Chapter 152
Su Zhelan was exhausted from being tormented by the two men all night and slept soundly until the afternoon of the next day before finally waking up.
He opened his eyes with a slight tremor of his eyelashes, revealing a pair of eyes still somewhat misty. Sunlight was already streaming through the window, casting warm, dappled patterns on the bedside.
His body felt as if it were falling apart, weak and sore. Every joint throbbed with a fine, aching pain, especially his lower back, hips, and groin. Even the slightest movement sent a sharp, lingering sting and tingling sensation through him. In a certain indescribable place, a distinct, slightly red, swollen, and hot sensation reminded him of everything that had happened the night before.
He lay there in a daze for a moment, the chaotic and shameful scenes of last night gradually returning to his mind, causing a blush to creep up his ears. He tried to sit up, but due to the weakness in his arms and the lack of strength in his waist, he fell back into the soft bedding, only able to let out a very soft, hoarse gasp.
Xiao Qiyun was sitting behind a rosewood desk in the room reviewing documents when he heard the sound. He immediately looked up, put down his pen, and got up to come over. Sheng Xuan, who had been leaning against the low couch by the window, gazing out the window in a daze, also quickly turned around and strode to the bedside in a few steps.
The two leaned over almost simultaneously, their eyes fixed on Su Zhelan on the bed.
Xiao Qiyun gently brushed aside the slightly disheveled hair on Su Zhelan's forehead, his fingertips inadvertently grazing his temple, his voice low and gentle: "Awake? How are you feeling? Is anything bothering you?"
Sheng Xuan sat directly on the edge of the bed, slipped his hand under the silk quilt, and gently placed it on Su Zhelan's lower abdomen, his brows slightly furrowed: "Is there anything that hurts? Would you like some water?"
Their eyes held obvious concern and a hint of barely perceptible tension, as if they were afraid that their indulgence the night before had really hurt him.
Looking at the two faces filled with concern before him, Su Zhelan was instantly overwhelmed by the images of his ignoring pleas and being forcefully confronted last night. His eyes welled up with tears, not from resentment, but from an uncontrollable anger. These two people were now acting all considerate, but last night… he had pleaded for so long, cried so bitterly, and neither of them had stopped!
A surge of blood rushed to the top of her head. Su Zhelan gritted her teeth, enduring the aches and pains that felt like her body was falling apart and a certain unspeakable stinging pain. She suddenly twisted her body and forcefully broke free from the two people's encirclement, curling up with her back to them.
His movements aggravated countless aches and pains throughout his body, bringing tears to his eyes. Yet, he forced a heavy, clearly angry "humph" through his nose, refusing to even glance at them again.
Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun were taken aback by this sudden resistance, and they subconsciously exchanged a glance. A silent tension, tinged with mutual accusation, instantly filled the air.
Both of them saw the same guilty conscience in each other's eyes, but neither was willing to admit that it was their fault. They could only purse their thin lips even tighter and furrow their brows even more deeply.
Seeing this, Sheng Xuan didn't hesitate to take off his shoes and climb onto the bed. He crawled to the side where Su Zhelan was facing, and like a large dog, he nuzzled in front of her, deliberately nuzzling her chin with his furry head, his voice drawn out and clearly tinged with coquetry:
"Pay attention to me...pay attention to me...don't ignore me...how are you? Where does it hurt? Let me rub it for you?" As he spoke, he restlessly rubbed his nose against Su Zhelan's cheek, trying to squeeze into her tightly closed gaze.
At the same time, Xiao Qiyun silently got into bed and gently, yet irresistibly, wrapped Su Zhelan in his arms from behind.
His chin rested on the top of Su Zhelan's soft hair, his deep voice tinged with apology and a hint of helpless hoarseness: "...I'm sorry. But last night...you were so aroused and lost in thought...I just...couldn't help it..." His warm palms gently covered Su Zhelan's slightly twitching lower abdomen, slowly and soothingly massaging it.
Su Zhelan was once again caught in the two people's warm embrace and relentless entanglement, his nose filled with the familiar scent that made his heart flutter.
He kept his eyes tightly closed, biting his lip to keep quiet, but tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes, and his body trembled slightly as he tried to hold back his sobs.
