Chapter 35 The Three-in-One Ghostly Beauty
"Let me explain!"
Le Jin almost screamed, grabbing Meng Shutai's arm like a husband whose family was on the verge of collapse, desperately trying to prove his loyalty to his wife:
“I used to be inattentive, but…”
She glanced anxiously at Feng Yu'en; now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to kick him out.
"He came to Luoyang on his own initiative, I swear I knew nothing about it!"
Le Jin opened her eyes wide, held up three fingers together towards the sky, and her round cheeks puffed up as she spoke, like a peach with pink fuzz.
"I came to Luojing because of our engagement, and I'm not lying to you about that."
She was terrified that all her efforts over the past few days would be in vain, and she was so nervous that she was sweating profusely.
What if Meng Shutai takes advantage of this crucial moment and kicks her out? She's doomed...
Le Jin was filled with anxiety, yet a soft drop fell from her sweat-dampened forehead.
Meng Shutai took out a soft towel and personally wiped her sweat.
Why are you in such a hurry?
Her phoenix eyes held a wide smile, with a hint of feigned reproach and resentment.
“Young Master Feng, you don’t know that on the day I first met her, Lady Le explained her purpose to me and even rode with me all the way here.”
Meng Shutai leaned close to Le Jin, as if polishing a rare treasure, his gentle and meticulous caresses her face with even breath.
I believe you. Why the rush?
His eyes held a delicate, honeyed sparkle, incredibly beautiful. But to Le Jin, they appeared as a chilling, hidden dagger.
The last time she used his personal handkerchief, she lost her life; this time, he's doing it himself again, so she'll probably have to be careful not to end up being torn apart by five horses...
Feng Yu'en also swallowed awkwardly along with her.
He was a seasoned veteran in the world of romance, so he could easily tell that this young master Meng was asserting his status as the empress and deliberately putting on a considerate and virtuous act for him.
Meng Shutai's image plummeted in Feng Yu'en's eyes. She had thought he was a virtuous man who helped others achieve their goals, but everything changed when Le Jin arrived.
So you want to compete? Whatever. Hasn't Feng Yu'en already competed with those beauties of Shuzhou enough?
Beyond the flower arrangement on the table, Feng Yu'en grasped Le Jin's hands, forcefully pulling her and Meng Shutai apart.
"Ah Jin, let's run away together! Forget about this marriage agreement, let's go straight to Yuezhou. It's by the sea, haven't you always wanted to see the ocean? I've already packed my bags..."
He chattered on about his plans, and Le Jin pulled her hand back in alarm, saying, "What nonsense are you talking about!"
"Young Master Feng explained your relationship to me. I think you should decide on the marriage."
Meng Shutai spoke casually, a faint smile on his face, as if the discussion wasn't about his fiancée's alleged infidelity, but rather whether they would eat perch or mandarin fish today.
But Le Jin was completely unaware that Meng Shutai's attention was entirely focused on her hand, which Feng Yu'en had just grabbed. The image of that white arm from the night before, and the man's conspicuous handprint on it, flashed through his mind.
It felt like someone was squeezing my heart, making it feel tight and suffocating.
A thought suddenly occurred to him, a thought he had never had before: it turns out that being virtuous and generous is so difficult.
He clearly wanted to tear off the skin of this delusional scoundrel in front of him, but he had to remain a bystander like Buddha.
For the first time ever, Meng Shutai found it hard to continue acting out his long-standing persona of a kind-hearted bodhisattva.
If Le Jin agrees to go with Feng Yu'en, wouldn't he miss out on such a fresh offering?
He hasn't yet managed to win over Le Jin's heart step by step.
He won't let go.
If she dares to take even half a step away from him, he will immediately find another auspicious place in Huayan Temple for her and Jiu'an to keep each other company.
"engagement……"
Le Jin glanced guiltily at Meng Shutai's nonchalant demeanor.
We're doomed.
He just wanted to push her away and end this cheap marriage.
That won't do! If they're going to "break up and divorce," only she can do it! Why go through all this trouble if she doesn't really crush Meng Shutai's heart?
Le Jin gritted her teeth, picked up the glass of wine she hadn't drunk from earlier, and splashed it at Feng Yu'en.
Stop dreaming!
"Get out! Get out! Get out!"
The cup was flung to the side and shattered into pieces with a crack, just like Feng Yu'en's heart at that moment.
"Ah Jin—"
Le Jin got angry and grabbed Meng Shutai's hand without saying a word, interlocking their fingers and raising it high for him to see.
“My fiancé is Meng Shutai, and he will be my husband. Do you see?”
Le Jin almost cursed angrily; she hadn't expected herself to be so angry.
She was angry that Feng Yu'en had come to see her on his own initiative, angry that he had almost ruined her engagement, and even angrier that he had unknowingly walked into a dangerous trap.
If something were to happen to Feng Yu'en, she could simply leave after completing her mission, but how could she possibly restore the childhood sweetheart "Le Jin" from the book to a complete and vibrant state?
