A quiet night, a burning heart.
As the kiss ended, Pei Zhengnian pinned Shen Nanchu into the rocking chair.
"Was that not how you kiss?"
"Pfft!"
Shen Nanchu burst into laughter.
Did Pei Zhengnian really call that a kiss?
It was more like he was gnawing at her lips.
With a deft twist, Shen Nanchu flipped their positions, pressing him beneath her.
Leaning down, her silky dark hair cascaded over Pei Zhengnian’s face, carrying a faint, intoxicating fragrance.
"Little brother, let me teach you what a real kiss is."
Shen Nanchu captured his lips in hers…
Pei Zhengnian’s hands clenched abruptly, veins bulging.
In the next instant, his iron-like arms wrapped around her slender waist, pulling her flush against him.
Creak, creak—
The rocking chair groaned under their fervor.
"Ouch!"
"Shen Nanchu, why did you bite me?"
"Marking my territory."
"Then I’ll mark you too."
"You dare? I’ll tell Grandma."
……
The next morning,
just as dawn broke,
the door to Shen Nanchu’s room swung open.
Pei Zhengnian stepped out, bare-chested,
his neck and torso streaked with suspicious red marks.
In the courtyard, he hauled two buckets of cold water into the washroom.
A long while later, he finally emerged.
Cooled off at last.
Returning to the room, he grabbed his shirt—
only to catch sight of the woman sprawled on the bed, sleeping soundly.
The fire in him flared up again.
He spun around, yanked the shirt over his head, and bolted outside for a run.
The crisp morning breeze helped soothe his restless energy.
Just thinking about that little minx Shen Nanchu made his jaw clench.
Last night, she got exactly what she wanted.
Meanwhile, he was left hanging.
Pei Zhengnian had figured her out.
She was doing this on purpose—
teasing him, letting him pleasure her, then kicking him aside.
༽◺_◿༼
……
Jiang Shuyi had been crouching by the roadside since before four in the morning.
Ever since she heard Pei Zhengnian had returned yesterday, she’d been searching for a chance to see him.
But he hadn’t stepped out all day.
Knowing he had a habit of morning runs, she’d braved the predawn darkness, enduring mosquito bites while she waited.
By the time she was covered in itchy welts, a familiar, tall figure finally appeared in the hazy light.
Overcome with excitement, Jiang Shuyi scrambled to her feet—only to collapse when her numb legs gave out.
Thud!
She landed right in front of Pei Zhengnian.
He sidestepped her in alarm.
Recognizing Jiang Shuyi, he didn’t even pause, speeding up his pace instead.
By the time she struggled to her feet, he was already far ahead.
"Pei Zhengnian, wait for me!"
Her shout only made him run faster.
Left with no choice, Jiang Shuyi gritted her teeth and chased after him, her legs heavy.
But how could her short strides match his long ones?
Exhausted from the day’s labor, her legs soon felt like lead, refusing to move.
Slower and slower she ran…
Until Pei Zhengnian vanished from sight.
Unwilling to give up, Jiang Shuyi turned toward the Pei household.
She’d wait for him there.
Admittedly, she had some cunning.
After shaking her off, Pei Zhengnian took a detour.
Had Jiang Shuyi persisted, she might’ve gotten lost.
The female lead trying to steal the male lead from the hostess?
Not happening.
The male lead belongs to the hostess alone.
The system hurriedly connected with Shen Nanchu and spilled everything to her.
Shen Nanchu lay on the bed, utterly lifeless.
At this moment, her soul was awake, but her body still wanted to keep sleeping.
Damn it!
Is the male lead some kind of bear?
How could he be so... voracious?
Shen Nanchu finally understood why she had passed out from pain on her first night here.
With her teasing like that, there was no way a novice like him could hold back.
Ah, youth—so energetic, limitless stamina.
But with some proper training, he could be shaped into something decent.
Shen Nanchu sat up and stretched lazily.
Last night, she had marked Pei Zhengnian all over.
In life, he was hers. In death, even more so.
"How many seconds until the enemy arrives?"
"Reporting to the host, the enemy has already arrived."
Shen Nanchu fell silent. "And you didn’t warn me earlier?"
The system replied, "Host, no need to panic. The enemy arrived early, but the male lead hasn’t returned yet."
Shen Nanchu was satisfied.
The system added, "Pei Zhengnian will return in five minutes."
Shen Nanchu said, "Good. Wake me up in five minutes then."
With that, she flopped back onto the bed.
The system: "..."
"Host, shouldn’t you change into something more... battle-ready?"
"Isn’t this outfit enough to traumatize the female lead?"
The system went silent.
This outfit wouldn’t just traumatize—it could outright kill.
Last night’s "battle" had been... intense.
To be fair, it wasn’t entirely the system’s fault for thinking this way.
Shen Nanchu’s skin was delicate.
Last night, Pei Zhengnian had only kissed her a few times, yet it left behind dark bruises.
......
At the entrance of the Pei residence.
Pei Zhengnian frowned.
What was this Jiang Shuyi’s deal?
He’d deliberately avoided her, yet she still came to ambush him.
The moment Jiang Shuyi spotted Pei Zhengnian, she rushed forward, eyes brimming with tears, gazing at him with deep affection.
"Pei Zhengnian..."
If anyone saw this, they’d think there was something between them!
Pei Zhengnian hastily took several steps back.
"Comrade, you’re blocking my way home."
If Jiang Shuyi hadn’t been standing right in front of the gate, he wouldn’t have bothered speaking to her at all.
Jiang Shuyi’s affectionate gaze froze.
Staring at his familiar, youthful face, her heart ached with bitterness.
"You—"
Pei Zhengnian’s frown deepened as he took another step back.
He’d investigated Jiang Shuyi—she was the youngest daughter of the Jiang family in Shencheng.
He didn’t know what the Jiang family’s intentions were in sending their daughter to approach him and the Pei family.
But whatever their motives, Pei Zhengnian wouldn’t allow anyone to harm the Pei family under any pretext.
After giving Jiang Shuyi a cold glance, Pei Zhengnian planted one foot against the wall and vaulted over the gate, landing inside the estate.
Jiang Shuyi was left standing alone in the chilly wind.
"Pfft—"
Shen Nanchu couldn’t hold back her laughter.
Jiang Shuyi turned, and the sight of Shen Nanchu made her blood boil.
"Ah, my apologies for interrupting."
Shen Nanchu gestured politely.
"Please, carry on."
[Disgust Points +100]
"Shen Nanchu, you think this is funny, don’t you?"
Jiang Shuyi’s venomous glare locked onto her like a snake’s.
Then—
Her eyes caught the clusters of love bites on Shen Nanchu’s neck.
"You—you two last night—?!"
Shen Nanchu’s fair cheeks flushed pink, her beauty outshining even flowers.
(✿◡‿◡)
She rubbed her slender waist.
"Last night was... too intense. My waist really hurts."
"Ahhhhhhh——!"
Jiang Shuyi let out a piercing scream.
[Disgust Points +400]
[Disgust Points +740]
[Disgust Points +1000]
……
Total. Meltdown.