Sheng Xuan felt his trembling, so she pressed herself against him, hugging him even tighter, while constantly murmuring all sorts of sweet words to comfort him.
Xiao Qiyun hugged him even tighter, her lips pressed against his earlobe, apologizing repeatedly in a low voice, her warm breath brushing against his sensitive neck.
Su Zhelan was almost suffocated by the two of them; their warm breaths and incessant soft apologies enveloped him like an impenetrable net.
He finally lost his temper, and with a heavy nasal tone and lingering sobs, he said weakly but with obvious impatience:
"Okay... move aside... you're pressing on me, it hurts..."
His arm weakly pushed against Sheng Xuan's chest, which was pressed against him, trying to create a small opening. His voice still carried the hoarseness of last night's crying and screaming, sounding exceptionally fragile, yet also carrying a hint of extreme frustration.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan immediately loosened his embrace, but did not completely back away. He simply propped himself up slightly, his fingers still lingeringly stroking Su Zhelan's sweaty temples, his eyes filled with a cautious attempt to please her.
Xiao Qiyun loosened his embrace slightly, but his warm hands remained stubbornly on Su Zhelan's lower abdomen, gently rubbing it intermittently, and whispered, "Is it uncomfortable here? I'll rub it more gently."
Su Zhelan felt extremely uncomfortable being pestered and just wanted to find an excuse to get rid of them. He pursed his dry lips and mumbled weakly, "...I want some water."
As soon as he finished speaking, Sheng Xuan's eyes lit up, and he sprang up from the bed almost like a fish leaping out of water, his movements so fast they created a gust of wind. "Wait! I'll be right there!" he said, then hurriedly turned and rushed to the table, frantically pouring water.
Xiao Qiyun carefully supported Su Zhelan's back and neck, his arms steady and strong, gently lifting him up halfway. He then quickly grabbed a soft pillow from the side and placed it behind Su Zhelan's waist so that he could lean back more comfortably.
His fingertips accidentally brushed against the sensitive skin on Su Zhelan's neck, causing Su Zhelan to tremble slightly.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze remained fixed on Su Zhelan's pale and weary face as he said in a low voice, "Get up slowly, are you dizzy?"
Su Zhelan was steadily supported by Xiao Qiyun, leaning against the soft pillow.
Sheng Xuan held a warm cup of water and carefully brought it to his lips. Su Zhelan lowered his eyelashes, not looking at them, but obediently parted his lips slightly and sipped the warm water from the cup.
The cool liquid soothed his dry, stinging throat, making him let out a very soft, comfortable sigh.
He drank very slowly, his eyelashes drooping as he looked down, and occasionally a drop of water would slide down the corner of his lips. Sheng Xuan would immediately wipe it away gently with her fingertips, her movements careful.
Xiao Qiyun steadily supported his shoulders and back from behind, feeling the slight rise and fall of his body beneath her palms.
Throughout the entire process, the two remained unusually silent, simply watching him drink water with unwavering eyes. The only sounds in the air were the soft sounds of swallowing and the faint chirping of birds outside the window.
Su Zhelan finished the last sip of water, gently shook her head, and Sheng Xuan immediately removed the empty glass.
Xiao Qiyun's hand was still firmly supporting his back as he asked in a low voice, "Would you like something to eat? I've made some light porridge."
Su Zhelan frowned, shrank back into the soft pillow, his voice heavy with weariness and a hint of barely perceptible grievance: "I don't want to eat... I feel terrible all over..." His eyelashes trembled, and he added almost breathlessly, "...I just want to rest."
Xiao Qiyun carefully helped Su Zhelan lie down again as instructed, gently tucking the blanket around him.
As soon as Su Zhelan touched the pillow, she closed her eyes wearily, her breathing quickly becoming long and even, but her brows were still slightly furrowed, as if she could feel discomfort even in her sleep.
Sheng Xuan stood by the bed, his gaze fixed on Su Zhelan's tired sleeping face. He lowered his voice and said to Xiao Qiyun, "Wait until he's sound asleep... then apply the medicine to him." There was a hint of barely perceptible annoyance in his tone.
