Chapter 93

Outside the window, the first rays of dawn broke, and the pale blue light shone through the half-open window frame, casting hazy shadows inside.

Shengxuan's biological clock is always precise. He regained consciousness almost immediately, the morning freshness and the lingering pleasure of the previous night flowing through his veins.

The moment consciousness returned, the first thing the senses captured was the heavy warmth in my arms.

Su Zhelan was like a vine drawing warmth from a source of comfort, almost completely nestled in his arms, her soft hair brushing against his chin and neck, bringing a slight tickle.

He looked down. Su Zhelan was still fast asleep, her sleeping face appearing much cleaner and more peaceful.

The flush from last night has completely faded, replaced by a healthy pale pink hue bestowed by sleep, evenly illuminating her fair skin. Her lips are slightly parted, moving gently with each breath, her warm breath brushing against the skin near her collarbone.

Those beautiful eyes that burned with anger and were finally filled with tears last night are now tightly closed, leaving only two curved, gentle arcs.

Sheng Xuan didn't move immediately, but just watched quietly for a long time. The hand on Su Zhelan's waist could clearly feel the soft outline of her waist below.

He subconsciously used the pad of his thumb, through the soft fabric of the nightgown he had just changed into last night, to very, very gently rub the sensitive spot that had been tormented so much last night.

It was perhaps from this slight touch or the gradual increase in light that the person in my arms finally stirred.

Su Zhelan's brows furrowed slightly and then relaxed, a faint, groggy nasal sound escaping from deep in his throat. He seemed to want to turn over and change position, but as soon as he tried to turn to the side a little, a distinct, sluggish soreness came from his lower back, instantly freezing his movements. A clearer inhale escaped from his nose, carrying the confusion and discomfort of just waking up.

Sheng Xuan immediately and firmly supported his waistline, which had just been pulled uncomfortably, stopping him from moving around. His fingers gently massaged the skin under his pajamas, and he whispered in a low, slightly hoarse voice above Su Zhelan's head: "Don't move... it's still early."

The familiar voice and the warm, controlling hand on her waist quickly pulled Su Zhelan's mind back to reality from her chaotic dream.

Memories flooded back like a tide—last night's dominance, the lingering soreness and loss of control, the eventual surrender, and that…unexpected, incredibly meticulous care. Shame, resentment, subtle gratitude, and physical exhaustion mingled together.

He slowly and completely opened his eyes, the moisture from just waking up filling his eyes like a lake veiled in a thin gauze.

His eyes held a hint of bewilderment, but soon, that familiar stubbornness and a "criticism" of the previous night's events subtly emerged.

Su Zhelan turned his head slightly, his gaze finally meeting the deep, dark eyes above him. Sheng Xuan was looking down at him, his gaze heavy, seemingly devoid of the playfulness of the previous night, but certainly not purely gentle either; it was more like… a silent, scrutinizing acceptance and a calm awaiting his reaction.

“…That’s enough.” Su Zhelan’s voice was indeed hoarse and dry, as if she had just woken up, but her tone was firm and decisive.

He even pushed Sheng Xuan's firm chest, which was pressed too close and he could feel the warmth of the other's morning breath, and said, "Get off. I want to... sleep a little longer."

This rejection was as weak as a kitten stretching out its claws, hardly having any real effect, but his attitude was clear: he refused this overly close morning snuggling, needed space, and needed to continue sleeping to repair the energy that had been overused the night before.

However, Shengxuan's reaction was completely unexpected.

A mischievous glint suddenly lit up in those eyes, which had been calm and deep before, as if they had been waiting for this moment.

Instead of letting go or getting up as Su Zhelan wished, he tightened his arms around her, like a python locking onto its prey, wrapping Su Zhelan even deeper and closer into his warm embrace!

"No..."

A deep voice sounded close to Su Zhelan's ear, with a deliberately drawn-out, almost coquettish nasal tone, the last syllable rising in pitch, full of teasing and undeniable intimacy.

The tone was both extremely childish and extremely domineering. At the same time, Sheng Xuan buried his fluffy head down, his burning cheeks pressed against Su Zhelan's cool neck, rubbing against her from side to side!

