Chapter 32 Constant dripping wears away a stone... unless his love for her is so great that she...
(32)
Chu Li likes to be hugged and to have her head patted. She can't explain why it's such a strange fetish, but being hugged always makes her feel better, especially the kind of hug that completely envelops her, holds her tightly, and makes it almost impossible for her to breathe. That's what she likes the most.
Shang Xinglan carried her into the palace and placed her on the soft couch. Before he could put her down, an arm wrapped around his neck and refused to let go.
After a brief standoff, he had no choice but to take off his shoes and socks and lie down next to her.
Chu Li instinctively snuggled into Shang Xinglan's arms, finding a comfortable angle to hug his waist.
It smelled nice again; she liked the scent on Shang Xinglan.
This person is very clean. When he was at home, he would sweep the floor many times a day, and he would splash the small yard with clean water every morning and evening. He even made sure the chicken coop was spotless.
He didn't mind the trouble at all. After cleaning the house, he felt much more relaxed and in a great mood.
Chu Li is a carefree person; her way of life is simply to stay alive.
Therefore, she especially liked this about Shang Xinglan. Seeing him keep the house tidy and clean, watching him plant flowers, read books, and practice swordsmanship, holding the unique little teacup he had found somewhere, smelling the fresh scent of soap and bergamot on him... and thinking that this was her husband, her mood would improve, as if she could become like him.
"Chu Li, I have something I want to tell you."
The voice rang out abruptly, its tone earnest. Chu Li lifted her head from his embrace and nervously replied softly, "Mm."
Shang Xinglan said quietly, "Weren't you afraid that I would really divorce you?"
She was scared, so wasn't she carrying a knife?
If he dares to press his finger on it, she'll cut it off.
Seeing Chu Li remain silent with her lips pursed, Shang Xinglan assumed she was reflecting on her actions and said calmly with her eyes lowered, "From today onwards, you are never allowed to mention the word 'divorce' again. If you do, I will never forgive you."
Hearing his words, Chu Li felt a chill run down her spine. She whispered, "But I saved you, you can't treat me like this. Think about it, the lake water was so cold, my arms and legs were about to break from swimming, and it was so difficult to save you."
Shang Xinglan choked for a moment, then ruthlessly interrupted her, "Add one more thing: you are not allowed to blackmail me with anything."
Chu Li frowned, muttering somewhat unhappily, "Then what should I do?"
She only knew these two moves, and she wasn't even allowed to use them. Besides that, she had no other way to get Shang Xinglan to compromise for her. He was a powerful sorcerer; he could simply use a hand seal to fly away from her.
Shang Xinglan pinched her face hard, "Can't you reason with me?"
Chu Li wanted to laugh, but her face was pinched so she couldn't. "I'm not good at reasoning. My principle is that you have to treat me well, and if you don't, I'll get angry."
Shang Xinglan asked, puzzled, "When have I ever been unkind to you?"
"You're nice to others, but you're not nice to me." Chu Li blurted out without thinking, pursed her lips, and said defiantly, "Anyway, that's just how I am, and I can't change it."
Hearing her words, Shang Xinglan paused briefly, then cupped her face, making her look into his eyes. "Achu, I don't hate being possessed by you. You can directly order me not to be nice to anyone, but you can't force me to divorce you. Your method won't solve the problem; it will only make us both suffer more."
His voice was slow, and Chu Li couldn't help but look at him. He had very beautiful eyes, and at that moment, she was the only one in them.
"Orders will only be effective for you if you still like me."
She was just that stubborn, because no one knew better than her that when someone is determined to abandon another, even if they have done nothing wrong, they can force a few coins into her hand and accuse her of a crime on trumped-up charges. Even if she begs for forgiveness a thousand times and kneels at the door to plead for mercy, it will be useless.
She had been abandoned like this before, so she knew that life was unpredictable and people's hearts were fickle.
Unable to argue with her, Shang Xinglan said dejectedly, "What do you want me to do?"
"You're just fine as you are now." Chu Li nuzzled against his chest and whispered, "It's especially good, you don't have to do anything."
Being bullied by her is considered particularly good? He was truly driven to the brink of vomiting blood by her today.
Shang Xinglan laughed a little, then pressed down on her head, which was rubbing against the ground, and suddenly thought of a solution.
He has a great way to satisfy both of them.
Shang Xinglan's gaze darkened, and she said in a calm voice, "Then you should at least let me vent my anger, right?"
He spoke abruptly, and Chu Li looked up in confusion, "Are you going to hit me?"
She wasn't afraid of being beaten; the pain would only last for a while, and she'd be fine after a good night's sleep. But how could Shang Xinglan bear to hit her? Could he really bring himself to do it when he saw her face?
Shang Xinglan didn't speak, but kept staring at her.
Chu Li felt uncomfortable under his gaze, so she rolled up her sleeves and offered him her arm, saying, "Why don't you just bite me a couple of times?"
After a while, her arm was gently grasped. Shang Xinglan stared at her intently, then lowered her head and gave her arm a light bite.
It doesn't hurt at all.
Chu Li smiled, knowing he would feel sorry for her. "Put some effort into it, didn't you want to vent your anger?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Shang Xinglan suddenly stood up.
Chu Li stared blankly as he pressed down on her, her heart skipped a beat. He propped himself up with one hand near her ear, his eyes dark and intense, while his other hand reached up to her blouse and casually unbuttoned it.