Xiao Qiyun nodded silently, his gaze sweeping over the obvious teeth marks on Su Zhelan's neck and the lingering red marks on her collarbone, his eyes darkening. He reached out and gently brushed aside the strands of hair on Su Zhelan's forehead, his fingertips pausing when they touched her slightly warm skin.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Xiao Qiyun gently pulled Su Zhelan out of bed without saying a word. Su Zhelan struggled sleepily, her body sore and weak that she couldn't muster any strength, and Xiao Qiyun half-supported and half-carried her into his arms.
Sheng Xuan strode in carrying a tray with a bowl of warm porridge and a few light side dishes. He placed the tray on the small table beside the bed, squatted down to be at eye level with Su Zhelan, and said in a very gentle voice, "Eat something, it's more uncomfortable on an empty stomach."
Su Zhelan opened his eyes with a frown, the soreness in his muscles instantly waking him up. He tried to sit up, but a distinct stiffness pulled him back, causing him to gasp. "...Let me lie down a little longer."
His voice was hoarse and clearly tired.
Xiao Qiyun's arm was firmly wrapped around him, while her other hand had already picked up the bowl of porridge, scooped a spoonful and brought it to his lips, her tone leaving no room for refusal: "Just a few bites."
Seeing that Su Zhelan pursed her lips and refused to open her mouth, he lowered his head and gently rubbed Su Zhelan's sweaty temples with his forehead. "Be good, just swallow it."
Sheng Xuan leaned closer, gently smoothing Su Zhelan's disheveled hair with his fingertips, and coaxed her softly, "Drink slowly, and I'll let you continue sleeping after you finish."
Su Zhelan remained silent for a moment before finally relenting and opening his mouth to swallow the warm porridge from Xiao Qiyun's hand. The rice was soft and sticky, and his stomach gradually warmed up, but his face remained tense. After finishing, he turned and lay back down, pulling the blanket over himself and leaving them with only his silent back.
In the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the window lattice, casting warm dappled patterns into the room.
Su Zhelan slowly opened his eyes, his consciousness gradually clearing. He moved his body and found that the most uncomfortable feeling was no longer the tearing pain from yesterday, but a heavy, aching sensation, especially concentrated in his lower back and groin, like the fatigue after being repeatedly stretched too much.
The room was unusually quiet. He listened intently—there was no familiar breathing, nor the soft rustling of pages turning. He then recalled that around noon, Sheng Xuan and Xiao Qiyun had whispered a few words to each other when they saw him sleeping soundly, exhausted.
Xiao Qiyun reached out to check his forehead temperature, then shook his head at Sheng Xuan and said, "Let him sleep."
The two tucked him in, left some warm porridge and food on the stove, and then quietly closed the door and left. They all thought he would sleep soundly for the entire afternoon, just like yesterday.
Su Zhelan slowly sat up, propping herself up on the bed. The silk quilt slipped down, revealing faint red marks on her skin that hadn't yet faded. A certain area still felt noticeably foreign and full, but the sharp pain had transformed into a deep, lingering soreness, a constant reminder of what had happened.
He threw back the covers, and as his feet touched the ground, a sudden jolt of muscle shot through his groin, causing him to instinctively grab the bedpost for support. As he straightened up, the stiffness in his lower back forced him to hunch over slightly for a moment before he slowly rose and walked toward the basin of water inside the room.
The only sounds in the empty room were his own footsteps and slightly rapid breathing. With each step, he could clearly feel the lingering soreness deep within his body.
Su Zhelan walked slowly to the pear wood shelf in the corner of the room, where a brass basin sat. As he bent over, the aching in his lower back forced him to pause, and he steadied himself by holding onto the rim of the basin. He scooped up a handful of cool water and splashed it on his face.
Water droplets slid down his tired cheeks, taking away some of the sticky sweat and making him more aware of the slight swelling in his eyelids and the dryness at the corners of his mouth. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the cool touch temporarily suppressed the faint heat beneath his skin.
As he straightened up, a sharp soreness returned to his lower back. He leaned against the wooden frame for a moment before slowly wiping his face with a thin cotton cloth draped nearby. The ripples in the basin gradually subsided, reflecting his slightly refreshed but still undeniably tired face.
