Springtime feelings

"Aheng, what brings you here?"

Upon seeing Gu Heng appear, Pei Qingwu tried to stand up, but due to drinking too much alcohol, she stumbled and almost fell.

Zhao Xu reached out to help, but Gu Heng was faster. He took three steps in two and helped Pei Qingwu up, letting her lean steadily against him.

"The master said before he left that if you didn't return for a long time, he would send me to pick you up."

It seems I did say something like that...

Pei Qingwu, still half-asleep, leaned on Gu Heng's arm to get up and politely bowed to Zhao Xu with her hands clasped: "Since Aheng has come to pick me up, I will not trouble Commander Zhao any further."

"Please be careful when you return to the army, Captain Zhao."

Zhao Xu nodded: "Thank you for your concern, Master Pei."

Pei Qingwu was so drunk she could barely walk, so Gu Heng simply let her lean on him. He took a light rose-red silk double-breasted swallow cloak and wrapped her up tightly, so that not a breath of wind could get in.

Including Zhao Xu's gaze.

"Lieutenant Zhao, please make yourself at home." With that, he helped Pei Qingwu out.

Zhao Xu watched their retreating figures and smiled thoughtfully.

Light snow was falling from the sky; it should be the last snowfall in Qinzhou City. After this snow, once the white snow melts, spring should awaken.

"Aheng, is it snowing?"

Gu Heng hummed in agreement. He had specially hired a carriage to come. At this moment, a thin layer of snow had accumulated on the ground. He helped Pei Qingwu and walked very carefully.

Upon reaching the carriage, he hesitated for a moment, said "I apologize for the inconvenience," then took a deep breath, slipped his arm under Pei Qingwu's knees, and with his other hand steadily supporting her shoulders and back, carefully lifted her up horizontally.

Just as he pulled her completely into his arms, a faint, lingering, cool fragrance suddenly wafted over.

It wasn't strong or pungent, but rather like the first snow melting into plum blossoms, or like new rain soaking bamboo leaves—a delicate, cool, and alluring scent that forcefully took over his breath and enveloped him completely.

It was the incense that Li Yinzhu had given her before, and she had been using it for almost half a month.

Gu Heng's heart skipped a beat, his steps faltered, and his Adam's apple bobbed before he regained his composure and strode toward the carriage.

The driver had already put down the footstool and lifted the thick cotton curtain.

Gu Heng carried Pei Qingwu, awkwardly stepped onto the footstool, bent down and crawled into the carriage, gently placed her on the cushioned seat, and sat down next to her before finally letting out a sigh of relief.

The carriage was not spacious, and the subtle fragrance that he had deliberately ignored earlier was now more clearly perceptible. Mixed with a faint smell of alcohol, the aroma, when combined with the charcoal brazier in the carriage, made him feel slightly dizzy.

Looking at Pei Qingwu, who was wrapped up tightly in a thick cloak, Gu Heng worried that she would feel stuffy. He hesitated for a moment, then reached out to loosen the ties around her neck and open it a little.

Just as his fingers were about to touch the edge of the cloak...

"Ugh, it's so hot..." Pei Qingwu murmured softly, her delicate brows furrowing as if she were very uncomfortable.

She was tipsy and instinctively sought coolness. In her drowsy state, she felt a cool object beside her and subconsciously rubbed against it.

Her warm, soft body, carrying that alluring fragrance, pressed against Gu Heng's arm without warning.

He could even clearly feel the pressure brought by that softness and curves.

Gu Heng froze instantly, as if he had been frozen in place.

"Aheng..." she called out indistinctly, rubbing her burning cheek against his cool neck, letting out a satisfied sigh: "You're so cool..."

These words were like scorching sparks, instantly igniting Gu Heng's entire body.

He felt a surge of heat rush from the soles of his feet to the top of his head, and his ears and neck turned bright red and hot at a visible speed.

He was able to remain calm when he carried her into the car, but now he felt like he had been burned and didn't know where to put his hands.

