Chapter Fifty-Eight

Logically, since the two of them inhaled Nightlife at the same time, their toxicity should be similar. So why is it that I only have a fever, while he seems to be seriously ill?

Zhou Yanqing forced a smile, "Forcibly sealing the meridians will naturally result in some backlash."

"Why did you seal your meridians? You clearly did it last night..."

Since both of them were drugged, she wouldn't be angry even if he did something to Si Yanmo last night.

“I didn’t want to, cough cough…” Zhou Yanqing naturally understood what she meant, but he didn’t regret it. “Although we are married, but… you were not sober and it wasn’t your choice, so I shouldn’t have done it.”

The man's words were like a blade of grass hitting her heart; they didn't hurt, but rather stirred a strange itch, making her both happy and heartbroken.

The question from her sister echoed in her mind: Did she really have no feelings for Zhou Yanqing at all?

I don't know, but...

"I'm sober now, and I'm willing to help you." She reached into the man's thin clothes, but Zhou Yanqing stopped her.

"No..." The man's breathing became heavy. He knew better than anyone that he couldn't resist Si Yanmo at all, but... it shouldn't be like this, it shouldn't be so hasty.

Si Yanmo didn't take it to heart. In her opinion, it was more important that no one was hurt. "It's okay. You helped me with your hands last night. I can do it too. You can teach me."

“No, it’s dirty…” Zhou Yanqing pulled her hand away, her fingertips tracing the newly wrapped white cloth, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

He frantically tried to control his inner impulse, but his fingers unconsciously caressed her fingertips. "I don't need you to do these things for me. I just want you to be alright."

“Zhou Yanqing…” Si Yanmo’s voice trembled.

Two beautiful eyes gazed at each other, both filled with an indescribable mix of emotions.

After a long pause, she spoke first, "But you can't just keep enduring this, something bad will happen."

Zhou Yanqing didn't speak, but pulled her into his arms, burying his head in her neck, savoring the faint floral scent. He gently nuzzled her fair neck with his nose, and after a long while, he spoke, his voice a little hoarse, "Just stay with me, hold me, don't look, don't listen..."

Si Yanmo didn't immediately understand what he meant until she heard the man's increasingly heavy breathing and realized that he was no longer holding her but moving his hands on his own. Only then did she snap out of her daze.

She suddenly felt her face burning, but didn't know whether she should move. "You..."

"Amo, please call me by my name."

It would have been better if this person hadn't spoken, but once he did, his hot breath brushed against her neck, leaving her even more at a loss. She responded blankly, "Zhou Yanqing."

"Say it again..."

“Zhou Yanqing…”

"I want to hear more..."

"Zhou Yanqing, Zhou Yanqing, Zhou Yanqing..."

As her breathing grew heavier, two words inexplicably popped into Si Yanmo's mind, "Husband..."

She actually read it out loud?!

What left her even more bewildered was that the instant she uttered the words, Zhou Yanqing also released his voice, which was filled with disbelief, "What...did you call me?"

The man's delight made her even more embarrassed, and in her haste, she pushed him away, saying, "Um... I'll go get someone to bring some hot water."

With that, she dashed off, leaving Zhou Yanqing alone on the bed, savoring her words, "Husband."

"Is she also..."

His eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but think that Si Yanmo might also have feelings for him, and perhaps he should tell her how he felt.

Yes, explain clearly!

Just as he was about to give it his all, Si Yanmo had already brought a bucket of warm water for him to bathe with.

Si Yanmo stood behind the screen, trying not to look at the alluring figure, but she was still overwhelmed by the side effects of Ye Shengge.

"that……"

"I……"

The two spoke at the same time, then stopped together. Zhou Yanqing said, "You go first."

She continued, "I wanted to tell you about what happened these past two days..."

“I will take responsibility,” Zhou Yanqing replied firmly.

Si Yanmo quickly waved her hand, "That's not what I meant. I meant... I asked my sister, and this doesn't count as consummating the marriage, so... it's nothing. After all, we were both drugged. If you hadn't helped me last night, I would be in a much worse condition than you are now. I've helped you today, so this matter is settled, and it won't hinder our divorce in the future."

Divorce...

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yanqing's heart, which had been filled with joy just a moment ago, plummeted to rock bottom, and she was in so much pain that she could hardly breathe.

He reached out his wet hand, grabbed Si Yanmo's wrist, pulled her out from behind the screen, and forced her to look him in the eye.

"How... does that not count?" His movements were forceful, but his wet eyes and trembling voice betrayed his grievance, like a puppy abandoned by its owner.

Si Yanmo was caught off guard and her breathing became erratic. She even forgot to pull her hand away.

"It's just using your hands...where does that count?"

"You mean anyone else could do it too?" The puppy's voice carried a hint of malice. "Like Zhong Zihe... or your classmate?"

Why are you asking this again?

Si Yanmo couldn't understand his thought process at all. Why did he always ask questions like "Can other people do this too?"

"Answer me!" Sensing her attempt to escape, Zhou Yanqing tightened his grip, his voice dripping with bitterness, "Anyone will do?"

