Chapter 91

Sheng Xuan's lips twitched slightly at first, as if he was trying to suppress something, but that pure, childlike joy was like a flood breaking through a dam, instantly overwhelming all his restraint.

The next second, a silly smile, with a heavy nasal tone but incredibly bright, bloomed on Shengxuan's face like the rising sun!

The smile was so wide that it even revealed two sharp little tiger teeth, and the eyes curved into crescents, filled with bright, pure joy. There was no trace of the grievance and sadness from just now.

"Hehe..." Sheng Xuan couldn't help but laugh out loud. His laughter was a little silly, but it was full of undisguised satisfaction and pride.

He abruptly released Su Zhelan's wrist, but the next second, he opened his arms and pounced on her with a reckless momentum!

Su Zhelan was caught off guard and was suddenly embraced by him!

Sheng Xuan wrapped his arms tightly around Su Zhelan's waist, burying his head in the crook of his neck like a large dog that had finally found its master, nuzzling him affectionately and forcefully. He still carried the slight coolness of the morning dew, but his embrace was warm and full of strength.

"You're the best!" Sheng Xuan's muffled voice came from the crook of Su Zhelan's neck, thick with nasal tone and undisguised joy, every word brimming with happiness, "Zhelan! You're the best! I knew it!"

As he spoke, he hugged her tighter, as if trying to make up for all the hurt and disappointment he had felt earlier. His silly smile seemed to still linger on his face, tickling the skin on Su Zhelan's neck.

Su Zhelan was somewhat bewildered by the sudden hug and emotional shift.

One second she was a pitiful little thing, tears streaming down her face, and the next she was a clingy little thing, hugging him and giggling. This huge contrast left him momentarily speechless.

He could clearly feel Shengxuan's rapid and powerful heartbeat coming from his chest, which was pressed tightly against his body; he could feel the warm breath he was exhaling on his neck; and he could feel the undisguised, almost overflowing, immense joy.

That heavy sense of guilt seemed to be diluted considerably by Shengxuan's pure and warm embrace and silly laughter. In its place came a helpless indulgence and... a touch of indescribable tenderness from being relied upon.

Su Zhelan's stiff body gradually relaxed. He hesitated for a moment, then finally raised his hand, with a hint of hesitation and clumsiness, and gently patted Sheng Xuan's back, the gesture conveying a sense of reassurance.

“…Alright.” Su Zhelan’s voice carried a hint of helplessness, but more so a gentle indulgence. “…Let go quickly, you can’t breathe.”

Sheng Xuan hugged her even tighter, nuzzling her head against Su Zhelan's neck and humming contentedly like a spoiled big cat: "I won't let go! I won't let go! I'll do whatever you say!"

Sheng Xuan's self-righteous, childishly cheeky voice muffled in the crook of Su Zhelan's neck, his warm breath brushing against her skin. He clung tightly to Su Zhelan's waist like an octopus, nuzzling her head against her.

Su Zhelan felt somewhat helpless being held by him, yet she couldn't bring herself to refuse, and could only let him hold her.

Just then, Sheng Xuan paused slightly in his movements. He raised his head slightly, rested his chin on Su Zhelan's shoulder, and his warm lips almost touched Su Zhelan's earlobe.

Then, a voice with a heavy nasal tone and a hint of coquetry gently brushed against Su Zhelan's eardrum:

"Also..." Sheng Xuan's voice was low and affectionate, "...Ze Lan..."

He paused for a moment, seemingly enjoying the closeness.

"...My arm..." Sheng Xuan's voice carried a hint of relief and...a barely perceptible hint of pride, "...it's all better now!"

Sheng Xuan's voice trailed off with a coquettish rise, his warm breath brushing against Su Zhelan's ear. At the same time, his supposedly "healed" left hand slowly slid down Su Zhelan's spine, his fingertips tracing each protruding vertebra through the thin fabric, finally lingering suggestively at her lower back before suddenly moving downwards—

Su Zhelan shuddered violently.

That restless hand had already accurately covered his buttocks, and the burning heat of the palm seeped through the fabric, making his whole body stiff.

Shengxuan even went so far as to press his thumb into the depression of his coccyx, drawing a circle with irresistible force.

"You..." Su Zhelan's Adam's apple bobbed violently as she belatedly recalled that night—the promise she had blurted out while changing Sheng Xuan's dressing.

