Chapter 22
There were no lights in the room, only a few slivers of moonlight casting a faint glow. The charcoal fire in the stove was burning brightly. Jiang Mian looked at the bed, which was still as tidy as when she left. He had not slept on it.
However, his outer robe was placed on the bed.
Neatly folded, meticulously arranged, Jiang Mian felt a little itchy, but as if she hadn't seen it at all, she walked straight forward and sat down on the couch.
"Cousin, don't you like light?"
"Hmm." Shen Ji responded calmly, her expression blank. She reached out and lit the two candles closest to her. Instantly, the cold room gained a softer feel, and her figure was reflected on the wall behind her.
Her black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Jiang Mian quickly thought to herself. She really liked his aloof yet gentle attitude. From childhood to adulthood, she had always been powerless against the cold and aloof saint.
But in the past, she had only encountered hypocrites. Now, she had finally met someone who disregarded worldly desires, and she really didn't want to miss the opportunity.
Thinking of this, she got up and quietly approached him. Looking at his fair and white ear tips, she suddenly remembered that in the afternoon, they were tinged with a light red, which looked extremely beautiful.
I really want to get closer...
Where does it hurt?
Suddenly, a clear, cold voice rang out, instantly dispelling all her romantic thoughts. Jiang Mian's gaze slowly descended, her brows furrowing as if in great pain: "It's still that place, cousin, it hurts so much."
"Rub it for me, it won't hurt anymore if you rub it."
She crept up to him quietly, her skirt tangling around his boots like a demon incarnate. Her gaze fell on his prominent Adam's apple, and half of her body went weak. Jiang Mian blinked, suppressing the impulse within her.
"Sit still."
Shen Ji kept his eyes straight ahead, his handsome brows furrowing slightly, before he sat down as well.
Jiang Mian smiled and suddenly had an idea.
"Why don't I lie down? It'll be easier to massage that way."
As soon as she finished speaking, she took off her boots, her dark hair spread out on the pillow, and the softness in front of her was completely unguarded towards him, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.
Shen Ji remained silent, then suddenly stepped aside.
Jiang Mian was taken aback and subconsciously tugged at his sleeve: "Cousin, where are you going?"
"Men and women should not touch each other." His eyes were clear, and Jiang Mian felt a little disappointed. It turned out that all her schemes were seen as a lack of self-respect in his eyes.
Perhaps she was truly devastated, for just as she was about to get up, the man pulled out a clean, soft handkerchief from the side: "Use this."
Shen Ji pursed his lips, seemingly unsure where to place his fingertips. After a moment of hesitation, he placed them on her shoulder, pressing down gently. Then, the handkerchief landed on her wrist, his fingertips touching her wrist through the handkerchief.
Jiang Mian was dumbfounded. Was he... taking her pulse?
Does he have medical skills?
Jiang Mian watched this scene quietly, feeling quite surprised. Since he knew medicine, why did he comply with her request during the day?
Her thoughts were a bit complicated. When she looked up at his serious face and aloof demeanor, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart.
"Cousin, what illness do I have?"
She feigned innocence, and unconsciously sat up, shifting her hips closer to him.
"Weakness in Qi and blood is not a serious problem. In the next few days, avoid cold, spicy food, and exercise."
Shen Ji withdrew his hand, stood up and leaned against the door frame, his gaze deep and meaningful as he stared at Jiang Mian.
She wouldn't give up so easily if her plan failed.
He nodded slightly and changed the subject: "Cousin, may I stay here tonight? There's no charcoal fire in that room, it'll get cold in the middle of the night..."
"Can."
Jiang Mian was somewhat surprised; he had already agreed before she could even finish speaking!
She pouted and naturally climbed onto the bed inside. Although her cousin had never slept here, she felt that his presence filled the room, and that the whole house bore traces of his existence.
Jiang Mian lay obediently above, and through the curtain, she saw Shen Ji take off his outer robe. His strong and upright back seemed to be full of power. She secretly watched him, as if she had glimpsed something unspeakable.
Before long, Jiang Mian felt her eyelids getting tired. She thought she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight, but unexpectedly, she felt sleepy as soon as her head hit the pillow. Soon, she could hear her even breathing.
Shen Ji curled his lips, his originally cool eyes seemed to be covered by something, deep and with a kind of hidden darkness.
The curtain fluttered, but it was only a thin layer and could not conceal anything. Shen Ji walked silently, just like last night. Incense was burning in the incense burner to help him calm down. After years of smelling it, it no longer had any effect on him. Unexpectedly, by sheer chance, it made her fall into a deep sleep.
He used the strongest medicine; she won't wake up for the time being.
In other words, no matter what he does, she will not know.
He didn't sleep a wink last night, not because he didn't want to, but because when he closed his eyes, all he could think of was her standing amidst the pristine white snow, her delicate shoulders exposed to the air, her slender arms loosely wrapped around a snow-white cloak, the downy fur falling in front of her, just enough to cover that part of her body, and below that, her two jade-like legs straight and beautiful. Every part that the cloak couldn't cover was enough to arouse his imagination.
In the scene, her eyes were innocent and naive, completely unaware of what she was about to face, while he, though dressed in white, looked like the most filthy person in the world.
