It was raining outside. Su Zhenzhen brought out the robe she had bought for Lu Hexu last time and asked him to change into it.
Lu Hexu held the clothes in his hands, his expression pausing for a moment.
"What's wrong? Didn't you wear this last time?"
The man slowly nodded and immediately started taking off his clothes.
"Wait, wait, go inside."
They weren't the only ones living in this courtyard, after all.
Su Zhenzhen pushed the man into the bathroom and then let down the reed blind hanging at the door.
The rustling sound of clothes being taken off came from inside the bathroom.
Su Zhenzhen was sealing the gaps in the doors and windows ahead of time, thinking about getting up early tomorrow to buy ice blocks.
One block probably wouldn't be enough.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter.
"Zhenzhen."
The man's voice came from the bathroom.
Su Zhenzhen was on her tiptoes, lining the edges of the window gaps. "What is it?"
"It's dark."
Oh, she forgot to bring him a lamp.
Su Zhenzhen lit a bamboo frame lamp and brought it to the bathroom door.
The reed blind of the bathroom was lifted by Lu Hexu's beautiful fingertips. Standing there, Su Zhenzhen was caught off guard and saw everything.
She stood there holding the bamboo lamp, her expression subconsciously freezing.
The man lowered his head, casually raising his hand to take the bamboo lamp from the woman. His fingertips brushed across the back of her hand, sliding forward from near her wrist all the way to her fingertips.
[Persimmon.]
[Persimmon.]
[Persimmon.]
Carrying the bamboo lamp, Lu Hexu turned around and went back into the bathroom.
Su Zhenzhen took a deep breath, trying hard to regain her sanity, and then turned her head to see the open window and door.
Su Zhenzhen: ...He really is quite bold.
Fortunately, there was no one else in the courtyard, and Little Persimmon had already gone back.
Su Zhenzhen reached up to cup her face and found it was still burning red.
Although they had engaged in some simple intimate behavior a few days ago, Su Zhenzhen had always been unwilling to light a lamp, so they had only comforted each other in the pitch dark.
Today was the first time she had seen him so clearly in the light.
Lu Hexu took the bamboo lamp in his hand and slowly hung it on the wall, then put on his inner garments, and finally donned the outer robe.
He looked down at the clothes he had worn over; apart from the cloak and outer robe being wet, the inner clothes were not wet at all.
Lu Hexu bent down, threw these dry clothes into the spring water pool to soak them once, then fished them out, held them up, and hung them on the thin string inside the room.
Because Yangzhou had been rainy lately, many of Su Zhenzhen's clothes had not dried, so she had tied a thin string in the room to hang and dry her laundry.
Now, her clothes hung on one half, and Lu Hexu's clothes hung on the other half.
The clothes had been wrung dry and were no longer dripping.
Lu Hexu looked at the separated clothes on both sides, raised his hand, and mixed his clothes with Su Zhenzhen's.
Yours covering mine.
Mine covering yours.
The summer breeze, mixed with fine raindrops, blew in through the window, passing the green screen and lifting the layer of white gauze covering the window.
"Are you done changing?" Su Zhenzhen came in from the courtyard holding an umbrella, carrying two freshly picked cucumbers in her hand.
"There's no food left in the small kitchen. I picked two cucumbers. Once the rain stops, I'll go check out the night market outside."
Many vendors at the night market set up their stalls on the spot, and packed up as soon as it rained.
If the rain stopped later, she figured a small portion of them might still come out to do business.
The man stood there with his hands behind his back and nodded.
"What's wrong?" Sensing something was off, Su Zhenzhen walked over.
Lu Hexu turned around, continuing to keep his back to her.
Su Zhenzhen narrowed her eyes. "Give it to me."
Lu Hexu pursed his lips, his face showing an expression of "Are you sure you want it?"
"Give it to me." Su Zhenzhen held out her hand.
Lu Hexu brought out the item from behind his back.
