Chapter 44
The first two times she kissed him, one was a last resort to stop him from nagging, and the other was last night when she was drunk and attracted by his beauty. She was too flustered to savor it. Only this time, when she was conscious, she could clearly feel the touch of his lips.
As soft as freshly solidified jelly.
As if by some strange coincidence, Shen Ah Heng bit it lightly.
Ashina Yu's whole body stiffened instantly, and she trembled slightly like last night. Her originally stunningly beautiful eyes were covered with a layer of mist, adding a bit of softness and cuteness, which made people's hearts tremble.
Shen Ah Heng was so itchy that he couldn't help but rub his lower lip with the tip of his teeth when his tongue lightly swept across it. His shoulders trembled even more violently, and the mist in his eyes was so thick that it was about to overflow.
As their lips and teeth touched, Ashina Yu was as docile as a cat whose fur had been stroked. He lowered his chin and cooperated obediently, even breathing very lightly. Only when she bit him harder did he let out a few light moans from his throat.
Her jade-like cheeks were red enough to bleed, but she didn't even utter a word of resistance.
Instead, he quietly moved closer to her, as if he was craving for more.
He had the guts to say "I'm offering myself to you" just now, but once he was actually kissed, he became even more shy than her.
The soft touch of his lips made her heart itch, and her eyes fell on the red and misty innocent look at the corners of his eyes. She was even more attracted by his beauty and lost her mind. One hand could not help but wrap around his waist, and her fingertips gently pinched the soft flesh on his waist through the fabric, wanting to tease him again.
But just as her fingertips were about to pull at his warm clothes, she suddenly shuddered and woke up.
If this continues, things might get out of control.
So Shen Ah Heng forced himself to hold back again, quickly retracting his hand, even his movements were a bit flustered.
In addition, after kissing for so long with his head tilted back, his neck was already stiff and sore, so he reluctantly stepped back and ended the kiss.
Ashina Yu opened her eyes dazedly, her eyes still a little dazed, as if she had not yet recovered from the kiss just now.
Seeing Shen Aheng retreat a few steps away, he subconsciously moved forward, wanting to get closer and stick to her again, like a little beast that hadn't eaten enough.
Shen Ah Heng's moral defenses were crumbling at this moment, and he couldn't stand the slightest teasing. Seeing that beauty coming closer again, he quickly moved his hand to his lips and pressed them, his voice a little hoarse with restraint: "Enough, enough, we've kissed today, and we'll kiss again later... later."
The candlelight in the room flickered with warm yellow light, stretching the shadows of the two people long.
Shen Aheng's fingertips still retained the heat from touching his skin. Looking at the blush in Ashina Yu's eyes under the flickering candlelight, the heartbeat that had just been suppressed skipped a beat again.
His long eyelashes drooped like butterfly wings blown by the wind, the corners of his mouth curved downwards quietly, and even his eyes dimmed a little, but he did not pester her anymore, and only responded obediently: "Okay, I will listen to Ah Heng."
Ashina Yu took another half step back, still holding the soft pillow in her arms, and walked naturally to the bedside. She carefully placed the soft pillow next to Shen Aheng's pillow, and her pale and slender fingertips gently gathered the corners of her pillow, straightening the crooked pillowcase.
It didn't look like he was putting away a pillow, but rather like he was cherishing some treasure.
After putting them in place, he looked down at the two pillows placed side by side, confirming that the distance between them was just enough to touch each other. Then he turned around. The disappointment in his eyes had long since disappeared, leaving only a soft smile.
Seeing that Shen Ah Heng was still standing by the door panel looking at him, he took two steps forward, but did not cross the line again. He only said softly: "Ah Heng didn't eat dinner, and the millet porridge you like is still warm in the kitchen. I'll go get it and get two freshly steamed jujube paste cakes. I'll be back soon."
After saying that, he was afraid that she would be impatient, so he added: "Just stay in the room, I'll leave quickly."
After he finished speaking, he turned around reluctantly. As his fingers just touched the door curtain, he looked back at her. Seeing her nod, he lifted the curtain and went out, closing the door tightly.
Shen Ah Heng stood there, looking at his matter-of-fact look, then looking at the two pillows placed side by side, and he knew in his heart that he must be sleeping with him tonight.
Shen Aheng couldn’t help but raised her hand and touched her lips. The touch of the kiss just now was still very clear, along with the faint medicinal fragrance on Ashina Yu’s body, which seemed to be lingering on her and could not be shaken off.
After a while, the door was pushed open with a creaky sound, and Ashina Yu quickly came back with a plate of food.
On the plate were two bowls of steaming millet porridge, a few shiny date paste cakes, a plate of braised beef in soy sauce, cut into even thicknesses, and a plate of stir-fried young cabbage. Next to it were two pairs of clean bamboo chopsticks, with even the ends of the chopsticks carefully padded with cloth towels.
