Chapter 61 She might...not understand yet
The morning light streamed through the carved window lattices, filling the sleeping quarters.
Chi Li had already woken up, but for the first time ever, she did not get up.
She lay on her side, her arm still wrapped around the sleeping little tree spirit in her arms, her crimson-gold eyes lowered, her gaze tracing Tang Lu's tranquil sleeping face.
The little one was fast asleep, his long eyelashes obediently covering his eyelids, his soft lips slightly parted, and his breathing even.
His appearance was completely unlike that of the audacious little fellow from last night who dared to "devour" the demon king.
Chi Li's fingertips gently brushed against the strands of Tang Lu's hair scattered on the pillow, feeling the supple texture, her heart filled with a sense of fullness.
Through a soul resonance, she captured some chaotic fragments of Tang Lu's thoughts in her sleep.
Intermittent, bizarre and fantastical.
…Lili's lips…are like the softest clouds…
[...picture book...turn the page...the two little figures are closer together...]
[…Sparkling…no…it’s Lili’s eyes that are even brighter…]
[…tighten it…tighter…]
These naive and straightforward thoughts were revealed to Chi Li without any defenses, carrying the pure longing that Tang Lu had filtered out all impurities from.
Chi Li's lips curled up slightly involuntarily.
Her tree spirit even dreams of reviewing her "lessons".
Perhaps sensing Chi Li's gaze, Tang Lu's eyelashes trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes.
The initial confusion dissipated, and amber eyes met smiling crimson pupils.
Last night's embarrassing memories flooded back, and Tang Lu blushed instantly, her cheeks turning red all the way to her ears, and even her neck was tinged with a thin layer of pink.
She instinctively tried to hide under the covers, but Chi Li's arms held her tightly, preventing her from moving.
"Why are you hiding?" Chi Li's voice, still languid from just waking up, was incredibly magnetic, striking Tang Lu's heart. "You were so bold last night, and now you know how to be shy?"
Tang Lu buried her burning face in the fabric of Chi Li's clothes and protested in a muffled voice, "I...I'm not shy!"
My heart is pounding...
Chi Li chuckled softly, not exposing her, but simply tightening her arms to bring her closer to her.
“That booklet,” Chi Li casually mentioned, “it seems you studied it very ‘attentively’.”
Tang Lu stiffened, looked up, and her eyes flickered: "Well... I didn't really put in much effort..."
She explained softly, "I was just... looking around..."
"Oh?" Chi Li raised an eyebrow, her fingertip tugging at a stray strand of her hair that had playfully stuck up. "Then what does 'tie it tighter' mean? Is it also recorded in the book?"
!!! !!! !
Tang Lu's eyes widened instantly, like a kitten whose tail had been stepped on.
How could Lili know what she was thinking in her dream?!
Ah! It's that! That soul resonance!
She was so ashamed that she wanted to disappear into the ground. She tried to break free from Chi Li's embrace with both hands and feet, but he had anticipated this and suppressed her, instead holding her even tighter.
“It seems,” Chi Li leaned down, her warm breath brushing against Tang Lu’s sensitive earlobe, watching her ear tips turn red instantly.
She said slowly and deliberately, "My little tree spirit is not only bold, but also very clever."
"Lili, you're not allowed to 'listen'!" Tang Lu was both embarrassed and anxious. She reached out her small hands to cover Chi Li's ears, but forgot that the resonance directly affected the soul, and covering her ears was of no use.
Seeing her clumsy yet adorable actions, Chi Li's heart was overflowing with joy.
She took that small hand in her hand and gently kissed it.
“Fine, I won’t ‘listen’.” She readily complied, but a mischievous glint flashed in her eyes. “Then… shall I teach you myself?”
Tang Lu's heart skipped a beat as she looked into Chi Li's deep, almost piercing eyes, which clearly reflected her own flushed face.
She didn't speak, but simply tilted her head back slightly, closed her eyes, and answered with the most straightforward action.
Those trembling long eyelashes and gently pouting, glistening lips were a silent invitation.
Chi Li's eyes darkened, and she lowered her head to seize that sweetness that belonged only to her.
But as she kissed him, Tang Lu thought that the picture book was indeed too simplistic.