It was her undergarment.
Wasn't it hanging on the clothesline? When did it fall down?
This undergarment did not fit Su Zhenzhen's aesthetics. She had only bought many of them because they were cheap, a patchwork of red and green scrap fabrics.
She felt quite despairing.
Who knew she would suddenly end up living with a man! She wasn't prepared for this at all! If she had known, she would have spent a fortune to buy a nice set!
But the current Lu Hexu probably didn't have much of a sense of aesthetics anyway, right?
Su Zhenzhen lowered her head and stuffed the undergarment into the wardrobe.
"Sit down first. I'll check your pulse."
After calming her emotions, Su Zhenzhen took Lu Hexu's hand and sat down in the room.
She placed three fingers on the man's wrist, carefully taking his pulse.
[What pattern should I buy?]
[What pattern does he like?]
Lu Hexu tilted his head to look at her.
Su Zhenzhen coughed lightly.
[His pulse is indeed a bit erratic, but not too chaotic.]
"Why are you looking at me?" Su Zhenzhen looked up, meeting Lu Hexu's gaze directly.
Facing Lu Hexu in his wandering spirit state, she felt much more relaxed, even having the mind to pinch his cheek.
[So nice to pinch.]
[Like a stress-relief squishy toy.]
Lu Hexu sat there and slowly leaned over. He brought his pinched, reddened cheek closer and then rested his jaw on Su Zhenzhen's neck.
Su Zhenzhen couldn't help but laugh out loud. "That tickles."
The hot breath from the man brushed against her skin, permeating a layer of damp mist.
Su Zhenzhen laughed and tried to dodge to the side, but Lu Hexu reached out an arm to encircle her waist, burying his face in the crook of her neck and cutting off her retreat.
Su Zhenzhen reached out and patted the back of the man's hand, thinking he was just messing around with her. "It's so hot. Stop clinging to me."
Lu Hexu turned a deaf ear.
He pulled out his other hand and completely enveloped the woman in his embrace.
The man's palm rested against the woman's slender waist, which was so thin that it could be entirely wrapped up by just one of his hands.
Lu Hexu's thumb gently rubbed the curve of Su Zhenzhen's waist. It was too thin. Even his fingertips could feel that gossamer-like slenderness and softness. It felt as though if he applied just a little pressure with his fingertips, he could shatter that delicate waist.
Lu Hexu tried hard to restrain himself. His fingertips moved upward, tracing along Su Zhenzhen's spine through the fabric of her clothes.
"Don't..."
As soon as Su Zhenzhen spoke, that hand landed on the back of her neck.
The man's lips kissed upward from her neck, all the way to her lips, blocking Su Zhenzhen's words.
Su Zhenzhen felt that something was wrong.
But she couldn't exactly point out what it was.
With a surge of strength, Lu Hexu lifted her up and placed her on the table.
There was no tea set on the table, only a pile of clothes she had haphazardly tossed there.
Su Zhenzhen's body pressed against the pile of clothes as the man cupped her face and continued to kiss her.
His slightly cool, thin lips nipped at hers, his teeth lightly grinding against them with a hint of suppressed urgency.
Su Zhenzhen's soft lips were pulled slightly red between the man's teeth.
The man's movements were gentle, yet they carried an overbearing strength that allowed no escape.
Lu Hexu kissed Su Zhenzhen, in such a clear-headed state.
He was like a parched land finally receiving sweet rain.
The heat and tension surrounding the man entirely faded away. The dark hostility in his eyes was replaced by an extreme yearning, as if he wanted to absorb this pool of sweet rain completely into his very bones and blood.
"Zhenzhen."
Lu Hexu's other hand moved downward.
So narrow.
"Wait a moment."
Su Zhenzhen gasped out loud.
Before this, they had always done it through their clothes.
