Shang Xiye's large, cool hand gently rested on her swollen and aching head. His voice, clear and gentle yet filled with guilt, came from a depth that he had never spoken of before: "You've been in pain for so many hours, and I don't know how many bad things you've said about me in your mind. But I just... just never experienced this before, and it was an unintentional mistake. Please forgive me this time, okay?"

As he massaged the back of her small head, Shang Xiye felt even more that the delicate girl in his arms was incredibly petite.

It turns out that his feeling that she was delicate on their wedding night was not a misperception, but that she really was delicate, so delicate that he had an urge to hide her in his arms and take good care of her.

Holding her like this, surrounded by her warm, soft body, his breath filled with her unique girlish fragrance, a sweet scent with a hint of milk, made him feel a little restless as he rubbed her little head.

Ji Fengyao: "???"

What do you mean by "never experienced it"? What is he talking about?

However, this guy, who was aloof in public, was actually quite adorable when he secretly apologized to her in such a humble manner behind closed doors. In fact, she understood that he had only pushed her a little in the morning without controlling his strength; otherwise, given his terrifying skills, her thin arms and legs probably wouldn't have been enough for two slaps from him.

She's a kind-hearted fairy; if he sincerely apologizes, she'll reluctantly forgive him.

"If you want to apologize, you should..."

Ji Fengyao suddenly opened her eyes and turned around, wanting to ask him for some benefits, but she didn't expect that Shang Xiye was at that moment looking down at her ear with a distracted mind, greedily smelling the pleasant fragrance on her body.

Their lips touched accidentally, silencing her from saying anything more: ...Sincere.

The two pairs of eyes suddenly widened as they stared at each other in a daze.

Forgetting to breathe, forgetting to retreat, the world seemed to consist only of the bewildered and shocked self reflected in the other person's clear eyes.

So this is what she tastes like. So fragrant and sweet.

Shang Xiye's eyes trembled slightly, her star-like eyes slowly closed, and she pouted slightly, wanting to taste more.

Ji Fengyao was startled by the sudden tingling sensation, but she quickly came to her senses and sat up straight. Her heart was pounding like a drum, and millions of alpacas were galloping through her mind.

Holy crap, such a melodramatic thing actually happened to her one day.

Clench your fist and bite your hand.

Ji Fengyao was on the verge of tears, her voice stammering, "If I... if I said that this was really, really a misunderstanding, that I didn't pretend to faint to take the opportunity to kiss you, you... probably wouldn't believe me, right?"

Shang Xiye, having surfed through waves of joy, disappointment, shock, and sweetness, felt a pang of tenderness upon hearing her words—clearly lacking in confidence yet still stubbornly trying to explain herself. He really wanted to reach out and pull her back, to hold her close and give her a good squeeze.

But this little thing clearly misunderstands him; if he were to be so direct, he might scare her away.

Moreover, he doesn't know how to please women.

He had overheard soldiers in the barracks talking about the cities that had been invaded by the enemy. The soldiers said that the crude and barbaric soldiers of Xidan did not know how to please women, and as a result, many of the women who were violated died tragically.

He also vividly remembers how his mother, the imperial concubine, tried every means to avoid being favored by the emperor when he was young.

Therefore, Shang Xiye felt that intimacy between men and women should be a very cruel thing. If a man does not know how to please a woman, then he is endangering her life.

"What can I do if I don't believe you? I still have to rely on you, little bandit, to get rid of the poison for me. Even if I suffer some grievances, I can only swallow my anger," Shang Xiye said with a hint of mockery.