Their eyes met, and Chu Li's ears turned red, but she did not stop him.
"I love you the most, my husband."
Her voice was so soft that it seemed like an illusion if you didn't listen carefully.
Upon hearing this, Shang Xinglan paused abruptly. He pursed his lips and said softly, "Let me add one more thing: you are not allowed to say these flattering and ingratiating things when I punish you."
"Oh...you're so hard to please."
"Shut up."
Shang Xinglan kissed her lips, not allowing her to utter any more unpleasant words.
Lips are so soft, probably the softest thing in the world.
The only good thing about the time he lost his memory and became a demon was that he also forgot about propriety and shame, and should kiss her more often.
He knew that Chu Li liked him; he had always known.
If she didn't like him, why would she tell such a huge lie just to keep him by her side? If she didn't like him, why would she willingly elope with him to a desolate mountain to live a life of hardship? If she didn't like him, why would she give birth to their child alone after his death?
He never knew that Chu Li had feelings for him.
But that feeling was just right, not too much, not too little.
It wasn't enough for her to give her life for him, nor was it enough for her to let him go.
The moment Chu Li pushed him off the cliff, Shang Xinglan was absolutely certain that she didn't love him that much.
However, demanding all the love from someone whose happiness is already scarce is a cruel form of exploitation.
Unless the love he gives her is so great that she can give it away generously.
...
He'll achieve it eventually; perseverance pays off, and he can wait.
*
Tianhe City Fragrant Flower Shop.
Apricot-pink lamps hung from the eaves, their light hazy from the moisture, softly flowing down and spreading out like scattered starlight on the ink-silk-like water.
The crimson and gold sleeves brushed against the man's body as she tenderly offered him a glass of wine.
The man didn't rush to take the wine cup, but just smiled and stared at the uneasy little boy sitting opposite him.
"Didn't I order you some lychee shaved ice? Here, have some."
Hearing his words, the little boy looked up and glared at him, then muttered, "I want to go home."
"go home?"
Gu Ye almost laughed out loud. He casually leaned into the arms of the songstress beside him and said in a low voice, "Alright, I'll take you back to Xiaofushan in a bit."
The little boy stared at him in disbelief and said angrily, "I want to go back to my mother!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Ye finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, resting his chin on his hand and saying, "Aren't you ashamed? How old are you and you still can't live without your mother?"
I hate him, I hate him, he's a bad guy.
The little boy blushed deeply at his words, biting his lower lip and clutching the hem of his clothes tightly.
He's only five years old, so what if he can't be separated from his mother?
Gu Ye sized him up for a while, then looked away, bored.
That's boring. It's not as fun as his mother. He looks like he's about to cry after just a few words of teasing. He must have inherited that useless father from his grave.
Thinking of this, he found amusement again.
"Kid, how did your dad end up with your mom?"
The little one didn't say a word.
Gu Ye took the wine cup, took a sip, and said meaningfully, "You don't know? Tsk tsk tsk."
The little boy gritted his teeth, glared at him, and said, "I know, my father and mother are mutually in love, and they have a very good relationship!"
Upon hearing this, Gu Ye smiled with disbelief. "Really? Who is your father? What kind of deity does he have to subdue your mother? He's been dead for so many years, you couldn't have made that up, could you?"
Upon hearing this, the little boy suddenly pursed his lips, and his eyes gradually reddened.
Gu Ye: "...What are you crying for?"
The little boy wiped away his tears, sobbing softly, "I want to go home."
He didn't want to talk to this person anymore.
He doesn't know who his father is, nor does he know whether his parents have a good relationship. Why ask him such a question?
He missed his mother; he didn't want to stay here, the smell was making his eyes hurt.
Seeing that he was really crying, Gu Ye's lips twitched slightly. He took the silk handkerchief from the songstress beside him and walked to the little boy.
"You're pathetic." He pinched the little boy's face and gently wiped away his tears with a silk handkerchief. "What's there to cry about? I'm being so kind as to take you out to play and you're crying. I won't take you out to play anymore, even if you beg me."
The little boy sobbed and pushed him away, "I didn't ask you to take me out, it was you, you insisted on kidnapping me."
This evil demon must not have been successfully reformed by the monk brother; he's still just as wicked.
Gu Ye forcefully pulled him onto his lap and sat him down, haphazardly wiping his face clean with the silk handkerchief, making his little face all wrinkled. "Who told you to block the door every day and not let anyone in? Even a dog has never seen such a guard. You have a new dad now, do you know that?"
"I'm not a dog!"
"That's just an example. Even a dog wouldn't be as clueless as you."
The baby cried even harder.
Gu Ye narrowed his eyes and pinched her little mouth, "If you cry again, I'll stew you into soup. Anyway, your mother won't know."
The little one has stopped crying.
Gu Ye put away the silk handkerchief with satisfaction, and triumphantly rubbed the little cub's head, only to hear the low laughter of the songstresses behind him.
"This young master seems unapproachable, but he's surprisingly good at taking care of children."
"I wonder which lady is so fortunate?"
He frowned but ignored him.
—Which lady? His master's wife.
The image of Chu Li leaping fearlessly into the Soul Cleansing Spring flashed through his mind, and a strange restlessness rose in his heart, the cause of which he did not know.
Gu Ye picked up the cub with one hand and held it in his arms, took out a few spirit stones and threw them on the table, then turned and left.
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