Su Zhenzhen tightly gripped Lu Hexu's clothes. Her legs were curled up, stepping on the edge of the table, as the man unhurriedly parted them with his knee.
The rain outside fell incessantly, masking the woman's soft, broken sobs.
Su Zhenzhen's body was imprisoned in the man's embrace. With red eyes, she tilted her head up and met his gaze. Before she could clearly make out the emotions swirling within them, her eyes were covered by a piece of clothing.
Deprived of her sight, her physical sensations became all the more acute.
Even though it was only his fingers, Su Zhenzhen's body was pushed to its absolute limit. The embroidered shoes on her feet had long since fallen to the floor.
The weather was hot, so she wore no silk stockings. Her snow-white toes, like pink seashells, were damp with fragrant sweat. At this moment, her calves tensed and then suddenly relaxed, caught by the man's arm and gently placed back onto the edge of the table.
Through a layer of light, misty green gauze, Lu Hexu looked at Su Zhenzhen's cheeks hidden beneath the clothing. They were moist and flushed crimson.
Lu Hexu raised his hand, wanting to remove the garment covering her face.
Su Zhenzhen refused, clutching the fabric and burying her face in it.
She was still panting, her body unable to stop trembling from the afterglow, her limbs entirely numb.
Lu Hexu lay on his side against her, kissing her eyelashes through the fabric.
Su Zhenzhen no longer had the strength to resist. She lay there, feeling Lu Hexu's lips trail downwards from her lashes.
In a daze, Su Zhenzhen met Lu Hexu's eyes through the clothing.
The green gauze cast a grayish veil over him. She saw a flickering darkness in his eyes, but with a blink, it vanished completely.
After cleaning up, the two sat under the eaves eating cucumbers.
The rain wasn't heavy. Occasionally, a misty drizzle would drift in, carrying a damp heat.
Su Zhenzhen brought over two round stools. They sat inside the room so the rain wouldn't reach them.
A bamboo-framed lantern was placed in front of the room. Its light spilled in a hazy glow, the candle flame flickering gently. A warm yellow mist of light slowly diffused, illuminating the fine curtain of rain.
The jar of honey Su Zhenzhen had hidden away last time was right there in her medicine cabinet.
She took the honey out and poured a little into an empty teacup.
Sure enough, the man immediately dipped his cucumber into it.
Is it good?
Mhm.
The man licked his lips, the corners of his mouth glistening with a thin layer of honey.
Su Zhenzhen nibbled on the plain cucumber in her hand, watching Lu Hexu take a bite, dip it, and finally finish the whole thing.
Cucumbers were crisp to the bite, but eating too much left an astringent taste on the tongue.
Su Zhenzhen looked at the teacup with a little honey left at the bottom. After a thought, she dipped her cucumber in it too.
As the honey-flavored cucumber entered her mouth, the refreshing crispness of the vegetable mixed with the smooth sweetness of the honey. It felt cool going down her throat, very similar to the taste of tomatoes dipped in white sugar.
White sugar neutralized the sourness of tomatoes, and honey neutralized the astringency of cucumbers.
It was actually really good!
Su Zhenzhen finished the remaining bit of honey, just as the rain outside finally stopped.
I'll go out and buy you something to eat.
Su Zhenzhen stood up and took two steps, but the man followed right behind her.
You want to go too?
Lu Hexu nodded.
Actually, to Su Zhenzhen, Lu Hexu was always very obedient when his sleepwalking syndrome flared up. However, the original novel mentioned that His Majesty was prone to killing during these episodes.
Su Zhenzhen didn't dare take the risk.
It's not a good idea for you to go out right now. Su Zhenzhen walked over and reached out to cup Lu Hexu's face. Be good, wait for me at home.
Lu Hexu lowered his head, meeting the woman's eyes, and nodded involuntarily.
Su Zhenzhen smiled, kissed his cheek, then turned and left the house carrying a food container.
The air carried the damp scent of rainwater. Su Zhenzhen had never liked the rain, but today she was in a very good mood.
