Chapter 69
This brief but profound sucking seemed to have exhausted all of Sheng Xuan's courage and restraint. He stopped abruptly, his lips leaving Su Zhelan's, breathing slightly heavily.
He slightly distanced himself, but one hand still gently held Su Zhelan's cheek, his fingertips unconsciously caressing Su Zhelan's slightly hot skin.
His gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, was fixed on Su Zhelan's face, filled with the preciousness of surviving a calamity and a bottomless longing.
Su Zhelan slowly opened her eyes.
Those eyes, always filled with weariness and detachment, now held lingering shock and a hint of bewilderment after being stirred. However, when his gaze met Sheng Xuan's eyes, so close yet brimming with immense emotional impact and undisguised affection, a strange, burning heat instantly spread from his ears, quickly engulfing his entire face.
The two locked eyes, their heartbeats, clear as the beating of a drum, were indistinguishable—or perhaps, they were already intertwined.
Sheng Xuan looked at the sudden, breathtakingly beautiful blush on Su Zhelan's face, at the lingering shock and clear embarrassment in his eyes, and felt as if his heart had been struck hard by something, then began to pound wildly! A huge sense of satisfaction and a deeper heartache instantly overwhelmed him.
His Adam's apple bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but he found his throat so dry that he couldn't make a sound. He could only stare at Su Zhelan more deeply and greedily, as if he wanted to etch her blushing face into the depths of his soul.
Su Zhelan felt increasingly embarrassed under his gaze, and her blush deepened, even spreading to her neck, which was tinged with a light pink.
His long eyelashes trembled violently, like the wings of a startled butterfly, trying to lower his eyelids to avoid the overly scorching gaze, yet he seemed to be pulled away by an invisible force, unable to look away completely.
The lingering touch and warmth on his lips were as clear as a brand, mixed with the burning heat on his face, making him feel as if he were surrounded by steaming heat.
Time seemed to stretch out infinitely at that moment.
Just as the air seemed to freeze, a deliberate, clear cough pierced the warmth and tranquility of the room like an icicle!
"cough!"
The sound came from the doorway!
Sheng Xuan and Su Zhelan's bodies stiffened simultaneously!
As if a bucket of ice water had been poured over their heads, the ambiguity and excitement that had permeated between the two of them, almost solidifying into reality, were instantly shattered!
As if electrocuted, Sheng Xuan abruptly withdrew his hand from Su Zhelan's cheek, the movement so fast it created a gust of wind. He almost jumped up, instinctively taking half a step back to distance himself from Su Zhelan.
The lingering affection and immense satisfaction on his face were suddenly disrupted, leaving him flustered and his eyes filled with astonishment and a hint of embarrassment at being caught out.
He quickly turned his face away, trying to hide his flushed ears and pounding heart, but his tense body and slightly heaving chest betrayed his unease.
Su Zhelan's reaction was equally intense. The blush on his face faded almost entirely, replaced by a panicked feeling of being caught red-handed and immense embarrassment.
He suddenly lowered his head, almost covering his entire eyes, and subconsciously raised his hand to quickly rub his lips, which still retained a hot touch and a moist sheen, as if to wipe away some evidence.
He curled up slightly, shifting towards the inner side of the soft couch, trying to distance himself from Shengxuan and also trying to hide himself. His heart pounded wildly in his chest, almost shattering his ribs; the immense shame and panic made it difficult for him to breathe.
The door was gently pushed open.
Xiao Qiyun appeared at the door. He was wearing a long robe with a thin, plain-colored cloak over it, and he was carrying an exquisite food box and a familiar medicine box.
He walked in with his usual gentle smile, as if the cough that had just broken the silence had not come from him.
However, deep within his usually gentle and composed eyes, an extremely complex emotion was surging—a suppressed turmoil, a bottomless pain, and a trace of… barely perceptible weariness and understanding. His gaze swept across the room seemingly unintentionally.
His gaze first fell on Sheng Xuan, who was facing away from him, her body stiff, her shoulders taut, and the lingering blush on her ears clearly visible.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze lingered on the reddened earlobe for a moment, a fleeting, almost imperceptible glint flashing in his eyes.
Then, his gaze shifted to Su Zhelan on the couch. He lowered his head, almost burying his face in the blanket, with only the top of his hair and slightly reddened ear tips showing. He curled up, his shoulders trembling slightly.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze lingered for a moment on the back of Su Zhelan's hand, which was unconsciously rubbing its lips, before sweeping over his slightly open collar and the chest covered with a medicated cloth, which was heaving with rapid breathing.
The air seemed to freeze, carrying a suffocating awkwardness and a silent tension.
Xiao Qiyun seemed oblivious to the strange atmosphere, his face still bearing that gentle and polite smile, his voice clear and melodious as ever, breaking the deathly silence:
"Looks like I've come at the wrong time?" His tone carried a perfectly timed teasing tone. His gaze swept between Sheng Xuan's stiff back and Su Zhelan's huddled figure, finally settling on Su Zhelan. His eyes were filled with his usual concern. "Zhelan, are you feeling any better? I brought some newly prepared calming tea, as well as the medicine Mr. Su instructed for your injuries."
