Chapter 86 Pretending to be asleep
[Wait, am I awake? Am I dreaming? Was she just stealing a kiss from me?]
[This is outrageous! I must punish her. How can she only get one kiss?]
A deep, magnetic voice suddenly exploded in Jiang Huan's mind.
Jiang Huan froze, almost jumping off the bed.
[She's quite convincing at pretending to be asleep, except her eyelashes are trembling like little fans.]
Jiang Huan was on the verge of a breakdown. What could be more embarrassing than being caught doing something wrong?
Yes, it's when I'm being infatuated with someone and get caught!
[He stole a kiss from me and then pretended to be dead?]
[However, the last time I stole a kiss from her, it was also in a similarly furtive manner...]
Jiang Huan blushed deeply, wishing she could dig a hole and disappear right then and there.
Wait, in which episode did Huo Lin steal a kiss from her? What did she miss?
Besides, could what I did be called a stolen kiss? What she did was... what she did was...
That's thanks!
Yes! Thank you, Your Majesty, for taking care of her all night.
Just as Jiang Huan was frantically debating whether to "wake up" and pretend nothing had happened, Huo Lin suddenly moved.
Jiang Huan immediately tensed up and continued to play dead.
Huo Lin slowly sat up straight, looking down at the person "sleeping" on the bed, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
[Keep pretending.]
[I want to see how long she can keep up this act.]
Jiang Huan cried out for help.
She felt Huo Lin's gaze was almost tangible, burning her cheeks.
What should I do? Should I... or should she pretend she just woke up?
Just as she was struggling with her inner conflict, Huo Lin suddenly reached out and gently pinched her earlobe.
It's hot, and feels so good to the touch.
If you pinch this side until it turns red and it's asymmetrical, pinch the other side too.
Jiang Huan almost jumped up, her earlobe being a sensitive spot.
Huo Lin's pinch was like throwing a firecracker into her head, making her dizzy and disoriented.
Why is the Emperor pinching her ear?
Jiang Huan's inner demons have gone mad; wouldn't this be considered flirting?
That definitely counts as flirting!
Huo Lin seemed quite satisfied with her reaction, chuckled softly, and slid his fingers down her earlobe to her cheek, gently stroking it.
Her face turned red, like a boiled shrimp.
You're the shrimp! Your whole family are shrimps!
Jiang Huan was so angry that she snorted inwardly. How could a dignified monarch take advantage of someone's 'sleeping' to make unwanted advances?
Huo Lin seemed to hear her thoughts, and suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear.
"Still pretending?"
Jiang Huan trembled all over, finally unable to keep up the act any longer. She suddenly opened her eyes and met Huo Lin's handsome face, which was right in front of her.
"Good morning, Your Majesty!" She chuckled dryly, her eyes darting around. "What are you doing here?"
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow: "If I'm not here, where should I be?"
Who was it that grabbed my sleeve last night and wouldn't let me leave?
Jiang Huan roared inwardly, "She didn't! She must be sleepwalking!"
Huo Lin watched Jiang Huan's ever-changing expressions, his smile deepening.
He straightened up and slowly adjusted his sleeves.
Did you sleep well?
“It’s great,” Jiang Huan nodded vigorously, “It’s especially good, I slept soundly until dawn.”
Yeah, right.
Jiang Huan added in her mind.
Huo Lin gave her a half-smile: "Is that so? Then why did I hear someone talking in their sleep?"
Jiang Huan's heart skipped a beat: "W-what sleep-talking?"
Did she say something she shouldn't have?
Huo Lin pretended to be deep in thought: "It seems to be something like 'The Emperor is so handsome' and 'I want to kiss him'..."
"Impossible!" Jiang Huan instantly bristled, almost jumping out of bed. "The Emperor must be hallucinating!"
Huo Lin finally couldn't help but laugh out loud and reached out to press down on her fidgeting shoulders.
"Watch your legs."
[What a huge burden they've thrown at me! But if she's happy with it, I'll take it.]
[Pfft, I was just teasing her.]
Jiang Huan then realized she had been tricked, and her cheeks puffed up with anger, making her look like a pufferfish with its fur standing on end.
Despicable! Shameless!
She mentally ranted, "How could the emperor resort to such methods?"
Huo Lin was in a great mood and was about to tease her a bit more when Wang Degui's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Your Majesty? Is it time to rise?"
Huo Lin paused, glanced at the bright sky outside the window, and realized that the sun was already high in the sky.
He coughed lightly, regaining his former authority.
"Come in."
Wang Degui pushed open the door with his head down, followed by several palace maids carrying toiletries.
Huo Lin glanced at Jiang Huan; her face still looked somewhat pale.
He ordered, "Have the imperial kitchen prepare some blood-nourishing porridge."
[You've lost so much blood, you need to replenish your strength.]
Hearing this heartfelt sentiment, Jiang Huan felt a slight warmth in her heart. She secretly peeked out from under the covers and saw Huo Lin's profile standing in the morning light.
Actually... he's quite gentle.
Huo Lin seemed to sense something and turned to look at her.
Is she spying on me?
[I just got up, is my hair messy?]
Jiang Huan immediately shrank back.
Seeing the two exchanging glances, Wang Degui wisely led the palace servants out and thoughtfully closed the door behind them.
The room returned to silence.
Huo Lin walked to the bedside and looked down at the person wrapped up like a silkworm cocoon.
"Why are you hiding?"
Jiang Huan's muffled voice came from under the covers: "Didn't hide..."
Huo Lin reached out and pulled at her blanket: "Come out, don't suffocate."
Jiang Huan gripped the corner of the blanket tightly: "No."
Going out would mean facing the awkward situation from before, and she didn't want to.
Huo Lin raised an eyebrow: "What, you dare to do it but not admit it?"
"They've already kissed; she has to take responsibility for me."
Jiang Huan feigned ignorance: "What are you doing? I don't know what the Emperor is talking about."
As long as she denies it, the affair of stealing a kiss will not exist.
Huo Lin narrowed his eyes, then suddenly leaned down and whispered in her ear through the blanket.
"Do you need me to help you remember?"
[For example, one more time? Two more times? Countless times?]
Jiang Huan suddenly threw off the covers, her face flushed as she glared at him.
"emperor!"
Huo Lin looked at Jiang Huan with a leisurely air: "Hmm?"
Jiang Huan opened her mouth, but suddenly found herself at a loss for words.
Oh my god, this man is so unfair!
Just as the stalemate was at hand, Wang Degui's voice came from outside the door again: "Your Majesty, there is a new memorial. Should it be sent over?"
Huo Lin frowned and glanced at Jiang Huan.
Of all times, why now of all times?
Jiang Huan immediately felt as if she had been granted a pardon: "Your Majesty, please go ahead with your official duties. I'm fine."
Huo Lin gave a soft hum and reached out to ruffle her hair.
"Take good care of your injury."
[You can run away, but you can't hide. I'll have to settle this "debt of affection" someday.]
Jiang Huan chuckled awkwardly, deciding to ignore it and try to avoid it for as long as possible.
Watching Huo Lin's departing figure, she breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed back onto the bed.
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