Shen Ah Heng's eyes fell on the two pairs of chopsticks, and he couldn't help asking: "You didn't eat either?"
Ashina Yu placed the food plate on the table, rubbed the edge of the bowl with her fingertips, pursed her lips, the tips of her ears turned red, she responded vaguely, and lowered her head to stir the hot porridge.
Seeing his attempt to hide his true intentions, Shen Ah Heng felt a sudden tightening in his heart, and couldn't help but ask, "You didn't eat properly all day today, did you?"
"I……"
Ashina Yu raised her eyes, her expression somewhat evasive, and her voice lowered: "This morning I thought we could eat together after you woke up, but then we ate a little..."
How could Shen Ah Heng not understand him during the days he had been with him? When he said this, it was obvious that he had not eaten.
Shen Ah Heng was angry and helpless when he heard this, thinking why was he so stupid, if he avoided him every day, would he go hungry every day.
She didn't say anything more, just handed one pair of chopsticks to him and pushed the bowl of porridge in front of him: "Don't stand there, eat quickly, or the porridge will get cold if you leave it out any longer."
After the meal, Ashina Yu rushed to clean up the dishes, and his movements were incredibly quick. When Shen Ahheng came back after washing up, he just opened the door and saw him sitting on the edge of the bed, his back straight, his eyes shining as if there was light hidden in them.
It fell directly on her, with a touch of shyness but also with undisguised expectation.
Shen Ah Heng blushed at his scorching gaze, and couldn't help but look away. He pretended to be calm as he walked over, blew out the candle, and said, "Go to sleep."
The room suddenly became dark.
Shen Aheng lifted the quilt and lay down. Just as she adjusted her posture, she felt the mattress beside her sink slightly. Then she felt Ashina Yu approaching cautiously, her movements so light as if she was afraid of disturbing her.
Before she could react, a pair of warm arms gently wrapped around her waist, holding her firmly in his arms.
His chest pressed against her back, with a hint of the scent of freshly washed soapberries mixed with the familiar aroma of medicine, gently wrapping her.
Shen Aheng was not used to it. Just as she was about to struggle, Ashina Yu's chin gently rested on the top of her head, and her voice was so soft that it sounded like she was talking in a dream: "Aheng, this way... you won't be afraid of the cold at night."
With her back pressed against his warm chest, her nose was filled with the scent of soapberry and medicine. Shen Ah Heng couldn't help but move and muttered softly, "It's not too cold now. It's almost summer, and it's not cold at night."
After he finished speaking, the person behind her didn't say anything, but silently tightened his arms and hugged her tighter.
The force was not strong, but it revealed a stubborn reluctance to let go, as if he wanted to rub her into his body.
Shen Ah Heng could feel the rise and fall of his chest and his breath gently falling behind her ear, and for a moment she forgot to speak.
In the quiet night, after a long while, she finally heard his very soft voice, which fell into her ears. The tone was muffled, and even the ending tone revealed a bit of awkward grievance, like a puppy that had been neglected for a long time: "Those years... I always wanted to hold you like this."
The three words "those years" were like a needle, piercing Shen Ah Heng's heart unexpectedly.
She suddenly remembered the look he gave her across the crowd three years ago.
My heart suddenly felt like something was gripping it, and a dull pain came over me, and even my breathing stopped for a beat.
During those three years, he was alone in such a cold place, holding on to this thought. It must have been very difficult for him.
She once thought that he must hate her and hate the separation three years ago, but it turned out that it was all her misunderstanding.
That wasn't hatred at all, it was just that he kept her firmly in his heart. Even a simple hug like this had become a longed-for wish.
Shen Ah Heng wanted to say something, but her throat seemed to be blocked by cotton, and her fingertips trembled slightly, so she could only gently cover his hand around her waist. When her fingertips rubbed against his fingers, she found some thin calluses there.
After Shen Ah Heng suppressed a surge of emotions, he finally couldn’t help but whispered softly: “I’m sorry.”
The person behind her didn't answer or move, his arms still firmly around her, like a quiet forest.
But after a while, Shen Ah Heng felt the breath on his neck gradually become moist, and a small area of that skin became wet, with a slightly cool dampness.
Then, she felt his arms around her waist suddenly tighten, with such force that it seemed to dig into her bones and blood.
Then, she heard his calm, almost gentle voice, coming from behind her ear, each word spoken with heavy seriousness: "It's okay. From now on... from now on, never leave my side. We must be inseparable forever."
This time, Shen Aheng had almost no hesitation, and responded without thinking: "Okay."
The voice was not loud, but extremely clear, like an invisible reassurance pill, gently falling between the two people in the night.
Ashina Yu didn't say anything, but the hand around her waist curled up quietly, as if they would never separate.