His high, straight nose brushed against the sensitive skin on his neck, which had been repeatedly sucked and bitten the night before and still bore red marks. His hot breath sprayed onto Su Zhelan's collarbone and behind his ears, bringing a strange, tingling, itchy sensation. Every inch that was touched felt like an electric shock, awakening lingering memories of last night.

"...You clearly really liked it last night..." Sheng Xuan's voice was muffled by the fabric around Su Zhelan's shoulders and neck, carrying a smile and absolute certainty.

As he spoke, he went even further, quickly licking Su Zhelan's protruding, still slightly trembling Adam's apple with his wet, hot tongue!

"Ugh!" Su Zhelan's body trembled violently, and she instantly stiffened! Her sleepiness was completely shattered by this sudden and overly passionate "intimacy"!

The moment Su Zhelan felt that warm, wet tongue lick her throat, a surge of shame and rage shot through her, like an electric current! All the blood rushed to her cheeks, burning them. The string of reason snapped with a sharp crack!

"This shameless bastard who's pushing his luck deserves a lesson!" This thought spread like wildfire, instantly gaining the upper hand.

Su Zelan's brain, buzzing from Sheng Xuan's breath and touch, was left with only this one command.

He even forgot where he was, driven only by primal shame and indignation, focusing solely on his still-free hand—

Suddenly raising his arm, fingers together, with a whistling sound of anger, he slapped it hard across the vicious face so close to his!

The wind howled fiercely, carrying the full weight of last night's humiliation and this moment's rage.

Sheng Xuan's gaze subtly sharpened the moment Su Zhelan raised his hand and swung his arm, as if he had caught some premonition of the trajectory of his movement.

.

However, the force of the slap had not even reached its peak yet—

Su Zhelan's movements suddenly froze!

"Ugh..." A muffled groan of extreme pain escaped from his clenched teeth, the excruciating pain in his lower back acting like a giant clamp that suddenly locked all his strength.

His arm, like a puppet with its strings cut, drooped limply half a foot away from the target, falling softly onto the pillow beside him.

Without hesitation, Sheng Xuan pulled Su Zhelan's drooping hand and pressed it firmly onto his own sharply defined face, which was adorned with a smug, roguish smile.

His palm pressed tightly against the back of Su Zhelan's hand, pressing down on that weak and powerless hand, forcing Su Zhelan's entire palm to press firmly against his cheek skin.

He even turned his head slightly and rubbed his cheek against that cold, sweaty hand in an extremely provocative and ambiguous way.

"Here, I'll give you the call." He even paused for a moment, feeling Su Zhelan's fingers trembling slightly from exhaustion and passivity under his palm, and the tears in her eyes that were even more chaotic due to the unexpected and humiliating events, before slowly adding the most infuriating second half of his sentence.

"...What, you can't bear to part with it?"

These words were like a spark splashed into an oil drum, instantly scorching Su Zhelan's nerves. A surge of shame and indignation, mixed with an indescribable palpitation, rushed to the top of her head.

Su Zhelan's five fingers, which were just lightly touching and trembling slightly, suddenly clenched together, using all the strength she could muster at the moment to pinch the skin on Sheng Xuan's cheek hard!

The knuckles tensed and turned white instantly.

“…Ugh!” Sheng Xuan was clearly not expected that Su Zhelan could unleash such a counterattack. Caught off guard, he felt a pain in his cheek and let out a muffled groan. His brows furrowed instinctively.

He could feel the trembling of those slender fingers and the force of the fingertips digging into his flesh; several clear crescent-shaped pinch marks appeared on his face almost immediately.

However, to Su Zhelan's surprise, the mischievous smile in Sheng Xuan's eyes, which froze in the instant of pain, did not turn into anger or deeper mockery.

Sheng Xuan gently raised his hand and grasped Su Zhelan's wrist, which was trembling weakly after committing the crime. He carefully and soothingly removed it from his face.

The fingertips gently traced the sensitive skin on the inside of Su Zelan's wrist.

“…Hoo,” Sheng Xuan seemed to take a light breath, rubbing his burning, stinging cheek, which was already red and swollen.

