Chapter 34: "I really want to, I want to kiss you."
Yun Sheng almost instantly went limp under that familiar scent, and unconsciously opened her mouth as he probed and took it.
Xiao Xu's kiss was urgent and heavy, unreasonable and domineering, just like when he broke into her boudoir through the window in the middle of the night.
Her tongue began to go numb, and her breathing and thoughts were completely disrupted by him; she couldn't even respond to him.
Xiao Xu's tall figure loomed over him like a mountain, heavy and hot. The dark shadow cast by the candlelight was so dark that even its outline was indistinct, yet it swayed inexplicably with an ambiguous movement.
The night was quiet, and the intense sounds of their kisses were especially loud, a testament to the pent-up emotions that had been unspoken for days.
Xiao Xu's hand landed on her lap without her noticing, and he easily lifted her up, making her wrap her arms around his waist.
Yun Sheng no longer needed to crane her neck to receive the kiss, but her entire body was pressed into the chaise longue covered with soft fabric.
It felt as if all the saliva in my mouth had been swallowed, and I could hardly breathe.
She instinctively turned her head to avoid the kiss, but Xiao Xu grabbed her chin and pulled her back to continue the kiss.
The fabric rubbed together, piling up messy wrinkles even without anyone pulling it.
Yun Sheng was only wearing a thin nightgown, and once the collar came undone, a patch of fair and rosy skin was exposed on her chest.
Xiao Xu's eagerness and domineering presence made Yun Sheng feel somewhat flustered.
She dodged again, finally managing to speak between kisses: "Wait...wait a minute, Changyu..."
But they were so close that Xiao Xu easily found her lips again, though the kiss gradually slowed down.
Gentle tenderness is more likely to stir up hidden passion than a violent storm.
Xiao Xu's voice was somewhat hoarse, and in the midst of their intertwined breaths, he couldn't help but utter a whisper that he himself didn't even notice.
I miss you so much.
Yun Sheng's eyelashes trembled suddenly, as if something had melted in her heart.
Her hands slid limply off his shoulders, her fingertips brushing against his chest, only to be struck again by his powerful heartbeat.
Xiao Xu kissed her repeatedly, his breath falling on her face, as if the whispered words were still pouring out his emotions.
Yun Sheng opened her eyes from her daze, her eyes reddened, her black hair disheveled, and the tears stirred up by the kiss scattered in her vision like starlight.
It wasn't until Xiao Xu's rough fingertips brushed away the moisture around her eyes that she finally saw his face clearly again.
Yun Sheng was pressed down on the chaise longue, with Xiao Xu supporting himself above her, almost completely blocking her view.
They were in an extremely intimate position, and the obvious feelings were unavoidable.
And yet, they're still so aggressive.
This was in stark contrast to his gentle words.
Yun Sheng caught a glimpse of the still wide-open window out of the corner of her eye, and immediately curled up her legs to block it in front of her.
Xiao Xu was thus forced to keep some distance from her.
He glanced down, chuckled, and stepped back from in front of her, settling at the end of the chaise lounge as if laughing at her frivolous thoughts.
Yun Sheng was embarrassed and annoyed by his laughter.
It's all because he broke into a woman's room first. Who's really being indecent?
She quickly relaxed her posture and sat up as upright as he had: "Why are you here?"
"Why don't you go home?" Xiao Xu's question came right after Yun Sheng finished speaking.
Yun Sheng choked: "I sent someone back with a message, didn't you know?"
Xiao Xu looked up and saw the open window not far away, as if silently reminding him of the reckless and outrageous thing he had just done.
It was precisely because I knew this that I acted so impulsively.
Xiao Xu turned his head to look at her.
The kiss had been so intense that her lips were inevitably red and swollen, glistening with an ambiguous sheen, tempting one to lick them, making it hard to remain calm.
The restless heat in his body had not yet dissipated, but the feeling in his heart was more of a fullness that came from finally seeing her in person.
Yun Sheng was momentarily stunned by his gaze, and before he could speak, she said, "It's really because something came up. Now that it's finished, I'll head back at dawn tomorrow."
Xiao Xu hummed in agreement, then got up and strode toward the open window.
