly didn't have to hold back for A Mei's sake, you didn't have to endure it. But you did. Such a husband is enough to make A Mei cry tears of joy. Do you still need to ask why?"
An Sheng felt as if his heart had truly exploded.
A deep ache of tender affection surged in his eyes. With gentle movements, he slowly took off A Mei's disheveled clothes, revealing her smooth body.
His loving gaze fell on every part of A Mei, carefully examining the marks on her body as he murmured, "I'm sorry. I almost lost control of myself."
A Mei's face flushed red, and her eyes grew red as well. She pursed her lips, momentarily unsure of how to describe the feeling in her heart.
Finally, she simply pouted her small lips and said coquettishly, "Then Husband must kiss A Mei."
Dense, gentle kisses fell upon her one after another.
A Mei closed her eyes, feeling his tender care. When An Sheng's kisses trailed down to... certain places, she couldn't help but pant rapidly again.
"...Husband..." A Mei trembled slightly, her hands reaching up to caress An Sheng's back.
An Sheng kissed his way down, inch by inch.
A Mei's breathing grew increasingly hurried, gradually turning into unbearable, delicate pants.
Feeling the person in his arms slowly melt into a puddle of softness, the heart An Sheng had been holding in his throat finally settled down.
But before it could fully settle, he heard A Mei—even with her eyes hazy and deep in the throes of passion—still remembering the most important matter.
"A Mei really doesn't want to be separated from Husband. Please take A Mei with you."
An Sheng: ...
...Omitted here...
...
A Mei sat on the bed, feeling both defeated and angry, refusing to get up. Because she had pestered An Sheng all night and he still hadn't relented to take her along, she simply started grumbling the moment she opened her eyes early in the morning.
A Mei said, aggrieved: "Husband clearly can't bear to leave A Mei either."
An Sheng coaxed: "Yes, I truly cannot bear to part with A Mei."
A Mei protested: "Then Husband can just take A Mei with you."
An Sheng coaxed: "A Mei, be good."
A Mei protested: "Does Husband know how many days three months is? It's ninety days. If it's four months, that's one hundred and twenty days. One hundred and twenty days!"
An Sheng continued to coax: "I know. Be good, I will rush back as soon as possible."
A Mei looked pitiful: "A Mei knows she is useless, but... but the borders are freezing cold, and A Mei can at least warm Husband's bed. Now that Husband holds such a high and powerful position, who knows if some other women with ulterior motives will try everything they can to climb into Husband's bed to warm it. A Mei is worried."
An Sheng promised time and again: "Rest assured, A Mei. Even if I freeze to death, I will absolutely never let anyone else warm my bed."
A Mei: ...
An Sheng accepted all of A Mei's complaints without a word. He carried A Mei to the dressing table and personally dressed her.
Then, bearing A Mei's resentful gaze, he meticulously brushed her hair and helped her with her makeup.
A Mei sat there, looking at their reflection in the mirror. An Sheng stood behind her, slowly managing her hair.
"Husband, is A Mei being very willful?"
Their eyes met in the mirror. An Sheng looked at A Mei's charming yet innocent face, especially those eyes that could gaze straight into the depths of one's heart.
An Sheng's expression was both helpless and tender: "I understand your heart."
A Mei lowered her head gloomily, clenching her fingers. Just thinking about it made her unbearably sad: "A Mei doesn't want to be willful either, but... it really is too long."
Seeing A Mei's downcast appearance in the mirror, An Sheng leaned over and embraced her.
"Be good..." He turned his head and whispered low in A Mei's ear: "For the next few days, I will try my best to stay home and accompany you properly."
After a long moment, A Mei finally gave a soft hum of agreement.