Aside from her legs still being a bit weak, that is.
Doctor Su, heading out so late?
The night watchman uncle saw her and greeted her warmly. That method you taught me last time, I used it on my son. Oh my, it really worked! His asthma is so much better now. Thank you, Doctor Su.
You're very welcome, Uncle. Su Zhenzhen responded with a smile.
Ah, where are you off to, Doctor Su?
A faint, barely visible blush appeared on Su Zhenzhen's face. I'm going to buy some late-night snacks for my husband.
Oh my, he really came back? That's wonderful, truly wonderful news! Doctor Su, after all these years, he's finally returned safely. Safe and sound is what matters. For us folks, as long as we're alive, there's always hope. Wouldn't you agree?
Su Zhenzhen nodded in deep agreement.
She had originally thought she couldn't go on living, but then she met Mu Dan.
Yes, indeed.
The uncle walked away smiling, striking the brass gong in his hand, three fast beats, three slow ones. Third watch of the night, all is peaceful and well!
As the courtyard door closed, the smile on Lu Hexu's face slowly faded. His gaze landed on the wing room on the west side of the courtyard.
Little Persimmon hadn't slept at all. He hid behind the window, watching.
His window was also covered with a thin layer of gauze, which Su Zhenzhen said was to keep mosquitoes and bugs out.
This gauze was supposed to be opaque, but for some reason, Little Persimmon felt that this man could see right through it to where he was hiding.
He remembered that arrow the man had shot; the hole it made was still there.
Su Zhenzhen definitely didn't know this man's true colors.
Little Persimmon raised his hand and gripped the window in front of him. He took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and walked out.
Su Zhenzhen had said this man came to her for medical treatment.
Yet, they seemed intimately involved.
This man also looked full of vigor and vitality. To shoot an arrow from such a distance and have it pierce so deeply, he didn't look sick in the slightest.
Dressed in a red robe, Lu Hexu sat on a round stool inside the room. He tilted his head, looking at Little Persimmon standing far away.
The youth faced him directly. He hadn't fully grown into his features yet; his face was thin and handsome, though pale. His eyes were steeped in a layer of youthful panic and unease, which he stubbornly tried to suppress.
Lu Hexu sat there, his expression shifting in an instant.
The tender affection he had shown Su Zhenzhen earlier was now replaced by gloomy hostility.
He stared at Little Persimmon expressionlessly.
Little Persimmon gritted his teeth and stepped fully out of the room.
With one hand behind his back, he tightly gripped a dagger.
Little Persimmon approached Lu Hexu.
It was no longer raining.
The courtyard ground was wet from the rain, turning a deep, dark hue.
A lantern hung in the courtyard, and another inside the room. The light wasn't very bright, casting a pale glow over the man, which only accentuated the ferocious aura radiating from him.
This man is dangerous.
The thought flashed through Little Persimmon's mind.
He gripped the dagger even tighter, so hard that his fingertips turned white.
Lu Hexu looked at the youth, who had stopped two meters away and refused to come any closer. Frowning with impatience, he commanded, Come here.
Little Persimmon's gaze fell upon the fragrant sachet hanging under the eaves.
He couldn't drag Su Zhenzhen down.
Instinctively gritting his teeth, he stepped forward.
He climbed the stone steps, walked under the eaves, and crossed the threshold into the main room.
Little Persimmon stood before Lu Hexu, his face pale.
Lu Hexu stood up.
Little Persimmon subconsciously took a step back. Then, as if remembering something, he gritted his teeth and violently raised his hand, slashing the dagger toward the man's neck.
Lu Hexu didn't even bat an eyelid. He directly grabbed the youth's wrist, his grip so powerful it nearly crushed the boy's wrist bones.
Little Persimmon opened his mouth but couldn't make a sound.
Unable to hold onto the dagger, it fell to the floor with a crisp clatter.