Of the Thirty-Six Stratagems, running away is the best.
She simply couldn't handle the "love triangle," so it was best for her to remain a coward.
Le Jin pretended to faint from anger, closed her eyes, and collapsed into Meng Shutai's arms with a cry of pain.
"Lady Yue!"
"Ah Jin!"
Feng Yu'en, without bothering to wipe the wine off her face, reached out and embraced Le Jin.
"Stop." Meng Shutai pulled Le Jin closer and coldly rebuked him.
"Feng Yu'en, you and I already know the outcome of the marriage. Please don't appear in front of Lady Le again, lest you cause her more heartache."
These words were utterly merciless. Feng Yu'en stood frozen in place, her hands hanging limply at her sides, watching helplessly as Meng Shutai carried away her beloved.
Didn't she say she didn't like this fiancé she'd never met? How did things turn out like this?
He traveled thousands of miles alone, only to end up like this between the two of them?
His resentment and unwillingness to accept defeat made his blood boil, and a voice burst out from his throat: "Young Master Meng!"
"After more than a decade of companionship, Le Jin still rejected me; will you really grow old together and never abandon each other in life or death?"
Hello! ! !
Le Jin closed her eyes tightly in Meng Shutai's arms, so angry that she almost spat out a mouthful of blood.
Are you out of your mind?! You've filled in the hole I was trying to dig?!
She gritted her teeth, thinking, "Men are the most pretentious and useless things in the world!"
Her body was suddenly jolted slightly, and Meng Shutai turned her around in his arms, his voice like a babbling brook, possessing an unparalleled sense of reassurance and calming power.
"No need to worry. She and I will definitely be together for a long time, hand in hand for a hundred years."
Wait a moment!
Is Meng Shutai confessing his feelings?!
A million-dollar prize just fell into Le Jin's lap. This wasn't a confession of love! It was clearly the clarion call for her and San Niu's wonderful life together!
Overjoyed, Le Jin couldn't contain her excitement and grabbed Meng Shutai's shirt, pressing her head against his chest and secretly suppressing a laugh.
A gaze fell on the top of her slightly twitching head.
Meng Shutai suddenly found the person in his arms a little funny, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on his lips.
She's like that silly cat from when she was little.
——
"System system system!!!"
Feng Yu'en was sent back to Shuzhou by Meng Shutai.
Le Jin remained a coward to the end and didn't dare to see him off.
There's a saying that goes, "A good ex should be like they're dead." Le Jin now understands that this statement is absolutely golden.
However, she currently has a very, extremely, absolutely, and top-level important matter to confirm, and she really can't worry about Feng Yu'en anymore.
【What's up? 】
Le Jin paced back and forth in the room excitedly, almost biting her tongue as she spoke.
"Meng Shutai said he's willing to be with me!! Should I move on to the next step in my mission?"
Reject him, crush his self-esteem, and then tell him that I lied to him, so that all the people of Luoyang will know that Meng Shutai has been tricked!
That bastard asked for it, he deserved it!
[That won't work]
"ah?"
Le Jin's cheering and waving fist froze in mid-air.
"Why...?"
[System analysis indicates that Meng Shutai is not interested in you. Rejecting him now will only make things worse.]
"How could that be! He clearly said..."
Before she could finish speaking, Le Jin fell silent.
That makes sense. Meng Shutai is a madman who doesn't understand human emotions at all. Even if he said those words, what would they mean?
When a love rival appeared, he suddenly had a breakthrough in his meridians?
impossible.
Moreover, what is the point of having a love rival if you're a love rival?
Le Jin immediately looked ashen-faced, all her spirits gone.
"Then, what should I do..."
She collapsed onto the bed, staring blankly at the curtains, utterly exhausted.
This task feels like a job that will never end!
Keep going!
"you……"
Le Jin let out a long howl, her little face scrunched up like a bitter green gourd.
She sat up listlessly, feeling as if she were waking up at four in the morning every day in her dilapidated rented room, dragging her still-sleepy body to work.
Le Jin felt a lump in her throat, and an indescribable sense of grievance welled up in her heart.
Don't be discouraged.
[Haven't you noticed that Meng Shutai's attitude towards you has actually been getting better and better?]
[Take advantage of his softened attitude and press your advantage]
The orange glow of dusk mingled with the purple of night, weaving a dazzling ribbon across the sky like a fairy's ribbon.
The bronze mirror inside the room reflected Le Jin's face at this moment. Her orange-gold face had a pair of deep, shadowy eyes, and her sorrowful thoughts flew out of her pupils and fell to the ground with a resounding thud.
Well, for her reward and her life, she was willing to risk it all.
With the mission engine blaring in her mind, Le Jin immediately set off to find Meng Shutai.
If she wants Meng Shutai to accept her, she still needs to pry open his heart.
