Chapter 111◇

◎The Finale Part 1◎

Duan Yutang, who had been hastily engaged, was extremely unwilling and angrily said to Old Master Duan and Consort Wang, "Didn't you say that marriage is a matter for a daughter to decide for herself? Why is Father stopping me?"

Aunt Wang repeatedly winked at Duan Yutang, then hurriedly apologized to the old Marquis Duan, "Your Highness, Yutang is still young and doesn't know the limits of things. Let me give her a good talking to."

Lord Duan said in a deep voice, "No need. You can say whatever you're unhappy about here."

Duan Yutang was taken aback by such a direct question.

To be honest, apart from the marriage itself, she had no complaints, but this marriage...

"Why is Father preventing me from marrying His Highness the Crown Prince? Is it not even permissible for someone of my status to be a concubine?"

Instead of answering, Lord Duan asked, "Tell me the truth, are you truly attracted to the Crown Prince's character and appearance, or his status and power?"

Duan Yutang's face stiffened, but she stubbornly said, "His Highness the Crown Prince already possesses these, why look at them separately?"

"What if the Crown Prince isn't the Crown Prince? Would you still insist on becoming a concubine?"

"Father, what does this mean?" Duan Yutang's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that the Emperor had other ideas about the position of Crown Prince?

Lord Duan simply shook his head. There were some things that even if he knew them, he couldn't do, especially since the person in front of him was clearly not thinking straight.

He could only say indirectly, "The examples are right in front of us: one is your second sister-in-law, and the other is your second sister-in-law's younger sister. Don't you see their lives clearly enough?"

Duan Yutang was well aware of this. "Father knows that my second sister-in-law is happy, but can I find another second brother?"

Rather than marrying into a poor family like Duan Yuxia, suffering hardship and having to use her dowry to support that large family, she would rather marry into royalty and live a life of comfort and dignity without worrying about food or clothing.

Old Master Duan was speechless after being rebuked by Duan Yutang. He was too embarrassed to say anything more hurtful, so he could only pant heavily to the side.

Aunt Wang wasn't so concerned. For her daughter's sake, she was willing to put aside her pride. "Yutang, can you call me 'Mother' in this lifetime? Do you think this aunt has had an easy and carefree life? Can you guarantee that the husband you married in pursuit of wealth and status will be more impartial than your father? Or do you hope he will be a man who favors his concubine over his wife and has no sense of propriety?"

In order to shatter Duan Yutang's beautiful dream, Aunt Wang tore off the mask she had carefully cultivated for so many years, speaking without any mercy and not caring at all that Old Marquis Duan was still standing by.

Duan Yutang opened her mouth, but couldn't utter the word "mother" from her throat.

With a thud, she knelt down, her eyes wide with tears streaming down her face. She choked out, "Father, Aunt, I was wrong. From now on, I will leave my marriage to you."

She couldn't answer any of the questions her aunt had just asked. She couldn't imagine her future children not being able to call her "mother." Even more unimaginable was the thought of having to respect her legal wife as much as she respected her mother-in-law, maintaining a consistent routine every morning and evening.

She had indeed dreamed of being favored and overshadowing the principal wife, but after what Aunt Wang said, her dream was shattered, and the bloody reality was laid bare before her.

If a concubine is favored over the wife, then the crown prince will certainly not be the crown prince, and what can she rely on?

Aunt Wang couldn't help but hug Duan Yutang and cry, "Don't worry, I will definitely find you a good one and won't let you suffer any grievances."

All the prominent families in the capital knew that Duan Yutang had once wanted to marry into the Crown Prince's household. Which family would dare to marry her now? Since things had come to this, Duan Yutang had no choice but to marry far away, and Aunt Wang was extremely reluctant to let her go.

Duan Yutang understood that this was the result of her own actions. She had gone to great lengths to attract the Crown Prince's attention, and he would surely accept her because of her status.

But she forgot that if this marriage didn't go through, her reputation would be completely ruined.

Seeing the mother and daughter weeping bitterly, Old Marquis Duan's heart softened, and he tried to soften his tone, "Yutang, I will give you two choices. One is to marry far away, as your aunt has arranged."

Duan Yutang couldn't help but reveal an expectant look, waiting for the second option.

Lord Duan gazed into Duan Yutang's eyes and said firmly, "Secondly, the Dingbei Marquis's mansion isn't incapable of supporting a young lady. You can wait."