Are you leaving already?
Yun Sheng was taken aback, and subconsciously raised her hand: "Chang Yu..."
With a soft thud, Xiao Xu closed the window with one hand, turned around, and clearly raised the corners of his lips.
"..."
Xiao Xu closed the window and came back.
He didn't sit down again, so Yun Sheng could only tilt her head back and ask, "How did you get in?"
"Climb over the wall." Then climb through the window.
"You mean, the wall behind my bedroom?" Yun Sheng turned her head in surprise in that direction, but of course, she couldn't see it from inside the room.
Xiao Xu nodded, without any guilt, and said, "After climbing up, I saw that no one was around, so I came straight to your window."
If he hadn't actually appeared here at this moment, and hadn't solemnly recounted what had happened, Yun Sheng would have found it hard to believe that he would commit such a thieving act.
Before Yun Sheng could react, Xiao Xu had already walked towards her bed, loosening his belt as he went.
Yun Sheng's brow twitched, and she quickly got up and followed him: "What are you doing?"
Whether his robes had loosened during the kiss or Xiao Xu moved too quickly, by the time Yun Sheng reached him, he had already taken off his clothes and draped them over the clothes rack beside her bed.
Yun Sheng's hand, which was meant to stop him, only grasped his arm.
Xiao Xu turned his head to look at her, his gaze falling from her slender neck to the front of her clothes.
She seemed ready to go to bed, so he naturally said, "Let's turn off the lights and continue talking on the bed."
Yun Sheng immediately said, "Are you going to spend the night here?"
Xiao Xu frowned slightly: "Otherwise what?"
Just now, when she saw him get up to close the window, she even reached out to stop him.
"That's against the rules; you can't spend the night in my room."
Not to mention the boudoir, it's not allowed anywhere else in the Yun Mansion.
Xiao Xu paused for a moment, then turned to look at the tightly closed window.
If we're talking about rules, he broke them the moment he climbed over the wall, and now that he's in her room, she still wants to talk to him about rules.
Yun Sheng had no idea why this person, who always emphasized the importance of following the rules and even correcting her on how to address her, would come here so recklessly tonight.
But that's really not possible.
She tightened her grip on his arm and whispered, "When the maid comes in and sees us tomorrow morning, my family will all know."
"I'll leave early."
“No, there are servants on duty at the gate very early every day.”
Xiao Xu tightened his jaw: "I won't use the main entrance."
"No, not even outside the courtyard wall..."
Yun Sheng fell silent halfway through her sentence as Xiao Xu's expression grew increasingly gloomy.
The room fell silent; even breathing could barely be heard.
Xiao Xu let out a deep breath, then suddenly lowered his head and kissed her again.
The kiss wasn't deep; it merely created a wet, sticky crack in the otherwise silent atmosphere of the room.
Perhaps it was because the two straw-woven creatures, separated for so long, had finally settled down in the same place to quietly keep each other company, or perhaps it was the first moment when they opened their eyes at dusk, unable to distinguish where they were, yet able to clearly recognize the familiar scent in their breath.
His rational and calm state of mind was disrupted and clouded, so much so that by the time he came to his senses, he had already done what he wanted to do, and for a moment he forgot that he had already thought that she would not have the same intense longing as him.
But my heart still skipped a beat because of it. I managed to suppress the bitterness by leaning down and being able to kiss her lips.
When the kiss ended, Xiao Xu stepped back and looked down at her in the shadows where the candlelight was blocked.
Yun Sheng moved her lips, about to say something.
Xiao Xu spoke first: "Should I pick you up tomorrow morning, or should I wait for you?"
"..."
Yun Sheng swallowed back the question of whether they should go back to the manor together.
She immediately lowered her eyes, feeling extremely embarrassed.
How come she's even more absurd than Xiao Xu?
Yun Sheng remained silent for a while, so Xiao Xu made his own decision: "I'll pick you up tomorrow morning."
Suddenly, Yun Sheng thought of something, looked up and said quickly, "No, don't come. Wait for me at the manor. I'll be back soon."
Xiao Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, easily discerning her barely concealed guilty conscience.
