The two hugged quietly for a long time, until Gan Qiongying felt her ears, which were resting on Li Hua's chest, were a little numb, and her back was sore from not changing positions for too long, so she moved a little.

He tried to get up.

It was unsuccessful.

Li Hua held her tightly, and it was only at this moment that Gan Qiongying realized that Li Hua's body, which looked like it only had a thin layer of muscle, was actually so powerful that it could strangle several of her in one breath when it got strong.

Li Hua's breathing is now steady, as if she is asleep, but the strength in her arm has not relaxed.

Gan Qiongying struggled to lift her head from his embrace and looked up along his chin; his eyes were closed.

She tried to wriggle slightly, attempting to get off Li Hua, but after managing to remove Li Hua's arms from her waist, she was quickly pulled back into his arms.

Li Hua opened her eyes, her gaze clear and bright, without a trace of sleepiness.

Gan Qiongying and Li Hua looked at each other for a moment, then a sudden inspiration struck her: "How about... we try a different way of holding her?"

Li Hua's ears turned red. Even though he liked it very much, he felt that hugging it any longer was going too far.

But Gan Qiongying suddenly suggested changing the way she hugged him, which struck a chord with him. So he simply turned around while still hugging Gan Qiongying, and the two of them went from lying flat to lying face to face.

Gan Qiongying's aching back was relieved, and she rubbed her numb ears against Li Hua's shoulder. From Li Hua's perspective, her head bobbed up and down, resting on his arm, a tiny, adorable little bundle.

Gan Qiongying yawned, and once her ears were no longer numb, she stopped moving and naturally placed her hand on Li Hua's waist.

If the God of Wealth likes to be hugged, then hug him; hug him however you like.

Gan Qiongying even incorporated the new discovery that "Lihua likes hugs" into their daily interactions.

Its main selling point is "always ready to help".

As for what Li Hua was thinking and why he did this, Gan Qiongying didn't bother to analyze it at all.

She's been analyzing the plot all day and her brain is about to explode. Trying to single-handedly stir up a complicated love triangle involving one woman and five men is no small task.

And nobody's paying overtime.

Her only source of income is the "God of Wealth" in her arms, which is her capital and reliance for running away in the future. Let alone asking for a hug, even if Li Hua makes more outrageous demands now, Gan Qiongying will agree and actively cooperate.

Moreover, Li Hua's embrace was very tight, yet exceptionally innocent. He didn't have any inappropriate physical reactions, so naturally, Gan Qiongying wouldn't have any impure thoughts.

And after traveling for so long, doesn't Gan Qiongying need hugs and affection?

She needs it more than anyone else.

A lonely world, a life of hardship, a terrible plot, a puppet brother...

If she weren't so open-minded, she would have jumped off a building long ago!

Speaking of which, Li Hua is one of the people who can help her relax.

The other is a full moon.

Gan Qiongying held Li Hua's supple yet not soft waist, her mind preoccupied with her thoughts.

The Emperor should have attended Princess Huian's birthday banquet. Princess Huian is their only remaining relative, and it would have been inappropriate for the Emperor not to attend.

But the emperor really didn't come. Gan Qiongying didn't even hear any eunuchs announce the emperor's congratulatory gifts. But then she thought it was all too normal.

Empress Dowager Kou Ning'an, that old witch, would never give the emperor any opportunity to get close to the imperial family. She was afraid that if the emperor had even the slightest bit of power, he would turn the world upside down again.

Gan Qiongying plans to ask Princess Hui'an tomorrow whether the Emperor has sent anyone.

Gan Qiongying lay drowsily in Li Hua's arms. There was something holding her in her arms, and the temperature was a constant 37 degrees Celsius. She fell asleep very quickly.

Gan Qiongying thought groggily that it was a good thing Gan Lin wasn't coming, since the Regent was here after all.

Not long ago, Gan Qiongying unearthed from Duanrong's memories that the Regent in the story had beaten people.

Beat the emperor.

Although it was very subtle and not a straightforward memory, Duanrong seemed to have seen the Regent enter and leave the palace, and Gan Lin had hidden injuries on his body.

Gan Qiongying snuggled closer to Li Hua, finding a more comfortable position, relaxing her mind, and preparing to fall asleep.