As the orange and purple twilight in the sky gradually merged into inky blue, the tinkling of a spring echoed within the Jingxin Lodge.
Qi Sheng said that his young master had been staying in the Jingxin Pavilion, where nobles bathed and purified themselves, ever since he saw Feng Yu'en off today.
Le Jin knocked on the door from the outside, but there was no sound from inside.
Oh no! Could Meng Shutai have gotten dizzy from soaking in the water?
"Meng Shutai!"
Still, no one answered.
With a "bang," the door was pushed open, and Le Jin, lifting her skirt, rushed into a cloud of white mist.
He can't get hurt; she hasn't avenged herself yet!
Suddenly, amidst the splashing water, a startled voice cried out, "Lady Le, don't come in..."
The white stone bath is surrounded by a pool of clear water, with strings of hot beads gushing out from the crevices of the stone and converging into a pool.
In the warm water, a naked figure with disheveled hair was submerged. He leaned against the white stone wall, his back to Yue Jin, revealing his smooth, fair shoulders.
Three or four water droplets rolled down his neck and disappeared into the strong, beautiful lines of the young man's arms, as if his skin were open, drinking it all in.
Her black hair floated on the water beside her figure, like snakes peering upwards from the bottom of the water.
Le Jin's mind went blank for a moment, and she lost track of what year it was.
When they first met, she thought his hair looked like a snake...
The snake-haired owner's eyes, glistening with moisture from the steam, turned back through the white mist of the hot spring.
Upon seeing that it was her, the man showed no shame or panic, but stared straight at her like a deer, his beautiful eyes sparkling with an inappropriate innocence and naivety.
"I'm taking a shower."
Le Jin was stunned by the strange beauty before her eyes. It wasn't until Meng Shutai turned around and looked at her that she shyly turned her back and hid behind the brocade screen embroidered with a raccoon cat chasing butterflies.
"I'm so sorry, I thought you had fainted, that's why I barged in."
If you're not letting me in, at least say something! What's with this feigned indifference?
Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, as if it had grown wings.
"I need to talk to you about something."
"About Feng Langjun? You still want to talk about him?"
Meng Shutai remained silent for a while, his tone slightly rising with a hint of grievance, somewhat like... a coquettish pout.
He turned over in the hot spring, crossed his forearms on the edge of the pool, tilted his head, and looked at Le Jin's trembling back.
“He was completely drunk when he left. I helped him get into the car for a while, and I smelled of alcohol on him.”
"Disliking the smell, I took off my clothes and went into the water, partly to get rid of the smell and partly to relieve my worries."
Relieve your worries?
Why are you suddenly feeling sad?
The water all around was rushing and gurgling, like a mournful song.
Meng Shutai didn't speak, and Le Jin waited for a long time before hearing only a soft sigh.
A tiny, soft claw seemed to gently scratch her heart, sending shivers down her spine. She suspected it was because she was inexperienced and had never seen a man's body before. It was her first time seeing a man's body and she had encountered such a beautiful ghost, so it was understandable that her soul trembled.
After waiting for a long time without him speaking, Le Jin couldn't stand his nagging any longer. She quietly turned her chin to her shoulder and glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.
The beautiful ghost had already turned around, propping his head up with one hand, staring at her intently. His eyes were filled with fragile, watery light, like extremely thin glass that would shatter into countless stars with a single breath before she could even touch it.
Strands of wet hair fell from his temples to his collarbone, with dewdrops forming beads on the strands that playfully pelted his overly pale collarbone, making him look utterly pitiful.
Behind him in the water, fluffy black hair, like drifting water plants, silently wove a dark net, eerily arranged behind his pitiful figure.
"Le Jin..."
He called her. This was the first time Meng Shutai had ever called her by her full name.
The voice was unusually gentle, like the white cotton curtain that her older sister would drape over her face on a summer night when she was a child, gently brushing against her face and leaving behind a soft, sweet scent of mosquito coils.
"I am here."
She looked at him and noticed that his eyes were red, as if... he was crying.
Do you love Feng Yu'en?
Le Jin was stunned. Why did he suddenly ask that question?
According to the original plot, "Le Jin" doesn't love anyone but herself. Feng Yu'en is just a playmate during her carefree days; after falling in love with Meng Shutai at first sight, she dumps Feng without hesitation.
But since she was willing to choose Feng Yu'en as her runaway groom, there must have been some affection between them.
"I loved."
"But that was when I was a child."
He was stubbornly childlike: "But when he told me about your past, you loved him very much."
The clear, warm water on his chest transformed into undulating waves, crashing against the broad snow-capped peaks and ravines, a breathtakingly beautiful sight.
Only then did Le Jin realize that Meng Shutai not only had a face that resembled a ghost, but also a body that was demonic and inhuman.
Feeling embarrassed, she quietly withdrew her gaze, focusing only on her toes.
"He told me about your youthful, carefree days...it was truly enviable."
Meng Shutai suddenly choked up, her voice slurred and incoherent.