"What happened?"
Yun Sheng pursed her lips and shook her head.
Xiao Xu smiled faintly: "Since there's nothing else, I'll come pick you up."
"No, you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Xiao Xu reached out and grabbed her face, pinching the soft flesh on both sides of her cheeks to create two indentations. His lips pursed, and he fell silent.
"Sheng Sheng, you've told me several times that it's not possible since just now."
"No, this really won't work." Yun Sheng pouted and spoke unclearly, but her expression was serious.
She was inexplicably cute, which made him want to kiss her again.
But Yun Sheng used both hands to break free from his grasp.
She spoke quickly, saying, "My brother returned to the capital just two days ago."
Xiao Xu was naturally aware of this matter; otherwise, Yun Sheng would not be in her boudoir at this time, but in the east courtyard of the Prince Zhao's mansion.
"My brother only just learned about our marriage, and he... hasn't been able to accept it yet."
Yun Sheng's speech gradually slowed down, and it was easy to see that she was speaking very tactfully.
Yun Cheng was not only unable to accept it, he was absolutely furious.
Yun Cheng was furious at Xiao Ling for running away from the marriage, and also at the Prince Zhao's mansion for proposing such an absurd solution. Xiao Xu was naturally included in the blame as well. Today, when Xiao Xu was mentioned, Yun Cheng's face grew more and more unpleasant.
Yun Sheng only learned today why there had been a strange atmosphere at home a few days ago.
These were the very people who were arguing about this behind her back.
Yun Cheng met Xiao Ling on his way back to the capital.
At first, he saw it from afar and thought he was seeing things. He also thought that Xiao Ling should have already married Yun Sheng by this time, so why would he appear in such a place?
He hadn't gone far on his journey when he saw the Prince Zhao's men sent to hunt down Xiao Ling.
Well, things have turned out this way. Yun Hong and Xu Peilan had planned how to explain this to him in detail, but he learned about the change in Yun Sheng's marriage halfway there. He held back his anger all the way and naturally flew into a rage when he returned.
Seeing that Yun Sheng had found out, Yun Cheng stopped hiding it and even questioned Yang Qinhuai, who had come to visit, asking how the Prince Zhao treated Yun Sheng at his residence.
Yun Sheng knew that Xiao Xu had returned to the capital, but she still stayed at home, which is why she got herself into trouble.
She had to explain at length to calm Yun Cheng down a bit, but if he were to face Xiao Xu directly the next day, she was afraid that if her brother got angry, the situation would become very awkward.
But after hearing this, Xiao Xu said, "If that's the case, I should pay a visit tomorrow."
Yun Sheng stared wide-eyed in surprise. Could it be that he didn't understand what she said?
When others encounter such a situation, they would first think of avoiding the limelight, but he insists on going head-on.
Xiao Xu reached out again, this time not pinching her cheek so hard it dented, but gently stroking it: "Are you worried that your brother doesn't like me?"
Yun Sheng was still in a daze when she heard Xiao Xu address her as "brother" so naturally, and her eyes widened even more.
He not only corrected how others addressed him, but he also addressed people very fluently, even though he was a year older than her brother.
Yun Sheng gradually came to her senses and found it hard to imagine her brother liking Xiao Xu. She could only say, "My brother might be a little forceful. If you can't handle it tomorrow, just give me a look and I'll help you."
After saying this, Xiao Xu's expression subtly changed.
Yun Sheng also realized what was happening instantly.
She had said the same thing to Xiao Xu on the day she returned to her parents' home, but as soon as the carriage stopped, she was distracted by her parents' calls and forgot all about Xiao Xu.
However, Xiao Xu later became quite adept at dealing with the Yun family's relatives and elders, and there was nothing he needed her help with.
Yun Sheng pursed her lips and whispered, "I won't forget this time."
Xiao Xu looked at her quietly for a moment, his gaze falling on her lips, but he still restrained himself: "Well, it's getting late, you should rest early."
If you kiss me again, I'm afraid I won't want to leave.
Although I didn't want to leave in the first place.
"I'll pick you up tomorrow morning." Xiao Xu looked away and repeated himself.