As he spoke, he naturally walked to the table and put down the food box and medicine box.
His movements were fluid and without the slightest hesitation, as if the scene he had just witnessed through the crack in the window at the courtyard gate—the intimacy of their foreheads touching, the moment their lips met, the blush on their faces and the affectionate gaze—was all just his illusion.
Upon hearing Xiao Qiyun's voice, Su Zhelan shrank back almost imperceptibly.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to lift his head, and forced a stiff smile onto his face. His eyes darted around in a panic, not daring to look Xiao Qiyun in the eye. "Your Highness... I... I'm fine... Thank you for your concern..." His voice trembled slightly, and the blush on his cheeks had not completely faded.
Sheng Xuan finally turned around. He had managed to suppress the panic on his face, but his eyes still flickered, and he dared not meet Xiao Qiyun's gaze.
He cleared his throat, his voice slightly hoarse: "Xiao Qiyun... you've come." He paused, seemingly wanting to explain something, but unsure where to begin, and finally added awkwardly, "I... I just came to see Zhelan..."
Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell on Sheng Xuan's face. His gentle smile remained unchanged, but his eyes were like the most accurate probes, as if trying to see through all of Sheng Xuan's embarrassment and guilt at this moment.
He nodded slightly, his tone still gentle: "Yes, thank you. Zhelan is recovering well; her complexion is much better than a few days ago."
His gaze returned to Su Zhelan, with a knowing calm. "However, you should still rest more and avoid getting too emotional."
He paused, as if suddenly remembering something, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping towards the doorway. His tone remained calm, yet carried a subtle, perfectly timed "reminder":
“Oh, by the way,” Xiao Qiyun said casually, as if he were talking about something trivial, “I think I heard Mr. Su’s voice at the courtyard gate just now. He seemed to be coming this way. I guess he’s here to check on Su Zhelan’s injuries.”
This sentence is like a pebble thrown into a calm lake!
Sheng Xuan's expression instantly changed! He abruptly looked towards the door, his eyes filled with disbelief and a hint of... panic from being jolted awake! Mr. Su Yan?! Wasn't he summoned by Alliance Leader Gu Linzhao to discuss the new prescription?! How come he's back so soon?! If Mr. Su Yan were to see him here, and... and with Su Zhelan... Sheng Xuan couldn't even imagine how furious the hot-tempered Su Yan would be! The scene of him grabbing his collar and roaring at him last time was still vivid in his mind!
A tremendous sense of crisis instantly overwhelmed her previous embarrassment and emotional stirring! Sheng Xuan almost instinctively looked at Su Zhelan, her voice filled with obvious urgency and a trace of lingering panic: "Zhelan! I... I have to go first! If Mr. Su sees me here..."
He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—if Su Yan saw him, he would definitely be in trouble, and might even take his anger out on Su Zhelan!
He didn't have time to explain anything further, nor did he care about Xiao Qiyun's seemingly calm but actually meaningful gaze. He hurriedly said to Su Zhelan, "You...you should rest well! I...I'll come see you again next time!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already turned around abruptly, moving as fast as a cat whose tail had been stepped on. He rushed to the door in a few steps, opened it, and disappeared outside in a flash, leaving only the slight creaking of the door and the sound of hurried footsteps fading away.
Xiao Qiyun stood there, his gaze following Sheng Xuan's almost hasty retreating figure as it disappeared at the courtyard gate, until the hurried footsteps faded into the distance.
The gentle smile on his lips finally gave way to a genuine, slightly playful chuckle:
"Heh...it seems Sheng Xuan...is really afraid of Mr. Su." His tone was relaxed, as if he were talking about something amusing, but his gaze seemed to casually sweep over Su Zhelan on the couch.
Su Zhelan looked at the still slightly swaying door and listened to Xiao Qiyun's clearly teasing words. He felt a mix of helplessness, amusement, and a hint of worry for Sheng Xuan. He turned his gaze to Xiao Qiyun standing by the table, sighed softly, and his voice carried a barely perceptible hint of indulgence and slight reproach:
"Your Highness...why bother?" His eyes were clear, with a hint of understanding, clearly seeing through Xiao Qiyun's little trick of "reminding" him just now.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Qiyun's smile deepened, but he showed no embarrassment at being exposed.
He seemed not to hear Su Zhelan's slightly reproachful question, nor did he pay any attention to the little "interlude" that had just occurred. He walked calmly to Su Zhelan's bedside and sat down naturally on the edge of the bed, no more than half a foot away from Su Zhelan.
He leaned slightly forward, his gaze fixed intently on Su Zhelan's face. His usually gentle eyes were now filled with undisguised concern and... a deep joy.
Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and gentle, carrying a reassuring warmth, as if the little "prank" had never happened. "Seeing how well you've recovered, and how much healthier you look than a few days ago..."
His gaze lingered on Su Zhelan's still slightly flushed cheeks and her clear eyes, a smile spreading across his face like spring water, filled with heartfelt satisfaction. "...I'm very happy."
