Chapter 25

Under the hazy moonlight, Jiang Mian calmed herself down and realized how close Shen Ji was to her. Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she was reluctant to leave his embrace.

"Cousin, may I stay here tonight?"

Her voice was soft, tinged with uncertainty, but her eyes blinked twice, like a mischievous little fox.

Shen Ji did not respond, so Jiang Mian repeated herself, unwilling to give up.

Unexpectedly, he still did not respond.

Finally, she sensed something was wrong; there seemed to be a faint smell of blood in the air.

She froze, then suddenly looked up at him. She saw that his handsome face was slightly sweaty, his lips were pale, and his eyes were slightly closed.

Jiang Mian looked anxious and called out to him several times.

"Take off my clothes and burn them without disturbing anyone."

Suddenly, Shen Ji spoke softly. He seemed to have little strength left, or perhaps he was just barely holding on as he spoke to her. Jiang Mian was already in tears, and upon hearing this, she couldn't help but let her tears fall.

In her eyes, her cousin seemed omnipotent, but now, he was so vulnerable, pressing down on her.

Jiang Mian was at a loss. She did as he asked and started to take off his outer robe. Her fingertips touched something wet. She looked down and saw a patch of bright red blood. She exclaimed with concern, "Cousin, you're injured!"

"It's alright. There's gauze in the third box on the table, and wound medicine to stop the bleeding in the second box. If you're scared, just call Yunqing."

Shen Ji slightly opened his eyes and saw the girl's face full of anxiety and worry. Her usually bright almond-shaped eyes were now filled with tears, but she still calmly and rationally helped him take off his clothes layer by layer.

He felt a little hot, even though it was a very cold day. He felt as if his heart was wrapped in something soft, and he could no longer feel the pain in his abdominal wound.

For some reason, he suddenly wanted to raise his hand and see the tear stains on her eyelashes. He wanted to wipe them away for her. He didn't really want her to leave, but she was just a little girl who had never seen anything like this before. Would she be scared?

Shen Ji didn't know.

He saw Jiang Mian shake her head, then lift her skirt and run to the table. She searched frantically, looking through bottle after bottle of medicine, and finally found what she wanted.

Shen Ji's eyes darkened.

He gave her a chance, but she herself didn't want to leave.

Therefore, no matter what happens in the future, she will never have such an opportunity again.

She took the initiative to approach him.

Shen Ji stared at her for a long time before finally closing his eyes due to his wound.

He was seriously injured; the dagger had penetrated his abdomen, and although it hadn't hit a vital spot, he still bled a lot.

"Cousin, the medicine is here!"

Jiang Mian rushed over anxiously and saw Shen Ji leaning weakly against the door frame. Suddenly, she felt a pang of sadness. A person like him should be standing on the clouds all day long, looking down on those struggling in the dust, not so fragile, lying helplessly in the dark night.

She was flustered and had already taken off Chen Ji's clothes, leaving only this last undergarment. Suddenly, she hesitated.

Men and women should not touch each other. If he were to take off this undergarment, wouldn't he be appearing in her eyes with his upper body completely naked?

However, seeing Shen Ji's pained expression, Jiang Mian hesitated for only a moment before undressing him. She had already harbored the idea of ​​getting close to him, and now that he was injured, although it was somewhat opportunistic, it was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Thinking of this, she didn't hesitate. The moment she reached out to unbutton her clothes, even though she was prepared, she was still stunned.

He wasn't what she had imagined; his muscles were strong and defined, and his cool, aloof face gave him a touch of ascetic beauty.

However, the bloody hole in her waist and abdomen abruptly pulled her from her wandering, beautiful thoughts.

Jiang Mian didn't dare to delay. He applied the medicine to the affected area and then wrapped it tightly with a bandage. He didn't say a word throughout the entire process.

Although Jiang Mian knows some pharmacology, she is not skilled in medicine. Fortunately, the weather is cold, so his wound is unlikely to get infected. However, to be on the safe side, she still needs to see a doctor.

She got up, picked up the clothes from the ground, and was about to walk outside.