Now, the arm that should have been in a sling is roaming freely over his body.

Sheng Xuan's canine teeth brushed against Su Zhelan's reddened earlobe, his voice laced with a honeyed sweetness and danger: "You promised back then..." His calloused fingers hooked around his belt, "...now it's time to keep your word, isn't it?"

Su Zhelan instinctively grabbed Sheng Xuan's wrist, but released it as if she had been electrocuted when she touched his skin—the pulse under her palm was beating fast and rapid, completely different from her owner's effortless demeanor.

This discovery inexplicably softened his heart, and his resistance unconsciously weakened.

Sheng Xuan keenly spotted this opening. He suddenly used force to pin Su Zhelan against the pillar, his previously injured left arm now as steady as an iron clamp, trapping Su Zhelan in a small space along with his burning chest.

The hem of their robes, damp with morning dew, tangled together. As Sheng Xuan lowered his head, his bangs brushed against Su Zhelan's trembling eyelashes: "This time..." His calloused thumb brushed against the tightly bitten lower lip of the person in his arms, "You're not allowed to run away again."

Sheng Xuan's voice still carried a dangerous sweetness as his thumb traced Su Zhelan's tightly clenched lips, his other hand already slipping inside her clothes. Just as he was about to loosen her belt, Su Zhelan suddenly exerted force, shoving her hand forcefully against Sheng Xuan's chest—

"No!" Su Zhelan's voice was unusually panicked, her ear tips flushed red, "Now... not now..."

Sheng Xuan stumbled half a step after being pushed, but immediately grabbed Su Zhelan's wrist. He pulled the resisting hand and pressed it against his cheek without saying a word. The morning light filtered through the dappled shadows of the trees, illuminating the surging obsession in his eyes.

"Why not?" Shengxuan's question carried a childlike sense of grievance, and her cheeks were burning hot under his palm.

He deliberately ran his fingertips over the corners of his still tear-stained eyes, his voice low and hoarse: "You promised..."

Su Zhelan's fingertips were forcibly pressed onto that burning skin, and Sheng Xuan's thick eyelashes swept across her fingertips, arousing a slight shiver.

He stared at the face so close to his, a face etched with resentment, and suddenly, as if possessed, he curled his fingers—

"Ouch!" Sheng Xuan winced in pain as he released his grip, clutching his cheek where a red mark had been pinched, his eyes wide with surprise. The red mark was particularly noticeable in the morning light, complementing his astonished expression.

Taking the opportunity, Su Zhelan took two steps back and straightened his disheveled clothes. He took a deep breath, put on a stern face, and pointed at the bright sun outside the window: "In broad daylight! You..." The last half of his sentence caught in his throat, turning into a soft, embarrassed scolding: "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Sheng Xuan stood there, stunned, his left cheek still burning. He blinked, then suddenly burst out laughing—the large dog, which had been so aggressive just moments before, was now laughing so hard its shoulders were shaking, making even the red mark on its cheek seem more vivid.

"Then..." He wiped away the tears of laughter, suddenly leaned close to Su Zhelan's red earlobe, and whispered, "Wait until it gets dark?" His warm breath carried the unfinished words.

Su Zhelan did not answer, and did not even glance at Sheng Xuan.

He turned around abruptly, almost fleeing, and strode quickly towards the inner chamber of Shuyu Courtyard. His steps carried a hint of barely perceptible panic, and his back exuded an aura of "leave me alone."

However, how could Shengxuan possibly let him go?

"Hey? Zhelan!" Sheng Xuan immediately followed like a piece of chewing gum that he couldn't shake off, grinning as he trailed behind Su Zhelan, keeping a half-step distance behind her.

He deliberately made his footsteps very soft, but made sure that Su Zhelan could clearly hear him following closely.

"Huh?" Sheng Xuan's voice, tinged with undisguised mischief and anticipation, rang out behind Su Zhelan, neither too loud nor too soft, just loud enough for Su Zhelan to hear clearly, "...Is it okay tonight?"

Su Zhelan paused noticeably, his back straightening instantly, but he didn't turn around, only quickening his pace.

"Hey?" Sheng Xuan persisted, her voice tinged with a hint of coquettishness, "Right? You promised me!"

Su Zhelan felt a surge of heat rush to her head, her cheeks burning hot enough to fry an egg.