Yun Sheng watched as he reached for his coat, turned, and walked towards the window.
A gentle evening breeze blew in through the open window, and Yun Sheng suddenly snapped back to reality.
Xiao Xu easily flipped over the windowsill with one hand, just like when he came. As soon as he stood still, his hand, which was supporting him on the windowsill, was gently pressed down by a soft palm.
Xiao Xu turned around, and before his vision could clear, his lips touched something warm.
"I actually have a little bit of that too."
The dull thud of the window closing suddenly blended with the sudden, heavy thud of Xiao Xu's heart pounding against his chest.
Then this seemingly random sentence echoed in my ears.
The figure behind the window seemed to be breathing heavily, but forgot to leave the window.
Xiao Xu stared intently at the silhouette, his Adam's apple bobbing slowly. Just that one little movement was enough to send his uncontrollable heartbeat pounding wildly in his chest.
*
Yun Sheng lay flat on the couch, wide awake.
Her breathing and heartbeat only gradually calmed down at this moment, but her thoughts were still excited, and her lips were faintly warm.
She unconsciously reached out to touch it, only to find that her lips were slightly cool, not hot.
She shifted and turned over, lying on her side with one cheek pressed against the pillow.
The quiet night, the thick darkness, allowed my thoughts to wander freely, impossible to contain.
She suddenly realized something.
Xiao Xu's trip was to find Xiao Ling, which delayed his original itinerary by several days. It is unknown whether he finally found Xiao Ling successfully, or whether Xiao Ling is now in the Prince Zhao's residence.
Her previous hesitation seemed to stem from the fear that Xiao Ling's return to the capital and his appearance before her would cause her to waver.
But now that I think about it, what is she trying to shake?
The fact that she and Xiao Xu are already husband and wife will not be shaken.
If she had no feelings for Xiao Xuruo, how could she be swayed?
If there is...
Yun Sheng's heart skipped a beat, and she seemed to see his figure climbing in through the window again.
As night fell, my thoughts eventually dissipated into the boundless haze.
Yun Sheng had a dream.
She dreamt again of herself as a young girl, with her hair styled in a charming, drooping bun, selecting newly arrived collections of poetry and prose with Yunzhi in the elegant room of the largest bookstore in the capital.
It was a rare fine day in spring. The two sisters were chatting quietly about a talented man's new work when Yunzhi's maid quietly lifted the curtain and whispered something in Yunzhi's ear.
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhi's eyes flashed with surprise, and she leaned towards Yun Sheng: "Sheng Sheng, what a coincidence, guess who else has come here today?"
At that time, Yun Sheng asked who it was with curiosity and confusion.
But at this moment, her dreams and memories had already revealed the answer for her: Xiao Ling had also come here today.
In that instant, the surrounding fragrance of books and whispers seemed to recede like the tide, and she felt her heart suddenly start beating faster.
She asked softly, "Where is he?"
Yunzhi told her that it was in another elegant room just a wall away, and asked with a smile, "Want to go take a look?"
Yun Sheng's eyes widened in surprise, but there was also a hint of anticipation: "What do you think?"
"Look out the window."
Yun Sheng wasn't sure if Yun Zhi was teasing her or serious. She glanced at the window instinctively, her ears burning, and her voice was so low it was almost inaudible: "I don't want to..."
Unlike her previous act of peeping at men, now that feelings have blossomed and the engagement is arranged, the young woman is both shy and reserved.
At that time, she thought that it was already fate to be in the same place as him, and if she couldn't see him, so be it. But she couldn't help but fantasize that perhaps she could have an unexpected surprise in the corner of the corridor.
The sliding door to the private room was gently pulled open, and the girl's skirt peeked out from the threshold with each step.
Yun Sheng turned her head and glanced back, her gaze quickly sweeping over the adjacent private room. The door was tightly closed, and there was not a single person in sight.
The girl's expectations were dashed. Disappointed, she turned her gaze away and took a step forward. Before she could see the road ahead, someone suddenly came and almost bumped into her.
A strong hand caught her arm just in time.
Yun Sheng looked up in surprise and saw Xiao Xu standing in front of her.
