Most of the snow outside the window has melted, revealing the wet bluestone path.
Yu Jiuyuan's villa was warm, like late spring, with the crackling flames in the fireplace making the blush on her cheeks even more pronounced.
She nestled on the sofa, wrapped in a camel-colored cashmere blanket, holding an open sketchbook in her hand, but her gaze wasn't on the pages.
Rong Shenghan was sitting on the single sofa opposite him, working on documents. His shirt sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, revealing his smooth wrists.
Sunlight streamed obliquely through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting soft shadows on the back of his hands, making even the tapping of his knuckles on the keyboard appear exceptionally clear.
Yu Jiuyuan's fingertips unconsciously traced the edge of the picture book, and she let out a soft whimper like a kitten.
"cold."
Rong Shenghan paused in his typing, without looking up: "The fireplace is on, and the blanket is on."
"It's still cold."
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, stepped barefoot onto the carpet, and slowly moved towards him. "If you hug me, I won't be cold anymore."
She spoke with a slightly nasal tone, a lingering nasal quality, and the last syllable rose slightly, like a feather tickling the tip of one's heart.
Rong Shenghan finally looked up, his gaze falling on her bare ankles, where faint blue marks remained from when he had squeezed her ankles a few days ago.
"The ground is cold." He reached out and pulled her onto his lap, his palm gripping her ankle; it was indeed icy cold.
Yu Jiuyuan snuggled into his arms, having already tossed the sketchbook aside. She wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled her nose against his neck, saying, "Your hands are so warm."
Her breath, carrying a hint of warmth and the slightly bitter scent of fever reducer, brushed against his neck.
Rong Shenghan's Adam's apple bobbed, and he almost dropped the document in his hand.
These past few days, Yu Jiuyuan has been like a vine clinging to him, needing to be fed, given water, and even helped to turn over.
Yet her eyes were always moist, with an unwitting allure, and she acted as if nothing was wrong, taking it as a privilege of being sick.
"Look at the documents." He pushed her aside, trying to create some distance.
Yu Jiuyuan, however, took advantage of the situation, squeezing her knee between his legs and unbuttoning his shirt one button at a time: "How about we stop watching? Play with me."
Her fingertips brushed against his skin, carrying a slightly cool body temperature, which sent a shiver down his spine.
Rong Shenghan grabbed her hand, his voice deep and hoarse: "Yu Jiuyuan."
"Hmm?" She looked up at him, her eyelashes glistening with moisture, her eyes looking completely innocent. "I feel unwell."
These three words were like hooks, instantly catching his taut nerves.
The cold indifference and aloofness during the Cold War a few days ago seemed like an illusion. At this moment, she was soft in his arms, like a kitten drenched in rain, completely dependent on him, making it impossible for him to vent his anger.
"Where does it hurt?" He lowered his head and kissed her forehead; her temperature had dropped considerably.
"Here." Yu Jiuyuan grabbed his hand and pressed it to her chest, but her eyes darted to his lower abdomen. "And... I want you to hug me."
Her hints were direct and bold, yet her tone was so innocent that it sounded like she was talking about something ordinary.
Rong Shenghan stared at her for a long time, then suddenly chuckled. The laughter carried a dangerous undertone and resonated from his chest, making Yu Jiuyuan feel inexplicably flustered.
"Hold you?" he countered, his fingers suddenly gripping her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "Like this?"
Before he could finish speaking, his other hand was already...
Yu Jiuyuan's breathing suddenly stopped, and her pupils contracted slightly.
She had imagined him kissing her, pinning her down on the sofa like he had a few days before, but she never expected him to do this, so openly and brazenly, twice in front of her, doing the most private things.
The sunlight fell perfectly on his hands, making every movement so clear it made one blush and their heart race.
Yu Jiuyuan instinctively tried to dodge, but he held her chin and she couldn't move, so she could only watch helplessly.
His eyes were deep, like a frozen lake, reflecting her momentarily flustered expression, with a hint of secret amusement, as if he were enjoying her loss of composure.
"Rong Shenghan... are you crazy?" Her voice trembled slightly, whether from anger or something else, it was hard to tell.
"You seduced me first."
His tone was calm, but his movements didn't stop. His fingertips occasionally brushed against her knee, sending a tingling, electric-like sensation through her. "What? Are you scared now?"
Yu Jiuyuan bit her lower lip, a hint of annoyance flashing in her eyes.
She had intended to tease him and see him lose control, but instead, she found herself outmaneuvered.
This person is always like this; seemingly gentle and harmless, but in reality, he is cunning and always manages to accurately seize her weaknesses.
"I didn't..." she tried to explain, but her voice grew softer and softer.
"Nothing?" Rong Shenghan raised an eyebrow, suddenly quickening his movements and breathing heavily. "Who was rubbing against me just now? Who was unbuttoning my clothes? Hmm?"
His breath brushed against her ear, carrying a slightly burning temperature.
Yu Jiuyuan's cheeks were burning hot, but her body was uncontrollably weak, and even her fingertips were trembling slightly.
She could clearly feel the changes in his body; even through the thin fabric, it was incredibly hot.
"No..." She turned her face away, unable to look at him again. "I was wrong..."
"Wrong?" He chuckled, tightening his grip on her chin slightly to force her to turn back. "Where did you go wrong?"
His eyes were so bright, like steel that had been tempered, that she could see right through them.
Yu Jiuyuan suddenly realized that her little tricks were no match for him.
She thought she was fishing, but little did she know that she had already become a fish in his net, just waiting for him to pull it in.
"I shouldn't... I shouldn't have provoked you." Her voice was barely audible, tinged with embarrassment and annoyance.
Rong Shenghan looked at her reddened eyes, finally stopped what he was doing, and brushed his fingertip across the corner of her lips: "Remember?"
Yu Jiuyuan didn't say anything, but just snuggled tighter into his arms, like a sulking cat.
She could feel the lingering heat emanating from him, and his restrained breathing.
This person is always like this; he can easily provoke her anger, but he can also stop in time just when she's about to lose control, firmly grasping the initiative.
"Idiot," she muttered, burying her face even deeper.
Rong Shenghan chuckled, reached out and ruffled her hair, his fingertips brushing against her earlobe: "If you move around again, it won't be just like this next time."
The flames in the fireplace gradually died down, but the room remained warm and cozy.
Yu Jiuyuan nestled in his arms, listening to his steady heartbeat, and suddenly felt that this illness wasn't so bad after all.
At least, she saw a side of Rong Shenghan that no one else knew, and saw the traces of him losing control for her.
The joy of taming pets may lie in watching them try to control everything, but end up falling into your trap.
She curled her lips into a smile and gently bit his neck, leaving a faint tooth mark.
“Rong Shenghan,” she said softly, with a sly smile, “I’ll win next time.”
Rong Shenghan looked down at the light flickering in her eyes, his gaze deep and unfathomable, and simply replied in a low voice, "I'll wait."
The snow outside the window started falling again, pattering softly, as if providing accompaniment for this silent contest.
The struggle on the sickbed is clearly far from over.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