Although teaching in person makes her blush, her heart race, and she feels dizzy... she enjoys it.
**
Since that night and the early morning "personal instruction", Tang Lu seemed to have opened the door to a new world and showed a different kind of enthusiasm for "kissing".
She no longer needed the guidance of picture books; relying entirely on instinct and Akari's "tutoring," she learned on her own how to ask for kisses at various times and in various ways.
Sometimes, when Chi Li was reviewing memorials, she would suddenly crawl out from under the desk.
She would lean over the edge of the table, stand on tiptoe, and gaze at her with her wet, amber eyes until Chi Li reluctantly and indulgently lowered her head and gave her a brief kiss.
Sometimes, when the two of them were taking a walk in the garden, she would deliberately lag behind a few steps, and then pounce on Akari when she turned around to look for her.
Then, at the opportune moment, she would press her soft lips against Akari's lips or cheek, leaving a mark imbued with the scent of grass and sunshine, before giggling and running away.
More often than not, it happens at night.
She was no longer content with simply curling up in Chi Li's arms to fall asleep. She would always tilt her little face up, like a young animal seeking comfort, and use delicate kisses to trace the shape of Chi Li's lips, chin, and even the tip of her nose.
Only when Chi Li's heart softened from her rubbing against him, and he lowered his head to give her a deep and lingering response, did she finally curl up contentedly and drift off to sleep.
On the surface, Chi Li still maintained his majestic and unpredictable demon king demeanor, but deep down, he was quite pleased with himself.
She could clearly feel the pure love and attachment behind Tang Lu's every kiss through a soul resonance.
It wasn't lust, but rather a unique way of confirming belonging and expressing intimacy, like vines entwining trees or chicks nestling against their mothers—it was part of her little tree spirit's instinct.
However, Chi Li is Chi Li after all. Her restraint and rationality are ingrained in her very being.
While indulging in this sweetness, she remained clear-headed.
Tanglu is still too young, both in age and in temperament.
Her affection was pure and straightforward, but she may not have understood the deeper emotions and responsibilities behind this intimacy.
Chi Li was unwilling to prematurely ripen this newly blossoming flower because of her own greed.
Therefore, when Tang Lu, during a kiss, unconsciously and with curiosity and exploration, tried to go further by clumsily licking the gap between her lips with her little tongue, Chi Li's body stiffened almost imperceptibly for a moment.
A surge of heat instantly coursed through her body, more intense than any kiss before, almost overwhelming her reason.
She could "hear" the pure, unadulterated thoughts in Tang Lu's mind, like a small animal licking its lips.
[...Lili's lips... seem sweeter?]
Chi Li took a deep breath and used immense willpower to suppress the even deeper desire that was about to burst forth.
She turned her head slightly away, avoiding the innocent exploration, and instead placed a kiss on Tang Lu's smooth forehead.
"That's enough." Her voice was low and hoarse, with a hint of tension.
Tang Lu blinked blankly, seemingly not understanding why Li Li had dodged this time.
She tilted her head, looking into Chi Li's eyes, which were deeper than usual and seemed to be suppressing a storm, and asked softly, "Li Li doesn't like it?"
Looking into her pure and innocent eyes, Chi Li felt a surge of restlessness that had been building up due to restraint, which instantly turned into a helpless tenderness.
She pressed Tanglu's little head back into her shoulder, preventing her from seeing the lingering undercurrent in her eyes.
"I like it," she answered decisively, "but... it's best to take it one step at a time."
Tang Lu seemed to understand, but the word "like" reassured her.
She snuggled against Chi Li's neck, inhaling her reassuring scent, and quickly put her little doubts aside, obediently ceasing to move.
Chi Li held her close, feeling the warm body in his arms that had returned to calm, and the turbulent lake in his heart gradually returned to its tranquility.
She looked down at Tang Lu's breathing, which quickly returned to evenness, and her peaceful sleeping face. Her fingertips gently brushed across Tang Lu's slightly swollen lips, her eyes filled with deep affection.
Her tree spirit needs time to grow slowly.
She, on the other hand, had plenty of patience, waiting for her to truly mature, waiting for the day she would understand everything.
Before that, she could suppress all her excitement and longing for her, just to protect this pure intimacy.
The night is still long, and their time will be even longer.
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