Chapter 20
Shen Ji's room was right next to hers. There was only one bed in the room, and she quietly felt a sense of anticipation. Could it be that she would be spending the night with him tonight?
This is a great opportunity to strengthen your relationship.
She turned her head, her long eyelashes drooping gently, just enough to conceal the hint of playfulness in her eyes.
Unexpectedly, before this emotion could even spread, Shen Ji suddenly said, "I haven't moved the bed, so you can rest here."
After saying that, he picked up his outer robe and got up to walk outside.
Jiang Mian was taken aback and quickly called out to him, "Cousin, where are you going?"
"There are many monks' quarters in the temple, I'll go to the one next door."
Shen Ji said calmly.
She had taken his room, so naturally he couldn't stay there any longer. Putting aside the difference between men and women, even the dream he had made it inappropriate for him to share a room with her.
He developed selfish desires, which was not a good thing for him.
Unexpectedly, the little girl suddenly grabbed his arm, a hint of hesitation in her eyes: "But what if I'm scared?"
“Back home, Yunji was always by my side. Now that Yunji is gone, and this temple is full of men, cousin, I’m afraid…”
She spoke so charmingly, her voice so soft. If it were an ordinary man, upon hearing these words, he would probably want to offer his heart just to make her smile. But the person in front of him was Shen Ji, and Jiang Mian was unsure whether he would waver.
"Yun Qing will be waiting outside. If you need anything, you can call him."
As expected, Shen Ji remained calm.
Jiang Mian shook her head, her brows furrowed slightly, and her fingertips gripped his sleeve tightly: "No, Yun Qing is an outsider."
The window swayed gently, and the young woman looked at him with dependence, her eyes seemingly filled with him.
Yun Qing is an outsider.
And what about him?
He's an outsider too.
Shen Ji didn't delve into the inappropriateness of her words. Instead, he carefully pushed her hand away and straightened his expression: "Men and women should be different. It's not appropriate for us to be in the same room."
Jiang Mian's eyes brightened. She liked Shen Ji's cold and aloof demeanor. He was full of moral principles and a sense of shame. Compared to those hypocrites, he was far too elegant and upright, like pure white that was untouched by any dust, allowing her to make him fall.
"It's just for one night, no one will gossip. I'm really scared, that worm is huge, cousin, I'm afraid to go alone. Besides, we're completely innocent, nothing will happen!"
Innocent and pure?
A crack finally appeared on his usually calm and composed face. He turned his head away, lowered his eyes, and seemed to be deep in thought.
Seeing his hesitation, Jiang Mian immediately said, "Cousin, you are the only person I know in this temple. After what happened tonight, I really dare not sleep alone. That madman dared to blaspheme the Buddha. I can't guarantee he won't come in the middle of the night... Cousin, I am really scared."
She raised her face, and what had just been pleading now revealed a pitiful and touching beauty. Her long eyelashes were adorned with tears, and her eyes were slightly red. Anyone who saw her would not refuse any of her requests.
Jiang Mian has such abilities.
Once she exposes her vulnerable side, anyone would waver.
As expected, Shen Ji frowned. He had maintained an indifferent attitude just now, but now he broke his own rule.
He placed his outer robe on the soft couch, and the curtains were drawn to block their view of each other.
Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief, secretly delighted that her cousin had once again made an exception for her.
Although he was resting on a soft couch in the outer room, being in the same room with her made her feel incredibly sweet and happy. How could someone remain so unmoved by such a woman's advances? She had never met anyone who held such firm principles.
But it was precisely this that fascinated her.
**
The curtains were partially drawn, blocking all view, but in the quiet room, any movement was amplified. She felt no sleepiness, thinking that the person she longed for was right beside her, on a soft couch. The couch wasn't very big, and she wondered if he would feel cramped.
He tossed and turned, the rustling of his clothes and blankets sounding particularly jarring in the night.
In the darkness, Jiang Mian suddenly curved her lips into a smile.
"Cousin?"
She called softly.
"Um."
The man responded to her.
Jiang Mian's eyes curved into crescents, becoming even more certain that she wanted him to belong to her.
Listening to his heartbeat, being held in his arms with his well-defined knuckles, or, to be even bolder, she wanted to kiss him.
Random thoughts spread and grew wildly like weeds, and she couldn't stop them. She let these emotions spread until drowsiness overwhelmed her, and only then did she stop these thoughts.
On the other side, Shen Ji never closed his eyes.
He didn't know why he would soften his heart towards her time and time again. It seemed that every time he saw her, he couldn't completely control his heart. And now, that strange emotion from yesterday had resurfaced. He looked at his fingertips, and it seemed that he could still feel the touch of her body above them.
Today, the girl's pitiful and sleepless appearance seemed impossible to shake off, and he tightened his lips, his eyes dark and deep.
Then, steady breathing came from inside the curtain. Shen Ji got up and went straight in.
The young woman slept soundly on the bed, completely unaware that a dangerous man stood beside her. The way he looked at her was something she had never seen before, filled with uncertainty and a hint of barely perceptible aggression.