"But you keep saying you're in love with me, is that true or false?"
The moment has finally arrived.
Having chosen to be a con artist in matters of the heart, Le Jin was prepared to lie through her teeth in front of him.
She went around the screen and mustered her courage to squat down by the pond.
"When you said you were willing to be with me forever, were you telling the truth or not?"
Le Jin wore a pomegranate-red ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) with a royal blue silk sash. As she squatted down, the hot spring water splashed and soaked her dress.
In the summer, the light and thin clothing, along with the damp patches of shadow, seemed to conquer and quickly devour the fiery red color of the pomegranate blossoms.
Her layered skirt hem resembled a heart shattered into pieces, while the sapphire blue ribbons were like veins and blood vessels.
Meng Shutai felt his heart being drawn to her, swelling and contracting, as if it were about to fly towards her, crash into her red dress, and become a pile of rotten flesh at her feet.
That day, without saying a word, she slipped her delicate hand into his and held it tightly, making it perfectly clear to that fool.
How to describe that feeling... it's like there are worms crawling inside his bone marrow.
A fleshy worm, less than an inch long, plowed and wriggled in his bones and spinal cord. Its fat, short body twisted and turned, and his bone marrow trembled with a tingling, numb sensation.
And there are 100,000 insects.
Meng Shutai's body was going weak from the stimulation when he suddenly heard Le Jin solemnly admit that he was her husband. In an instant, the 100,000 worms fell silent and turned into trickles of water that flowed into his blood. It was as if an elixir had been injected into his mind, and he felt lightheaded.
He is the one in her family, rightfully and legitimately.
Feng Yu'en is nothing but a delusional fool, not even worthy of being called a mistress.
Did you think you were so great for being with her for so many years? Anyone can be servile and obsequious.
When it comes to manipulating people's hearts, Meng Shutai is a first-rate master, unparalleled in his skill.
He felt a growing competitive spirit towards Le Jin. He wanted to see if he was the better one to tame her, or if others' debauchery and extravagance would better lull her into a false sense of security.
Meng Shutai lifted his eyelids, and his eyes, seemingly filled with resentment and anger, were like a soft, bluish hand hooking onto Le Jin's collar, pulling her into the water.
“If you are both willing, I would like to help you make it happen. However… you have rejected him again and again, but he turns a deaf ear to your pleas.”
"I am willing to help you get rid of this entanglement."
With her long, delicate eyelashes fluttering, Le Jin knelt down by the pool, her face pressed close to Meng Shutai's, putting on a very flirtatious act.
"That's all?"
A misty white fog hung over the water, and she couldn't tell whether the dampness on her forehead was her own sweat or the heat from the hot spring.
Her heart was pounding so hard it felt like it would jump out of her throat. On the surface, she seemed tender and affectionate, but in reality, she was secretly holding her breath, not daring to breathe at all, as if the moment she was discovered to be alive, the beautiful ghost would devour her life essence and soul.
With her eyes closed, she placed a very light kiss on Meng Shutai's cheek, as if it were just a gentle breeze.
Le Jin's ears turned red and she stammered, "I came here to tell you that, regardless of Feng Yu'en or anyone else, my feelings for you are genuine."
Meng Shutai's eyes suddenly lit up, and a helpless smile slowly formed.
"Lady Yue..."
"Please have some self-respect."
A bolt from the blue.
Could we strangle him on the spot?
Why didn't you dodge when I kissed you? Now you're unhappy after I'm done?
What a bastard!
Le Jin's face was a kaleidoscope of emotions, but Meng Shutai remained calm, his eyes like a clear mirror, devoid of any superfluous feelings.
"I know what you feel. But marriage is nothing more than an invisible and useless chain, binding two people like caged beasts, wearing each other down year after year. What joy is there in that?"
He will not marry her.
Marriage is the most boring thing in the world. He has absolutely no interest in it.
Why didn't he just keep Le Jin by himself?
"Speaking of which... this is actually a dying wish of an old friend. He didn't want me to get married hastily."
"Huh?" Le Jin asked in surprise.
Which friend is being so nosy?
"Do you remember the grave you ran to after the temple caught fire that day? That's the grave of my old friend whom I'm visiting to pay my respects. It was also he who repeatedly advised me to be careful about marriage, and that if I met the wrong person, I should break it off and get out of there in time."
With a deafening roar, Le Jin stared in disbelief, her mouth agape, speechless as if her tongue had been ripped out.
...The well-intentioned advice given at the beginning has ultimately backfired, causing us to shoot ourselves in the foot.
——
The temple was quiet at night, and Le Jin could even hear the rustling of falling leaves in the courtyard.
With Meng Shutai's words from that evening still on her mind, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
How did it all come to this, and now the blame is on me?
That damned Meng Shutai! Since he listened to her advice back then, how could he still attack her? That's so ungrateful!