At dawn the next day, a eunuch from the palace delivered a letter saying that Emperor Jianye invited the two of them to the palace to enjoy the imperial garden.
Ashina Yu held the note without even looking at it. She simply said to the eunuch, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. Miss Shen and I have other arrangements," and then put the note aside.
After sending the eunuch away, Ashina Yu turned back and looked at Shen Ah Heng, who had just finished combing her hair. There was no longer any alienation in her eyes, only tenderness that could not be melted away: "Ah Heng, let's go to the market in the capital. I heard that the sugar paintings in the East Market are very good, and there are also rouge shops in the West Lane. I heard that there is a food street in Shichahai, with some water rice stalls, lamb white sausages, sweet candies and fruits, etc. I guarantee that Ah Heng will like it."
He has now completely returned to his old self, but he is ten times more clingy than before. He holds her hand when walking, and always keeps her in front of him for fear that she will get lost when shopping. Even when he sees a candy man, he has to ask her "Aheng, do you want it?"
In the past, he could not speak the Central Plains dialect fluently, and was used to being docile, so he was often as quiet as a stone. But now he wanted to talk non-stop. Even if he saw a cloud, he would lean over to her ear and chatter for a long time.
Shen Aheng occasionally felt helpless, but every time he met his wet eyes, looking at himself like a puppy wet by the rain, all the words were swallowed back, and he couldn't bear to make him sad again.
The two of them strolled from early morning to dusk, and almost visited most of the capital city, until the carriage was filled with large and small bags, almost all of which were things that Ashina Yu bought for Shen Aheng, such as cosmetics, embroidery, candied fruits, hand warmers, and even the small clay figurines sold by street vendors. He picked out two identical ones and said he would give one to her and keep the other for himself.
As soon as the carriage stopped at the door of the guild hall and they got off, they saw a man walking towards them.
The man wore a crimson-purple brocade robe, a style unique to the Western Regions, with a jeweled belt around his waist. He walked a few steps to the carriage, knelt on one knee before Ashina Yu, clasped his fists and bowed. His voice was flat and cold, "Master Lingchi, the elders of our tribe have sent word that you have been stranded in the Central Plains for many days. Now that the tasks assigned to you have been completed, the elders have ordered you to return immediately with this young lady. There should be no further delay."
When Shen Ah Heng heard this, the candied fruit paper bag in his hand almost fell to the ground with a "clatter". His heart suddenly skipped a beat and he felt a little panicked.
She never imagined that the elders in the Western Regions, who were so far away, not only knew what they had done in the Central Plains, but also knew her existence clearly.
Ashina Yu beside her was still smiling as he helped her tidy up her wind-blown hair. The soft warmth on her body had not yet dissipated, but when he said the three words "Elder's Order", his fingers suddenly stopped moving, and the aura around him gradually cooled down, replaced by the familiar coldness. Even his jaw was tense, just like when they met again in Yuelai Inn three years ago.
He was cold and distant, as if he had trapped himself in a shell, with no intention of getting close to anyone.
He didn't say anything. The air around him was so quiet that one could almost hear the wind passing by. He remained silent for a long time.
Shen Ah Heng watched as his fingers hanging at his side slowly clenched into fists, his knuckles turning blue, and knew that he had been dragged back to the helpless situation he had been in before.
Ashina Yu clenched her fists and remained silent for a long time before she looked up at him. Her voice was as cold as ice: "I will go back alone, and she will stay."
The man in the brocade robe seemed to have anticipated his words. He remained standing with his head bowed, his tone unwavering. "The elders have ordered that you return with this young lady. Master Lingchi cannot refuse."
These words were like a thorn piercing Ashina Yu's heart. The coldness all over his body became even more intense, and the blue veins on the back of his hand even popped out.
Seeing that he was about to explode, Shen Ah Heng quickly reached out and grabbed his wrist, with a carefree tone: “It doesn’t matter, since they have invited me, I’ll go with you.”
Ashina Yu suddenly turned around to look at her, with complex emotions surging in his eyes, including resistance, irritation, and unconcealable worry.
Seeing him like this, Shen Aheng smiled first, patted the back of his hand, and said: "It's okay, it's not a big deal, didn't you just say yesterday that you would never separate, and besides, you are so powerful, I will definitely be fine."
Ashina Yu stared at the calmness in her eyes, then looked at their clasped hands. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her thin lips were pursed into a tight line.
In the past, he could have ignored the elders' orders. Even if things got out of hand, he could still resist with his stubbornness. But now, he had a soft spot. He could no longer ignore it. He didn't dare to ask the elders to show mercy to her, and he was even more reluctant to leave her alone in the Central Plains.
The chill around him gradually dissipated. Ashina Yu was silent for a long while, but he finally loosened his fist. His pale fingertips clasped her hand, and even his voice became softer, revealing a forced compromise: "Then... I will protect you."
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