But the look in his eyes when he looked at Su Zhelan was not reproachful. Instead, it carried a kind of knowing, even gentle, understanding, as if he had completely confirmed something.

"It's quite energetic," he said softly, his tone neither a complaint nor anything else, just a simple statement.

Sheng Xuan lowered his head, his nose almost touching Su Zhelan's sweaty temples. His gaze carefully traced Su Zhelan's furrowed brows from enduring the pain, her slightly reddened eyes, and her bloodless lips.

"...Don't move around, okay?" Sheng Xuan's voice was low and whispered, with a soothing hoarseness, and his warm breath brushed against Su Zhelan's ear.

"Your back hurts so much." His palm, through the thin blanket, gently and carefully pressed against the warm spot on Su Zhelan's lower back where the soreness was most intense.

With a steady and just-right warmth in my palm, I slowly massaged in circles, as if trying to use the warmth of my palm to soothe the pent-up soreness.

“It’s my fault,” he said, his lips gently touching Su Zhelan’s smooth forehead, “I’ve made you tired.”

Surrounded by his sudden, overwhelming tenderness, Su Zhelan finally closed her eyes slowly, letting the warmth carrying that familiar scent engulf her.

Sheng Xuan slowly got up and carefully tucked the blanket around Su Zhelan, making sure his whole body was covered by a soft, dry blanket, especially protecting his sore waist.

"Sleep a little longer, sweetie." He gently brushed aside the damp strands of hair on Su Zhelan's forehead with his fingers, and gently stroked her smooth, full forehead with his fingertips. "I'll go prepare something light, you can eat it after you've recovered."

After saying that, Sheng Xuan quietly put on his outer robe, walked out, and gently closed the door behind him.

As the sun approached noon, the room was filled with sunlight.

Su Zhelan woke up slowly in the warmth. As soon as she opened her eyes, she was met with a calm and deep gaze.

Sheng Xuan sat on a low stool by the bed, watching for an unknown amount of time. His gaze was focused and direct, fixed unblinkingly on Su Zhelan's face.

The dazed feeling of just waking up instantly dissipated. Su Zhelan was caught off guard by such a frank and profound gaze, and her cheeks involuntarily flushed slightly.

The events of last night and this morning seem distant and blurred under this pure gaze.

He instinctively tried to look away or pull the blanket to cover himself, but the soreness in his lower back reminded him that it was futile.

A slight embarrassment crept into her heart, and she subconsciously pursed her slightly dry lips.

"...What are you looking at..." He finally couldn't hold back and squeezed out a hoarse and indistinct question from deep in his throat. His voice was so soft that it sounded like he was talking to himself, and it still had the sticky and soft feeling of someone who had just woken up.

Sheng Xuan's smile deepened, and his gaze not only remained fixed but became even more intense.

He didn't answer immediately, but instead extended a slender finger and gently brushed away the strand of hair clinging to Su Zhelan's lips. Throughout the movement, his gaze never left Su Zhelan's face.

Only after his fingertips withdrew did Sheng Xuan's deep, steady voice break the silence, carrying a hint of barely perceptible tenderness:

"Look at you."

Su Zhelan was taken aback by his straightforward and focused answer, and rolled her eyes helplessly.

What was clearly just a casual question from someone who had just woken up was spoken so solemnly by Sheng Xuan that it sounded like he was responding to some sweet talk, making the blush on his ears even more intense.

"..."

He looked away, no longer looking at the eyes fixed on his face, and mumbled something indistinctly, changing the subject: "...What time is it now?" His voice was still a little hoarse from just waking up.

"The sun is almost directly overhead." Sheng Xuan's voice was steady and deep. He finally looked away from Su Zhelan's face, glanced at the sunlight outside the window, and gave a precise answer: "The sun is high in the sky, it's almost noon."

"What?!" Su Zhelan gasped, now she was truly panicked! The blush on her face was instantly replaced by shock.

"Noon?! Oh no! I have to help my master organize the medicinal herbs this morning!"

He frantically tried to sit up, his voice trembling, completely forgetting the soreness in his back.

But his body had barely left the bed by half an inch when the familiar, sharp pain in his lower back made him groan, and he fell back down heavily, his face turning even paler.

