Chapter 26: His Heart Was in Turmoil; He Wanted to Kiss Her (Here)
Li Chengyi was always the one who blushed when Lin Yanshu teased him; this was the first time he had ever seen Lin Yanshu blush because of him.
Li Chengyi was suddenly seized by a playful mood. He walked forward, forcing Lin Yanshu to retreat step by step.
Li Chengyi narrowed his eyes teasingly, a slight smile playing on his lips, and casually asked:
Why are you shy?
Lin Yanshu had no idea why Li Chengyi suddenly asked that question.
He pressed her relentlessly, not giving an inch, as if he would devour her if she couldn't answer.
Lin Yanshu was forced to retreat repeatedly, until she had nowhere left to go, until she was pushed to the edge of the table. Her feet were caught by the corner of the table.
But Li Chengyi continued to approach, and a sense of panic and oppression filled Lin Yanshu. She unconsciously leaned back and braced herself on the table with one hand.
Li Chengyi bent down, placed one hand on the table, and held Lin Yanshu's soft waist with the other, staring at her aggressively.
The two stood very close, Li Chengyi's black clothes clinging to Lin Yanshu's plain dress, creating a striking contrast. Li Chengyi lowered his head slightly, deliberately letting his warm breath fall onto Lin Yanshu's shoulder.
With her soft fragrance in his arms, Li Chengyi felt that Lin Yanshu was small and soft.
"Yan Shu, why aren't you saying anything?"
Lin Yanshu was in a state of turmoil. She didn't know what to say and just stiffly supported herself.
She awkwardly turned her head away, using sign language to deny it:
No, I'm just shy.
Li Chengyi didn't believe it at all; he reached out and grasped Lin Yanshu's fingertips.
Without her hands for support, Lin Yanshu quickly lost her strength in this semi-reclining position.
She collapsed onto the table, her body going limp.
Li Chengyi leaned down and placed his hand behind Lin Yanshu's head before Lin Yanshu collapsed onto the table.
Lin Yanshu's hair wasn't all tied up today; it was spread out on the table like seaweed. The thick black hair paired with Lin Yanshu's fair face created a strong visual impact.
Lin Yanshu looked at him with delicate features and a misty gaze.
Li Chengyi's eyelashes fluttered, his eyes fixed on Lin Yanshu's rosy cherry lips, and he bent down.
He wanted to kiss her, right here.
Lin Yanshu placed her hands between their chests, staring wide-eyed at Li Chengyi.
Li Chengyi then realized that he had gone too far in bullying Lin Yanshu.
The woman blinked nervously, feeling her chest pounding so fast she felt like she was on fire.
She placed her palms on Li Chengyi's chest, and she was thinking:
Is Ah Zhao's heart beating as fast as hers?
As it turns out, Li Chengyi was just like her, but Lin Yanshu couldn't verify it.
Before she could feel Li Chengyi's heartbeat, he straightened up and, feigning composure, pulled Lin Yanshu up.
He's gone mad, behaving so recklessly in his study.
Even if Lin Yanshu is in love with him, he shouldn't have acted this way. He needs to reflect on his actions tonight.
Lin Yanshu couldn't understand the complex emotions in Li Chengyi's eyes. She calmed herself down and slipped out.
Lee Seung-ik sat in his study all night. He should have been reflecting on his debauchery, but the more he reflected, the more he savored the memory. He even regretted not kissing those red lips.
Lin Yanshu's situation wasn't much better. After running out of the study, she lay on the couch, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep, her mind in turmoil.
She was probably ill, her heart was burning with anger, so Lin Yanshu took out her silver needles and started acupuncturing herself.
After a while, Lin Yanshu finally calmed down and fell asleep.
The next morning, Lin Yanshu came over and asked him if he had untied the wooden box.
Li Chengyi's eyes were dark and swollen, and he avoided Lin Yanshu's gaze with a flickering look.
His mind was in turmoil.
Li Chengyi believes that the wooden box is a clue left by Shen Jingting. He probably guessed that he would die a violent death, so he left this wooden box.
However, it now seems that only Shen Jingting's wife could open the wooden box.
However, what Li Chengyi couldn't understand was why Shen Jingting would set up a key if he was already planning to confess.
Li Chengyi sent people to investigate Chen Juan thoroughly and discovered that Shen Jingting originally intended to marry into another family, but in the end he married Chen Juan, a woman of ordinary background.
He has no power or support at home and is not good at socializing.
It wasn't until a letter arrived from the spy that Li Chengyi discovered that Chen Juan wasn't even an ordinary person. She had been redeemed from the brothel by Shen Jingting and married into the Shen family under a different name.
Li Chengyi brought the wooden box to Chen Juan.
Although he wasn't in prison, Li Chengyi's inherent aura of authority made Chen Juan lower her head and dare not look at him.
"Madam Shen, what are you afraid of?"
"This is a keepsake left to you by Lord Shen."
Chen Juan looked at the wooden box on the table and reached out to take it. The next second, however, Li Chengyi was playing with the wooden box in his hand.
Li Chengyi asked casually:
"Madam Shen, what do you think is inside?"
"Could this be evidence of someone's crimes?"
Chen Juan swallowed nervously, forcing herself to remain calm as she replied to Li Chengyi:
"Your Highness, I do not understand what you are saying."
Li Chengyi looked at the pretentious woman before him and curled his lips in a mocking smile. He knew that Chen Juan was far from the innocent and naive woman she appeared to be. She had something he wanted.
However, Li Chengyi disdained to lay a hand on a woman; there were countless ways to get someone to talk.