Le Jin was so angry her head was burning and her vision was blurry. She punched the pillow repeatedly. Then…
She vomited.
The lanterns hanging under the eaves of the Zen temple lit up one by one, and a maidservant anxiously explained beside Meng Shutai: "Lady Le suddenly developed a fever in the middle of the night. The physician from the manor came to see her and there was nothing seriously wrong, but she just couldn't stop vomiting."
As soon as Meng Shutai entered the room, the three physicians serving him were already gathered around Le Jin's bedside. One was administering acupuncture to stop her vomiting, one was checking her pulse and temperature, and one was writing a prescription.
The maidservant serving in the room was almost in tears, "She won't even drink water, and she vomits as soon as she takes medicine, what should we do..."
Meng Shutai sat on the edge of the bed and looked at Le Jin, "How could she suddenly have a fever?"
The physician examining her pulse said, "It's been hot lately, and Madam Le has eaten too much cold food, leaving her body cold. Her wet clothes weren't changed in time, and the combination of these cold energies has caused her high fever to persist. Her vomiting is due to the cold food damaging her stomach. With proper care, she'll be fine, but she must avoid cold foods altogether."
Le Jin frowned, her stomach throbbing with pain, her head spinning like a bumper car. But upon hearing this, she ignored her breathlessness, stiffening her neck and opening her eyes wide, "No..."
Don't take away her happiness!
"What?"
Her voice was soft, and Meng Shutai only saw her lips move, but he couldn't hear what she said. He lowered his head and put his ear close to her mouth, worriedly saying, "Say it again."
The person on the bed was moaning softly, and the weak breaths seemed to lick Meng Shutai's earlobe, sending shivers down his spine.
"...Don't take away the ice bowl, the meatballs, the crispy mountain, or the ice cream syrup..."
After hearing her recite the names of the dishes, Director Meng raised an eyebrow, stared at her for a while, and then twitched his lips slightly. He couldn't help but gently pinch Le Jin's cheek with two fingers and pretend to twist it.
"Give me the medicine, all of you may leave. I will stay with her tonight."
One by one, everyone left in silence. Meng Shutai carried a bowl of brown medicinal juice, scooping it up spoonful by spoonful, blowing on it repeatedly, and then using a spoon to drizzle some juice onto the back of his hand to check the temperature. Only after confirming it was no longer too hot did he feed it to Le Jin.
"Take your medicine first, then we can discuss whether or not to keep the iced food."
Originally, when she smelled the medicine, her white mouth refused to open, but after Meng Shutai said so, Le Jin thought about it and obediently drank it down.
Unexpectedly, after three or four spoonfuls, his throat suddenly choked and he could no longer swallow.
Oh no.
With a loud splatter, a pool of yellowish-brown medicine mixed with acidic gastric juices was vomited all over Meng Shutai.
He's been wasting all that time.
"I'm...sorry..." Le Jin subconsciously reached out to wipe it off for him, but Meng Shutai stood up on his own, took off his coat, and didn't forget to support her with one hand.
"Don't move, I'll do it."
He ordered his men to take away his outer clothes and sat back down on the edge of the bed. Le Jin was already weak, and after vomiting, she became completely limp and collapsed onto Meng Shutai's lap.
As the luxurious and spacious outer garment was removed, the warmth from her legs quickly transferred to Le Jin's face, a comforting and reassuring sensation.
She doesn't even have the strength to open her eyes anymore; she has never been this sick in her entire life.
"Am I... going to die?"
A tear slid down her cheek and landed on Meng Shutai's smooth fabric, spreading out like a flower.
"I don't want to die..."
Her tears were gently wiped away, and Meng Shutai's breath lingered around her hair. He whispered softly, as if chanting a spell: "No, it's just a common fever. You'll be fine tomorrow."
"You're lying to me."
"When has Shutai ever lied to Lady Le?"
"You lie to me all the time..."
The girl on his lap seemed to have remembered something sad, and she cried like a bullied puppy, whimpering and sobbing.
Meng Shutai's mood improved without him realizing it, and he gently coaxed her, "Don't cry, don't cry, it's all Shutai's fault."
She muttered again, "I don't want to die."
The sound was almost a hum, soft, but persistent.
Meng Shutai gently smoothed the stray hairs at her temples with his fingertips, then pulled her into his arms with his other hand and patted her shoulder softly.
In the soothing and tranquil rhythm, he spoke slowly to himself.
“When I was a child, I had a serious illness, just like you. I couldn’t eat or drink anything and I was dying.”
"Back then, I often wondered, what is it like when a person dies? Will they disappear like clouds in the sky turning into rain? Or will they become like a soggy cloud cake, soft and limp, crumbling at the slightest touch..."
"I had a lot of wild thoughts for a long time, and it felt like my whole life had passed since I got sick."
"But as you can see, I still survived..."
With his gentle coaxing, Le Jin gradually relaxed her brow and her breathing became even.
Meng Shutai's fingertips, resting on her temples, slowly traced her cheek.
