Shen Jintang could clearly feel the vibration in his chest and the danger in his tone.
She shook her head, feeling that his decision not to go back but to close the door was a vague hint, and she was afraid that Shen Youyi might overthink it.
Just as she was about to turn her head to look, her chin was caught in his tiger's mouth, forcing her to look directly into his eyes, which were inches away from hers.
Moonlight filtered through the gaps in the eaves, casting fine shadows beneath his eyelashes.
She suddenly noticed a tiny beauty mark at the corner of his right eye, usually hidden by a fierce aura, but now it appeared somewhat alluring, like a mark left on his face by fate.
"Why aren't you talking about it now?" He stroked her chin with his thumb, his voice extremely low, like a feather brushing against her eardrum. "The person who made you feel... that I'm not mature enough."
He suddenly grabbed her hand under the quilt and pressed it against his chest.
Beneath her thin undergarment, her heart pounded rapidly, making her palms go numb.
Shen Jintang suddenly felt short of breath.
His breath was too hot, mixed with a faint scent of agarwood, trapping her in this small space with nowhere to escape.
“There’s no point of reference,” Shen Jintang frowned and said, “but you are indeed a year younger than me.”
Gu Zhixing's eyes suddenly turned dangerous, as if his sore spot had been touched.
Shen Jintang had no choice but to compromise, saying, "Okay, okay, seven months, seven months is fine, right? But even at seven months I'll still be older than you. What's wrong with me saying you're childish?"
Gu Zhixing looked down into Shen Jintang's eyes and earnestly corrected her, "I am a man."
Shen Jintang found it somewhat amusing and said, "I didn't say you're not a man. I just said I'm older than you. Even if you call me 'sister' like Shen Youyi does, I can accept it."
"Sister?" He suddenly lowered his head, his high, straight nose brushing against her earlobe, his breath so hot it felt like it was setting her earlobe on fire. "You can forget about it for the rest of your life, it's impossible!"
His warm lips brushed lightly against her neck, lingering on her pulsating pulse.
Shen Jintang trembled and tried to dodge, but heard him chuckle triumphantly.
Shen Jintang said, "...Is this childish to the extreme?"
"Mmm." Gu Zhixing buried his face in Shen Jintang's neck, his voice muffled, seemingly agreeing, yet also seeming to be pouting.
The night wind suddenly picked up, swirling the osmanthus blossoms down like a golden rain.
A few petals landed on Gu Zhixing's shoulder, and Shen Jintang noticed them and unconsciously brushed them away.
This action seemed to please him; the man chuckled softly and suddenly leaned down—
But he stopped just before his lips touched hers.
Shen Jintang was about to speak when he was stopped by him.
"Gu Zhi... um..."
Two figures overlapped, merging into one under the moonlight, as if the whole world had quieted down, leaving only their breaths.
The sound of a night watchman's clapper could be heard in the distance, each beat breaking the silence of the night.
Gu Zhixing slowly released her, and as he stepped back, the osmanthus blossoms on his shoulders fell like rain, sprinkling onto his robe, which was gilded by the moonlight.
The moonlight shone on his slightly upturned lips, illuminating his satisfied expression and the wrinkled front of his shirt that she had been clutching.
“I’ll remember,” he breathed hotly on her ear, his breath sweet with a hint of danger, “Immature people are the most vengeful.”
His voice was deep and hoarse, like a whisper in my ear, or like planting a seed in my heart.
Shen Jintang's chest heaved violently. After finally calming her disordered breathing, she raised her eyes and glared at him fiercely.
Under the moonlight, her peach blossom eyes shimmered, yet this glare lacked any intimidation; instead, it seemed like a coquettish pout, carrying a hint of petulance.
"The quilt," Gu Zhixing chuckled, pointing to the crumpled brocade quilt in her arms, his eyes and brows radiating a satisfied triumph, like a cat that had just stolen some fish, "is really meant to keep you warm."
Shen Jintang lowered her eyes to look at the brocade quilt in her arms, her heart softened suddenly, but then a greater sense of annoyance welled up inside her.
In a fit of pique, she threw the quilt back into his arms and turned to leave, but he caught her in a swift grab.
Gu Zhixing pulled the brocade quilt back into his arms and hugged her back, holding her slightly cold hands. His voice was teasing: "Your hands are so cold, and the temperature is low today. If you catch a cold, it will really break my heart."
"Then why are you dragging me here in the cold wind?" Shen Jintang retorted, her voice tinged with reproach.
Gu Zhixing chuckled softly upon hearing this, his warm breath brushing against her reddened earlobes, as if teasing her senses.
He tightened his arms, wrapping her completely in his cloak, the dark fur collar brushing against her cheeks, bringing a tingling, itchy sensation.
"It was my fault." His voice carried a hint of appeasement as he gently rubbed his chin against the top of her head, as if soothing a frightened little animal. "So, little tutor, how do you intend to punish me?"
Shen Jintang was taken aback by his sudden intimacy. She could feel the warmth emanating from his chest even through his clothes, a warmth that seemed to dispel all cold.
The night breeze, carrying the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, slipped through the gap between the two, yet it couldn't dispel the warmth rising in that small space.
"I'll punish you..." Her eyes sparkled, and she suddenly reached out and pinched his cheeks, pulling them apart gently but with a hint of playfulness. "You're not allowed to knock on my door in the middle of the night anymore."
Gu Zhixing let her run wild, a tolerant smile playing in his eyes.
The moonlight fell on his handsome face, which was distorted by the tearing, revealing a comical and endearing expression, as if she had molded a touch of childishness into it.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, and the curve of his lips deepened.
“That won’t do.” Gu Zhixing’s voice was deep and hoarse, with a hint of seduction. He suddenly leaned closer, his nose almost touching hers, so close that they could feel each other’s breath. “Unless…” he trailed off, with a faint smile, “you agree to move back to the main courtyard.”
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