Lu Hexu's other hand directly gripped his neck.
The youth was thin and not tall, and was lifted up by Lu Hexu's grip on his neck.
Little Persimmon's feet left the ground, and his face turned red from holding his breath.
He really was faking it.
Su Zhenzhen was fooled by him.
"Who are you?"
Lu Hexu's voice was cold.
Little Persimmon held his breath and raised his foot to kick him.
Lu Hexu suddenly tightened his grip.
The youth didn't even have the strength to struggle. His eyes rolled up, and just as he was about to lose his breath, Lu Hexu let go.
Lu Mingqian fell to the ground, panting heavily. The pinch marks on his neck were obvious, and his neck quickly swelled. The air drawn into his lungs carried a bloody smell.
He covered his burning neck, bent over and coughed, spitting out a mouthful of bloody saliva.
Lu Hexu turned sideways in disgust, hooked the round stool with his foot and sat down next to him.
"The Prince of Su, actually so weak and useless."
Lu Mingqian, who was kneeling on the ground, suddenly widened his eyes.
He wasn't sure before, but now that he thought about it, this man should be the one sent by that person to kill him.
The youth glared at Lu Hexu with red eyes.
Lu Hexu's gaze fell on the courtyard gate not far ahead.
He heard footsteps coming from outside.
Her footsteps were very light when she walked, falling lightly and then lifting up.
Lu Hexu's mood became happy again, but his gaze did not fall on Lu Mingqian, but kept looking at the courtyard gate that had not yet been opened.
"If we talk about seniority, you should call me cousin." Lu Hexu kicked away Lu Mingqian who tried to pounce on him.
Lu Mingqian fell heavily to the ground. He subconsciously looked up, and his eyes looking at Lu Hexu carried a trace of disbelief.
With a creak, the courtyard gate was opened.
"Go back." Lu Hexu threatened in a low voice.
Lu Mingqian quickly got up and went to his room with his head down.
His mind was confused, and he didn't even hear Su Zhenzhen calling him.
"Not eating a midnight snack?"
Don't eat if you don't want to.
What kind of figure are you keeping at such a young age.
Su Zhenzhen closed the courtyard door, carried the food box and walked to Lu Hexu.
"Were you chatting just now?"
"Yeah."
Su Zhenzhen leaned over to look at Lu Hexu who was sitting here waiting for her, and the empty place in her heart was filled.
"Is our baby good?"
Su Zhenzhen stretched out her hand to touch Lu Hexu's face.
[So good, so good.]
Lu Hexu looked up at her, his cheek rubbing against her palm, his voice slightly hoarse, "Good."
"I bought braised pork, pastoral stir-fry, crucian carp soup, and a bowl of rice."
The rain had just stopped, and not many stalls outside had been set up. Su Zhenzhen went to a nearby small restaurant to buy two dishes and a soup for Lu Hexu.
The rain had stopped.
Su Zhenzhen brought over a bamboo table, which was very light and durable.
"Sit on the small stool."
The bamboo table was not high, and Su Zhenzhen brought over two small stools.
She opened the food box, took out the chopsticks and handed them to Lu Hexu.
"Taste it, their braised pork is a must."
On the porcelain white plate, the meat was square and square. The top was cut into a nine-square grid with a kitchen knife. A piece of meat the size of a fist was divided into nine pieces.
The meat wrapped in thick sauce was bright red like amber, slightly shiny with oil, but not greasy.
Pigs in ancient times were all local pigs raised by themselves, without that strange smell.
When Su Zhenzhen bought this braised pork for the first time, Little Persimmon tasted it and was shocked, saying that the braised pork was actually sweet!
At that time, Little Persimmon had just been rescued by her. His body had not fully recovered and he couldn't eat too much meat. He either ate porridge every day, or occasionally ate a bowl of small wontons.
Of course, this also had something to do with Su Zhenzhen's financial constraints.