The memories of Duan Rong in her mind were sometimes so clear that she could feel them deeply, and sometimes they were like looking through a veil of illusion, blurry and indistinct.

However, this is also true for people. Only special and important memories are particularly vivid, while less special and important memories are only recalled when a certain "memory similarity node" is triggered.

Gan Qiongying had a lot of upsetting things on her mind, but she had a good attitude and didn't dwell on them, so she fell asleep quickly.

After she fell asleep, Li Hua remained awake.

He has an appointment late tonight.

It was almost midnight, but he turned to the side, lowered his head, and buried it in the disheveled hair of the person in his arms, refusing to get up.

Only when Sanjiu started mimicking the sounds of birds outside did Lihua finally loosen his grip on Gan Qiongying's soft body.

He thought she was like a raccoon dog, incredibly soft all over, and she... she was so docile, except for the first time when she tried to speak but was stopped by Li Hua.

She didn't say anything afterward, nor did she ask him why he suddenly acted this way, as if it were something she was used to.

Does she like hugs like that too?

Li Hua slowly relaxed Gan Qiongying's body. The friction of the fabric through her skin caused a slight itch, like some kind of insect crawling on her body.

He let go halfway, then hugged it back.

It's so soft.

He looked down at Gan Qiongying. She was sleeping with her face flushed and her hair disheveled, but when she opened her long, slightly upturned phoenix eyes, they were full of charm and bright and lively. When she kept them closed, she looked very obedient.

So cute.

She nestled in his arms, her palm pressed against his chest, her slender, white fingertips glowing pink from the warmth of her sleep.

So cute!

Li Hua's heart felt like it had been kneaded into a pool of water, about to slowly flow out of his body through his seven orifices.

Lightning flashed outside, and soon crackling sounds echoed across the windowpanes.

Li Hua was even less inclined to keep the appointment. The damp air seeped in through the window, and with a soft, warm body in his arms, he felt utterly listless. What was the point of keeping the appointment?

He pulled the blanket behind him over himself and Gan Qiongying.

This is what it truly means to share a bed.

By the flickering light inside the room, Li Hua looked down at Gan Qiongying's innocent sleeping face, his breath spraying onto her face so close it was less than a finger's width.

However, he restrained himself from actually touching her. He believed that stealing her affections was an offense, and that Gan Qiongying should be awake and willing beforehand...

Realizing what she was thinking, Li Hua quickly felt her mouth go dry.

He was indeed a dignified and composed gentleman, but he was also a normal man. He did not want to despicably steal a kiss from Gan Qiongying, so he could only trace her features with his eyes again and again.

But this is undoubtedly a case of drinking poison to quench thirst.

Soon, his nostrils were filled with the indescribable aroma of soapberry mixed with his warm body heat.

It wasn't exactly fragrant, but the scent made Li Hua feel increasingly hot.

He instinctively hugged Gan Qiongying tighter, and soon felt the heat gathering in an indescribable place. Li Hua was stunned for a moment, and then quickly let go of Gan Qiongying in surprise!

If Gan Qiongying were awake at this moment, she would see Li Hua's extremely disheveled state and her eyes filled with shame.

You'll also discover that he's not only not aloof, but the God of Wealth also has desires, and his desires are as strong as his business acumen, and he has many special talents.

However, Gan Qiongying dreamt of meeting the Duke of Zhou, and was eating steamed pig's trotters and dumplings with him.

After the chaos and confusion of his own battle, Li Hua hastily wrapped a blanket around himself and stuffed it into Gan Qiongying's arms to take his place, then got out of bed with a sullen face.

Just then, the bird calls that Sanjiu had been making changed and came in again.

Li Hua, wearing a long robe, went to the back window, opened it, and said in a low, hoarse voice, "Why are you rushing me?"

Sanjiu: "Young Master, time has passed."

Li Hua didn't even realize the time had passed, so he didn't want to go.

But now he's even more afraid to go back to bed.

So he said sullenly, "Coming."

Zhongli had parked his carriage in the red cotton forest during the day and was now waiting so long that his bottom was numb from sitting in the carriage. Finally, he saw a small side gate in the distance, and a person carrying a lantern and another holding an umbrella walked towards him, swaying and staggering.

But he probably never imagined that the reason he was able to wait for his brother tonight was because Li Hua was still angry and came out to him to calm down.