Chapter 111 Why aren't you saying anything? Brother Zhaolin...

Lin Yan's "Brother Zhaolin" was soft and gentle, with a slight upward slant at the end, carrying a deliberate sweetness, like a feather gently tickling Xiao Che's heart.

Xiao Che froze completely.

He has been on the throne for several years, and apart from Lin Yan, no one else dares to overstep their bounds by calling him "brother" or even addressing him by his courtesy name "Zhaolin".

This sudden, affectionate address, imbued with Lin Yan's unique vibrancy, shattered his usual composure. An indescribable surge of heat rose from his heart and rushed to the top of his head, causing his ears to uncontrollably burn.

He instinctively tried to clench his fingers, but found that his palms were already damp with sweat.

“…Nonsense.” Xiao Che’s voice was much lower and hoarse than usual. He tried to maintain his crumbling imperial dignity, but his gaze involuntarily fell on Lin Yan’s lips, which were adorned with a sly smile. “Who gave you permission to address me like that?”

However, to Lin Yan, these words had no deterrent effect whatsoever; instead, they sounded more like a coy invitation.

Xiao Che's reaction was quite amusing.

Lin Yan had already intended to tease him, and seeing Xiao Che's ears turn red and his eyes gleam, his playful mood was aroused even more.

Instead of restraining himself, he intensified his actions, leaning forward until he was almost pressed against Xiao Che's chest. He tilted his head back, his clear eyes fixed on Xiao Che, and deliberately raised his voice, using an even more melodious and lingering tone to draw out his call: "Zhaolin—Brother—"

This sound was more affected and convoluted than the previous one, as if coated with honey, sickeningly sweet.

"Look, the jade pendant you gave me, I really like it." Lin Yan waved the mutton-fat jade pendant in his hand, his eyes still locked on Xiao Che, his tone innocent yet provocative, "What's wrong with me calling you brother? Don't you like it? Brother Zhaolin?"

With each additional "brother" he called out, Xiao Che's breathing became heavier, and his eyes deepened.

In those usually deep and unfathomable phoenix eyes, two dark flames seemed to suddenly ignite, tightly gripping the person before him who knew no bounds and kept provoking him.

Lin Yan clearly saw Xiao Che's Adam's apple bob violently. In those eyes staring at him, there was a familiar yet unfamiliar undercurrent—a warning, a restraint, and even more so, a possessiveness that almost wanted to devour him whole.

Normally, Lin Yan would have known when to quit while he was ahead, and might have backed down.

But today, whether it was his birthday that gave him confidence, or Xiao Che's unusual helplessness that pleased him, Lin Yan felt bolder than ever before.

He even reached out his fingertip and gently poked Xiao Che's tense chest, continuing to recklessly test the limits of danger: "Why aren't you saying anything? Brother Zhaolin? You really don't like me calling you that? Then I won't call you that anymore..."

Before he could finish speaking, the unruly wrist was suddenly grabbed by a large, hot hand.

The force was so great that Lin Yan gasped in surprise.

The next second, the world spun around.

Xiao Che pulled Lin Yan into his arms with force, and with his other hand he wrapped his arms around Lin Yan's waist like an iron hoop, fixing him firmly in front of him, not allowing him any chance to back down or cause trouble.

"Lin, Han, Zhang." Xiao Che practically gritted his teeth as he squeezed out these three words, his voice hoarse and carrying a dangerous undercurrent. "So, you've decided to provoke me today?"

With their bodies pressed close together, Lin Yan could clearly feel the rapid heartbeat emanating from Xiao Che's chest, as well as the body heat that almost scalded him through the thin fabric.

He belatedly realized that he seemed to have... gone too far.

"I...I didn't..." Lin Yan tried to explain, but her voice weakened due to the sudden confinement and the approaching pressure.

Xiao Che gave him no more chances to speak.

He lowered his head and sealed it with a kiss.

This kiss was different from the gentle probing of the past, and also different from the tender and deep lingering during passionate moments. It carried an undeniable sense of punishment, domineering, forceful, and even somewhat fierce, like a sudden storm, instantly swallowing up all of Lin Yan's exclamations, pleas for mercy, and even his breath.

"Mmm... Xiao..." Lin Yan was stunned by the sudden kiss, his hands and feet went weak, and he could only passively tilt his head back to endure the kiss that almost took away all his oxygen.

Xiao Che's arms were like iron clamps, holding him tightly in his embrace, while his other hand had somehow gripped the back of his neck, forcing him to endure even more.

His lips and tongue were forcefully pried open and plundered wantonly, with punishing bites and sucking that made Lin Yan's tongue go numb and caused tears of primal urges to well up uncontrollably in his eyes.

