Chapter 3

Chapter 3

When I opened my eyes, the world outside was already bathed in bright daylight.

My entire body felt as if it had been run over by a steamroller; every inch of flesh and muscle ached.

I was the only one left in the room.

Jing Sicheng had left at some point.

I forced myself to sit up and climb out of bed.

I walked over to the window.

The curtains slid open automatically, and my eyes immediately landed on Jing Shaochuan in the garden below.

My gaze flickered instinctively.

The fingers hanging at my sides clenched tight without me even realizing it.

However, I quickly reined in my emotions.

I took a shower and changed into a short, off-the-shoulder dress, deliberately making no effort to hide the marks on the side of my neck and chest.

When Jing Shaochuan walked inside, he caught sight of me descending the stairs, my steps slow and somewhat labored.

He paused in his tracks. “What’s wrong with you?”

I pursed my lips and glanced at the servants downstairs.

I remained silent.

It wasn’t until I reached the bottom of the stairs and stood beside Jing Shaochuan that I noticed it.

I saw a hickey on the side of his neck at a single glance.

My gaze faltered for a fraction of a second before moving on.

I continued to act as if I hadn’t noticed a thing.

I gave his sleeve a gentle tug, my cheeks burning a deep crimson.

“Could you go buy some ointment for me?”

“Where are you hurting?”

Jing Shaochuan’s brows snapped together, his voice suddenly turning cold and heavy.

I bit my lip again, my voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz.

“You were too rough last night. I only noticed when I showered this morning… I was even bleeding. It hurts so much.”

Jing Shaochuan was visibly stunned.

He suddenly grabbed my shoulders. “What did you say? What do you mean, bleeding?”

I looked at him with a pitiful, aggrieved expression. “It’s just… last night, it was too much…”

“I thought I was going to die from the pain.”

As I spoke, I reached up and wrapped my arms gently around him.

I tilted my face up toward him, my features flushed with the lingering glow of passion.

My smile was shy yet sweet. “But you were so different last night than before. You were incredible.”

“Shaochuan, I loved it so much…”

Jing Shaochuan stared at me blankly, his face turning a ghastly shade of ashen-green.

Yet, I acted completely oblivious, continuing to chatter happily. “You were just so mean.”

“I was crying and even begged you to stop, but you just wouldn’t.”

Jing Shaochuan’s jaw clenched so hard the bone protruded.

As he looked into my eyes, his own were filled with an incredibly complex swirl of emotions.

After a long silence, he abruptly let go and pushed me away.

“I’ll go buy the medicine. Wait for me at home.”

I watched him turn and leave in a hurry.

Only then did the smile on my face slowly fade away.