Although her pharmacy had been open for several years, she hadn't paid off her debts yet. The money to open the pharmacy was sponsored by Liaochen.
It wasn't until Su Zhenzhen's pharmacy began to make a profit and business gradually improved that she paid off the debt owed to Liaochen, and finally took Little Persimmon to be extravagant.
Unexpectedly, this kid pointed fingers at such famous braised pork.
Eat it or not.
Lu Hexu took the chopsticks from Su Zhenzhen's hand, picked up a piece of braised pork and put it into his mouth.
"How is it?"
"Yeah."
The man lowered his eyes and ate another piece.
It seemed he really liked it.
Su Zhenzhen was greedy. She leaned forward and tilted her head to look at him.
[Feed me a bite.]
[Feed me a bite.]
The braised pork that Lu Hexu brought to his mouth took a turn and stuck to Su Zhenzhen's lips.
The woman's lips had been kissed swollen just now, and now they felt a little prickly and painful at the slightest touch.
She carefully opened her mouth and ate a piece of braised pork in one bite.
Delicious!
The fat and thin were perfectly balanced. The fat part was stewed translucent and soft, melting on the tip of the tongue with a light sip. The lean part absorbed enough sauce, firm but not dry.
A bowl of braised pork, Su Zhenzhen and Lu Hexu finished it one bite at a time.
Because she was familiar with the boss, the boss specially gave Su Zhenzhen a cup of dessert.
It was sweet fermented rice dumplings. When opened, there were still ice dregs inside.
The white and round glutinous rice dumplings floated in the clear fermented rice juice, wrapped in a faint scent of rice and wine. Some dried osmanthus was sprinkled on top, looking soft like suet jade.
"The boss said that these dumplings are kneaded by themselves, without any mixed powder. The wine inside doesn't have much degree, so eating this won't make you drunk."
But what did the boss mean by the wind outside having degrees?
Su Zhenzhen scooped one for Lu Hexu, and then tasted one herself.
The dumplings absorbed enough fermented rice soup. A bite revealed the soft and chewy outer skin, and the empty and soft inner part that didn't stick to the teeth. The sweet juice mixed with a faint wine aroma melted in the mouth, warm but not hot, sliding down the throat, even soaking the bottom of the heart with a bit of warm sweetness.
The two of them shared and finished this cup of sweet fermented rice dumplings.
As for the remaining dishes, the man seemed to have much less interest, but he still held his rice bowl and continued to eat.
It was getting late, and Su Zhenzhen's body was prone to indigestion.
She walked back and forth in the courtyard to digest.
The summer breeze blew by, and Su Zhenzhen felt her head spinning a little.
Ah, what's going on.
Why does this wind seem to really have degrees?
Sushan sprang out from nowhere.
Because there was water on the ground in the courtyard, this clean freak cat didn't walk into the courtyard, but walked around under the corridor.
Su Zhenzhen reached out to hug it, but was fooled by its fake move. Of course, this also had something to do with the fact that she seemed to be drunk, her figure was unsteady, and her movements slowed down.
Sushan fled from Su Zhenzhen with its tail up, and then darted to Lu Hexu's feet.
Lu Hexu was drinking crucian carp soup.
Probably afraid that customers wouldn't know how to eat bony crucian carp.
This shop packed the crucian carp and crucian carp soup separately.
A bowl of soup, a crucian carp.
"Meow..." Sushan pawed at the man.
Su Zhenzhen guessed that Sushan didn't know where it was sleeping just now, and then smelled the crucian carp, and came over in a flash.
"I'll go get it a bowl."
Su Zhenzhen went to the small kitchen to get a bowl for Sushan, and splashed a little mountain spring water on her face by the way, feeling that the burning heat on her cheeks was much better.
When she came out, she saw that Sushan had jumped onto the man at some point.
Lu Hexu frowned slightly, raising the bowl and chopsticks in his hands high to protect his food.