Cheeks, lips, chin... When she kissed me in the evening, these areas were incredibly soft, like tender yellow buds sprouting in the third month of spring, no, even softer, more tender, and more delicate than that.
His fingertips traveled downwards, finally landing on her slender neck, where he grasped and caressed it, feeling the pulsation and fragility of the veins.
She was practically seducing him.
She used her vulnerability and dependence to lure him into killing her.
An excited, bright gaze fell on her neck; Meng Shutai's long eyelashes trembled, and her breathing became disordered.
With a single act of great compassion, Le Jin would also reach the place of "eternal certainty"—death—found by Meng Shutai, just like that blind fox.
Suddenly, Yue Jin was disturbed by his trembling breath and murmured something in her sleep, her red lips purring softly.
Fingertips then curiously reached out.
The moment they touched, she instinctively opened her lips and bit Meng Shutai's fingertip, taking it into her mouth. A warm, soft liquid moved beneath his fingertip.
As if his heart had been squeezed, a strange, tingling sensation swept over every inch of Meng Shutai's skin, like a wildfire on a wasteland before a torrential downpour, burning his flesh and bones with overwhelming force.
He was stunned for a long time before he realized that "soft water" was her tongue.
Meng Shutai stirred his fingertips in disbelief, only to be surprised to find that the thing was alive.
She sucked hard, and his fingertips seemed to melt in her mouth.
With a smile deepening on his lips, Meng Shutai held Le Jin in his arms, letting her hold his fingers in her mouth, and they never returned to her neck.
Sitting alone in the dead of night.
——
As summer drew to a close, the daylight was already intense before noon, and everything outside the window was brightly lit, as if inside a crystal sphere. Birds chirped and cicadas sang loudly, like shimmering ribbons and snowflakes dancing wildly within the sphere.
Le Jin leaned against the headboard, craning her neck to look out the window, longing for the vibrant colors outside.
With a sullen look in his eyes, Meng Shutai turned away and was reviewing the Meng family's accounts at his desk.
Ever since she developed a fever that night, Meng Shutai has been handling all his affairs here.
He was taking care of important business while also looking after her as she recovered.
He meant well, but Le Jin felt inexplicably stressed.
Meng Shutai personally fed her every medicine and food, bite by bite, because he was afraid she would vomit again; even when she felt better, she couldn't get out of bed, for he was afraid she would catch a cold...
They're treating her like a porcelain doll!
She was a wild girl who grew up from childhood. She had grown up through all the ups and downs over the years. She was bored with this kind of refined life. If he stayed with her for a few more days, Le Jin had no doubt that she would go crazy.
She quietly pushed the blanket over herself further, revealing a section of her white calves to get some fresh air, silently rebelling against Meng Shutai.
"Pull your leg back."
Meng Shutai suddenly spoke up, and Le Jin glanced at him in surprise, only to see that he was focused on looking at the account book and did not look up at her at all.
monster.
Le Jin cursed him inwardly, but still covered her legs. There was no other way; when you're under someone's roof, you have to bow your head.
Moreover, she discovered a characteristic of Meng Shutai these days: he responds better to gentle persuasion than force.
After her fever subsided, she didn't want to take any more medicine, but Meng Shutai insisted that she take it for a few more days to stabilize her condition.
The medicine was fed to her lips, but Le Jin stubbornly refused to open her mouth. Meng Shutai smiled faintly, and his right hand instantly gripped her chin, causing Le Jin to cry out in pain.
She thought she could take the opportunity to force the medicine down her throat. Unexpectedly, simply opening her mouth wasn't enough; Meng Shutai directly inserted his index finger into Le Jin's mouth. It was icy cold and had a sandalwood scent.
"I'm sorry, Lady Le. If you keep quiet, Shutai's finger will be cut off in your mouth."
Le Jin dared not move again. A spoonful of bitter medicine flowed into her mouth and accumulated in her throat, forcing her to swallow.
She raised her tongue and pressed it against Meng Shutai's cold fingers, struggling to move her throat and tongue. She almost choked when she swallowed the medicine, and her brows furrowed in dissatisfaction.
Before she could catch her breath, another spoonful of medicine was fed into her, and she could only awkwardly move her tongue and swallow again...
Her tongue was hurting terribly from being pressed down by him!
Tears welled up in her eyes, and everything was blurry except for the strange feeling in her mouth. Naturally, she couldn't see the comfort hidden in Meng Shutai's upturned lips.
From then on, Le Jin was unusually eager to take her medicine, as if she was afraid he would put his finger in her mouth.
Meng Shutai's forceful approach is terrifying, and somewhat perverted.
Not just medicine, but lately she's been eating mostly liquids, seemingly to soothe her stomach. Of course, Meng Shutai is still feeding her.
But Le Jin was incredibly hungry, and liquid food couldn't possibly keep her from being hungry. Every day, her stomach was churning like it was on a swing, screaming for food...