What are we waiting for? How long? Lord Duan didn't say.

Duan Yutang understood that even if she had to wait a lifetime, the Dingbei Marquis's mansion could be her support.

But what good will waiting do? You have to take responsibility for your own mistakes.

"Father, Aunt, I choose to marry far away."

After dinner, Feng Ran pulled Duan Jingchuan back to their room early.

Duan Jingchuan thought Feng Ran wanted to hear gossip again, so he took out a prepared document and planned to help Feng Ran lie down first, and then start reading a bedtime story.

Feng Ran, however, took Duan Jingchuan's hand and sat him on the bed.

Duan Jingchuan frowned. "What's wrong? Are your legs sore? Let me massage them for you."

Feng Ran grabbed Duan Jingchuan's hand. "My legs aren't sore, I'm sore all over, I want a kiss."

After saying that, she started counting on her fingers, "They say that when a wife is pregnant, her husband is more likely to stray. Have you taken a fancy to some Zhang San, Li Si, or Wang Ermazi? You used to be as fierce as a wolf, but now you're as bland as plain porridge and cabbage."

Duan Jingchuan couldn't help but chuckle. "Could it be that Madam didn't want to even look at me a few days ago because she thought my appearance was unsightly?"

Feng Ran was being unreasonable. "I said I wouldn't look, so why didn't you come over yourself?"

His breath suddenly drew close, forcing Feng Ran to lean back slightly. Duan Jingchuan curled the corners of his mouth and said, "Madam's aggressive manner makes me seem like someone who relies on her looks."

With such beauty before her, Feng Ran had been craving it for days and couldn't resist taking a bite. Satisfied, she said, "Otherwise, why would I bother with you every day if you weren't beautiful?"

Duan Jingchuan's face darkened. "Is it just because she's beautiful?"

Feng Ran shifted her waist uncomfortably and said in a coquettish voice, "Hold me up a bit, and I'll continue arguing with you."

Duan Jingchuan chuckled, then helped Feng Ran sit up and lean her against his shoulder. He gently touched her belly and said with a smile, "Are you trying to give our child a prenatal lesson in arguing? Or an unreasonable one at that?"

Feng Ran retorted seriously, "I'm proving to the children that their parents love each other."

Aren't you tired?

"Not tired."

"Then let our children experience the love between their parents up close."

A pregnant woman, driven by a craving, finally got to enjoy the grand feast she had been longing for tonight. She felt so comfortable that every pore on her body opened up. After eating and drinking her fill, she fell into a deep sleep, much to the dismay of the person who had fed her.

Duan Jingchuan and his little brother, exposed to the air in despair, could not calm down for a long time.

Duan Jingchuan couldn't stay cooped up in the mansion with Feng Ran all the time; he still needed to go out and do some practical work from time to time.

He has found a nanny to take care of Feng Ran, so he can leave the mansion with peace of mind.

As for Feng Ran? She was indeed very clingy to Duan Jingchuan a few days ago, but these past few days she seems to have suddenly entered a period of aversion. Even if they don't see each other for a whole day, she won't bring it up on her own initiative.

Dr. Li also comforted Duan Jingchuan, saying that Feng Ran's current condition was considered good among pregnant women; she was in excellent health and the baby's position was quite good. It was just that her personality was a bit strange, but that was a minor matter.

Chunyu Zhu and Zhao Yue hadn't seen Duan Jingchuan for some time, and they were shocked to see him. "Jingchuan, why do you look so haggard? Did something happen at your residence?"

Duan Jingchuan shook his head. "It's nothing. Do I really look that different from usual?"

It's no wonder Duan Jingchuan is concerned about his appearance; these past few days, Feng Ran has been arranging to see beautiful people, dragging the two newlywed brides to play cards every day, without even glancing at him, saying that his looks are inferior to his two younger siblings.

Although he didn't care about appearances, he still felt a little uncomfortable after hearing it so many times.

Chunyu Zhu and Zhao Yue looked at Duan Jingchuan incredulously, as if they had heard some earth-shattering joke. "Didn't you used to hate it when people looked at your face?"

Zhao Yue's brow twitched, and he guessed, "Could it be that your sister-in-law has rejected you?"

Duan Jingchuan gazed silently at Zhao Yue with his dark eyes.