He held his breath, his body taut like a fully drawn bowstring, afraid to move an inch.

The woman's soft body pressed against him, the exceptionally clear touch and lingering fragrance almost killing him.

Reason told him he should push her away immediately and maintain the proper distance, but his arm felt as heavy as lead and he couldn't lift it no matter what.

Pushing too hastily might startle her, and it might also make me seem like I'm trying to cover something up.

He didn't push her away. The torment of having such a warm and soft woman in his arms was far too intense for a young man who had never been so close to a woman before.

He sat there stiffly, letting Pei Qingwu nestle against him like a cat seeking comfort.

His heart was pounding like a drum, so loud in the silent carriage that it made him tremble with fear. He was careful with every breath, even afraid to make a sound when he swallowed. A fine layer of sweat even appeared on his forehead—he had felt cold in the snow just moments before, but now he felt unbearably hot.

The wheels rolled over the thin snow, making a monotonous sound.

Gu Heng lowered his eyes and looked at Pei Qingwu, whose cheeks were flushed from drunkenness, leaning against his shoulder. Her long eyelashes cast a small shadow under her eyes, and her even and warm breath brushed against his neck.

He exhaled stiffly, casting his gaze at the snow-blurred street scene outside the carriage window, as if that could distract him from his panic and agitation.

His fingertips unconsciously twitched slightly, but in the end he only gently tucked the edge of her cloak that had slipped down a bit, and dared not make any other movements.

The wind on this cold night occasionally lifted a corner of the heavy carriage curtain, blowing in a few specks of snow.

Drunk people are very unruly. Pei Qingwu twisted and turned, practically challenging Gu Heng's self-control.

He closed his eyes, gritted his teeth, and clenched his fist, the veins on the back of his hand bulging. He tried his best to restrain himself, but he couldn't stop his blood from gradually boiling and concentrating on a certain place where he felt deeply ashamed.

Fortunately, the carriage soon stopped at the entrance of Sushan Market.

Gu Heng gave the coachman a tip, then, carrying Pei Qingwu, stumbled and trudged towards the backyard.

Everyone else in the shop had eaten dinner. Yinlan was washing the dishes, Wuniang was tallying up the day's earnings, Yuyi was practicing making dragon beard candy in the kitchen, Shi Dayong was practicing boxing in the courtyard, and Jinniang was watching Nianci write.

Qian Tao was the first to spot Gu Heng and Pei Qingwu: "Oh, Aheng has returned from picking up his employer."

Instantly, everyone stopped what they were doing and looked over with concern.

At this moment, Pei Qingwu, wearing that cloak, was curled up in Gu Heng's arms, her cheeks flushed, her eyes hazy, and anyone could tell what was wrong at a glance.

"How much did the master drink?" Yin Lan said helplessly. "Xiao Aheng, take the master back to the house first, I'll go make some hangover soup."

Gu Heng nodded in agreement.

He walked with steady steps, but only he knew that the warmth in his arms and the fragrance of the cold plum blossoms were like invisible vines entwining him, pulling at his taut nerves with every step.

After entering the house, he gently closed the door with his foot, cutting off outside noise and sight.

The room was warm and cozy, with a charcoal brazier burning inside, which made the chill he had picked up in the snow even more apparent.

He carefully placed Pei Qingwu on the bed covered with brocade, his movements as gentle as if he were handling a rare treasure.

She sank softly into the brocade quilt, her eyelashes trembling slightly, and she murmured something unconsciously. Her light rose-red cloak made her drunken face even more beautiful.

Gu Heng took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing heart.

Then he untied the ribbon around her neck and gently took off the cloak, revealing a simple, rouge-colored cotton dress with cloud patterns underneath.

After doing all this, a fine layer of sweat had formed on his forehead.

My gaze shifted downwards and landed on those small, embroidered shoes.

He knew he should take off her shoes and socks so she could sleep more comfortably.