The bright spring light outlined his features with exceptional clarity, even revealing the curve of his drooping eyelashes. He stood where light and shadow intersected, his face as handsome as a painting.
He looked down at her, his eyes gentle and warm, as if in a dream: "Miss Yun, be careful, it's not convenient to walk forward if you're looking behind you."
Yun Sheng opened her eyes; she was awake from her dream. The daylight bathed the bed curtains in a soft, warm light.
She sat up in bed in a daze for a long time, still somewhat bewildered as to how she could have had such a dream.
That time at the bookstore, she did not see Xiao Ling, but she also did not encounter Xiao Xu, who was not actually there.
The dream gradually faded from my mind, but the throbbing sensations from it seemed to linger in my heart.
As she came to her senses, Yun Sheng suddenly realized something.
"Green Bamboo, what time is it?"
Cuizhu hurriedly entered the house, announced that it was 9:00 AM, and then immediately reported that Xiao Xu had arrived at the Yun residence.
Yun Sheng was annoyed. She said she wouldn't forget this time, but she still delayed. She had clearly thought that she must wake up before Xiao Xu arrived before going to sleep last night.
"What's the situation now? Have you seen Changyu, brother?"
Cuizhu nodded: "I saw him, he's in the tea room right now."
Yun Sheng hurriedly instructed Cui Zhu to help her with her hair and makeup, and then rushed off to the tea room without delay.
Outside the tea room, a group of maids and servants waited. In the courtyard, Xu Peilan and Ye Fu could be seen. In the side hall, the door was open, and Yun Hong sat alone, leisurely drinking tea.
"Mother, sister-in-law." Yun Sheng glanced at the main hall with the door tightly closed.
Xu Peilan nodded: "Your elder brother and the heir apparent are inside."
Yun Sheng's gaze swept between Xu Peilan and Ye Fu again. Seeing that they didn't look too serious, she felt a little relieved.
"How's the atmosphere between them?"
"Not good," Ye Fu said truthfully.
Xu Peilan added, "See, after just a few words, your father got so angry that he came out. Now he's drinking tea alone, just wanting some peace and quiet."
Yun Sheng immediately gasped again: "They're arguing?"
Inside the main hall, voices could be heard intermittently, but the atmosphere was somber.
Xiao Xu said calmly, "Brother, you are overthinking it. Now that Sheng Sheng has married into the Prince's Mansion, I will protect her and not let her suffer any grievances."
Yun Cheng snorted coldly: "Making her suffer such an absurd replacement is what His Highness calls 'perfection.' But that's true. This was not originally His Highness's marriage, nor was it a matter of mutual consent. If Xiao Ling returns to the capital one day, what will you do? And how will my sister deal with herself?"
"For me, this has never been a reluctant task. How could I feel the slightest reluctance for my God-given marriage? I have married for life. This marriage, no matter what it was for in the beginning, is now a fait accompli. I am the one standing beside her now, and I will only be the one standing beside her in the future. My relationship with Sheng Sheng will not change because of anyone else's coming and going."
Xiao Xu calmly met Yun Cheng's gaze: "If you have any doubts about this, the years to come will prove it. As for others, I have no complaints if you blame them. I will not shirk my responsibility for their mistakes, nor will I allow them to shirk mine."
Knock knock—
A sudden knock on the door interrupted the conversation inside.
Yun Cheng's expression hardened, and he gave Xiao Xu a warning look. Seeing no change in Xiao Xu's expression, he said, "Come in."
The door was slowly pushed open, and a dark head peeked out from the door frame, followed by Yun Sheng's face appearing through the crack in the door.
"Brother."
Xiao Xu's calm gaze finally wavered, but Yun Sheng did not call out to him again.
When Yun Cheng saw her arrive, his expression softened, and the tension from his previous confrontation with Xiao Xu dissipated: "Have you had breakfast yet?"
Yun Sheng gently shook her head: "Not yet, brother, have you used it yet?"
Yun Cheng thought to himself that this man had come to his door at the crack of dawn, calling Yun Sheng's husband and elder brother affectionately, but for every sentence he said, this man could say several. He was so angry that he had no appetite for food.