"hiss……"

Sheng Xuan had already stood up the moment he uttered the word "it's broken".

Just as Su Zhelan struggled to get up only to be knocked back by the pain, Sheng Xuan's large hand had already firmly supported his back and lower back, the force steady and full of control.

Without a word, he half-lifted and half-carried Su Zhelan, his movements swift yet exceptionally careful, adjusting her into a comfortable position against the headboard, with thick pillows supporting her waist and abdomen.

"What's the panic?" Sheng Xuan frowned slightly, his expression calm and unwavering. "It's too late to go now."

He looked down at the other person's furrowed brows, furrowed with pain and urgency, and at the particularly vivid expression of frustration.

“He has mountains of medicinal herbs over there, losing you won’t cause the sky to fall.” Sheng Xuan’s tone carried a peculiar reassuring power, stating a fact while also carrying a hint of teasing towards “Su Yan”, “Take care of yourself first.”

As he spoke, he turned and walked towards a small table not far away. The celadon bowl that had been warming in hot water was lifted up, and the delicate fragrance of the porridge spread in the air with the steam—a gentle aroma of rice, mixed with a barely perceptible sweetness of lotus seeds. Along with it came a small dish of plain pickled cucumbers and salted vegetables.

Sheng Xuan carried the bowl and plate steadily to the bedside and sat down on the edge of the bed. He scooped up a small spoonful of warm porridge, the white rice paste shimmering delicately in the porcelain spoon, wisps of steam rising from it.

"Here, open your mouth." He naturally and steadily placed the spoon to Su Zhelan's lips. "Don't think about anything, eat something to fill your stomach before you talk."

Su Zhelan looked at the steaming porridge being offered to his lips, the words of rebuttal stuck in his throat. It was indeed late, and his back was aching terribly. He sighed resignedly, opened his mouth slightly, and the warm porridge slid down his throat, bringing a comforting warmth.

After obediently finishing a whole bowl of porridge and eating a few bites of refreshing side dishes, the stiffness and coldness in her body eased a bit.

He pushed the bowl away, propped himself up on the edge of the bed, and tried to get up again: "Okay, time to go... uh!" The familiar pulling pain in his lower back immediately struck.

This time, Sheng Xuan didn't force him down, but only reached out to support him in case he fell. Su Zhelan recovered from the soreness and numbness on his own, and struggled to move his legs to get out of bed.

My gaze habitually swept to the foot of the bed where I usually kept my clothes—but there was nothing there. After scanning the room, I finally saw the old clothes that had been soaked in sweat and crumpled up yesterday lying haphazardly on the low couch by the window, completely unwearable.

"..."

Su Zhelan paused, her gaze slowly shifting from the pile of disheveled old clothes to Sheng Xuan beside her. Her face was expressionless, her lips pressed together, her eyes deep and clear, conveying both accusation and a silent urging: Where are my clothes?

Sheng Xuan finally couldn't hold back anymore, and a sly smile, undisguised and smug, appeared on his lips.

As if by magic, he took a stack of clean, soft clothes from beside the stool—the fabric was comfortable, the colors were refreshing, and they looked brand new.

"Look, it was fumigated by Shuyuyuan this morning. It was just brought back and it's still warm."

He presented it to Su Zhelan like a treasure, his smile deepening.

Su Zhelan looked at the clothes, then at Sheng Xuan's smug "Praise me!" face, and felt a surge of anger, yet there was nothing he could do. He turned his face away, letting out a very soft "humph" from his nose, as if admitting defeat.

Sheng Xuan then approached with a grin and naturally offered to help.

Supporting Su Zhelan's aching back, she helped him up, skillfully unfolding his soft, clean undershirt and carefully slipping it onto his weak arms.

As she tied her belt, her fingertips occasionally brushed against her sensitive side, causing Su Zhelan's body to tremble almost imperceptibly. However, she managed to hold back and remained silent, only her ears quietly flushing red.

The warm sunlight streamed through the window paper, enveloping the two figures, one passing the garment to the other, in a serene halo. The only sounds in the air were the soft rustling of fabric and Su Zhelan's occasional, suppressed gasps.