If Jiang Mian were awake at this moment, she would definitely find that Shen Ji at this moment was completely different from his aloof and elegant appearance during the day. He looked at her without making a sound, his gaze sweeping over her brow, the corner of her eyes, and finally landing on her full and rosy lips.
He still couldn't understand why he had such a dream.
Shen Ji unconsciously moved closer, and Jiang Mian seemed to sense it, turning over slightly. She was sleeping very soundly, and Shen Ji moved very gently. She murmured something, but he couldn't hear it.
My gaze remained fixed on those red lips.
That gentle touch that day gave him that dream.
What if we make further contact?
Will he react?
Shen Ji frowned, then suddenly leaned closer. His gaze inadvertently swept downwards, and he saw a section of pale pink shoulder strap peeking out from the woman's neck. Her outer garment was loose and baggy, and with her movement, almost half of her front was exposed.
She was completely unguarded around him.
Shen Ji's eyes were very dark. The dream and reality seemed to overlap. However, in the dream, she was in control, transforming into a seductive little fox that caused him to retreat in defeat. But now, she was sleeping soundly, completely unaware that the person beside her was not a noble and aloof saint, but a wolf that had hidden its claws and concealed its ambition.
His eyes lingered on those lips for only a moment, and then, in the next instant, they pressed against them.
Very light.
But it felt very soft.
It was as soft as he had imagined.
It had a sweet aroma, like sweet water, making him unconsciously want to drink more.
The impact of reality was more uncontrollable than in his dreams.
He gripped the curtain tightly with his wrists, veins bulging, barely managing to suppress the urge to continue. Then, he moved away slightly.
His rationality returned somewhat, and a hint of regret flashed in his eyes.
How did he end up kissing Jiang Mian?
This shouldn't be happening.
Shen Ji suddenly felt a sense of disgust towards herself. She had trusted him so much, yet he had done such a despicable thing to her in the dead of night, when no one was watching.
I just wanted to confirm whether the feel of my lips on my face would be different from that on my cheek.
As it turned out, not only were they different, but at the moment of impact, he felt a terrifying force pulling him down.
It felt like sinking into a bottomless abyss.
Jiang Mian, still asleep, had no idea what was happening. She also had a dream in which she ran happily toward her cousin. Although the man was still distant, his eyes were full of gentle smiles.
She called out sweetly, "Cousin."
The man froze immediately upon hearing the sound.
Is she calling him?
Jiang Mian also dreamed about him!
As soon as the thought crossed his mind, he suddenly curved his lips into a slight smile.
Jiang Mian also dreamed about him, so they're even now.
**
The next day, after Jiang Mian woke up, she hesitated for a moment looking at the unfamiliar roof beams before suddenly realizing that she was not in the Shen residence, but in the temple.
She blinked. Although she wasn't sleepy last night, she fell asleep soon after her head hit the pillow. After a moment of clarity, she suddenly remembered something.
My gaze involuntarily fell on the bed outside, and sure enough, it was empty.
Jiang Mian got off the bed and came to the bedside.
Neat and tidy, with no trace of anyone having slept there, Jiang Mian pursed her lips, got up, and pushed open the door.
A cold wind whistled through her, and she paused for a moment.
It's snowing.
"Fifth Miss".
Yun Qing suddenly appeared out of nowhere and bowed respectfully to her: "The heavy snow has blocked the mountain, and I'm afraid we can't leave today. If you need anything, please feel free to give me your orders."
Jiang Mian nodded. Whether she could go back or not was actually the same to her. What was most important to her now was to get closer to Shen Ji.
Thinking of this, she smiled and asked, "Where is my cousin?"
"Lord Bai also came up the mountain yesterday. The young master has some acquaintance with Lord Bai, and they are currently catching up on the back mountain."
Master Bai?
Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised. The man who had been having an affair with a woman in the Buddhist hall yesterday was also surnamed Bai. Could it be him? How could her cousin know such a shameless person?
"Fifth Miss, where are you going?"
Without a second thought, Jiang Mian took a step forward, and Yun Qing quickly followed. Before leaving, the young master had instructed him to stay by Jiang Mian's side at all times.
Jiang Mian stopped in her tracks; she wanted to go find her cousin.
But she didn't want Yun Qing to know how to get rid of him.
Got it!
"Guard Yun, I have a stomachache. Are there any matrons around here?"
Yun Qing was taken aback. Although she didn't understand, there was a nunnery not far from here, where there were nuns.
"Thank you for your trouble, Guard Yun."
Jiang Mian frowned, seemingly genuinely unwell. Yun Qing hesitated, but she suddenly added, "My cousin only asked you to protect me, not to monitor me. Guard Yun, go and return quickly."
Indeed, when the young master made his decision, he was also somewhat surprised. When did the young master become so concerned about the Fifth Miss?
"I'll go right away."
Yun Qing clasped his hands in greeting. The Fifth Miss lives in the temple and does indeed need a nanny to take care of her. They are all men, so it is ultimately inconvenient.
After getting rid of Yun Qing, Jiang Mian breathed a sigh of relief. Her cousin had clearly sent someone to monitor her, but she wanted too much and he would not be able to have his way.
Without any hesitation, she lifted her skirt and walked towards the back of the mountain.
She would never miss any opportunity to be alone with him.
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