Looking at his fierce yet pitiful appearance, Si Yanmo didn't know how to respond, and finally decided to follow her heart.

"no."

As soon as she uttered those two words, Zhou Yanqing breathed a sigh of relief, slowly loosened his grip on her wrist, a look of joy appeared between his brows, and he squinted his eyes and arrogantly tilted his head closer to her.

"So... it's still only me who can do it, right?"

Amidst the rising steam, Si Yanmo couldn't bear to shatter his confidence because of that intense gaze. But thinking about it, she realized she really couldn't accept it if it were someone else, or at least wouldn't accept it so easily.

But how could she admit it? She still wouldn't let it go: "Your Highness Prince Qin was so angry just now, could it be that you were jealous?"

Zhou Yanqing subconsciously retorted, "How could that be? I'm just... afraid you'll be deceived."

He regretted it as soon as he said it.

I promised to talk to her and make things clear, but why is she being so mean?

Seeing that he was able to joke with her again, Si Yanmo felt that the effects of the medicine on him should have subsided. "You... are alright now, right?"

Zhou Yanqing was stunned for a moment, then realized what she meant. She immediately clutched her chest and pretended to be weak, "No, I still feel a little uncomfortable!"

She touched her injured arm, "My arm, my arm hurts too..."

"Does it still hurt?"

His complexion had indeed not yet recovered, and Si Yanmo panicked immediately. She didn't care that he was still sitting in the bathtub, and went straight over to check his injuries. The gauze wrapped around his arm was indeed oozing a patch of bright red blood.

"Why are you so hard on yourself? Can't you even lift your head up?"

Seeing that she believed him, Zhou Yanqing pressed her advantage, grabbed her hand, and pretended to be in great pain, "No, I can't lift it, why don't you help me wash it!"

“You…” Si Yanmo’s face turned red again, and that heat in her body rose up again.

But the other person wouldn't let her go. "Please, I'm in such a sorry state, help me out~ just give me a back rub."

"Okay... alright..."

Since the man was genuinely injured, Si Yanmo couldn't just leave him to his own devices. It was already late at night, and she was getting sleepy herself, so she quickly helped him wash up so he could rest.

She picked up the coarse cloth used for scrubbing backs and her breath caught in her throat as her hand touched the bronze back. She felt a fire spread from her fingertips to her entire body.

Steam condensed into water droplets, tracing the scars on Zhou Yanqing's back. The scars were clearly old wounds, already faded, with a slight reddish tinge in the center, which clashed with her wheat-colored skin, yet added a strange attraction, making her want to get closer.

Si Yanmo quickly stopped her own thoughts and started talking about the Third Prince, trying to calm herself down.

"Zhou Yanqing, you... really have no interest in the throne of the Southern Emperor?"

"Why are you asking this?" Zhou Yanqing turned around, raised his hand to hook a strand of her hair, and teased, "What, want to be the Empress of the South?"

"What the hell?!" You're so unserious!

Si Yanmo wanted to push him away, but her hand remained still.

Perhaps Ye Shengge's condition flared up again, because the two of them unconsciously moved closer to each other, their foreheads touching and their breaths mingling.

“Amo…” Zhou Yanqing’s hand, which had been playing with her hair, slid down to the back of her head and held it there. His other fingertip touched her lips, tracing their shape. There was an uncontrollable urge in his eyes. “If you want, I’ll do anything…”

His voice carried a seductive power, causing Si Yanmo's heart to tremble, and she momentarily forgot to breathe, "You..."

The man's hand tightened, and his damp eyelashes drooped down, landing on the woman's lips.

It's soft enough to touch, let alone kiss...

Just as the two were getting closer and closer, their lips about to touch, a bird lost its way in the darkness and accidentally bumped into the window with a "bang," which also brought the two back to their senses, and they immediately separated.

The young couple, one soaking in the bathtub and the other standing beside them, neither daring to look at each other's flushed cheeks and heaving chests.

"I...I..."

Si Yanmo didn't know what to say, but Zhou Yanqing said, "You... go out first, I'll wash myself."

This can't go on, something bad will happen!

"Are you really alright?"

"It's alright, don't worry."

Seeing that he said that, Si Yanmo no longer hesitated and ran out of the tent in a flash.

I don't know how much time passed before Zhou Yanqing came out wearing a simple gauze dress.

"Why are you wearing so little? You'll be cold," she asked.

"It's nothing." The man coughed lightly, feeling a little guilty. With the effects of Ye Sheng Ge, his whole body felt like it was on fire, so how could he feel cold?

He changed the subject, "By the way, what were you trying to say?"

“It was my sister.” Si Yanmo couldn’t help but sigh when she mentioned this. “Maybe you’re right. It was Zhou Junsong’s men that day. He wanted to win me over and even sent my sister as an intermediary. He looks like a handsome man, but he’s ruthless. If this doesn’t work out, I’m afraid my sister will suffer too.”

"So what are your thoughts? Help him?" Zhou Yanqing felt a pang of sadness.