He felt his tongue was being sucked until it ached, as if his very soul was being snatched away by this fierce kiss.

That's way too much...

Lin Yan tried in vain to push against Xiao Che's chest, but was instead pulled into a tighter embrace, the two of them completely sealed together with no gap whatsoever.

After an unknown amount of time, just when Lin Yan felt she was about to suffocate and faint, Xiao Che finally stepped back a little.

Their foreheads touched, and their breathing became heavy and labored.

Lin Yan was panting heavily, her eyes were glazed, her lips were red and moist, glistening with an alluring sheen, and her cheeks were flushed beyond belief. She looked as if she had just been pulled out of the water, hanging limply on Xiao Che's body, only managing to stay upright thanks to his arm.

Looking at the person in his arms, who was dizzy from his kisses, with tears in her eyes, looking pitiful yet adorable, Xiao Che's inner fire not only did not die down, but burned even brighter.

He gently wiped away the tears that had seeped from the corner of Lin Yan's eyes with his thumb, his voice low and hoarse, carrying a lingering languor, a hint of anger, and a deeper possessiveness: "Will you still call me? Brother Zhaolin?"

Lin Yan dared not act recklessly at this moment.

He shook his head vigorously, his voice trembling with sobs and a thick nasal tone, pleading incoherently, "I won't scream anymore..."

If he keeps partying, he might have to crawl home today.

My tongue still feels numb, and my lips are swollen and painful. Every time I open my mouth, it triggers my sensitive nerves.

That bastard Xiao Che must be a dog.

Seeing that Lin Yan had finally calmed down, Xiao Che's restlessness caused by being teased too much subsided, replaced by an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

He lowered his head and gently pecked at her swollen lips a few more times, his movements much gentler and more soothing than his previous fierceness.

"good."

Lin Yan was so angry at his behavior of giving a stick and then a sweet treat that she buried her burning face in Xiao Che's neck, silently expressing her protest and shame.

Xiao Zhaolin, just you wait. You'll be begging me to call you Brother Zhaolin in the future.

Xiao Che held him like that, gently patting his back with his palm, as if he were soothing a cat with its fur standing on end.

The hall fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of their gradually calming breathing and the unspoken, ambiguous atmosphere between them.

It took Lin Yan a while to recover, and the shame and indignation belatedly surged to the top.

He abruptly broke free from Xiao Che's embrace. Although his legs were still a little weak, he couldn't lose face—pointing towards the palace gate, he growled in a low voice, his tone fierce but his voice weak: "Get out!"

Xiao Che raised an eyebrow, looking at him with a leisurely air, as if asking, "Are you sure?"

Lin Yan felt even more embarrassed by his gaze. The thought of how she had been kissed so fiercely that she was powerless to fight back and couldn't even speak properly made her wish she could disappear into the ground.

"Get out! I need to be alone!" Lin Yan said angrily, and reached out to push Xiao Che.

Xiao Che looked at his face, which was still flushed but he was trying to look fierce, and knew that he was really embarrassed. So he stopped teasing him and obediently let him walk out of the hall.

But as he reached the door, he turned back, gave Lin Yan a meaningful look, and said in a low voice, "I will come to find you later."

That look, that tone, clearly said, "This isn't over."

Lin Yan was so angry that she grabbed a pillow from the soft couch next to her and threw it at him: "Get out of here."

Xiao Che chuckled lightly, easily caught the pillow, casually placed it aside, and then turned and left leisurely, thoughtfully closing the palace door behind him.

The moment the palace doors closed, Lin Yan's carefully constructed composure crumbled.

His legs went weak, and he almost stumbled and fell onto the soft couch next to him, burying his burning face deep into the soft brocade cushion, letting out a series of silent, shameful, and agonizing howls.

Aaaaaaah!

I was completely defenseless against Xiao Che's kiss! My tongue is still numb! My lips are swollen and painful!

Also, Xiao Che's stance and technique just now.

Lin Yan suddenly raised her head from the brocade cushion, her face still flushed, but her eyes were filled with disbelief and a subtle hint of inquiry.

It seems like Xiao Che's skills have improved again!

The force, the angle, and the sense of control in that kiss that sent shivers down my spine and made my body go weak.

Something's not right, something's very wrong.

Did Xiao Che really not secretly study behind his back?

How could an emperor so busy with state affairs have time to study this?

Could it be that he is self-taught or has a special talent?

Lin Yan hugged the soft pillow and rolled around on the couch, her mind a jumble of thoughts. One moment she was thinking about the blush-inducing kiss from earlier, and the next she was wondering about Xiao Che's "technological progress."