After finishing the nourishing soup that the kitchen had specially prepared for her, she quietly asked Meng Shutai if she could eat something solid.
At first he disagreed, but over time, Le Jin would always get a pastry from Madam Zhang after finishing her drinks.
Meng Shutai went to Madam Zhang specifically to get it.
Le Jin happily munched on his snacks, realizing he had to appease him.
If you want to get what she wants, you have to listen to her and do what she says.
However, after finishing the pastry and brushing all the sweet crumbs from her mouth with her fingers, Le Jin clapped her hands and decided to completely forget about the kindness shown to her by the pastry.
Yeah, why should we listen to him?
If it weren't for Meng Shutai, she would be lively and energetic right now, instead of having to watch his expression even when eating a snack.
Bah! Those bad people who restrict her freedom.
Le Jin subtly pursed her lips, then turned and asked sweetly, "Are you going to see the host again today?"
Meng Shutai seems to have a very important matter to deal with. Although he has been taking care of her these past few days, he has also spent a lot of time going out to discuss matters with the abbot of Huayan Temple.
He nodded, closed the ledger, and said, "I was just about to go."
"Once this matter is settled, we should go down the mountain and return to the city."
Meng Shutai walked to Le Jin's bedside, tucked her blanket in, and said softly, "Don't worry, stay at my place when you get back."
"As for Mr. Yue..."
Meng Shutai pursed his lips, a faint smile in his eyes, "We've made some progress on his whereabouts. It's said that someone saw him in the mountains south of the capital."
"What!"
Overjoyed, Le Jin grabbed Meng Shutai's arms with both hands, kicked off the blankets, and knelt down.
"Really! My brother's coming back soon, isn't he?!"
Her heart was so happy it felt like it could fly away as a bird. Le Zhao was the only person she could trust completely right now, and she dreamed of him standing in front of her again, as if he represented a sense of security and protection.
Le Jin was overjoyed, but the faint smile in Meng Shutai's eyes was swallowed up by the gloomy undercurrent and disappeared.
He took a deep breath to conceal his turbulent emotions, his tone softening again: "I can't guarantee it. This is all the information I have; we're still searching for the person..."
"It's alright, it's alright, news will come soon, we'll definitely find them."
Le Jin's eyebrows curved, her smiling face as bright and cheerful as spring flowers, but she hurriedly pushed Meng Shutai away.
"Go see the host, don't delay. I promise I'll take my medicine and eat properly, and I definitely won't run around, don't worry..."
Seeing her obedient appearance as she raised her hand to swear, a faint ripple appeared in Meng Shutai's dark eyes.
Is Le Zhao her magic cure?
Is a single, incomplete message worth as much as several days of his condescending service?
A cool, spiderweb-like mist slowly forms in my heart.
Heartless.
——
As soon as Meng Shutai left, Le Jin immediately moved a stool to a shady spot on the outer corridor, then hurriedly ran back into the house, took out a handful of cherries she had hidden in the ice tank the night before, put them on her clothes, and rushed out to enjoy the summer.
In the corner of his monastery stood a cherry tree, bearing exceptionally beautiful fruit. Each cherry was plump and glossy, its bright red skin hanging from the branch like agate earrings.
Le Jin secretly picked up a handful of fallen cherries during the night, waiting for Meng Shutai to leave so she could live her own life.
With a gentle bite, a crisp "pop" sound is heard as the paper-thin peel breaks open, releasing sweet and sour juice that makes Le Jin's mouth water. The flesh melts in her mouth, the pit falling off easily, soft like a mouthful of cool cotton cloud.
A cool breeze under the eaves carried a hint of summer heat, a warm feeling mixed with the fragrance of flowers, grass, and fruit from her arms. The breeze made Le Jin feel relaxed and happy, swinging her legs on the stool.
Le Jin picked up another cherry and put it in her mouth. Just as her teeth bit the pit, a cheerful young voice suddenly rang out in the yard:
"elder brother--"
who? !
Le Jin stared wide-eyed toward the source of the sound. She couldn't see the person yet, but she could clearly hear the sound of footsteps like a horse's hoof.
She can't let anyone see her like this, or she'll be in big trouble.
She jumped up, trying to run, but as she lifted the stool, she lost her grip on her clothes, scattering cherries all over the floor—"evidence" everywhere. She cursed and immediately squatted down to pick up the cherries, completely flustered.
"Who are you? I've never seen you before."
The cheerful voice from before now rang out behind Le Jin, filled with doubt and curiosity.
Le Jin turned around awkwardly, her mind still concocting various explanations, but her eyes suddenly went blank.
The newcomer appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen years old. He wore a gardenia-blue outfit with contrasting sleeves, which accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, giving him a dashing yet scholarly air. A jade-colored hairband with silver embroidery accompanied his ponytail, which cascaded down his shoulders.
He bent down and tilted his head, staring at her with a clear eye.