Zhao Yue leaned back tactically, as if he could feel an invisible knife in the air, and begged for mercy: "Why don't you drink some donkey-hide gelatin soup to replenish your blood and energy?"

Seeing that the painting style was not good, Chunyu Zhu quickly brought up the serious matter, "Jingchuan, do we still need to prepare more cotton-padded clothes for disaster relief this winter?"

Duan Jingchuan lifted his eyelids. "Why would I throw money away for nothing?"

"How can we save lives without spending money?"

"It's only early summer now, and the produce is plentiful, so they certainly won't starve. At most, I can only point them in the right direction. If they can't even get through the winter on their own during spring, summer, and autumn, what's the point of saving them?"

Although he does good deeds, he is never a pushover; he only helps those who are self-reliant.

"So what you mean is?"

"It's very simple: only help those affected by natural disasters, not those affected by man-made disasters. In all places that have suffered from natural disasters, we should find ways to help them make a living and let them earn a living through their own labor. Unless they are the elderly, weak, sick, disabled, or young and we are truly unable to help them, we should never give them food for free."

“That’s how it should be.” Chunyu Zhu did not object to Duan Jingchuan’s idea.

Even if they are good at making money, they can't support millions of people. Those who help themselves will be helped by others. There's no reason for them to work hard to support a bunch of ungrateful wretches.

"I was worried about you, that you were putting on a show for your reputation, but it seems I was overthinking it."

They all knew that Duan Jingchuan had donated most of his wealth in exchange for a title, but they didn't understand it at all.

Everyone understands the importance of keeping one's wealth private, especially given the sensitive status of the Marquis of Dingbei's family. Showing off one's wealth in public is hardly a good thing. Now that he has his own plans, he feels at ease.

Duan Jingchuan also cleverly used Feng Ran's honesty, saying, "You're wrong. I didn't think that much. I just had to be a little stingy because I need to save money for the children."

The two were speechless, and said dryly, "You don't need to tell us what's on your mind."

Duan Jingchuan scoffed at their wishful thinking and instead asked, "What's going on with the Crown Prince's residence?"

When this topic came up, Chunyu Zhu's expression turned strange. "According to reliable spies, the Crown Prince is said to be fond of women, and his health has been deteriorating these days. The news is being kept tightly under wraps, for fear that the Emperor will find out."

Duan Jingchuan lowered his voice, "Could it be that an outsider has tampered with it?"

Chunyu Zhu shook his head. "Impossible. News about the Crown Prince's residence is easy to obtain, but the Crown Prince's trusted confidants are not easy to bribe. He has been able to hold the position of Crown Prince for many years, so he is naturally not to be underestimated. How could he fall for a trap so easily?"

Duan Jingchuan nodded slightly, gave the two of them a meaningful look, and said nothing more.

"Hey, Jingchuan. What's wrong with the back of your neck?" Zhao Yue had sharp eyes. As Duan Jingchuan turned his head, the dark hair at the back of his neck swayed slightly, and he noticed something unusual. He curiously leaned closer.

Duan Jingchuan was startled and his mind raced, trying to recall if Feng Ran had left any marks on his neck last night. He couldn't find any relevant information, so he breathed a sigh of relief, thinking it was just a mosquito bite, and generously let the two of them see.

Chunyu Zhu had only come over hoping to find some unspeakable joke about Duan Jingchuan, but when he lifted the cover, he and Zhao Yue looked at each other in bewilderment.

Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he burst into laughter, completely abandoning any semblance of a refined gentleman.

Zhao Yue laughed so hard that tears streamed down his face. Between laughs, he teased her intermittently, "You've messed with your sister-in-law. This is unbearable, hahahaha."

At the junction of black and white on the neck, someone used ink to draw a large, menacing black mouth, its gaping maw revealing tiny teeth adorned with vermilion, and between those teeth was a small figure kneeling and begging for mercy.

With just a few strokes, the painting is incredibly lifelike. One has to say, the artist's skill is truly extraordinary.

This is absolutely not a compliment to Feng Ran's painting skills, but rather an absurdity that carries a certain charm, leaving both those who can paint and those who can't speechless.

The bronze mirror didn't reflect the image clearly, and no matter how hard Duan Jingchuan tried, he couldn't look at the back of his neck.

Chunyu Zhu immediately became interested and took out his brush and ink. "Wait a moment, let me make a copy."