So all tops are this capable?

He lingered in the palace with Xiao Che for a long time, until after Shenshi (3-5 PM), when the sun began to set and the heat subsided, he finally composed himself and prepared to return home.

After returning to the Lin residence by carriage, as soon as I entered my courtyard, I saw my mother Wen Yun's maidservant waiting there with two exquisite brocade boxes in her arms.

"Young master, the birthday gift that Madam and Miss prepared for you has been sent to you by this servant." The maidservant greeted her with a smile.

Lin Yan felt a warmth in her heart and accepted the brocade box.

Upon opening it, he found that Wen Yun had given him a set of fine Huizhou ink and Huzhou brushes, knowing that he would need them on a daily basis; it was both thoughtful and practical.

Lin Mo gave her a tassel with a pine and cypress pattern that she had embroidered herself. The stitches were fine and dense, symbolizing longevity and good health. Although it was not expensive, it was full of her sister's heartfelt wishes.

"Please thank Mother and Mo'er for me, and tell them I really like the gift," Lin Yan said with a smile to the maid, instructing her to return and report.

Lin Yan carefully put away the gifts from her mother and sister, placing them together with the gifts from her colleagues that morning. Looking at this small pile of well-wishes, she felt a warm glow all over her body.

Looking at the time, I realized that my father had not yet returned from his shift.

Lin Yan rested in his room first, waiting for his father to return so they could have dinner together.

During this time, Wen Yun came over in person, with a gentle smile on her face and several pieces of red paper with writing on them in her hand.

"Yan'er." Wen Yun sat down beside him and spread the red paper on the table. "I've looked at several dates these days and I think they're all good, especially the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth of August. The weather is clear and crisp, neither too hot nor too cold. It's an auspicious day, symbolizing reunion and happiness. I've considered all aspects and think that setting the wedding date on this day is the most suitable. What do you think?"

Lin Yan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this.

Wedding date.

His wedding date with Xiao Che.

Although they had already pledged their lives to each other and even received each other's "dowries," they still couldn't help but feel their hearts race and a little nervous when they heard that the specific date had been set.

He looked down at the four characters "August 15th" written on the red paper, his ears burning slightly. He nodded, his voice still relatively calm: "Whatever you think is best, Mother, is to decide."

Seeing that he agreed, Wen Yun's smile deepened: "Then it's settled. Now that the date is set, we should start preparing the invitations. Although there aren't many guests, we should still write them in person to show our sincerity. You and His Majesty, write the invitations when you have time. There aren't many people to invite, so you should be able to manage."

"Yes, son understands," Lin Yan replied.

This is my first time getting married in this life and the last time I've had to write an invitation. It's a novel experience that makes my hands tremble a little.

Wen Yun gave a few more instructions before leaving, satisfied.

Not long after, Lin Chengji also finished his shift and returned home.

The birthday gift Lin Chengji brought to Lin Yan was a rare book that Lin Yan had been searching for for a long time but had never found. He never expected that his own father would find it and give it to him as a birthday gift.

At dinner time, the family sat together, the table laden with Lin Yan's favorite dishes, creating a warm and harmonious atmosphere.

Lin Mo chattered on about the interesting things that happened that day, while Wen Yun and Lin Chengji listened with smiles, occasionally serving food to Lin Yan.

While eating, Lin Mo suddenly remembered something, blinked her big eyes, looked at Lin Yan, then at her parents, and said something surprising: "When my brother gets married next year, will His Majesty also sit at the same table with us for dinner?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chengji, who was drinking soup, almost choked, and Wen Yun's hand, which was picking up food, froze in mid-air.

The couple exchanged a glance and saw the same tension and helplessness in each other's eyes.

Dining at the same table as the emperor?

Just imagining that scene was enough to send chills down their spines.

Wen Yun composed herself and half-jokingly threatened Lin Mo, "What nonsense are you talking about? You have no manners. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll find you a husband next year and marry you off as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, Lin Mo immediately shrank back in fright, quickly shoveled down a couple of mouthfuls of rice, and muttered softly, "I was wrong, I won't say it again."

She doesn't want to get married so early.

Looking at his parents' alarmed expressions and then at his younger sister's instantly submissive look, Lin Yan couldn't help but burst out laughing.

His parents weren't in a hurry to marry Lin Mo off; they were just trying to scare her.

However, imagine next Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiao Che sitting at his own family's dinner table as "Lin family's daughter-in-law," eating with his parents and sister...

Well, the scene was too beautiful for him to bear thinking about.

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Author's Note: After the wedding, someone will be begging Hanzhang to call him "brother" and all sorts of other things [cat emoji]