He bit his lower lip, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.

This Shengxuan! How... how can he be so shameless! He kept his head down and walked quickly, wanting to shake off this chattering, thick-skinned guy behind him as soon as possible.

Unfortunately, Shengxuan's persistence far exceeded his expectations.

For the rest of the day, wherever Su Zhelan went, she was followed by an inescapable "tail".

Su Zhelan went to the pharmacy to help Mr. Su Yan organize the newly arrived medicinal herbs, which required spreading some herbs out on bamboo trays to dry.

He had just picked up a handful of dried mint when Sheng Xuan came over, grinning as he picked up the stone mortar next to him: "Ze Lan, let me grind the medicine into powder for you!"

As a result, he didn't control his strength well, and with a "clang", the stone pestle hit the bottom of the mortar, and the medicine powder flew up, making Su Zhelan cough. Even Su Yan, who was weighing the medicine next to him, frowned and gave Sheng Xuan a cold look.

Sheng Xuan awkwardly put down the stone mortar, but still lingered by Su Zhelan's side, helping to hand her the bamboo tray. However, his eyes would occasionally drift to Su Zhelan, carrying an undisguised smile and... expectation.

Su Zhelan went to the canteen for lunch. He had just sat down in a corner when Sheng Xuan, carrying a tray, sat down opposite him without any ceremony.

"Ze Lan, these crystal shrimp dumplings look good, would you like to try them?" Sheng Xuan said, as he casually picked up a shrimp dumpling from his plate and put it into Su Ze Lan's bowl.

Su Zhelan looked at the extra shrimp dumplings in her bowl, then at Sheng Xuan's bright, ingratiating eyes across from her. She couldn't bring herself to refuse, and could only bury her head in her rice, her ears turning uncontrollably red.

He could clearly feel the well-intentioned, snickering glances from the servants around him, which made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

In the afternoon, Su Zhelan wanted to go to the library to find a medical book. As soon as he stepped through the heavy wooden door, he heard familiar footsteps behind him.

Sheng Xuan followed us in like a large dog, his presence particularly strong in the quiet study.

Su Zhelan wandered among the bookshelves, with Sheng Xuan following closely behind him. Occasionally, Sheng Xuan would "accidentally" touch Su Zhelan's shoulder or "unintentionally" brush against the back of Su Zhelan's hand hanging by his side.

Su Zhelan wanted to concentrate on reading, but he could always feel that burning gaze fixed on him, making him restless.

As evening fell, Su Zhelan watered some herbs in the small garden of Shuyu Courtyard. The afterglow of the setting sun cast a long shadow of him. As expected, that familiar figure swayed over again.

"Ze Lan, what kind of grass is this?" Sheng Xuan squatted down next to Su Zhe Lan, pointing to one of the plants and asking, his body very close, his arm almost touching Su Zhe Lan's.

Su Zhelan sighed helplessly, and was about to reply when he heard the laughter of the guards coming from the other end of the corridor: "Oh! Second Young Master, are you acting as Su Zhelan's personal bodyguard? Staying by his side every step of the way!"

Instead of being annoyed, Sheng Xuan proudly raised his chin and grinned at the guards. His smile was so bright it was dazzling, and he showed no sign of arrogance: "That's right! I have to keep an eye on him so that no one can run him away while I'm not around!"

These words were loaded with meaning, and Su Zhelan's face instantly turned bright red again. He stood up abruptly, not even bothering to water the flowers, and turned to go back inside.

"Hey! Zelan! Wait for me!" Shengxuan immediately stood up and took a long stride to follow.

The setting sun cast their shadows on the ground, one in front of the other, closely following each other.

Su Zhelan walked fast, and Sheng Xuan followed quickly; when Su Zhelan slowed down, Sheng Xuan also slowed down immediately, always maintaining a half-step distance.

That shadow, like the most loyal guardian, yet also like the sweetest burden, clung tightly to Su Zhelan's back, silently proclaiming a certain obsession and... the impending "promise".

Su Zhelan felt the ever-present presence behind him and the undisguised, burning gaze, and the helplessness and embarrassment in his heart almost overwhelmed him.

He quickened his pace, wanting only to get back to his room as soon as possible, as if that door could temporarily shut out the clingy and shameless guy behind him, and... the approaching, suggestive "darkness".