But as soon as this thought arose, the sensations and fragrance from inside the carriage seemed to instantly resurface, overwhelming his reason and causing his throat to tighten and his fingertips to tremble slightly.

Finally, he squatted down, held his breath, and reached out his fingers towards the exquisite embroidered shoes.

When his fingertips touched the soft satin, it felt as if he had been burned. He almost closed his eyes and untied the straps as quickly as possible to take off both shoes.

Next up are stockings.

When his fingertips inevitably touched the warm, delicate skin, Gu Heng felt a buzzing in his head, and his blood rushed to his head and every part of his body.

Her ankles were slender, and her skin was as delicate as the finest frost and snow, exuding an intoxicating warmth.

Even in that brief touch of skin, the delicate sensation from his fingertips felt like burning embers, causing him to abruptly pull his hand back. His mind was racing, and a burning, tingling sensation surged from his fingertips, instantly engulfing his entire body, leaving him parched and almost breathless.

He stood frozen in place, his hand hesitant to fall, his mind blank.

"Hmm..."

At this moment, Pei Qingwu let out an uncomfortable groan and his ankle moved unconsciously.

This subtle movement instantly pulled Gu Heng back to reality from his chaotic thoughts.

He snapped back to his senses, a strong sense of shame welling up inside him—what was he doing?

In his panic, he suppressed all his excitement, stopped looking at her dazzling snow feet, closed his eyes, and quickly pulled off her stockings by instinct, afraid that if he lingered for even a second longer, he would lose control.

Two delicate jade feet were finally freed from their restraints, and lay quietly on the brocade quilt, slightly curled up.

After doing all this, Gu Heng almost jumped to his feet, quickly took a step back to create distance, his chest heaving violently, and beads of sweat rolling down his forehead.

He dared not look at the person on the bed anymore, feeling his cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door, and Qiantao came in carrying a steaming copper basin and a cloth: "Aheng, the hot water is here. I've come to wash the master's face and hands..."

The voice was like heavenly music, instantly relieving Gu Heng's almost suffocating embarrassment and panic.

"Thank you so much, Sister Qiantao!" Gu Heng said almost eagerly, his voice even trembling slightly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he turned around abruptly as if his tail had been set on fire, facing the wall with his back to the bed and Qiantao.

He stared intently at the blurry shadow on the wall, his heart pounding so hard it felt like it would burst out of his chest.

The lingering touch on his fingertips, the persistent, cool fragrance, and the inescapable embarrassment before him... all these feelings mingled together, stirring up a tidal wave in his heart.

He didn't know what to do with his hands and feet, and even his breathing became cautious. The sound of Qian Tao gently wiping him from behind was amplified infinitely in his ears at this moment.

The cold, hard wall became his only support at that moment, and he could only stare at it intently, as if trying to see through it.

Yin Lan had also prepared the hangover soup and brought it in. Seeing his appearance, she chuckled and said, "It's fine as long as Qian Tao and I are here. Little Aheng, you've had a long day, go to sleep."

Gu Heng felt as if he had been granted a pardon and rushed out of Pei Qingwu's room as if he were fleeing, without even having time to say "thank you" to Yin Lan and Qian Tao.

The night wind, carrying the chill of the remaining snow, swept over him, but it did nothing to dispel the burning heat in his heart and body.

In the darkness, he fumbled to light the oil lamp on the table, and impatiently pulled open his coat, trying to let more cold air in.

But the heat seemed to be seeping out from the very marrow of my bones, showing no signs of abating.

"No, I can't think about it anymore..." He shook his head violently, as if trying to shake off those inappropriate and romantic thoughts.

To better suppress his inappropriate thoughts, he scooped up the icy well water and splashed it hard on his face. The biting cold made him shiver, and the heat seemed to subside a little.

Then he hurriedly took off his outer garment, almost threw himself onto the bed, wrapped his head and face tightly with a thin blanket, and forced himself to fall asleep.

In his dream, he seemed to have returned to that carriage...