But on the surface, he only replied gently to Yun Sheng, "Not yet."
Yun Sheng then turned to Xiao Xu: "Where is Chang Yu?"
"Not yet."
Upon hearing this, Yun Sheng winked at Yun Cheng.
Yun Cheng scrutinized Xiao Xu's face for a moment, only to find that the other party was already focused on Yun Sheng and did not look at him at all.
After a long pause, he sighed and said, "Then let's have a meal together."
Yun Sheng had been staying at the Yun residence for three days, and today she would naturally be returning to the Zhao Prince's residence with Xiao Xu.
What Xiao Xu and Yun Cheng said in the tea room is unknown to anyone but the two of them.
When everyone saw Yun Sheng off at the door, he still treated Xiao Xu with the same indifferent attitude, while Xiao Xu politely bowed to him and his parents-in-law.
That makes him seem stingy.
Yun Cheng stepped forward, coldly gave Xiao Xu a few instructions, and then watched the two of them board the carriage.
The carriage had not gone far from the Yun residence when Yun Sheng moved from the other side of the seat to Xiao Xu's side.
Their knees touched, their bodies close together.
Yun Sheng asked, "What time did you arrive this morning?"
"Mao Shi (5-7 AM)".
Yun Sheng was stunned: "It was just dawn then, my brother hadn't gotten up yet, had he?"
“My brother is self-disciplined; I saw him when I arrived,” Xiao Xu said without changing his expression.
"..."
Yun Sheng was speechless for a moment before saying softly, "You're getting more and more comfortable calling me 'brother'."
The carriage drove all the way to Prince Zhao's residence.
When Yun Sheng stopped in front of the mansion, she felt inexplicably awkward.
Xiao Xu returned to the capital, and she also returned to the Prince Zhao's residence from her parents' home.
Some inexplicable thoughts began to creep into her mind. They hadn't seen each other for many days, and since they met last night, she hadn't had a chance to speak to him. In fact, she had a lot to say to him.
She wanted to talk about the embroidery pattern on the sachet she had embroidered, and she wanted to ask him why he had taken her kitten away.
She also wanted to ask if he was tired from the journey and if things had been resolved smoothly, but that seemed to lead to questions about Xiao Ling, and she wondered if he would tell her.
However, they remained silent the entire way, exchanging no words with each other.
Upon returning to the East Courtyard, as soon as they entered the room, the servants wisely refrained from following, and Yun Sheng walked behind to close the door.
As soon as she turned around, she was startled to find that Xiao Xu did not go into the house but was still standing nearby.
Yun Sheng raised her eyes, moved her lips, and was about to say something when a shadow suddenly loomed over her, her back pressed against the door, and his burning hot body was in front of her. She was trapped in this small space.
Xiao Xu lowered his head and kissed her lips, his long-suppressed desire filling the air. His lips and tongue forcefully pried open her teeth, eagerly penetrating her mouth, entwining and sucking, stealing her breath.
The scorching heat wafted over her, mixed with his familiar, refreshing scent, enveloping her completely.
Yun Sheng was stunned by his sudden attack and could only tilt her head back to endure his almost greedy demands, sobs escaping her throat.
A faint thought lingered in her mind, realizing that this was not her boudoir, nor any improper place, but their shared bedroom.
What might happen when we meet again after this brief separation seems unnecessary to ponder. Consciousness gradually blurs as our lips intertwine, and my legs begin to feel weak.
In the instant my breathing slowed, a dense, itchy sensation spread across my neck.
Yun Sheng suddenly regained some of her thoughts and nudged Xiao Xu, babbling incoherently, "It's daytime... I haven't bathed yet... don't go in front of the door..."
After a series of incoherent rejections, Xiao Xu took a bite of her skin with his mouth.
Yun Sheng let out a soft "uh," nearly slipping off the door.
Xiao Xu wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tightly. He kissed her lips again, pressing them against hers, and murmured in a hoarse voice, "A little something?"
"What……"
“Tell me what I said yesterday again.”
His voice was even lower, lingering only in the close proximity of the two of them: "You actually have something too?"
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[Dog head holding a rose] What's going on here?
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