Chapter 88 The Kissing Maniac Finally Recognizes Him
Mu Cenlin carried her all the way back to the main bedroom. His movements seemed forceful, but when he placed her in the brocade quilt, he was almost imperceptibly gentle.
Li Bao'er was nestled in the soft cloud-like blanket, only her small face, flushed from the heat, was visible. Her wet hair clung to her forehead, and her eyes still held a lingering panic, like a cat that had fallen into the water and was putting on a show.
"What exactly do you want?" Mu Cenlin's tall stature and his unwavering gaze made her somewhat flustered.
Mu Cenlin stood at the edge of the bed, his tall figure looming over her, his gaze deep and intense.
He suddenly turned and scanned the room, his gaze settling on a piece of cotton cloth on the shelf. He picked up the cloth, walked back to her, his tall figure exuding an undeniable aura, yet his next action made him appear somewhat... awkward.
Mu Cenlin pursed his lips and said somewhat stiffly, "Turn around."
Li Bao'er looked up at him, her heart churning with turmoil. Did he intend to dry her hair?
Bao'er slowly turned around like a robot, her back to him, her long, wet hair cascading down, almost soaking through the gauze dress on her back.
Mu Cenlin frowned slightly as he looked at her dark hair, which seemed to be dripping with water. He had never done anything like this before, and he rarely paid attention to how others did it. He hesitated for a moment, and finally clumsily draped the large cloth over her head, the movement so large that it almost made Li Bao'er sway.
“Uh…” Li Bao’er hummed softly.
Mu Cenlin froze, seemingly realizing his approach was wrong. He adjusted his strategy, grabbing a handful of her long hair through the cloth with his large hand and then... began to rub it.
The movements didn't resemble drying her hair; they were more like brushing a warhorse's mane, with no sense of proportion or method, and occasionally even accidentally pulling at the roots of her hair.
Li Bao'er felt a slight pain on her scalp from his slightly awkward pulling, and her body swayed involuntarily with his movements. She couldn't help but take a soft breath, her voice trembling slightly: "Hiss... Your Highness, be gentle... it hurts a little."
At that moment, Linglong, Yuanting, and the others, who were hiding under the eaves outside listening to the commotion, blushed instantly upon hearing this and looked at each other in bewilderment.
They had only approached anxiously to eavesdrop after seeing the prince carrying the princess back to their room with a displeased expression, fearing another conflict between them. Little did they expect to hear such...private sounds.
Linglong blushed deeply with embarrassment and hurriedly mouthed to the others, waving her hands repeatedly, "Go! Go!" She then stealthily and swiftly fled the place of trouble.
Inside the room, Mu Cenlin's hand froze instantly, as if he had been burned. He looked at her slender nape and her head, which was forced to bow, and his Adam's apple bobbed. An awkward and tense atmosphere filled the air.
After a long while, he finally spoke in a low voice, breaking the silence:
"Qingluan is not any of my lovers." He paused, as if carefully choosing his words. Li Bao'er, who was fiddling with the hem of her clothes, paused slightly and perked up her ears.
“Qingluan,” he began, his tone calm and even, “was someone I rescued on a casual trip to the Northern Border a few years ago. A local wealthy merchant was forcing her to become his concubine, and seeing her pitiful state, I took matters into my own hands.”
His hands didn't stop moving, but his voice carried a barely perceptible hint of irritation, as if he wasn't used to explaining these things.
Li Bao'er suddenly raised her head and met his deep eyes.
He put down the soft towel, and his fingertips accidentally brushed against her earlobe, causing a slight tickle.
"Afterwards, she was settled and given some money to make a living on her own. She stayed in the city for some time, then left silently, and we never had any contact again."
"I allowed her into the manor for another reason, nothing more." His gaze was fixed on her, utterly serious. He didn't say the rest of the sentence aloud, because Li Bao'er's calm and composed demeanor when he allowed her into the manor had stung him, and he had actually done such an absurd thing.
"She is by no means my beloved. Xiao Yizhi..." His tone turned cold when he mentioned the name, "He is self-righteous, puts the cart before the horse, and misinterprets cause and effect."
He ruffled her long hair forcefully, as if to emphasize the point: "I'll say it again, keeping her in the manor has nothing to do with her personally, and I have absolutely no intention of doing what you think. Do you understand?"
Li Bao'er listened in a daze, and the inexplicable depression in her heart strangely dissipated by his explanation, which was not pleasant and even a bit rough.
Before she could figure out how to respond, Mu Cenlin had already tossed aside the half-wet towel and walked around to face her.
He leaned down, bracing himself on the edge of the bed beside her, trapping her in a small space, his gaze fixed intently on her: "Is there anything else you want to ask?"
Before she could answer, he lowered his head and captured her lips. This kiss was unlike any before; it carried a hint of impatience, yet it deepened and lingered after the first touch, as if he wanted to convey all the unspoken words to her.
After a long while, he released her, his breath unsteady, his forehead pressed against hers, their breaths mingling, hot and burning.
Both hearts were beating faster, and through shared feelings, they couldn't tell whose heart was racing. Li Bao'er didn't understand Mu Cen's intention in kissing her at this moment; she only knew that she really couldn't control her feelings anymore.
He looked into her misty eyes, his voice hoarse: "This morning in the carriage, you asked me if I also... cared about you a little."
Li Bao'er's heart skipped a beat, and she held her breath.
Mu Cenlin gently stroked her cheek with his fingertips, a gesture that carried a tenderness he himself might not have realized.
His eyes were a complex mix of emotions, churning with struggle and feelings that could no longer be suppressed.
"Now, I will answer you," he said slowly, enunciating each word clearly, "If it weren't for..."
He lowered his head again, his forehead touching hers, their breaths mingling hotly, his voice hoarse and almost broken:
Why should I be disturbed by your emotional fluctuations?
Why should I tolerate your repeated provocations and tests?
Why can't I control my desire to get closer to you? I even... right now, I just want to confirm that you are right in front of me.
"Bao'er, do you know that the boy you saved at the Golden Buddha Temple many years ago... was me?"
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