Sushan stood up on his knees, continuing to paw at him, and had even swatted his face a few times with its claws.
When two cats fight, one is bound to get hurt.
Su Zhenzhen took Sushan's bowl and set it down, and sure enough, she saw the scratch marks Sushan had accidentally left on Lu Hexu's cheek.
"You got a little scratch. I haven't trimmed its nails lately, does it hurt?"
Su Zhenzhen carefully examined the wound under Lu Hexu's eye.
The man stared intently at her. "It hurts."
Su Zhenzhen fetched some soapy water to disinfect it for him.
"All done."
The wound was barely visible anyway.
Su Zhenzhen realized that Lu Hexu was getting better and better at acting spoiled.
Of course, this was strictly limited to his wandering spirit version.
Su Zhenzhen suddenly felt a bit melancholy.
She was somewhat reluctant to part with this wandering spirit version of Lu Hexu.
"If you stay like this forever..."
No, no, no.
That would be too selfish.
But why did she always have this feeling of wanting to keep Lu Hexu all to herself?
When she couldn't see him, she missed him.
When she saw him, she didn't want him to leave.
She even developed this terrifying thought that if Lu Hexu stayed like this for the rest of his life, he could stay with her forever.
Looking at the bamboo slip in her hand, Su Zhenzhen switched to using her fingertip, dipped it in the ointment, and gently applied it under the man's eye.
As the cool ointment was rubbed in, Su Zhenzhen let out a yawn.
As she rubbed, her eyelids began to droop.
Lu Hexu supported her cheek with one hand.
It was so hot.
There was also a heavy scent of wine.
Su Zhenzhen couldn't hold on any longer; she opened her eyes, then closed them again.
Lu Hexu stood up and carried her into the room.
Lying on the bed, Su Zhenzhen felt as if the person beside her was about to leave.
She reached out and grabbed him. "Don't go."
"Mudan."
Lu Hexu stood there quietly, looking down at Su Zhenzhen lying on the bed.
He reached out, his fingertips caressing the woman's soft cheek, then slowly moved down to massage her neck.
"Do you want Mudan?"
Su Zhenzhen opened her mouth, but was too sleepy to speak.
"Do you like Mudan?" The man leaned over and pressed down slightly, his tied-up long hair gently brushing across the woman's cheek, bringing a slight, cool dampness.
Su Zhenzhen's lips moved slightly.
It was inaudible.
But Lu Hexu could hear her say it.
[I like him.]
The man's eyes flickered.
"Then do you like... Lu Hexu?"
Su Zhenzhen's lips moved again.
Lu Hexu couldn't hear clearly what she was saying, so he pressed his fingertips against the woman's lips.
[I don't like him...]
The man's body stiffened slightly.
He maintained his kneeling posture by the bed.
Slowly, he withdrew his hand.
I don't like him... Lu Hexu is too fierce.
I like him when he is well-behaved.
Su Zhenzhen was very sleepy; she was about to fall asleep.
A hand suddenly pinched her cheek.
The woman's soft cheek flesh was pressed by Lu Hexu's fingertips, and when he let go, a faint red mark could be seen.
Lu Hexu's eyes were assimilated by the darkness in the room, and he heard his own uncontrollable panting.
His heart felt as if it were being squeezed hard by a hand; a dull pain blocked his chest, making it hard to breathe, as the surging emotions in his eyes were forcibly suppressed.
"Then who do you like?"
He asked calmly.
Only his irregular breathing revealed the man's current lack of calm.
Su Zhenzhen was already asleep, but was disturbed and woken up.
"Is it that Little Persimmon?"
Su Zhenzhen was woken up. She suddenly frowned, reached out her hand, and murmured in a low voice, "Mudan... Mudan..."
Lu Hexu's expression paused. His hand supported the back of her neck, and he pulled her into his embrace.
Little Persimmon: Barely survived