Suddenly, Shen Ji tugged at her sleeve. Jiang Mian turned around and saw the man's dark eyes looking at her: "Where are you going?"

"I'll go burn the clothes," Jiang Mian explained.

"Okay, go and come back quickly." Shen Ji released his fingertips and quietly closed his eyes.

Jiang Mian acted quickly. Remembering that her cousin was still sitting on the ground, she made sure that all the pieces of clothing had been burned before carefully returning to the house.

To his surprise, when he entered the room, he found that his cousin was already lying in bed. He casually picked out an identical set of clothes and put them on, then closed his eyes peacefully, as if he had never been hurt.

Jiang Mian stood hesitating by the bed.

"What's wrong?"

Perhaps hearing the voice, the man looked up and asked.

"Cousin, your... injury, should we call a doctor?"

"No need, this matter must not be publicized."

The charcoal fire crackled and popped in the brazier, its crimson warmth dispelling the chill in the room. Despite Shen Ji's injuries, Jiang Mian had no other distracting thoughts. She sat on the soft couch, her mind blank.

Suddenly, a clear and melodious voice came from behind the curtain.

"You waited for me today?"

He deliberately emphasized the word "specially".

Jiang Mian initially wanted to tell the truth, but then she thought that Bai An might not be that bold. He wouldn't go so far as to kidnap women and kill innocent people. Moreover, if this matter reached her cousin's ears, wouldn't he think that she was a fickle and unfaithful woman?

Thinking of this, her eyes darkened. Since nothing had happened tonight, she decided to let that incident go.

"I had a dream that scared me."

She pursed her lips; she had lied after all.

Shen Ji's eyes were deep and unfathomable. What kind of dream could make her stand guard at the door with a dagger? The danger tonight would not involve her, but just to be on the safe side, he still deployed some of his guards to ambush around the courtyard. If the plan changed, he would immediately take her away.

Shen Ji nodded, without saying anything more.

Jiang Mian fell silent and did not explain anything.

Tonight, her thoughts were somewhat chaotic. Lying on the soft couch, she didn't think about how to get closer to him. Although her relationship with her cousin had taken a step closer, she knew that it was only temporary. Once they returned to the manor, they would inevitably drift apart, or even regress to where they were.

She had to make Shen Ji fall in love with her, or at least have a good impression of her, in such a short time.

Jiang Mian sighed inwardly. Back in Yangzhou, she didn't have to do anything; she only needed to stand there and countless men would flock to her, vying for her favor.

Now, facing Shen Ji, it seems that no matter how hard she tries, she cannot sway him in the slightest.

Although he indulged her recklessness, it was only on a whim.

This is not a sustainable solution.

She needs to seduce Shen Ji into falling in love with her.

Jiang Mian blinked, then suddenly got up from the soft couch. She closed her eyes, pretending to be still asleep, and mumbled something indistinctly. Suddenly, she turned and walked straight into the inner room.

Her heart was pounding; this was the first time she had ever done something so daring.

Her ears turned red at the thought of what was about to happen.

The curtains covered her hair. With her eyes closed, she followed her memory to Chen Ji's bedside, muttered something under her breath, and then tilted her head and lay down on his bed.

She deliberately avoided his wound.

Jiang Mian's heart was pounding, afraid that Shen Ji would notice something was wrong.

Fortunately, the man only froze for a moment, as if he hadn't seen through her disguise.

"Jiang Mian?"

He called to her in a deep voice.

"Cousin, I like you so much." She confessed to him under the pretense of being asleep, nuzzling her head affectionately between his legs a few times.

In that instant, it felt as if all the blood in his body had rushed to one place, and his breathing became heavier.

The confusion in his eyes suddenly turned into a deep darkness. He looked at Jiang Mian as if scrutinizing her, and after a long while, he softly asked, "What do you like about me?"

“I like…” Jiang Mian’s words stopped abruptly, and she broke out in a cold sweat. Luckily, she almost fell for his trap. She was “asleep” at the moment, and people in their sleep cannot communicate normally. In other words, she could not answer his question.