Chunyu Zhu was extremely skilled at painting, but he could not replicate the object that Feng Ran had transformed into. He could only depict one or two of its shapes with smooth strokes, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter while painting.

After a few strokes, she added color and then slapped it in front of Duan Jingchuan. "That's the look and color scheme. Jingchuan, your sister-in-law is truly a genius! Hahahaha!"

Duan Jingchuan looked at the painting before him, unable to express his emotions. He finally understood why Feng Ran had looked left and right but not at him in the morning – she was afraid that she wouldn't be able to hide the bad things she had done.

With a blank expression, he straightened his jet-black hair, concealing his neck within it, took Chunyu Zhu's painting, and turned to leave.

Zhao Yue quickly said, "How about I get a handkerchief to wipe it off for you?"

Duan Jingchuan parted his thin lips slightly, his voice cool, "No need."

Watching Duan Jingchuan's retreating figure, Zhao Yue said softly, "Jingchuan, won't we get into a fight when we get back?"

"Arguing? Was it your sister-in-law who was unilaterally scolding Jingchuan for being too stupid, taking all day to notice the gift she gave him?"

Well, Duan Jingchuan is like a clay figure in front of Feng Ran; arguing is probably something he'll never be able to do in this lifetime.

"I heard you're getting your sister married," Zhao Yue said, trying to amuse Chunyu Zhu again.

Chunyu Zhu's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth, saying, "If anyone's going to marry, it should be someone else marrying my sister."

"Don't you really care that he's a commoner with no family background?"

Chunyu Zhu gave a sarcastic smile, "Is it that the Zhao family's background isn't strong enough, or that the Chunyu family isn't a good match? Do you want this kind of evenly matched power?"

To be honest, ever since Chunyu Zhu had the idea of ​​finding a husband for his sister, he became more and more delighted. Since the sons of powerful and wealthy families in the capital all looked down on his sister for having no family to rely on, why couldn't he find her a well-behaved and obedient husband?

Thinking about it this way, he found Shi Fusheng more agreeable. After all, apart from his family background, there was really nothing to criticize about Shi Fusheng.

It's okay if she lives off a woman; he can support her, as long as she's obedient, sensible, and listens to her sister.

Zhao Yue wasn't annoyed by Chunyu Zhu's retort. Instead, he pondered, "I wonder if my sister-in-law knows any other girls. Could you perhaps help me settle my marriage?"

Chunyu Zhu said leisurely, "Shi Fusheng's personality is quite similar to the younger brother and sister-in-law you mentioned. Are you sure you are Jingchuan?"

No, he is not, he cannot, he is not worthy.

Zhao Yue immediately shivered; he was not worthy of Feng Ran's personality.

"Which way are you going?" Looking at the bustling capital, Chunyu Zhu was at a loss as to which direction to go.

"What do you mean, which direction to go?" Zhao Yue pretended to be clueless.

Looking into Chunyu Zhu's calm eyes, he scratched his head and said, "Do we really have to leave? Is it really that dangerous?"

"If it weren't necessary, do you think Jingchuan would be willing to come out and deliberately see the two of us at this critical juncture?" Chunyu Zhu didn't want to leave either. If he left, there would only be his younger sister at home, and Shi Fusheng was eyeing her covetously. Just thinking about it made him angry.

Zhao Yue dropped his usual playful grin, rubbed his temples, and said, "Forget it, a nobody like me should probably go out and hide for a while! With the change of imperial power, I don't want to be an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire."

The two of them were indeed correct; Duan Jingchuan genuinely wanted his two friends to go out and lay low for a while.

The Crown Prince appears to be merely lacking in spirit, but if that were truly the case, his father would not have issued a warning but would have revealed that the matter was related to the Crown Prince's concubine.

If that's truly the case, then the Prime Minister's residence will certainly be in turmoil. As a married woman, Feng Ran will naturally not be implicated by the Prime Minister's residence, but she mustn't forget that the Fifth Prince is the Crown Prince's rival, and the Fifth Prince also has countless connections with Feng Ran.

If the emperor were to fly into a rage, they could be turned into floating corpses if they were not careful. The people in their household should be able to be kept safe, but it would be hard to say about Chunyu Zhu and Zhao Yue, who were their followers. They could only let them go out and avoid the storm, and it would not be too late for them to come back after the dust had settled.

However, none of these things are as important as that little thing behind my neck now.