Haven't you seen it before?
No, I have seen it.
As if a tide were washing over her chest, looking at him, Le Jin felt an indescribable mix of emotions.
Meng Cizhang has grown up, and the four-year time span is finally clearly visible.
Seeing the child she once saved grow up to be so handsome, she suddenly felt a sense of pride, like "my daughter has come of age."
He awkwardly handed her a bunch of cherries, and she smiled, "Want some?"
This was a very strange action, but Meng Cizhang showed no surprise and took it directly into his mouth.
"So sweet! But who exactly are you?"
With a delicious cherry in his mouth, his features, which resembled Meng Shutai's, softened in an instant, revealing a touch of youthful naiveté.
A sweet feeling melted in Le Jin's heart.
That's good. This child is still the same as when he was a child, not like his crazy older brother.
"I am Le Jin."
She had no title as the daughter of the richest man in Shuzhou, nor was she engaged to his brother. She only told him her name and who she was at that moment.
"Le Jin?" Meng Cizhang's eyes lit up. "Then you're my future sister-in-law?"
Before Le Jin could even nod, Meng Cizhang paced back and forth with joy, unable to contain his excitement.
Le Jin thought he was just feeling curious and surprised about the identity of his sister-in-law, and was about to advise him to calm down when Meng Cizhang asked her expectantly:
"Is your brother Yue Zhao? Is the maidservant serving you named Bao Yin? Did you get separated from them?"
"Ah!" Le Jin exclaimed in shock, covering her mouth in disbelief.
How did you know?
"I saved them!"
Meng Cizhang had one bright, sparkling eye, while the other was partially covered by a silver-threaded blindfold. This seemingly incomplete concealment, however, gave the young man's jade-like face a unique charm, enhancing his elegance.
Le Jin grabbed Meng Cizhang's arms with both hands and shook him violently: "Really? Where are they? How did you save them?"
Overwhelmed with joy at finding what she had lost, Le Jin suddenly remembered that the first time she met Meng Shutai, he was helping Meng Cizhang rescue a little bird.
This boy has always liked to pick up things and rescue them since he was a child, as if it were his destiny.
A thousand emotions welled up in her heart. Fortunately, she had saved Meng Cizhang back then; otherwise, Le Zhao would not know where she would be now.
Who says doing good deeds is useless? Isn't this her reward? Her eyes were a little sore, and she liked Meng Cizhang more and more as she looked at him. She quickly stuffed the remaining cherries on her body into Meng Cizhang's hands, "Here, here, have some cherries! Talk to me slowly."
"Why are you crying?" Meng Cizhang was slightly surprised. He couldn't stand seeing girls cry, so he quickly placed the wooden doll he was holding on the stool behind Le Jin and fanned her with his hands like a small fan, trying to dry her tears.
"Don't cry, don't cry... They're all fine!"
Seeing his actions, Le Jin was both amused and exasperated. Remembering his kindness, she quickly wiped away her tears and said, "I'm not crying, I'm not crying."
Her bright eyes, her long eyelashes glued together by tears, gazed at Meng Cizhang with a sincere look that was more fervent than any praise in the world.
Meng Cizhang felt a little embarrassed and lowered his head to avoid her gaze, his eyes falling on the doll he had carved.
“Look at this,” he picked up the doll again. “I met your brother when I went to the mountains to find timber. He was badly injured, so I took him and your maid to stay at the Meng family’s villa on the outskirts of the capital. They are recuperating there right now.”
Le Jin listened and nodded, saying thank you several times.
"But why haven't we heard anything after you saved someone? Your brother is also helping me look for them."
Meng Cizhang frowned slightly: "I'm wondering too. It was Brother Zhao who told me not to say anything. He told me to keep their whereabouts a secret and not to tell anyone else. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been left to recuperate in the other courtyard."
Le Jin raised her eyebrows high. She never expected that Meng Shutai's inability to find his whereabouts for many days was actually Le Zhao's doing.
The heavy weight that had been hanging over her heart for days finally lifted, and she was genuinely overjoyed.
But before long, a cold voice appeared in his mind.
[Character Action Point: Damage the Wood Carving]
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Author's Note: Oh my god, thank goodness it was only a 10,000-word chapter, otherwise I would have been exhausted! [crying][crying][crying][crying]
The word count requirement for this week's (until next Wednesday) ranking is 20,000 words, which means there will be about two to three more chapters to update [applause]. Daily updates will be available.
Future updates will depend on the ranking requirements. Whether I'll update daily or take a break will be announced in the author's notes beforehand~ [starry eyes][starry eyes][starry eyes]
Let me recommend my next book: *The Ghostly Scholar in the Coffin*
A classic pairing of sweet girl and cool guy! [Go for it!] The Ghost King's pursuit of his wife across lifetimes ends in rejection! Why can't a 1.9-meter-tall man catch up with his lame wife?
Click to view the pre-order synopsis for details [kissing emoji]
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