It wasn't that she was seducing him, but that he willingly succumbed to her charms.
Shen Ji had never felt this way before. He came to Jiang Mian's side, bent down gently, and looked into the deep black of his eyes. After a while, his fingertips, which had been on her abdomen during the day, moved unnoticed to her delicate white neck.
It's very delicate and beautiful.
Like the finest porcelain.
It makes people reluctant to let go once they touch it.
But if he exerts even the slightest force, the delicate snow neck will break, and blood will spurt out, more dazzling than the finest red plum blossoms.
He gently stroked her, but Jiang Mian, fast asleep, was completely unaware.
Shen Ji was quite fond of it; he hadn't felt this out-of-control emotion in a long time.
He will not have any weaknesses, nor will he allow himself to have any weaknesses.
But now, even though he could easily nip this potential threat in the bud, he only touched it lightly.
A strange, faint smile flickered in his eyes.
Then, he gently pulled the blanket up a little higher for her.
Rather than killing her, he preferred to keep her by his side. These past few days she had deliberately approached him, and although he didn't understand why, he could vaguely guess that he must have something she wanted about him.
He wanted to see what Jiang Mian's ultimate goal was.
The smile in Shen Ji's eyes faded, and he returned to his aloof and holy appearance. He got up, intending to leave, but the little girl in her sleep seemed to sense something and grabbed his arm without hesitation.
"Cousin, please pay attention to me."
She uttered a very soft murmur, and Shen Ji stiffened, turning around to see that she still had her eyes closed, but her previously neat eyebrows were now slightly furrowed.
"Cousin, don't stay away from me. I'm very well-behaved and won't bother you."
Jiang Mian seemed to be having a nightmare, clinging to his arm as her only support and refusing to let go.
Helpless, Shen Ji had no choice but to squat down.
Jiang Mian seemed a little aggrieved, and as she spoke, tears involuntarily fell, wetting her long eyelashes.
Shen Ji couldn't quite describe his feelings; his heart was a little troubled, yet filled with anticipation. The girl leaned her cheek closer, gently rubbing against his sleeve, and said indistinctly, "Cousin, today I... did..."
"What did you do?"
Shen Ji followed her words and asked, his voice very soft, as if coaxing someone to sleep, patient and gentle.
He didn't leave, even as she creased his neatly pressed cuffs.
Jiang Mian naturally couldn't respond to him. She muttered something else for a few more moments before stopping her sleep talking. However, she held onto his sleeve tightly and wouldn't let go.
Shen Ji struggled, but couldn't break free.
However, if he exerts force, he can break free, but that would inevitably wake Jiang Mian.
He pondered for a moment, then suddenly lay down fully clothed. The bed was spacious enough to comfortably accommodate another person, but there was only one quilt. After a brief silence, Shen Ji piled the quilt on Jiang Mian. Unexpectedly, the girl frowned, reached out and tossed the quilt aside, and the remaining quilt ended up on him.
It appears that he and she slept together.
There was even a blanket covering them.
Jiang Mian was a restless sleeper, and Shen Ji experienced this for the first time. After he rested beside her, she naturally wrapped her arms around his waist and abdomen, and silently placed one leg between his legs.
Shen Ji straightened her body, but before long, she wrapped herself around him again. After this happened several times, he gave up and couldn't be bothered to reach out anymore.
Jiang Mian smiled, as if she were having an extremely beautiful dream.
**
The next day, when Jiang Mian woke up, it was already late. She stretched her arms and suddenly looked up. The bed where her cousin had slept was cold and clean, and it seemed that he had left very early again.
Jiang Mian pursed her lips. It seemed that her cousin had not yet let his guard down around her. She still had to keep trying and try to stay by his side every day so that she could find opportunities to get closer to him.
She glanced casually at the bed and noticed it was a bit messy, a look of confusion appearing in her eyes.
When did she start sleeping in such an awkward position? It looked like she was taking up two places, with one side of her body slightly sunken in.
Last night, she remembered going to bed very early. She had originally planned to take advantage of the time alone to talk more with her cousin, but to her surprise, she fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She wondered if her cousin would think she slept too much.
Jiang Mian bit her lip, feeling somewhat annoyed. She should have rested properly during the day so that she could "recharge" for communication with him at night.
She didn't pay any attention to the wrinkles on the bed. After washing up, she was having breakfast when a young novice monk came in and handed her a letter.
When the young novice saw her, his face flushed with embarrassment. Looking into her eyes, he seemed speechless, stammering out a sentence for a long time before Jiang Mian finally understood that a noble person had invited her to admire the plum blossoms in the back mountain.
Jiang Mian politely accepted the letter. After seeing the little monk run away quickly, she suddenly felt a little better. She was very confident in her beauty. Any normal person would be unable to take their eyes off her. It was only because Shen Ji was so distant and rejected her again and again.
Jiang Mian opened the letter. The handwriting was elegant and graceful, reminiscent of her cousin's style: "The red plum blossoms on the back hill are in full bloom. If you don't mind, you may come and admire them."
No signature was found.
A look of confusion appeared in her eyes. Why would her cousin write her a note?
However, she still carefully put the letter away.
Throughout the meal, the smile on her lips never faded; the thought of seeing her cousin later filled her with a sweet warmth.
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