Just as Su Zhelan was supporting her back and preparing to move to the low couch by the window to sit for a while, and perhaps flip through the documents Xiao Qiyun had left on the desk yesterday to see how today's affairs were going, the door creaked open.
Sheng Xuan walked in carrying a small food box. He was taken aback when he saw Su Zhelan standing in the room. His expression changed slightly, and he rushed forward to steady his arm.
"Why did you get up by yourself?" he asked urgently, looking Su Zhelan up and down. "Aren't you feeling better? If you want to wash up, just call me. Why force yourself to get up? What if you fall..." he muttered, his brows furrowed tightly.
Su Zhelan was annoyed by his barrage of questions, especially since the feeling of weakness all over her body made his concern sound particularly grating.
He frowned and interrupted Sheng Xuan, "The desk." His voice was clearly impatient. With Sheng Xuan's help, he slowly moved towards the rosewood desk. With each step, the soreness in his legs made him gasp for breath, but his face remained tense, refusing to show any sign of it.
As Su Zhelan sat down behind the rosewood desk and picked up a scroll, Sheng Xuan placed several light side dishes and warm porridge from the food box on a corner of the desk.
Sheng Xuan's mouth didn't stop, and his hands moved deftly as he served the dishes: "I didn't eat much this morning, so I should eat some more now. This porridge has chicken soup in it, which is very nourishing..." As he spoke, he put the jade chopsticks into Su Zhelan's hands, "Are your legs still sore? I'll massage them for you in a bit."
Just then, the door was gently pushed open. Xiao Qiyun stepped in, his shoulders still carrying the slight chill of the outside air. He first glanced at the meal laid out on the table, then his gaze fell on Su Zhelan's slightly tired profile.
He walked behind Su Zhelan, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. His palm was warm, yet the pressure carried an undeniable concern. "You're tired from paperwork; there's no need to rush."
Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep, but much gentler than usual, with a hint of coaxing, "How about we have some food first?"
He reached out and gently took the document from Su Zhelan's fingers, placing it carefully on the corner of the desk. "No rush, let's rest and recover first." His fingertips even gently pressed on Su Zhelan's slightly stiff shoulders and neck, with a soothing tone.
Su Zhelan glanced at the two people beside her, a half-smile playing on her lips, her voice tinged with a weary sarcasm: "So attentive... now you're worried about being 'tired of paperwork,' where was this thoughtfulness from the night before?"
Upon hearing this, Sheng Xuan not only did not back down, but moved even closer, his fingertips hooking around Su Zhelan's sleeve and swaying it ingratiatingly. His eyes curved into a smile, his tone sly and ingratiating: "It was my fault—but the way your eyes were red at the time made me want to bully you..." Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Qiyun lightly tapped the back of his head with a scroll.
Xiao Qiyun's palm remained firmly pressed against Su Zhelan's lower back, gently massaging it. Hearing this, he chuckled softly, his fingertips lightly tracing the other's spine: "It's true that you know you're wrong."
He suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against Su Zhelan's earlobe. "But if I had to do it all over again... I'm afraid I still wouldn't be able to control myself." The scent of sandalwood enveloped her gently with his words, which were clearly a confession, yet carried an undeniable determination.
Su Zhelan's brows furrowed deeply. She took a deep breath, as if swallowing back a thousand curses that were about to rise in her throat, and finally managed to squeeze out only two words through gritted teeth: "...Bastard."
The two men, far from being annoyed by his words, actually smiled. Xiao Qiyun pushed the bowl of porridge half an inch closer to him, while Sheng Xuan chuckled and placed a piece of bamboo shoot into his dish: "Well said, well said. You need to eat your fill first so you have the energy to keep going."
The three finished their meal in silence. Sheng Xuan deftly cleared away the dishes, and before leaving, she quickly whispered in Su Zhelan's ear, "Come back tonight."
He then strode towards the training ground with the food box in his hand. Xiao Qiyun then spread out the Xuan paper again, and when he ground the ink and picked up the brush, he resumed his usual aloof and dignified demeanor. Only when his gaze swept over Su Zhelan's slightly furrowed brows would a faint hint of warmth flash across his face.
Su Zhelan lowered her eyes and unfolded the file; the ink marks of the vermilion annotations gleamed slightly in the afternoon light.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