Duan Jingchuan held Chunyu Zhu's casually drawn painting in one hand and touched the back of his neck with the other, a hint of wickedness emanating from the corner of his mouth.

Feng Ran, who was playing cards at home, suddenly shivered. Duan Yuze's wife, Madam Wang, quickly asked with concern, "Sister-in-law, are you cold? Would you like to put on another layer?"

Duan Yuche's newlywed wife, Zhou, also busied herself with offering her services, "Second sister-in-law, would you like to rest for a while?"

Duan Jingyin, who didn't need to prepare for marriage, was the most practical. She cut half a melon and handed it to Feng Ran, saying, "Second sister-in-law, have some sweets. Were the grapes you were eating sour?"

As soon as Duan Jingchuan stepped into Jinghua Courtyard, he saw a group of women fawning over Feng Ran, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

He couldn't step forward with one leg, nor could he back down.

It was clear that Feng Ran glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, then quickly shrank back and hid behind the women. He was furious and, disregarding all restraint, took a long stride and strode up to Feng Ran. Maintaining a friendly demeanor, he said to the others, "Thank you all for your trouble. I won't see you off today."

Upon seeing this scene, the group immediately gave Feng Ran a look that said "good luck," and then slipped away as fast as they could.

Feng Ran clutched her stomach in misery, praying that Duan Jingchuan would forget the absurd thing she had done last night in a fit of madness and fever.

Duan Jingchuan didn't say anything. He lifted his robe, sat down opposite Feng Ran, and nodded to her with his chin, "Madam, please sit down. Don't tire yourself out."

He meant to care about her, right? He did care about her! Why did she perceive a threat in his words?

Feng Ran sat back down guiltily, trying to place her hands obediently on her knees, but because of her belly, she could only cover her stomach with her hands on her belly. Her legs were together, just like a student attending a class for the first time.

Duan Jingchuan remained silent, slowly taking out a box of candied fruit from his pocket.

She had eaten this candied fruit before; it wasn't sweet at all, but rather extremely sour and astringent. Upon seeing it now, she reflexively swallowed hard, her eyes filled with a million kinds of resistance.

No matter how gentle the smile on Duan Jingchuan's lips was, she could not be swayed by his good looks.

But Duan Jingchuan seemed to be deliberately tormenting her. He picked up a candied fruit with his long fingers, put it in his mouth, tasted it gently, and then nodded repeatedly, "It's really good, very delicious. Madam, have one too!"

Feng Ran's eyes were filled with tears, purely due to a conditioned reflex of sourness. Duan Jingchuan had found vinegar exceptionally delicious a few days ago, which showed just how sour this candied fruit was.

In Feng Ran's eyes, Duan Jingchuan's handsome face had become that of a witch holding poison, offering it unquestionably to her lips, and using her gentle and unparalleled face to tell her it was honey, enticing her to swallow it with tears in her eyes.

The pale pink fingertips contrasted sharply with the purplish-red candied fruit, touching Feng Ran's cherry-red lips. However, her cherry-red lips were pursed until they turned white, and even the tip of her nose wrinkled slightly, as if she was resisting the taste of the candied fruit.

Feng Ran was almost in tears this time. She shouldn't have been naughty and shouldn't have scribbled all over Duan Jingchuan.

She clung pitifully to Duan Jingchuan's sleeve and shook him, "Husband, the child says he doesn't want to eat. He says he misses you. Can you hug him?"

Duan Jingchuan remained nonchalant, his upturned lips carrying a touch of childishness. He didn't falter and get up to coax Feng Ran despite her momentary act of pitifulness. Instead, he watched Feng Ran's clumsy performance with amusement, his dark eyes fixed on her.

Seeing that Feng Ran was becoming more and more pitiful, as if he would not give up until he softened his heart, he pretended to be aggrieved and inadvertently revealed the indescribable pattern on the back of his neck, as if he had suffered some terrible grievance outside today.

Without uttering a single word, he silenced Feng Ran, who had been arguing unjustly, and her guilt grew rapidly.

Not knowing how to coax her husband, Feng Ran looked at the sour candied fruit that Duan Jingchuan had been holding up, and with a death-defying spirit, she snatched it up in one bite. She didn't even dare to chew it twice and swallowed it whole.

Throughout the ordeal, she kept looking at Duan Jingchuan with pitiful eyes, as if to say, "I've already eaten the sour candied fruit, please forgive me!"