He glanced coldly at Chen Juan, his tone casual:
"Madam Shen, I think Lord Shen treats you exceptionally well. He forged your household registration as a good person and even married you as his principal wife."
"You must not let down Lord Shen's sincere feelings for you."
Chen Juan lowered her head, her fingertips digging into her palms to prevent herself from showing too much emotion.
She knew that sooner or later, her shameful past would be exposed.
One incident after another reminded her that she had once been a prostitute, bullied and ridden by thousands.
Chen Juan was imprisoned by Li Chengyi in the Shen Mansion, which was guarded by his men both inside and out.
After learning about Chen Juan and Minister Shen's affair, Lin Yanshu felt a pang of sympathy for Chen Juan.
She felt that Chen Juan was probably unhappy in the Shen family. With such a background, she had mistakenly entered the Shen family, and even with her husband's affection, she couldn't completely escape the scorn and contempt of others.
Moreover, the Shen family is a prestigious family; they would never treat a woman from a brothel with kindness.
She had a bold idea and told Li Chengyi:
"Ah Zhao, do you think Madam Shen might hate Minister Shen a lot?"
"The person who killed Minister Shen was Madam Shen."
Li Chengyi raised an eyebrow, looking at Lin Yanshu with a probing gaze. Lin Yanshu actually knew about these matters of love and romance?
He always thought she was an idiot.
"Yanshu, why do you say that?"
Lin Yanshu pondered for a moment, thinking about how to organize his thoughts:
"I just feel sorry for Madam Shen, trapped in a mansion filled with contempt, but no one understands her."
“Minister Shen, if you truly understood her heart, you would never have put her in such a situation.”
"If it were me, and my beloved were so far removed from me, I would definitely abandon my husband and children and live a carefree life."
Lin Yanshu adheres to one principle when it comes to life partners: if he is willing to change himself and go against his own heart, then why should she choose him?
There are millions of men in the world, and there's always one who can make everything go smoothly for you.
Li Chengyi heard a different meaning in these words.
Lin Yanshu was hinting at him.
He reached out and pulled Lin Yanshu into his arms, and Lin Yanshu sat on Li Chengyi's lap.
She stared wide-eyed at Li Chengyi in surprise.
What is he doing now?
Lin Yanshu was quite restless on Li Chengyi's lap. She put her small hands on Li Chengyi's shoulders and tried to push herself away.
Li Chengyi possessed astonishing strength, pressing firmly on Lin Yanshu's slender waist, and said in a resolute tone:
"That's because Shen Jingting is useless. If it were me, no matter how different our statuses are, I wouldn't just stand by and watch the other person suffer."
"Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."
"If it's about fame, fortune, or status, I'll support you."
After speaking, Li Chengyi looked at Lin Yanshu expectantly, wondering if she had understood his unspoken meaning:
Tell me what you want, instead of abandoning me.
Lin Yanshu pouted and nodded in agreement.
But Li Chengyi was just talking, why did he have to pull her onto his lap?
Her lower back ached from sitting so long, and she sighed wearily. It took a lot of effort for her to jump off Li Chengyi's lap.
Li Chengyi didn't know if Lin Yanshu understood.
………………
Lin Yanshu spontaneously went to the Shen residence to visit Chen Juan.
Chen Juan has lost a lot of weight in the past few days. She was already thin, and this ordeal has made her look even more emaciated.
Lin Yanshu bought some snacks and went to find Chen Juan. When she saw her, Chen Juan waved with a smile and ran over.
"Miss Chen, you've lost weight."
Lin Yanshu enthusiastically placed the food in front of her, but Chen Juan only glanced at it briefly before asking:
"What brings Miss Lin here now?"
"Didn't they already know I was a lowly courtesan?"
Lin Yanshu looked at her intently.
The past was not Chen Juan's own choice, and she has no right to ridicule or belittle her.
“Miss Chen, I am not from a privileged background, but a mute girl from the countryside.”
"I just admire you for coming out of such a place and wasting so many years in a house that was looked down upon by everyone."
Chen Juan looked at Lin Yanshu in surprise and laughed self-deprecatingly:
"Miss Lin, let me dance for you."
Before Lin Yanshu could react, Chen Juan jumped up from the open space.
Chen Juan made an orchid with her hands, bent over and twirled, her sleeves fluttering out, the hem of her dress opening into a fluttering magnolia flower as she spun.
A graceful dance, a stunning beauty.
Lin Yanshu watched her intently. After the dance, Chen Juan held out her palm in front of Lin Yanshu, who looked up at her.
"This dance is the one I danced when I first met Shen Lang."
"Because of this song, he fell in love with me at first sight. I thought that I had hit it off with a benefactor and my life would start to improve."
"But life doesn't always have so many unexpected turns."
Lin Yanshu patted Chen Juan's palm reassuringly, feeling that she was a good person.
"So, did you kill Minister Shen willingly?"
Chen Juan said:
“Miss Lin, you are very clever. I did indeed kill Shen Jingting.”
"It's not my fault! He chose me, he insisted on marrying me, even when he was being threatened."
Chen Juan's eyes reddened, and she roared, each word piercingly piercing her heart:
"How can I ever repay such a kindness?"
Lin Yanshu watched as Chen Juan gradually lost control:
"Did those people in the black market drug you? So Minister Shen embezzled grain for your sake?"
No wonder she had that familiar scent.
-----------------------
Author's Note: A huge thank you to Wei Zai for the nutrient solution! [cat emoji]
I originally planned to update every other day, but I updated it immediately after seeing the nutrient solution Baozi sent.
I have the strength of an ox.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com