His fingertips didn't leave, but instead gently stroked Su Zhelan's cheek, feeling its slightly warm temperature, his voice carrying an almost sighing tenderness:
"I'm really...happy."
Su Zhelan was slightly taken aback by his sudden, straightforward concern and gentle actions.
The spot on her cheek where Xiao Qiyun's fingertips had brushed against seemed to still retain a slightly cool touch, yet it also brought a subtle flutter of excitement.
He looked at Xiao Qiyun's face, which was so close to his own, and saw his own flushed and somewhat embarrassed appearance clearly reflected in those eyes filled with joy and concern.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze lingered on Su Zhelan's face for a moment, his gentle smile deepening. As if he had enjoyed Su Zhelan's rare shyness enough, he slowly withdrew his hand and naturally turned to the medicine box on the table.
"It's time to drink the medicine prescribed by Mr. Su." Xiao Qiyun's voice remained gentle, carrying an undeniable concern.
He took a white porcelain medicine bowl that was warming on a small stove from his medicine box, lifted the lid, and a strong, bitter medicinal aroma instantly filled the air. He gently stirred it with a small silver spoon to ensure the medicine was evenly distributed and at the perfect temperature, warm but not scalding.
Su Zhelan looked at the medicine bowl handed to him; the dark brown liquid inside emitted a familiar bitter aroma. He took the bowl, his fingertips touching the warm porcelain.
Xiao Qiyun didn't insist on feeding him, which greatly reduced the slight resentment he felt from the earlier "prank" and lessened his embarrassment. He frowned slightly, took a deep breath, then tilted his head back and drank the medicine in the cup in one gulp.
The medicine tasted extremely bitter, sliding down her throat and bringing a familiar astringent sensation. Su Zhelan couldn't help but frown, and when she put down the empty medicine bowl, the lingering bitterness still remained on her tongue.
Seeing his furrowed brows, Xiao Qiyun's eyes held a hint of barely perceptible doting smile. He promptly handed him a bowl of warm water that had been prepared beforehand: "Rinse your mouth to get rid of the bitter taste."
Su Zhelan rinsed her mouth as instructed, and the bitterness in her mouth subsided slightly.
Xiao Qiyun took the water glass and set it down, his gaze returning to Su Zhelan's face. The gentle smile now carried a hint of cunning and undeniable authority. He leaned slightly closer to Su Zhelan, his voice lowered, almost coaxingly soft:
"You've finished your medicine..." He paused, his gaze sweeping almost imperceptibly over Su Zhelan's chest covered with bandages, a faint yet meaningful smile curving his lips. "It's time to change the dressing."
Before he finished speaking, Xiao Qiyun's hand had already reached for Su Zhelan's collar with remarkable ease!
His movements weren't rough; in fact, they carried a deliberate gentleness, yet an undeniable forcefulness was clearly conveyed. His fingertips precisely grasped the sash of Su Zhelan's outer robe, and with a gentle flick, the knot loosened.
Su Zhelan's body tensed instantly!
Almost instinctively, he raised his hand to cover his open robe! The blush that had just faded from his face instantly returned, even more intense than before! He looked at Xiao Qiyun with some panic, his voice trembling almost imperceptibly with resistance: "Your...Your Highness! I can do it myself..."
Xiao Qiyun slightly raised his eyes, meeting Su Zhelan's flustered and embarrassed gaze. His smile remained gentle, but his eyes carried a calm that seemed to see through everything and an undeniable strength:
"Don't move." His voice was soft, yet it carried a strange, comforting power. "The wound on your chest is in a special location, and it's inconvenient for you to treat it yourself. Mr. Su specifically instructed that you need to be extra careful when changing the dressing these next few days, and you can't be careless."
His fingertips, warm to the touch, brushed lightly against Su Zhelan's collarbone through the thin fabric of her inner shirt.
That slight touch felt like an electric current, causing Su Zhelan's body to tremble violently and his breathing to quicken instantly. He tried to struggle, but Xiao Qiyun held his wrist firmly, the force not strong, but carrying a gentle restraint that made it impossible to break free.
"Listen to me." Xiao Qiyun's voice was deep and gentle, with a bewitching charm, his gaze fixed on Su Zhelan's eyes. "Let me see how well your wound is healing."
As he spoke, Xiao Qiyun's fingers had already reached for his inner shirt.
At this moment, Su Zhelan's clothes were slightly open, revealing a white medicated cloth covering her chest. A faint pink wisp of new flesh could be seen at the edge of the cloth.
Xiao Qiyun's gaze fell there, his eyes instantly becoming incredibly focused and... solemn. He carefully extended his finger, his fingertip gently touching the edge of the bandage, the movement as soft as a feather brushing against it.
Su Zhelan's body was as stiff as a stone. He kept his eyes tightly closed, not daring to look at Xiao Qiyun's expression or at his own open collar.
A mixture of immense shyness and an indescribable fluttering in his heart made his heart pound like a drum, and his cheeks burned as if they were on fire.
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