Duan Jingchuan chuckled, quickly went over, and gently patted Feng Ran's back. "Are you silly? What if you choke? How could I bear to feed you something sour?"

Ah, isn't it sour? Only now does Feng Ran dare to savor it properly.

It doesn't seem sour at all; instead, it has a subtle sweetness on the tip of your tongue, and if you smell it carefully, you can still smell the fragrance of jujubes in the air.

"Why isn't it sour?" Feng Ran asked innocently.

"I know you've never liked sour or astringent things." Duan Jingchuan ruffled Feng Ran's hair like he was petting a cat. It's true what they say, pregnancy makes you stupid for three years; she wasn't very bright to begin with, and now she's even more clueless.

Feng Ran suddenly became clever, her almond-shaped eyes widening as she accused, "Then why did you scare me?"

After feeding Feng Ran another candied fruit, Duan Jingchuan said, "When did I scare you? You're just feeling guilty."

She pouted her red lips, her bright eyes blinking and her gaze shifting, and whispered, "I've made you look bad."

She hadn't really thought that much about it when she was drawing. This morning, she got up to see how long it would take Duan Jingchuan to find out. In order not to give herself away, she didn't dare to look at him too much. It wasn't until Duan Jingchuan left the mansion that she came to her senses, but it was already too late.

She was filled with anxiety all day, fearing that Duan Jingchuan would be laughed at by others.

"Silly girl, who can laugh at me for the joys of our intimate moments?" Teasing his wife a little is good for her mental and physical health, and he couldn't bear to let her live with constant anxiety. With a little teasing, he began to reassure Feng Ran.

Feng Ran felt relieved and said softly, "They all said to respect my husband, but I've been having a bit of a temper lately. Could you please coax me a little more?"

She knew that she had been acting unreasonably lately, and if Duan Jingchuan hadn't been good-tempered, he would have lost his temper with her long ago.

But sometimes she really couldn't control herself. She would be depressed one moment and excited the next. She blamed it all on the baby in her belly. It must be his bad temper that affected her. Feng Ran irresponsibly pushed the blame onto the child who couldn't explain himself.

The usually vibrant Feng Ran, whether she was being adorably clumsy or throwing a tantrum, always captivated Duan Jingchuan. Today, she had become obediently seeking comfort, making him even more utterly soft-hearted.

He pulled Feng Ran close and kissed her cheek. "Your temper is excellent. If it is not, it is my fault. I like you just the way you are."

"If the child misbehaves, can I just leave him with his father to raise? Otherwise, what will you do with the two of us who are aging prematurely?"

Duan Jingchuan couldn't help but chuckle, "Our child is so pitiful, he hasn't even been born yet, and you've already imagined him as a wolf or a tiger."

"Oh, the child is something I imagined. So, do you mean I am a wolf or a tiger?" Feng Ran's comprehension was excellent.

Duan Jingchuan's lips twitched, and he decisively abandoned the child, explaining, "It must be that the child's personality is like his father's, so he is not very obedient, which has affected Madam."

"Oh, I really am being unreasonable, aren't I?" Feng Ran's comprehension improved once again.

Duan Jingchuan was speechless for a moment; his eloquence was not yet at the level to handle the lady with ease.

Sure enough, Feng Ran once again escalated the situation, saying, "See, you still value the child more. You were angry with me just now, but as soon as I mentioned the child, you immediately started to coax me."

He's innocent! He didn't do anything wrong!

Duan Jingchuan felt that even if he had two more mouths, he couldn't explain himself clearly. To prevent that little mouth from uttering anything he couldn't handle, he simply lowered his head and covered it up.

Enough, enough. I hope that Madam will spare him for the sake of his good looks.

The sweet, smooth scent lingered on their intertwined tongues, while Duan Jingchuan's hands pressed tightly against Feng Ran's lower back, supporting her waist. Feng Ran's unfinished words were all lost in this affectionate kiss.

Duan Jingchuan's kisses were always slow and deliberate, gradually encroaching and plundering, just like him. Like a frog being slowly boiled in water, she was completely unaware of being submerged in hot oil, letting him ignite her. Every sensitive spot was ruthlessly manipulated by him, causing her to lose her mind in an instant.

A note from the author:

A short journey of companionship in life, and as the voyage nears its end, we'll meet again in the next world.