"Cousin, I'm very well-behaved and won't bother you," she muttered to herself, then seized the opportunity to confess her feelings.

The probing look in Shen Ji's eyes faded, and he placed his fingertips on her shoulder, gently pushing her, but Jiang Mian did not react.

But she felt very uncomfortable in this position.

Her leg was digging into her ribs and it hurt a little.

After hesitating for a moment, she suddenly got up, kicked her shoes off casually, and then slipped into the covers, pressing her head against his and gently rubbing against him: "So comfortable."

"This big bear looks so comfortable."

Big...bear?

The darkness in Shen Ji's eyes gradually faded, and his cold gaze, as clear as fine snow, fell on her slender back. How could she be so unguarded, lying so carelessly in his... arms?

They even mistook him for a bear.

Shen Ji remained silent and did not reach out to push her away. It was not that he did not want to make that move, but rather that the moment Jiang Mian leaned closer, he clearly and distinctly felt an uncontrollable sensation arising in his lower abdomen.

His breath hitched for a moment.

His brows, as clear and cold as fine snow, suddenly furrowed. At that moment, Jiang Mian's hand was on his abdomen. If she were to move it down unintentionally, she would definitely touch him. Shen Ji did not like this feeling; he could not control it and could not make him stop.

Even a more insane idea popped into his head.

If Jiang Mianzhen were truly asleep, she wouldn't notice.

However, he dismissed the thought after only a moment.

He wasn't sure if Jiang Mian was really asleep.

Jiang Mian kept her eyes tightly closed, not daring to make any move. She had been too nervous just now, her mind filled with how to get close to him smoothly and without any flaws. Now that she had achieved her goal, she suddenly realized that her cousin had not rejected her!

Although he reached out and pushed her, the movement was very light, and she didn't even have time to react before he withdrew his hand.

There was no sound from above, and she dared not react. Her hand rested on his abdomen, her palm sweating slightly. She pretended to be fast asleep again, and with a flick of her wrist, she withdrew it.

However, it seemed as if they touched something along the way.

She hesitated for a moment, but didn't take it to heart.

Shen Ji frowned deeply.

Just now, her hand almost landed on it.

If this continues, something bad will happen.

He had no time to investigate whether she had really fallen asleep; he was more concerned with why he had such a strong reaction to Jiang Mian.

Just like that night when he kissed her lips as if possessed, he now longed to be enveloped by that delicate hand.

Tonight, he gave her a chance.

She refused to leave on her own.

Shen Ji turned to look at Jiang Mian.

His gaze was dark and somber.

And a hint of confusion.

He was not a greedy person, but for some reason, he always reacted easily when he was with her.

This uncontrollable feeling made him anxious, but even more so, he couldn't figure her out. She kept saying that she liked him, but the guards clearly told him that if he didn't come today, she would go to meet someone else in the middle of the night.

Jiang Mian lied to him.

He couldn't understand why, after repeatedly trying to please him, she could then so readily show affection to another man, even wearing his cloak.

Is she in such a hurry to find another person?

Shen Ji suddenly felt a surge of anger. Although he didn't know why he felt this way, he really wanted to finish what he had failed to do earlier.

He leaned down, his fingertips gently pressing on her wrist. After making sure she was completely asleep, his gaze swept over her eyebrows and eyes, finally settling on her full lips. He hadn't lit any incense tonight, so she might wake up in the middle of the night.

But he still gently covered her lips and took them into his mouth. His tongue lightly licked her lip, forcing her to tilt her head back. Then, he gently pushed in and slowly pressed against her pearly teeth, soothing and comforting her like a lover. He gently caressed her, and there was no trace of reason in his eyes.

The candlelight was completely extinguished. After an unknown amount of time, he stepped back, his hair falling in front of her. He could no longer tell whether it was desire that made him this way, or whether he himself had developed some kind of affection for Jiang Mian.

The two bodies were wrapped in a quilt, as if they were pressed tightly together.

An unprecedented impulse swept over him at that moment.

However, he suppressed it with all his might.

He needed to figure out if Jiang Mian truly liked him.